Loughborough Celebrates a Decade Among the UK's Top 10 Universities
Loughborough ranks 7th out of 130 institutions in the 2026 Complete University Guide rankings of UK schools.
Ranking milestone
Loughborough University has been ranked seventh in the Complete University Guide 2026 out of 130 institutions.
A decade in the top 10
This milestone marks a decade in the top ten for Loughborough – a feat shared only by the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, St Andrews, Durham, and Imperial College London. Loughborough also remains the highest ranked university in the Midlands, underlining its position as one of the best universities in the country.
About the Complete University Guide 2026
Published in June 2025, the Complete University Guide is based on ten measures:
- entry standards
- student satisfaction
- research quality
- research intensity
- academic services spend
|
- spending on student facilities
- student-staff ratio
- continuation*
- graduate prospects: outcomes**
- graduate prospects: on-track***
|
*Continuation: The proportion of students who continue their studies after first year.
**Graduate prospects: outcomes: A measure of the success in employability or further study of graduates completing their first degree.
***Graduate prospects: on-track: A measure of the proportion of graduates who agree that their activity is on track with their future plans.
Speaking about the 2026 guide, Professor Nick Jennings, the University's President and Vice-Chancellor, said: "Loughborough has now been ranked in the top ten best universities in the UK for a decade. This reflects the unwavering dedication of our staff to provide an outstanding student experience and prepare our graduates for success in their future careers. I'm incredibly proud that Loughborough continues to stand among the very best universities in the UK."
Top Ten Universities in the UK – Complete University Guide 2026
The top ten universities are:
- 1. Cambridge
- 2. Oxford
- 3. London School of Economics
- 4. St Andrews
- 5. Durham
|
- 6. Imperial College London
- 7. Loughborough
- 8. Bath
- 9. Warwick
- 10. Lancaster
|
The 'More Than Our Rank' initiative
Whilst Loughborough is proud of its ranking success, it is also signatory to the More Than Our Rank initiative, which recognises a much broader range of our institutional ambitions, activities, and achievements that are not captured by any university ranking.
Clearing at Loughborough
Summer means Clearing! Clearing is, in a nutshell, your last chance to apply for a Fall start at Loughborough and other UK universities.
Clearing is your opportunity to find the university that's right for you. Whether you've achieved better results than expected, changed your mind about your offers, or haven't yet applied through UCAS, it's your chance to explore new options and take the next step toward an exciting future.
Loughborough plays proud host to over 2,300 students from outside the UK, representing more than 130 countries! We'd love to have you at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom!
Explore your options at Loughborough University