Are you the type of person that cares more about the course delivery more than where you study it? Are you at a loss as to which university you wish to pick? Are you dead set on the subject you wish to delve into the details of at university? Wandering what the best university is for teaching your desired subject? This article is for you! Here, we will name the top universities in the UK for 66 subjects available for study to you, broken down into two articles with 33 subjects each.
The data relies on university subject metrics such as graduate prospects, continuation, graduate prospects - on track and career after 15 months from graduation. This data is pulled from The Guardian University Guide, the Good University Guide by The Times and the Complete University Guide league tables from the latest academic year.
The metrics are calculated as such:
- Graduate prospects - outcomes: the proportion of students in the subject that report success in employment or further study
- Graduate prospects - on-track: the proportion of students in the subject that report their future plans in employment and/or further study as being “on-track”
- Career after 15 months - proportion of graduates in the subject being employed 15 months post-graduation
- Continuation: the proportion of graduates in the subject who continued their studies/research post graduation at the same university they graduated from
Accounting and Finance
Imperial College London is leading the 2023/24 academic year with the highest rankings in graduate prospects as well as the biggest proportion of its students in this subject being in employment 15 months post-graduation. St George’s University (London) is the highest ranked university for graduate prospects - on track. The University of Cambridge enjoys the biggest continuation rate.
Aerospace Engineering
Imperial College London once again leads in graduate prospects of Aerospace Engineering students and enjoys 100% employment rate 15 months post-graduation. University of Nottingham ranks with 94% of their students reporting their career prospects are on-track post-graduation, whereas the University of Birmingham secures the top seat in continuation of studies in this subject with 98% of their students staying at the University to continue studying/researching Aerospace Engineering.
Anatomy and Physiology
This subject area of study and research is led by the University of West Bristol in the rate of students securing a career 15 months post-graduation: 99%. The University of Liverpool, on the other hand, enjoys the highest continuation rate with 98.9% of their students staying at the University to continue their studies/research in this subject. The University of Aberdeen is ranked top for graduate prospects in this subject for the past academic year; however, ranking for graduate prospects - on track is unavailable for this subject.
Animal Science and Agriculture
The University of Newcastle experiences the highest continuation rate, with 98.6% of their students carrying on to study/research in this field at the University. Graduates in this subject from the Royal Veterinary College, however, are the most likely to secure a career in the field as the latest data suggests 91% of graduates from this HE provider in this subject are in employment 15 months post-graduation. Middlesex University ranks 100% in graduate prospects in this subject amongst all UK universities in the 2023/24 academic year.
Animation and Game Design
Although this subject area is increasing in popularity, records do not yet have data available on graduate prospects of students studying this subject. However, as of the 2023/24 academic year latest rankings, we know that Leeds Arts HE provider enjoys the highest continuation rate in the subject, with 93.7% of their students continuing on to acquire a further degree from the same School; and University of the Arts London (UAL) has the highest proportion of its students securing a career 15 months post-graduation (90%) tied with Brunel University.
Anthropology and Archeology
This subject is subdivided into two areas in most rankings. Collectively, the University of Cambridge enjoys the highest continuation rate in this subject, with 98.8% of its students continuing at the University to study/research this subject further. The University of Oxford, however, ensured the highest employment rate for students of this subject, with 93% of its students securing a career 15 months post-graduation. SOAS University of London has the highest rating for graduate prospects in Anthropology (96%) and Durham University secures the top spot in this metric (93%) for Archeology. The University of Oxford has the highest rating for graduate prospects - on track in Anthropology (92%) and the University of Exeter in Archeology (90%).
Architecture
The University of Reading enjoys the highest rate of graduate prospects - outcomes, with 96% of its students enjoying success in career and further study in this subject, whilst Cardiff University rankings show that 100% of their students in this subject are on track with their career plans for the future. 100% of graduates of this subject from the University of Cardiff are in employment 15 months post-graduation, whilst the University of Cambridge enjoys a 100% continuation rate of their students in study/research in this subject.
