LSE named as top university in the UK
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 ranks LSE as the number one university in the UK.
The Good University Guide also names LSE as University of the Year for Academic Performance; Russell Group University of the Year; University of the Year in London; and joint runner-up for University of the Year for Graduate Employment.
The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide has ranked LSE as the top university in the UK in for the second year running.
The 2026 Guide repeats last year’s award, when LSE also received ‘University of the Year’, and follows a series of high placements for the School across UK university league tables over the last 12 months.
Once again, LSE’s number one ranking was based on a strong performance across a range of measures, including graduate prospects, research quality and continuation rates.
This is in addition to high scores in teaching quality and student satisfaction, which have seen dramatic rises in recent years, following a strong School focus on excellence in education. In the National Student Survey 2025, which informed the 2026 Good University Guide, LSE increased its scores in nine out of ten core measures, including all education-related categories.
As well as taking the top spot, the Guide has also named LSE as "University of the Year for Academic Performance" based on our high scores across measures such as continuation rates and good honours.
Other notable awards from the Guide include being named “Russell Group University of the Year”, “University of the Year in London” and being named joint “Runner-up for University of the Year for Graduate Employment,” for the second year in a row.
Commenting on the news, LSE President and Vice Chancellor, Professor Larry Kramer said,
"As was true when we achieved the same recognition last year, the award reflects the dedication and talent of our faculty, staff, students, and global community.
“With or without rankings, we remain committed to producing high quality research that has real-world impact, and to providing our students with the skills and experience needed to shape a better future.”
Social Sciences Powerhouse
Helen Davies, the editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, added: "Last year LSE topped the league table for the first time and this year it has defended its No 1 spot and drawn even further away from a very competitive top ten.
"The social sciences powerhouse is on the rise due to improved results in graduate prospects, student satisfaction and teaching quality. The overall atmosphere and the investment in the student experience has created a truly global leader and its stance on free speech on campus is to be celebrated."
This outstanding result follows a consistent set of high rankings in university league tables over the last year. Both The Guardian and the Complete University Guide placed LSE as the top university in London, while the Daily Mail University Guide named the School as “University of the Year for Student Success.”