Best universities for life sciences degrees in the UK 2025

Discover the ̽��Ƶ rankings for the best life science schools in the UK 2025.
This list highlights the top-ranked universities for biology and agriculture in the UK, based on the ̽��Ƶ Subject Rankings: Life Sciences 2025. These rankings provide valuable insights into the leading institutions for life sciences education and research.
A total of 65 UK universities have been ranked for their excellence in teaching, research, industry collaboration, and international outlook.
The rankings are based on a rigorous methodology designed by ̽��Ƶ’s data experts, ensuring accuracy and reliability for students, academics, and industry leaders worldwide.

July 15 2025

Top universities for life sciences in the UK 2025

UK life sciences rank 2025	Global life sciences rank 2025	University	Overall	Research Quality	Industry	International Outlook	Research Environment	Teaching
1	2	University of Cambridge	98.2	98.9	91.8	96.9	99.9	96.8
2	4	University of Oxford	96.9	95.8	97.7	96.8	100	95.3
3	=12	Imperial College London	91.3	95.4	67.4	97.8	94.4	84.5
4	20	UCL	88.6	95.4	68.3	97.3	86.6	82.3
5	29	University of Edinburgh	83.8	88.8	73.6	94.6	80.2	79.1
6	32	King’s College London	81.9	96.6	69.4	97	74.6	67.3
7	53	University of Manchester	72.1	92.8	77	90.2	56.4	54.7
8	77	University of Glasgow	65.7	88.8	67.4	94.3	44.5	48.1
9	=81	University of Bristol	65.4	88	66.8	84.3	47.3	48.1
10	98	University of Leeds	62.5	88.5	70.7	94.1	40.9	39.5
11	99	University of Sheffield	62.3	89.2	73.4	90.2	39.5	39.9
=12	101–125	Newcastle University	59.5–62.0	89.7	79.9	82.6	36.3	40.3
=12	101–125	Queen Mary University of London	59.5–62.0	94.2	66.1	98.2	32.1	31.5
=12	101–125	University of Aberdeen	59.5–62.0	83.7	97.7	97.3	37.7	34.2
=12	101–125	University of Birmingham	59.5–62.0	90.7	67.6	92.4	38.1	38.5
=12	101–125	University of Dundee	59.5–62.0	86.7	99.9	91.8	36.7	32.9
=12	101–125	University of East Anglia	59.5–62.0	92.5	65.4	92.4	37	31.1
=12	101–125	University of Exeter	59.5–62.0	92	64	84	41.9	31.4
=12	101–125	University of Nottingham	59.5–62.0	80.7	71.4	89	38	43
=12	101–125	University of St Andrews	59.5–62.0	80.5	81.3	96.8	38	39.4
=21	126–150	Queen’s University Belfast	57.1–59.2	88.5	69.9	98.1	30.6	28.9
=21	126–150	University of Southampton	57.1–59.2	94	69.7	91.6	30.3	31.2
=23	151–175	Cardiff University	54.3–56.9	90.3	71.1	90.5	26.5	26.4
=23	151–175	University of Leicester	54.3–56.9	88.7	71.2	94.1	21.5	28.1
=23	151–175	University of Liverpool	54.3–56.9	82.6	64.4	88.3	30.8	31.1
=23	151–175	University of Reading	54.3–56.9	77.6	69.1	94.5	31.8	41.6
=23	151–175	University of York	54.3–56.9	84	80.3	87	33.1	31.1
28	176–200	University of Warwick	52.3–54.2	76.7	66.5	94.7	29.1	33.2
=29	201–250	Durham University	49.5–52.2	75.7	61.2	87.8	20.9	32.1
=29	201–250	Lancaster University	49.5–52.2	85.7	50.8	83.5	24.7	24.1
=31	251–300	Royal Veterinary College	46.6–49.4	65.7	54.3	89.6	25.9	30.6
=31	251–300	University of Bath	46.6–49.4	74.4	67.2	83.6	19.8	23.2
=31	251–300	University of Kent	46.6–49.4	77.7	56.4	93.7	18.1	26.8
=31	251–300	University of Stirling	46.6–49.4	83.3	37.9	92.5	18.1	20.9
=35	301–400	Bangor University	42.0–46.5	80.7	50.5	81.8	19.3	18.3
=35	301–400	Loughborough University	42.0–46.5	73.8	44	80.2	20.7	27.2
=35	301–400	University of Essex	42.0–46.5	76	46.3	94.6	14.9	17.2