Biology
University College London exhibits success in employability and further study of their graduates in this subject the most (93%), whilst 89% of Edinburgh Napier University students report their plans for future life are on track with study in this subject - securing it its top spot in the league tables for the 2023/24 academic year for this metric. 95% of graduates of Biology from the University of Cambridge are in employment 15 months post-graduation, and 99.3% of their students continuing their studies in this subject do so remaining at the University - securing the University of Cambridge its top spot in both of these metrics for the 2023/24 academic year.
Biomedical Sciences
Graduates of this subject report highest success in career prospects and further study having graduated in this subject from the University of East London (94%), whilst 96% of students from Middlesex University studying this subject report their career and further study plans as being ‘on track.’ The University of Oxford secures the top spot for the proportion of graduates being in employment 15 months post-graduation, whilst 99.5% of graduates in this subject from Kent University that continue to study the subject remain at Kent University.
Business Management
The University of Oxford enjoys the highest success rate in employment and further study of its students in this subject as of the 2023/24 academic year, whilst 98% of students in this subject from the University of the Arts London (UAL) report as their career and further study plans as being ‘on-track.’ King’s College London reports the highest proportion of its students being in employment 15 months post-graduation (94%), and University of Oxford enjoys the highest retention rate of its graduates in the subject with 100% of those going on to further study doing so at the University of Oxford.
Chemical Engineering
100% of Imperial College London graduates report success in their employment and further study having studied Chemical Engineering, whilst the highest ranking university for ‘on-track’ graduate prospects is the University of Bath (88%). The University of Cambridge enjoys the highest employment rate of its graduates In this subject (98%) as well as 100% retention rate of its graduates, seeking its top spot in both of these metrics.
Chemistry
The University of Oxford enjoys the highest graduation prospects this 2023/24 academic year with 98% of its students reporting success in employment or further study, whilst 98% of students at Durham University in this subject reporting their plans as being ‘on-track’ due to the study of Chemistry at the University. The University that actually enjoys the highest employment rate of its graduates in the subject 15 months post-graduation is the University of Edinburgh (99%), whilst the University of Cambridge retains the highest proportion of its students who wish to carry on studying/researching the subject (99.3%).
Childhood and Youth Studies/Children’s Nursing
It is important to note that different guides have different definitions of the broader subject area of study. The Complete University Guide ranks the University of the West of Scotland the highest in graduate prospects - outcomes with 88% of its graduates of Childhood and Youth Studies reporting success in employment and further study and University of Central Lancashire as the University whose highest proportion of graduates report their future plans as being on track due to the study of Childhood and Youth Studies at the University. Oxford Brookes, however, reports 100% of graduates of Children’s Nursing being in employment 15 months post-graduation, and the University of West Bristol (UWE) enjoying the highest retention rate (96.9%) in Children’s Nursing.
Civil Engineering
Queen’s University of Belfast enjoys the highest percentage of its students of this subject reporting successful outcomes in their graduate prospects (100%) putting it in 1st place based on this metric, tied with the University of Cambridge, University of Derby, University of Glasgow, Imperial College London, University of Surrey, University of Southampton and the University of Bristol. The top three universities that report the highest percentage of their students’, in this subject, future plans as being on track (94%) are the University of Liverpool, Birmingham City University and Leeds Beckett University. The University of Birmingham enjoys 100% of its graduates in this subject being in employment 15 months post-graduation, whilst the University of Manchester secures a 100% retention rate in Civil Engineering.
Classics and Ancient History
University of Warwick ranks the highest in graduate prospects - outcomes, with 86% of their students in this subject reporting success in employment or further study/research post-graduation. The highest proportion of students in this subject that report their future career/study plans as being on-track are from Durham University. Durham University also ranks highest in the proportion of its graduates that are in employment 15 months post-graduation (93%), whilst the University of Cambridge enjoys the highest retention rate of its graduates in this subject.
