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Scotsman
2 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
The 17 UK universities with the highest entry standards
Many of this year's secondary school leavers will now be turning their eyes towards university – and will likely be considering which one will be the best choice that their grades allow them. Students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland finally received their A Levels results this week, while their Scottish counterparts found out how they did in their Highers qualifications earlier in the month. Those with university aspirations will have also found out whether they have met the requirements for any conditional university offers they had waiting – while others will now be navigating the Clearing process. With this in mind, we've taken a look at the UK universities with the highest entry standards for new students, according to the Complete University Guide's new 2026 league table. This comprehensive annual ranking compares some 130 universities across the country across a variety of metrics, including the proportion of students who stay on after their first year, student satisfaction ratings, research quality, student-to-staff ratio, and more. It also compares universities based on the average of the total number of UCAS tariff points held by new undergraduate students entering the university, using the most recent available data - currently for the 2022/23 academic year. These are points awarded based on the different qualifications and grades a prospective student has earned, which allow candidates' performances to be compared even if they sat different qualifications. The Complete University Guide says in its guidance that it ranks them this way because it's a more accurate reflection of a university's academic standards than average entry requirements. 'Two universities may have similar entry requirements, but the students taking the places may well have exceeded those requirements.' Many of the universities on this list still have spots available via Clearing, so are well worth considering for students who achieved excellent grades on results day. A lot of universities in Scotland ranked particularly highly, although prospective students shouldn't let this put them off – Scottish students often earn more UCAS tariff points overall due to the way their secondary school qualification system is structured. Our list only includes universities where the average UCAS tariff points of the students they accepted as undergraduates exceeded 170. Here were the 17 UK universities that topped the entry standards chart: 1 . University of St Andrews This prestigious Scottish university is based in St Andrews, Fife, and came in 4th overall in the Complete University Guide's 2026 ranking. The average UCAS tariff score of all new students entering the university was 215, the Guide said, from the most recent data available. | Peter Thompson/Photo Sales 2 . University of Glasgow Another well-regarded Scottish institution, Glasgow's namesake university is next. It came in 31st in the overall national ranking. According to the Complete University Guide, the average UCAS tariff score of all new students entering the university was also 215. | Google Photo Sales 3 . University of Cambridge One half of the acclaimed Oxbridge duo, this well-known university in Cambridge, in the East of England, ranked 1st in the overall national ranking. According to the Complete University Guide, the average UCAS tariff score of all new students entering the university was 206. | JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images Photo Sales 4 . University of Strathclyde The University of Strathclyde is also based in Glasgow, Scotland. It came in 38th in the overall national ranking. According to the Complete University Guide, the average UCAS tariff score of all new students entering the university was 203. | Adobe Stock Photo Sales Related topics: UniversitiesStudentsClearingBoost
Scotsman
2 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
The 17 UK universities with the highest entry standards
Many of this year's secondary school leavers will now be turning their eyes towards university – and will likely be considering which one will be the best choice that their grades allow them. Students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland finally received their A Levels results this week, while their Scottish counterparts found out how they did in their Highers qualifications earlier in the month. Those with university aspirations will have also found out whether they have met the requirements for any conditional university offers they had waiting – while others will now be navigating the Clearing process. With this in mind, we've taken a look at the UK universities with the highest entry standards for new students, according to the Complete University Guide's new 2026 league table. This comprehensive annual ranking compares some 130 universities across the country across a variety of metrics, including the proportion of students who stay on after their first year, student satisfaction ratings, research quality, student-to-staff ratio, and more. It also compares universities based on the average of the total number of UCAS tariff points held by new undergraduate students entering the university, using the most recent available data - currently for the 2022/23 academic year. These are points awarded based on the different qualifications and grades a prospective student has earned, which allow candidates' performances to be compared even if they sat different qualifications. The Complete University Guide says in its guidance that it ranks them this way because it's a more accurate reflection of a university's academic standards than average entry requirements. 'Two universities may have similar entry requirements, but the students taking the places may well have exceeded those requirements.' Many of the universities on this list still have spots available via Clearing, so are well worth considering for students who achieved excellent grades on results day. A lot of universities in Scotland ranked particularly highly, although prospective students shouldn't let this put them off – Scottish students often earn more UCAS tariff points overall due to the way their secondary school qualification system is structured. Our list only includes universities where the average UCAS tariff points of the students they accepted as undergraduates exceeded 170. Here were the 17 UK universities that topped the entry standards chart: 1 . University of St Andrews This prestigious Scottish university is based in St Andrews, Fife, and came in 4th overall in the Complete University Guide's 2026 ranking. The average UCAS tariff score of all new students entering the university was 215, the Guide said, from the most recent data available. | Peter Thompson/Photo Sales 2 . University of Glasgow Another well-regarded Scottish institution, Glasgow's namesake university is next. It came in 31st in the overall national ranking. According to the Complete University Guide, the average UCAS tariff score of all new students entering the university was also 215. | Google Photo Sales 3 . University of Cambridge One half of the acclaimed Oxbridge duo, this well-known university in Cambridge, in the East of England, ranked 1st in the overall national ranking. According to the Complete University Guide, the average UCAS tariff score of all new students entering the university was 206. | JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images Photo Sales 4 . University of Strathclyde The University of Strathclyde is also based in Glasgow, Scotland. It came in 38th in the overall national ranking. According to the Complete University Guide, the average UCAS tariff score of all new students entering the university was 203. | Adobe Stock Photo Sales Related topics: UniversitiesStudentsClearingBoost
