Oxford and Cambridge universities fall out of top 3 for first time

(Dan Tri) - After 32 years, the two prestigious universities Oxford and Cambridge are no longer in the top 3 of prestigious rankings in the UK, according to The Times.

In the 2026 UK University Rankings published by The Times (a long-standing prestigious British newspaper), London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) holds the No. 1 position for the second consecutive year, followed by St Andrews University in 2nd place and Durham University in 3rd place.

Oxford University and Cambridge University are tied for fourth place, the first time they have failed to make the top three since the rankings began.

Helen Davies, editor of The Times rankings, said: “In a fiercely competitive top 10, Durham University has moved up two places in just one year – a remarkable achievement.

Thanks to that, Durham University surpassed Oxford and Cambridge Universities for the first time, causing these two universities to no longer be in the top 3 of the ranking's history.

Durham University is in the top 3 UK universities in 2026 (Photo: the-independent.com).

Durham's achievements come from improving the quality of teaching and improving the learning environment for students, Ms Davies added.

The Times has published comprehensive university rankings since 1993 and 1998, based on criteria such as student satisfaction with teaching quality, entry standards, research quality and graduate employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, according to the 2026 University Rankings by The Guardian (one of the prestigious British newspapers), Oxford is still at the top, while Cambridge is ranked 3rd.

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) was named “University of the Year” for academic achievement, part of the Russell Group – a group of 24 leading universities in the UK – and tied for second place in the “University of the Year” award for graduate employability.

Top 5 UK universities (Photo: The Times).

The next positions in the new rankings include: Imperial College London in 6th place, followed by the University of Bath, the University of Warwick, University College London and the University of Bristol.

Strathclyde University just missed out on the top 10, but was still honored with a joint second place in the “University of the Year” award.

The universities honored by region include: London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in London, Durham in the North and North East, Cambridge in the East, Warwick in the Central, Bath in the South West, Oxford in the South East and Queen's Belfast in Northern Ireland.

“Competition for top universities continues to increase, making it difficult for some lower-ranked institutions to gain admission. Many students choose to study close to home and commute daily. So this year, we are awarding the best university in each region, and also highlighting the institutions that offer the best scholarships and student support,” Ms Davies said.

Durham University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen O'Brien, said: “Durham is a fantastic place to study. We ensure every student has the opportunity to develop and succeed. Our dedicated alumni are testament to the impressive career prospects that await our graduates.”

Thu Trang

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/dai-hoc-oxford-va-cambridge-lan-dau-rot-khoi-top-3-20251026215603208.htm