Computer Science and Information Systems
In this subject, graduates of Imperial College London report 100% success rate in their career or further study, whilst 99% of graduates in this subject from the University of Cambridge have secured a career after 15 months post-graduation. 96% of University of Oxford students report as their future plans being on-track, with 100% of graduates in the subject that go onto further study do so at the University of Oxford.
Construction, Surveying and Planning
Only career and retention metrics are available for this subject with the University of Portsmouth securing a top spot in career prospects, enjoying 96% of its graduates in the subject being employed 15 months post-graduation, and the University of Sheffield retaining 98.8% of its students who go onto further study/research in the field.
Creative Writing
Graduate prospect outcomes in this subject are led by the University of Birmingham with 84% of its students reporting success in their further career or study/research. 90% of students at the Teesside University, Middlesbrough report their future career and/or study plans as being on-track. 80% of graduates of the University of East Anglia have been found to be in employment 15 months post-graduation, securing it its top spot in this metric, whilst Edge Hill enjoys the highest retention rate (98.6%) of its students in the field.
Criminology
University of Suffolk enjoys the highest graduate prospects ratings in the subject of Criminology (84.8%). 84% of graduates in Criminology from the University of Sheffield have been found to be the highest proportion of graduates to be in employment 15 months post-graduation, whilst Loughborough University retains the highest proportion of its graduates in the subject compared to any other university in the UK, with 98.7% of its graduates in the subject carrying on to further study/research at the University.
Dentistry
100% of graduates in Dentistry from the University of Plymouth report success in their career/further study in the field as well as 100% of their students being confident in their career/further study plans as being on track. The University of Leeds reports 100% of their graduates in Dentistry being in employment 15 months post-graduation as well as retaining 100% of its graduates in the field who wish to carry on with their studies/research.
Drama, Dance and Cinematics
85% of graduates in this subject from the University of East Anglia report success in their careers and further studies/research, whilst the University of Aberdeen reports the highest proportion of its students as being on-track with their future career/further study plans. The University of Exeter has the highest employment rate in this subject, with 88% of its graduates being in employment 15 months post-graduation, whilst LAMDA Drama School retains 100% of its students.
Earth and Marine Sciences
This subject is only ranked on its career prospects as well as retention rate by the Guardian University Guide. The University of Oxford is reported to have the highest employment rate in this subject, with 96% of its graduates in the field being in employment 15 months post-graduation. The University of St. Andrews, on the other hand, retains the biggest majority of its graduates (100%) in the field who wish to carry on with further studies or research.
Economics
This subject is led in graduate prospect outcomes by the University of Bath, with 97% of its graduates reporting success in their further career and/or study, whilst the University of Leeds secures the highest proportion of its students reporting being on-track with their further study/career plans. The University of Oxford enjoys the highest employability rate of their students in this subject, with 96% of their graduates having secured employment 15 months post-graduation as well as secures the biggest majority of students of the subject retained (99.3%).
Education
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland leads the league tables in graduate prospect outcomes as 100% of their students report success in their further career/further studies in the field. Northumbria University (Newcastle) enjoys the highest majority of its students reporting their careers/further study plans as being on-track having studied the subject. The University of Edinburgh has the most employable rankings for the study of Education, with 95% of graduates securing employment 15 months post-graduation. The University of Bristol exhibits the highest retention rate of its Education students who wish to carry on studying/researching at the University.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
This subject is led by the University of Edinburgh with 100% of its students reporting success in their careers and further studies having studied this subject, tied with the University of Birmingham and the University of Cambridge. The University of Birmingham, however, also secures the highest majority of its students reporting as being on-track with their future career/study plans. Graduates of Imperial College London have been found to be the most employable in the subject, as 98% have secured employment 15 month post-graduation, whilst the University of Bristol enjoys the highest retention rate of its students.
