• The University of Bath has again been named one of the best universities in the UK, according to the latest Guardian University Guide
  • 1st in the UK for Sports Science, one of 8 subjects in top 5 positions
  • Bath remains the highest-ranking University in the South West

The University of Bath has ranked 8th in the Guardian University Guide 2026.

The result means Bath retains its position as one of the UK’s top 10 universities in all four of the most influential national rankings – the Guardian, The Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide, the Complete University Guide and the Daily Mail University Guide.

Bath students’ career prospects were also rated among the best in the UK, with a joint-fifth placing in how many students get graduate jobs within 15 months of completing their course.

The University was once again ranked the number one place in the UK to study Sports Science, and in the top five in seven further subjects:

See the full subject rankings on the Guardian website

Professor Phil Taylor, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath, said: “I am really pleased that the University of Bath has again been named one of the UK’s best places to study.

“We have been in the top 10 in this ranking for well over a decade, which shows that we continue to demonstrate our strong track record in a highly competitive sector. A cornerstone of our excellence at Bath is our first-class quality teaching – with the highest awards possible in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework. Additionally, we offer students some of the best job prospects in the country, world-class sporting facilities, and an excellent overall experience within our diverse international community.

“I’d like to thank our dedicated staff and everyone in our University community who works hard to make Bath one of the best universities in the UK.”

The Guardian University Guide ranks universities across eight different scores to form an overall score out of 100. These include what students say about their teaching as well as feedback in the annual National Student Survey (NSS).

See more: University of Bath student satisfaction scores improve year on year

The guide also considers class and group sizes through a student-to-staff ratio, how much is spent on teaching each student, and how likely they are to continue with their course. Institutions are also given a value-added score based on how students’ A-level grades compare with their academic performance.

The Guardian University Guide 2026 is the latest independent ranking to reflect Bath’s growing reputation at home and internationally. The University climbed to a joint 132nd placing in the QS World University Rankings 2026 earlier this year, which ranks more than 1,500 institutions worldwide.