Kingston University rises five places in 2026 Guardian University Guide

Kingston University has risen five places in the latest Guardian University Guide, maintaining its position as one of the country’s top 60 institutions.  

Kingston has been ranked 55 out of 123 universities in the United Kingdom, up from 60 equal last year. Among universities in the capital, Kingston is now rated eighth out of 20 – an increase of two places.  

Strong performance across a number of subjects has seen several areas positioned in the top 10 nationally. The University has been rated one of the best places in the UK to study mental health nursing (second nationally), fashion and textiles (fourth), graphic design (fourth), construction, surveying and planning (seventh) and geography (10th).   

The newspaper places Kingston top in London for children’s nursing, creative writing, general nursing, graphic design, mental health nursing and midwifery.  

The Guardian Guide is regarded as one of the UK’s most influential higher education league tables. It is a trusted resource for potential students, both from the UK and overseas, and ranks universities on a range of measures. These include student satisfaction with teaching and assessment, student to staff ratio, course continuation rates and graduate outcomes.  

Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Spier said the University’s improved performance in this year’s tables reflected its commitment to providing students with an outstanding teaching and learning experience. This was underpinned by its expertise in Future Skills education. “As one of only 26 institutions in the country rated Gold in all three Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) categories, we place a strong emphasis on ensuring our students receive the highest quality teaching and learning throughout their degrees,” Professor Spier said.  

"The strides we have made in the latest Guardian University league tables come as we prepare to roll out the final phase of our transformative Future Skills programme across our entire undergraduate curriculum this autumn. Our sector-leading delivery of this innovative model of education will support all our students to acquire the attributes employers tell us they most value, so they graduate fully prepared for career success in a rapidly evolving, digital-first world.”  

• Find out more about Kingston University’s performance in the 2026 Guardian University Guide.