Time Out
30-07-2025
- Science
- Time Out
The London university that is officially the best place in the UK to study philosophy
Like to spend your time pondering the meaning of life? Love debating the existence of free will? Can't stop thinking about whether morality really is objective? Sounds like a philosophy degree would be right up your street. And if you want the best philosophical education that the UK has to offer, Complete University Guide (CUG) has the answer. Last month, the guide published its 2026 edition, ranking British universities based on stuff like entry requirements, student satisfaction, graduate prospects and research quality. Cambridge and Oxford earned the top two spots when it came to which universities are the best all-round, but the guide also ranked unis based on specific subjects. While London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) came third in the overall ranking, it was awarded first place for philosophy. CUG gave LSE a perfect overall score of 100 for its philosophy department, with an entry standards score of 86, a student satisfaction score of 78 and a graduate prospects score of 100. If you were to enrol onto LSE's undergrad philosophy course, you could be studying things like animal ethics, the philosophy of language, how we can control AI or whether time travel is really possible. You'd need to get at least AAA in your A-Levels for a place. For back-up options in the capital, the University College of London and King's College London also ranked highly for their philosophy courses, sitting in fourth and tenth place respectively. The Complete University Guide 2026's best universities to study philosophy in the UK London School of Economics University of Cambridge University of Oxford University College of London (UCL) University of St Andrews University of Warwick University of Durham University of York University of Exeter King's College London
Scotsman
19-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
The 20 UK universities where the most students stick with their studies
This year's university hopefuls are now waiting on their secondary school exam results, many with university offers hanging in the balance. The outcome could see them land a place at their dream school, or left to navigate the Clearing process. But either way, there's a good chance that come this autumn, they'll be living in an entirely new city, forging a new life and future career for themselves. The Complete University Guide recently released its brand new UK university league table for 2026. This comprehensive annual ranking compares some 130 universities across the country using the most recent data available on their entry standards, graduate prospects, research quality, how much they spend on academic services and facilities, student-to-staff ratio, and more – giving them an overall score. But while things like graduates job outcomes are important, most students want to enjoy their time at university, immersed in a supportive culture that fosters their learning and ultimately helps them leave with a hard-earned degree. On this note, we've taken a closer look at how universities compare based on continuation. According to the Guide, this is the proportion of first-year students who then go on to continue their studies, leave with a qualification, or transfer to a new university – rather than dropping out or deciding university isn't for them. We've limited our list to only those with continuation rates over 95%, a real testament to an institution's culture. Here were the 20 universities that met the mark: 1 . University of Cambridge Hailing from the East of England, Cambridge's elite, world-renowned namesake university came in first, with 98.4% of its first-year students continuing on with their studies. The university also ranked first place overall in the Guide's 2026 league table. | Adobe Stock Photo Sales 2 . University of St Andrews This prestigious Scottish university, based in St Andrews, Fife, came in second with 98% of its first-year students continuing their studies. The university ranked fourth in the overall 2026 league table. | Peter Thompson/Photo Sales 3 . University of Oxford The other half of the esteemed Oxbridge duo, the South East's Oxford came in third, with 97.6% of its first-year students continuing their studies. The university ranked second in the overall 2026 league table. | Adobe Stock Photo Sales 4 . London School of Economics and Political Science LSE – which as its name might suggest – is based in London, drew with Oxford, with 97.6% of its first-year students also continuing their studies. The university ranked third in the overall 2026 league table. | Adobe Stock Photo Sales Related topics: UniversitiesStudentsBoost
Scotsman
19-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
The 20 UK universities where the most students stick with their studies
This year's university hopefuls are now waiting on their secondary school exam results, many with university offers hanging in the balance. The outcome could see them land a place at their dream school, or left to navigate the Clearing process. But either way, there's a good chance that come this autumn, they'll be living in an entirely new city, forging a new life and future career for themselves. The Complete University Guide recently released its brand new UK university league table for 2026. This comprehensive annual ranking compares some 130 universities across the country using the most recent data available on their entry standards, graduate prospects, research quality, how much they spend on academic services and facilities, student-to-staff ratio, and more – giving them an overall score. But while things like graduates job outcomes are important, most students want to enjoy their time at university, immersed in a supportive culture that fosters their learning and ultimately helps them leave with a hard-earned degree. On this note, we've taken a closer look at how universities compare based on continuation. According to the Guide, this is the proportion of first-year students who then go on to continue their studies, leave with a qualification, or transfer to a new university – rather than dropping out or deciding university isn't for them. We've limited our list to only those with continuation rates over 95%, a real testament to an institution's culture. Here were the 20 universities that met the mark: 1 . University of Cambridge Hailing from the East of England, Cambridge's elite, world-renowned namesake university came in first, with 98.4% of its first-year students continuing on with their studies. The university also ranked first place overall in the Guide's 2026 league table. | Adobe Stock Photo Sales 2 . University of St Andrews This prestigious Scottish university, based in St Andrews, Fife, came in second with 98% of its first-year students continuing their studies. The university ranked fourth in the overall 2026 league table. | Peter Thompson/Photo Sales 3 . University of Oxford The other half of the esteemed Oxbridge duo, the South East's Oxford came in third, with 97.6% of its first-year students continuing their studies. The university ranked second in the overall 2026 league table. | Adobe Stock Photo Sales 4 . London School of Economics and Political Science LSE – which as its name might suggest – is based in London, drew with Oxford, with 97.6% of its first-year students also continuing their studies. The university ranked third in the overall 2026 league table. | Adobe Stock Photo Sales Related topics: UniversitiesStudentsBoost
