University clinches top honour as it overtakes Oxbridge

NORTH East university has been named the UK’s University of the Year 2026 by The Times and The Sunday Times.

- DAVID HUNTLEY

Durham University has also beaten both Oxford and Cambridge and ranked third in its Good University Guide national league table, behind the London School of Economics and St Andrew's University. But its move from fifth the third in the rankings - overtaking Oxford and Cambridge - saw its secure the University of the Year honour.

Durham's excellence in preparing students for graduate careers also earned it joint runner-up University of the Year for Graduate Employment 2026. The rankings highlight the opportunities afforded to Durham students thanks to the support they receive through teaching, bursaries, scholarships and careers support.

Helen Davies, the editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said: “In a very competitive top ten Durham has climbed two places in a year, which is a significant achievement.

“In doing so it has outdone both Oxford and Cambridge, helping to push both of them out of the top three in our league table for the first time in the Good University Guide's history.

“Its stellar academic performance was boosted this year by improvements in teaching quality, and student experience.”