=35	301–400	University of Greenwich	42.0–46.5	76.5	37.4	99	13.3	15.8
��	301–400	University of Plymouth	42.0–46.5	80.9	45.6	78.2	17.5	17.9
=35	301–400	University of Sussex	42.0–46.5	67.2	64	94	24.4	25.3
=40	401–500	Aberystwyth University	37.8–41.8	65.6	61.5	78.5	16	18
=40	401–500	Brunel University of London	37.8–41.8	66.4	40.7	97.3	12.7	15.9
=40	401–500	Heriot-Watt University	37.8–41.8	57.3	44	91.5	15.6	20.1
=40	401–500	Liverpool John Moores University	37.8–41.8	72.2	32.8	82.5	14	18.2
=40	401–500	Northumbria University	37.8–41.8	71	26.3	87.3	11.6	16.5
=40	401–500	Nottingham Trent University	37.8–41.8	71.6	27.5	82	8.6	14.6
=40	401–500	SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College)	37.8–41.8	72.7	25.5	63.5	11.7	18.4
=40	401–500	University of Hull	37.8–41.8	67.5	48.2	76.5	12.6	16.4
=40	401–500	University of Portsmouth	37.8–41.8	64.9	47	89.4	10	16.7
=40	401–500	University of Salford	37.8–41.8	68.8	35.5	83.1	10.8	15.1
=40	401–500	University of Surrey	37.8–41.8	66	53.9	87.3	15.2	19.3
=51	501–600	Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)	34.7–37.7	65.3	19.7	86.2	6.9	17.2
=51	501–600	Aston University	34.7–37.7	50.2	68.6	88.7	11.8	19.1
=51	501–600	Coventry University	34.7–37.7	57.1	22.3	89.7	10	16.2
=51	501–600	Keele University	34.7–37.7	61.5	44.8	87.2	11.7	16.9
=51	501–600	Leeds Beckett University	34.7–37.7	67.8	20.3	72.5	7.9	12.9
=51	501–600	Manchester Metropolitan University	34.7–37.7	60.6	32.3	83.3	10.9	19.1
=51	501–600	Ulster University	34.7–37.7	63.9	47	80.4	11.4	15.2
=51	501–600	University of Brighton	34.7–37.7	60.3	39.6	90.1	12	13.1
=51	501–600	University of Lincoln	34.7–37.7	68.2	24	79	9.5	16.1
=60	601–800	Bournemouth University	27.6–34.6	62.1	21.8	76.1	10.4	11
=60	601–800	Oxford Brookes University	27.6–34.6	52.6	30.1	87.9	10.4	20.2
=60	601–800	University of Lancashire	27.6–34.6	42.8	26.7	76.9	7.6	18.7
=60	601–800	UWE Bristol (University of the West of England)	27.6–34.6	55.5	27.5	64.5	8.7	15.9
64	801–1000	Sheffield Hallam University	20.8–27.5	40	24.5	66.7	7.5	12.5

Key insights into the top universities for life sciences in the UK 2025

The University of Cambridge takes the first place position for biology and biochemistry degrees in the UK
Some 64 UK universities are included in the ranking
The University of Oxford achieves a perfect score for its research environment
The ranking for life sciences rank universites that teach courses in biology, veterinary medicine, biochemistry, agriculture and forestry and sport science.��

Choosing the right university for life sciences in the UK

Choosing the best school for biology, agriculture or sports science is a crucial step for prospective students. The ̽��Ƶ Life Science Rankings help identify universities with strong reputations in teaching, research, and industry collaboration.

The table for the best universities for life sciences in the UK was derived from data collected for the THE World University Subject Rankings. The results are calculated using 18 performance indicators underlying five metrics: research environment, teaching (the learning environment), research quality, industry and international outlook. For more insights and a detailed breakdown of our ranking methodology, visit our methodology page. Use the ranking table above to explore the right institution for you.��