English
Loughborough University is the highest successfully reported university in the subject according to graduate prospect outcomes with 88% of its students reporting success in their careers and further studies having studied this subject. University of Roehampton and Teesside University (Middlesbrough) are tied in the lead with 90% of their students enrolled on English studies as being on track with their future career/study plans. The university of St Andrews has been found to be the most employable in the subject with 94% of its graduates being in employment 15 months post-graduation as well as retaining the highest proportion of its students in the subject.
Fashion and Textiles
Fashion and textiles is only reported by career prospect rankings as well as retention rate rankings by the Guardian University Guide. Loughborough University leads career prospects in the subject with 86% of graduates being in employment 15 month post-graduation, whilst the University of Edinburgh retains 100% of its students in the field.
Film Production and Photography
Film production and photography is only reported by career prospect rankings as well as retention rate rankings by the Guardian University Guide. 85% of graduates from the University of Edinburgh in this subject are in employment 15 months post-graduation securing its top spot in this metric. The University of Bristol leads the retention rate metric with 97.3% of its graduates in the subject staying at the University of Bristol for further study/research.
Fine Art
Fine art is only reported by career prospect rankings as well as retention rate rankings by the Guardian University Guide. The Glasgow School of Art secures the top spot in career prospect rankings, with Fine Art being the most employable subject if studied at the Glasgow School of Art compared to any other University in the UK as 78% of graduates are reported to be in employment 15 months post-graduation. The University of east London retains the most of its graduates in the subject by carrying them on study/research programs at the University.
Forensic Science
Robert Gordon University leads graduate prospect outcomes in the field of Forensic science, with 100% of its graduates reporting success in employment or further study/research post-graduation. The highest proportion of students reporting their career/further study and research plans as being on-track having studied this subject is found at the University of Bradford (92%). Glasgow Caledonian University finds that 82% of its graduates have secured employment 15 months post-graduation leading the league tables in this metric as well as in retention of its students in this subject (98.9%).
General Engineering
The University of Cambridge and the University of Warwick are leading the league tables in graduate prospect outcomes with 100% of their General Engineering graduates being in employment or further study. The University of Bristol has the highest proportion of students that report their career/further study plans are on-track having studied General Engineering. The University of Cambridge enjoys a 99% employment rate 15 months post-graduation of General Engineering graduates, whilst Queen Mary University reports a retention rate of 98.7%, securing it its top place in the league tables by this metric.
General Nursing
In the graduate prospect ranking, nursing appears to be the most employable subject overall. The league tables in graduate prospect outcomes are led by the University of Leeds, King’s College London, Cardiff University, University of Birmingham, Northumbria University, University of Salford, University of Portsmouth, Teesside University (Middlesbrough), Manchester Metropolitan University, Leeds Beckett University, Sheffield Hallam University, Wrexham University, Queen Margaret University, University of Bedfordshire, University of Bolton, University of Glasgow, University of Liverpool and Queen’s University Belfast all displaying a 100% employment and further study rate of its General Nursing students. The Universities of Hertfordshire, Swansea, Hull, UWE Bristol, Sheffield Hallam, Plymouth, Dundee and Birmingham are top in their employment rates with 100% of graduates of General Nursing securing employment 15 months post-graduation. The University of Glasgow reports the highest retention rate of its students from General Nursing continuing their studies at the University of Glasgow (96.6%).
Geography
Students who study Geography are most likely to be employed or enrolled on further study if they have graduated from the University of Oxford as 96% of graduates in the subject report exactly this type of success rate. 92% of students from the University of Warwick report their career/further study plans as being on track. The London School of Economics (LSE) reports the highest employment rate in the subject, with 92% of graduates of Geography being in employment 15 months post-graduation. The University of Cambridge leads retention rate league tables with 100% of Geography students at the University of Cambridge who choose to go into further study do so at the University of Cambridge.
