We have been named the UK’s University of the Year 2026 by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide.
The rankings are widely regarded as the definitive guide to UK universities, measuring criteria including student experience, teaching quality and graduate prospects.
We are ranked third overall in the league table.
We scored highly across the board, with the panel impressed with our high student satisfaction rates thanks to our exceptional college system and student enrichment opportunities.
Durham graduates have excellent job prospects and our strength in preparing students for graduate careers also saw us named joint runner-up for University of the Year for Graduate Employment 2026.
Judges also praised our teaching and research.
Our strong performance in these prestigious rankings reflects how our diverse community of students are each supported as individuals to achieve the extraordinary.
Helen Davies, the editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said our ‘stellar academic performance’ was boosted by improvements in teaching quality and student experience, and praised our ‘significant achievement’.
Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen O’Brien, said: “Durham is an outstanding place to study. We ensure that every student can grow and thrive here.
“Our loyal, engaged alumni are testament to the impressive career prospects that await our graduates.
“As a diverse and global community, we are making progress in welcoming more under-represented students, including from our city and region.
“Through a range of scholarships and one of the most generous bursary schemes in the country, we are supporting students to come here and participate in the wider opportunities available to them at Durham.
“Every student can achieve remarkable things.”
We are world top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2026, a position we have maintained every year since 2010.
The QS also ranks us 64th globally for employability and 22nd for sustainability
We are in the top five for all three major UK rankings: The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, the Guardian University Guide, and the Complete University Guide.
In recent years we have seen an increase in positive responses via the National Student Survey, reflecting our ongoing focus on educational quality alongside a welcoming culture.
This latest ranking success reinforces our position as a globally competitive university which welcomes talented students from all backgrounds to apply and thrive with us.
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