Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

100 Best Universities in England for Literature

Focusing specifically on Literature, our data science engine identified the 100 most influential universities in England. To determine these leaders, we isolated 5.56M specialized research publications which collectively generated 199.94M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Literature England Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

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1

Cambridge

University of Cambridge

For Literature

#1 in United Kingdom #1 in Europe

21% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1209 Founded

2

Oxford

University of Oxford

For Literature

#2 in United Kingdom #2 in Europe

22% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1096 Founded

3

London

University College London

For Literature

#3 in United Kingdom #3 in Europe

36% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1826 Founded

4

Manchester

University of Manchester

For Literature

#5 in United Kingdom #5 in Europe

40% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1824 Founded

5

Birmingham

University of Birmingham

For Literature

#6 in United Kingdom #6 in Europe

38% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1900 Founded

6

Leeds

University of Leeds

For Literature

#7 in United Kingdom #7 in Europe

48% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1904 Founded

7

Bristol

University of Bristol

For Literature

#9 in United Kingdom #13 in Europe

63% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1909 Founded

8

Coventry

University of Warwick

For Literature

#10 in United Kingdom #14 in Europe

23% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1965 Founded

9

Nottingham

University of Nottingham

For Literature

#12 in United Kingdom #16 in Europe

32% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1948 Founded

10

Sheffield

University of Sheffield

For Literature

#13 in United Kingdom #17 in Europe

28% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1905 Founded

11

Durham

Durham University

For Literature

#14 in United Kingdom #19 in Europe

46% Acceptance

19,520 Enrollment

1832 Founded

12

London

Imperial College London

For Literature

#15 in United Kingdom #22 in Europe

41% Acceptance

17,565 Enrollment

1907 Founded

13

Exeter

University of Exeter

For Literature

#16 in United Kingdom #23 in Europe

73% Acceptance

11,270 Enrollment

1955 Founded

14

York

University of York

For Literature

#17 in United Kingdom #24 in Europe

20% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1963 Founded

15

Southampton

University of Southampton

For Literature

#18 in United Kingdom #26 in Europe

32% Acceptance

21,335 Enrollment

1952 Founded

16

Brighton

University of Sussex

For Literature

#19 in United Kingdom #27 in Europe

35% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1961 Founded

17

Lancaster, ENG

Lancaster University

For Literature

#20 in United Kingdom #28 in Europe

22% Acceptance

15,555 Enrollment

1964 Founded

18

London

University of London

For Literature

#21 in United Kingdom #30 in Europe

36% Acceptance

50,000 Enrollment

1836 Founded

19

London

London School of Economics and Political Science

For Literature

#23 in United Kingdom #32 in Europe

8% Acceptance

9,218 Enrollment

1895 Founded

20

Liverpool

University of Liverpool

For Literature

#24 in United Kingdom #33 in Europe

24% Acceptance

28,693 Enrollment

1881 Founded

21

London

Queen Mary University of London

For Literature

#25 in United Kingdom #41 in Europe

18% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1989 Founded

22

Leicester

University of Leicester

For Literature

#26 in United Kingdom #42 in Europe

39% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1957 Founded

23

Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle University

For Literature

#28 in United Kingdom #47 in Europe

23% Acceptance

28,693 Enrollment

1963 Founded

24

Reading

University of Reading

For Literature

#29 in United Kingdom #51 in Europe

37% Acceptance

11,270 Enrollment

1892 Founded

25

Loughborough

Loughborough University

For Literature

#30 in United Kingdom #60 in Europe

44% Acceptance

19,449 Enrollment

1966 Founded

26

Canterbury

University of Kent

For Literature

#31 in United Kingdom #62 in Europe

50% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1965 Founded

27

Egham

Royal Holloway, University of London

For Literature

#32 in United Kingdom #65 in Europe

55% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1849 Founded

28

Norwich

University of East Anglia

For Literature

#33 in United Kingdom #66 in Europe

22% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1963 Founded

29

London

Birkbeck, University of London

For Literature

#36 in United Kingdom #83 in Europe

50% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1823 Founded

30

Guildford

University of Surrey

For Literature

#37 in United Kingdom #86 in Europe

32% Acceptance

16,900 Enrollment

1966 Founded

31

London

Goldsmiths, University of London

For Literature

#38 in United Kingdom #94 in Europe

64% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

1904 Founded

32

Keele

Keele University

For Literature

#40 in United Kingdom #99 in Europe

52% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1962 Founded

33

Colchester

University of Essex

For Literature

#41 in United Kingdom #103 in Europe

52% Acceptance

29,000 Enrollment

1964 Founded

34

Nottingham

Nottingham Trent University

For Literature

#42 in United Kingdom #121 in Europe

22% Acceptance

19,710 Enrollment

1992 Founded

35

Bath

University of Bath

For Literature

#46 in United Kingdom #136 in Europe

67% Acceptance

18,857 Enrollment

1966 Founded

36

Manchester

Manchester Metropolitan University

For Literature

#49 in United Kingdom #148 in Europe

53% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

37

Uxbridge

Brunel University London

For Literature

#50 in United Kingdom #152 in Europe

54% Acceptance

19,449 Enrollment

1966 Founded

38

London

City, University of London

For Literature

#51 in United Kingdom #157 in Europe

55% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1966 Founded

39

Kingston upon Hull

University of Hull

For Literature

#53 in United Kingdom #169 in Europe

55% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1954 Founded

40

London

SOAS, University of London

For Literature

#54 in United Kingdom #172 in Europe

44% Acceptance

6,295 Enrollment

1916 Founded

41

London

University of Roehampton

For Literature

#58 in United Kingdom #195 in Europe

72% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

2004 Founded

42

Sheffield

Sheffield Hallam University

For Literature

#61 in United Kingdom #202 in Europe

69% Acceptance

19,290 Enrollment

1992 Founded

43

Oxford

Oxford Brookes University

For Literature

#62 in United Kingdom #205 in Europe

62% Acceptance

16,900 Enrollment

1865 Founded

44

Leeds

Leeds Beckett University

For Literature

#65 in United Kingdom #224 in Europe

68% Acceptance

4,270 Enrollment

1992 Founded

45

Poole

Bournemouth University

For Literature

#68 in United Kingdom #231 in Europe

55% Acceptance

14,293 Enrollment

1992 Founded

46

London

University of Westminster

For Literature

#70 in United Kingdom #234 in Europe

56% Acceptance

19,000 Enrollment

1838 Founded

47

Bradford

University of Bradford

For Literature

#73 in United Kingdom #252 in Europe

63% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1966 Founded

48

Liverpool

Liverpool John Moores University

For Literature

#74 in United Kingdom #258 in Europe

46% Acceptance

15,555 Enrollment

1992 Founded

49

Cranfield

Cranfield University

For Literature

#78 in United Kingdom #296 in Europe

59% Acceptance

4,825 Enrollment

1993 Founded

50

Preston

University of Central Lancashire

For Literature

#82 in United Kingdom #320 in Europe

72% Acceptance

19,290 Enrollment

1992 Founded

51

Canterbury

Canterbury Christ Church University

For Literature

#86 in United Kingdom #353 in Europe

82% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2005 Founded

52

London

Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

For Literature

#113 in United Kingdom #496 in Europe

79% Acceptance

10,425 Enrollment

1932 Founded

53

Bolton

University of Bolton

For Literature

#116 in United Kingdom #527 in Europe

83% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

2004 Founded

54

London

London Business School

For Literature

#117 in United Kingdom #554 in Europe

25% Acceptance

4,000 Enrollment

1964 Founded

55

London

Royal College of Music

For Literature

#119 in United Kingdom #586 in Europe

66% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

1882 Founded

56

Southampton

Solent University

For Literature

#118 in United Kingdom #558 in Europe

92% Acceptance

11,340 Enrollment

2004 Founded

57

London

St George’s, University of London

For Literature

#95 in United Kingdom #396 in Europe

64% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1733 Founded

58

Ealing

University of West London

For Literature

#108 in United Kingdom #466 in Europe

88% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

1990 Founded

59

High Wycombe

Buckinghamshire New University

For Literature

#129 in United Kingdom #763 in Europe

96% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2007 Founded

60

London

London South Bank University

For Literature

#103 in United Kingdom #416 in Europe

83% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1892 Founded

61

Chichester

University of Chichester

For Literature

#115 in United Kingdom #519 in Europe

73% Acceptance

11,340 Enrollment

2005 Founded

62

Buckingham

University of Buckingham

For Literature

#131 in United Kingdom #771 in Europe

78% Acceptance

19,000 Enrollment

1973 Founded

63

Leicester

De Montfort University

For Literature

#59 in United Kingdom #199 in Europe

64% Acceptance

29,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

64

Chester

University of Chester

For Literature

#102 in United Kingdom #414 in Europe

95% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2005 Founded

65

London

Heythrop College

For Literature

#121 in United Kingdom #634 in Europe

79% Acceptance

6,295 Enrollment

1614 Founded

66

London

University of East London

For Literature

#77 in United Kingdom #292 in Europe

70% Acceptance

19,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

67

Falmouth

Falmouth University

For Literature

#127 in United Kingdom #735 in Europe

59% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

2012 Founded

68

Carlisle

University of Cumbria

For Literature

#132 in United Kingdom #785 in Europe

67% Acceptance

14,000 Enrollment

2007 Founded

69

Coventry

Coventry University

For Literature

#72 in United Kingdom #245 in Europe

62% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

70

Ormskirk

Edge Hill University

For Literature

#92 in United Kingdom #378 in Europe

87% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2006 Founded

71

London

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

For Literature

#125 in United Kingdom #706 in Europe

63% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

2005 Founded

72

Wolverhampton

University of Wolverhampton

For Literature

#71 in United Kingdom #240 in Europe

71% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

1992 Founded

73

Canterbury

University for the Creative Arts

For Literature

#128 in United Kingdom #753 in Europe

33% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

2005 Founded

74

York

York St John University

For Literature

#109 in United Kingdom #475 in Europe

86% Acceptance

4,270 Enrollment

1841 Founded

75

Hatfield

University of Hertfordshire

For Literature

#67 in United Kingdom #227 in Europe

70% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1992 Founded

76

Sunderland

University of Sunderland

For Literature

#98 in United Kingdom #400 in Europe

83% Acceptance

19,090 Enrollment

1992 Founded

77

London

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

For Literature

#134 in United Kingdom #814 in Europe

40% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

1906 Founded

78

Kingston upon Thames

Kingston University

For Literature

#84 in United Kingdom #338 in Europe

68% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

79

Lincoln

Bishop Grosseteste University

For Literature

#140 in United Kingdom #864 in Europe

95% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

1862 Founded

80

Liverpool

Liverpool Hope University

For Literature

#106 in United Kingdom #459 in Europe

96% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

2005 Founded

81

Bristol

University of the West of England

For Literature

#60 in United Kingdom #201 in Europe

57% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

1992 Founded

82

London

University of the Arts London

For Literature

#104 in United Kingdom #431 in Europe

80% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

1986 Founded

83

London

Royal Academy of Music, University of London

For Literature

#120 in United Kingdom #618 in Europe

13% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

1822 Founded

84

Lincoln

University of Lincoln

For Literature

#79 in United Kingdom #300 in Europe

78% Acceptance

19,710 Enrollment

1992 Founded

85

Manchester

Royal Northern College of Music

For Literature

#133 in United Kingdom #807 in Europe

60% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

1973 Founded

86

Bath

Bath Spa University

For Literature

#105 in United Kingdom #436 in Europe

83% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

1975 Founded

87

Birmingham

Aston University

For Literature

#75 in United Kingdom #271 in Europe

44% Acceptance

16,900 Enrollment

1895 Founded

88

Luton

University of Bedfordshire

For Literature

#96 in United Kingdom #397 in Europe

82% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

2006 Founded

89

London

Regent’s University London

For Literature

#144 in United Kingdom #893 in Europe

44% Acceptance

4,000 Enrollment

1984 Founded

90

Cambridge

Anglia Ruskin University

For Literature

#81 in United Kingdom #312 in Europe

57% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

1858 Founded

91

Winchester

University of Winchester

For Literature

#93 in United Kingdom #382 in Europe

69% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

2005 Founded

92

Salford

University of Salford

For Literature

#55 in United Kingdom #174 in Europe

49% Acceptance

19,449 Enrollment

1967 Founded

93

Middlesbrough

Teesside University

For Literature

#80 in United Kingdom #308 in Europe

76% Acceptance

19,290 Enrollment

1992 Founded

94

Birmingham

Newman University, Birmingham

For Literature

#137 in United Kingdom #850 in Europe

70% Acceptance

4,270 Enrollment

1968 Founded

95

Huddersfield

University of Huddersfield

For Literature

#69 in United Kingdom #232 in Europe

69% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

96

Worcester

University of Worcester

For Literature

#94 in United Kingdom #390 in Europe

89% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2005 Founded

97

Newcastle upon Tyne

Northumbria University

For Literature

#56 in United Kingdom #177 in Europe

50% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

98

Derby

University of Derby

For Literature

#97 in United Kingdom #398 in Europe

76% Acceptance

25,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

99

Leeds

Leeds College of Music

For Literature

#143 in United Kingdom #889 in Europe

77% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

1965 Founded

100

London

University of Greenwich

For Literature

#89 in United Kingdom #368 in Europe

55% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1890 Founded