The University of Leeds has risen seven places to 18th in the 2025 Daily Mail University Guide.
The Guide assesses student satisfaction and graduate outcomes as well as measures such as research quality and student–staff ratios.
It is one of several domestic rankings used by prospective students, parents and advisors when comparing universities across the UK.
Subject areas at Leeds featuring in the guide’s top ten include Artificial Intelligence, Art, Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, Design Studies, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Finance, Media Studies, Philosophy, Production and Manufacturing Engineering and Theology and Religious Studies.
Leeds’ rise from 25th last year demonstrates how progress in areas that matter most to students is being recognised externally - and follows success for the University in other national and global rankings.
The latest success reflects, in part, progress seen in the 2025 National Student Survey (NSS), where improvements were seen for Leeds across every theme and question.
Professor Hai-Sui Yu, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said: “It is especially pleasing to see that the progress we have made in improving our students’ experience is starting to be recognised in national league tables such as the Daily Mail University Guide.
“The significant improvements in this year’s National Student Survey reflect the hard work and dedication of colleagues across the University, working in partnership with students to enhance education, support and facilities.
“While league tables are just one way of measuring performance, they can help demonstrate to prospective students, staff and partners that Leeds is committed to delivering a high-quality, inclusive and supportive learning environment.”
The University of Leeds has also improved its position in the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), published by Shanghai Ranking.
The University’s world ranking has improved by 10 places year-on-year, maintaining Leeds’ position within the top 200 institutions globally.
At the same time, the University’s national ranking has improved by three places year-on-year, placing Leeds in the top 18 UK universities.
ARWU ranks universities by several academic or research performance indicators, including alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, highly cited researchers, papers published in Nature and Science, papers indexed in major citation indices and per capita academic performance.
Leeds has also performed strongly in other national and global rankings over the past year:
- The University rose two places to 21st in the 2026 Complete University Guide, with 21 subjects ranked in the UK’s top ten.
- In the QS World University Rankings, Leeds was placed 86th globally. It rose one place to 13th among UK institutions and was ranked 13th in the world for its International Research Network measure.
- The University moved up six places to 123rd in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings - its highest position for more than a decade - and 15th among UK universities, with a particularly strong performance for the international outlook measure.
Further information
Please visit the Daily Mail University Guide website (subscription required) or contact the University of Leeds press office at pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk.