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 5.76M specialized research publications which collectively generated 207.66M 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

Sub-Branch

1

Cambridge

University of Cambridge

#2 in United Kingdom #2 in Europe

21% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1209 Founded

2

Oxford

University of Oxford

#1 in United Kingdom #1 in Europe

22% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1096 Founded

3

London

University College London

#3 in United Kingdom #3 in Europe

36% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1826 Founded

4

Manchester

University of Manchester

#6 in United Kingdom #8 in Europe

40% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1824 Founded

5

Birmingham

University of Birmingham

#11 in United Kingdom #27 in Europe

38% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1900 Founded

6

Leeds

University of Leeds

#10 in United Kingdom #22 in Europe

48% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1904 Founded

7

Bristol

University of Bristol

#9 in United Kingdom #20 in Europe

63% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1909 Founded

8

Coventry

University of Warwick

#15 in United Kingdom #43 in Europe

23% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1965 Founded

9

Nottingham

University of Nottingham

#13 in United Kingdom #38 in Europe

32% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1948 Founded

10

Sheffield

University of Sheffield

#14 in United Kingdom #41 in Europe

28% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1905 Founded

11

Durham

Durham University

#23 in United Kingdom #97 in Europe

46% Acceptance

19,520 Enrollment

1832 Founded

12

London

Imperial College London

#5 in United Kingdom #5 in Europe

41% Acceptance

17,565 Enrollment

1907 Founded

13

Exeter

University of Exeter

#22 in United Kingdom #75 in Europe

73% Acceptance

11,270 Enrollment

1955 Founded

14

York

University of York

#20 in United Kingdom #66 in Europe

20% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1963 Founded

15

Southampton

University of Southampton

#12 in United Kingdom #32 in Europe

32% Acceptance

21,335 Enrollment

1952 Founded

16

Brighton

University of Sussex

#25 in United Kingdom #103 in Europe

35% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1961 Founded

17

Lancaster, ENG

Lancaster University

#33 in United Kingdom #134 in Europe

22% Acceptance

15,555 Enrollment

1964 Founded

18

London

University of London

#30 in United Kingdom #120 in Europe

36% Acceptance

50,000 Enrollment

1836 Founded

19

London

London School of Economics and Political Science

#16 in United Kingdom #48 in Europe

8% Acceptance

9,218 Enrollment

1895 Founded

20

Liverpool

University of Liverpool

#18 in United Kingdom #55 in Europe

24% Acceptance

28,693 Enrollment

1881 Founded

21

London

Queen Mary University of London

#19 in United Kingdom #65 in Europe

18% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1989 Founded

22

Leicester

University of Leicester

#24 in United Kingdom #101 in Europe

39% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1957 Founded

23

Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle University

#17 in United Kingdom #52 in Europe

23% Acceptance

28,693 Enrollment

1963 Founded

24

Reading

University of Reading

#29 in United Kingdom #113 in Europe

37% Acceptance

11,270 Enrollment

1892 Founded

25

Loughborough

Loughborough University

#36 in United Kingdom #144 in Europe

44% Acceptance

19,449 Enrollment

1966 Founded

26

Canterbury

University of Kent

#38 in United Kingdom #177 in Europe

50% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1965 Founded

27

Egham

Royal Holloway, University of London

#44 in United Kingdom #222 in Europe

55% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1849 Founded

28

Norwich

University of East Anglia

#32 in United Kingdom #131 in Europe

22% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1963 Founded

29

London

Birkbeck, University of London

#53 in United Kingdom #255 in Europe

50% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1823 Founded

30

Guildford

University of Surrey

#31 in United Kingdom #124 in Europe

32% Acceptance

16,900 Enrollment

1966 Founded

31

London

Goldsmiths, University of London

#64 in United Kingdom #312 in Europe

64% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

1904 Founded

32

Keele

Keele University

#54 in United Kingdom #256 in Europe

52% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1962 Founded

33

Colchester

University of Essex

#39 in United Kingdom #195 in Europe

52% Acceptance

29,000 Enrollment

1964 Founded

34

Nottingham

Nottingham Trent University

#58 in United Kingdom #279 in Europe

22% Acceptance

19,710 Enrollment

1992 Founded

35

Bath

University of Bath

#34 in United Kingdom #136 in Europe

67% Acceptance

18,857 Enrollment

1966 Founded

36

Manchester

Manchester Metropolitan University

#50 in United Kingdom #244 in Europe

53% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

37

Uxbridge

Brunel University London

#40 in United Kingdom #200 in Europe

54% Acceptance

19,449 Enrollment

1966 Founded

38

London

City, University of London

#42 in United Kingdom #204 in Europe

55% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1966 Founded

39

Kingston upon Hull

University of Hull

#45 in United Kingdom #235 in Europe

55% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1954 Founded

40

London

SOAS, University of London

#75 in United Kingdom #368 in Europe

44% Acceptance

6,295 Enrollment

1916 Founded

41

London

University of Roehampton

#95 in United Kingdom #530 in Europe

72% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

2004 Founded

42

Sheffield

Sheffield Hallam University

#65 in United Kingdom #313 in Europe

69% Acceptance

19,290 Enrollment

1992 Founded

43

Oxford

Oxford Brookes University

#67 in United Kingdom #328 in Europe

62% Acceptance

16,900 Enrollment

1865 Founded

44

Leeds

Leeds Beckett University

#84 in United Kingdom #438 in Europe

68% Acceptance

4,270 Enrollment

1992 Founded

45

Poole

Bournemouth University

#74 in United Kingdom #364 in Europe

55% Acceptance

14,293 Enrollment

1992 Founded

46

London

University of Westminster

#73 in United Kingdom #357 in Europe

56% Acceptance

19,000 Enrollment

1838 Founded

47

Bradford

University of Bradford

#66 in United Kingdom #319 in Europe

63% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1966 Founded

48

Liverpool

Liverpool John Moores University

#59 in United Kingdom #280 in Europe

46% Acceptance

15,555 Enrollment

1992 Founded

49

Cranfield

Cranfield University

#55 in United Kingdom #263 in Europe

59% Acceptance

4,825 Enrollment

1993 Founded

50

Preston

University of Central Lancashire

#76 in United Kingdom #370 in Europe

72% Acceptance

19,290 Enrollment

1992 Founded

51

Canterbury

Canterbury Christ Church University

#107 in United Kingdom #627 in Europe

82% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2005 Founded

52

London

Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

#108 in United Kingdom #639 in Europe

79% Acceptance

10,425 Enrollment

1932 Founded

53

Bolton

University of Bolton

#116 in United Kingdom #720 in Europe

83% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

2004 Founded

54

London

London Business School

#78 in United Kingdom #376 in Europe

25% Acceptance

4,000 Enrollment

1964 Founded

55

London

Royal College of Music

#132 in United Kingdom #875 in Europe

66% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

1882 Founded

56

Huddersfield

University of Huddersfield

#77 in United Kingdom #374 in Europe

69% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

57

Worcester

University of Worcester

#111 in United Kingdom #666 in Europe

89% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2005 Founded

58

Newcastle upon Tyne

Northumbria University

#52 in United Kingdom #251 in Europe

50% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

59

Derby

University of Derby

#92 in United Kingdom #499 in Europe

76% Acceptance

25,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

60

Leeds

Leeds College of Music

#149 in United Kingdom #1351 in Europe

77% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

1965 Founded

61

London

University of Greenwich

#72 in United Kingdom #355 in Europe

55% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1890 Founded

62

Northampton

University of Northampton

#110 in United Kingdom #649 in Europe

73% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2005 Founded

63

Portsmouth

University of Portsmouth

#49 in United Kingdom #241 in Europe

69% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1992 Founded

64

Stoke-on-Trent

Staffordshire University

#91 in United Kingdom #496 in Europe

73% Acceptance

25,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

65

Leeds

Leeds Arts University

#145 in United Kingdom #1245 in Europe

63% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

1846 Founded

66

London

Middlesex University

#71 in United Kingdom #353 in Europe

63% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

1973 Founded

67

Cheltenham

University of Gloucestershire

#109 in United Kingdom #641 in Europe

74% Acceptance

16,900 Enrollment

2001 Founded

68

Plymouth

University of Plymouth

#47 in United Kingdom #239 in Europe

77% Acceptance

11,270 Enrollment

1992 Founded

69

London

London Metropolitan University

#90 in United Kingdom #490 in Europe

74% Acceptance

19,000 Enrollment

1848 Founded

70

Leeds

Leeds Trinity University

#134 in United Kingdom #954 in Europe

53% Acceptance

4,270 Enrollment

2012 Founded

71

London

School of Advanced Study, University of London

#127 in United Kingdom #814 in Europe

76% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

1994 Founded

72

Brighton

University of Brighton

#70 in United Kingdom #351 in Europe

63% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

73

London

Royal College of Art

#106 in United Kingdom #624 in Europe

85% Acceptance

1,500 Enrollment

1896 Founded

74

London

King’s College London

#7 in United Kingdom #11 in Europe

43% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1829 Founded

75

Birmingham

Birmingham City University

#89 in United Kingdom #456 in Europe

75% Acceptance

25,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

76

Twickenham

St Mary’s University, Twickenham

#128 in United Kingdom #825 in Europe

71% Acceptance

31,517 Enrollment

1850 Founded

77

Southampton

Solent University

#126 in United Kingdom #813 in Europe

92% Acceptance

11,340 Enrollment

2004 Founded

78

London

St George’s, University of London

#69 in United Kingdom #340 in Europe

64% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1733 Founded

79

Ealing

University of West London

#105 in United Kingdom #619 in Europe

88% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

1990 Founded

80

High Wycombe

Buckinghamshire New University

#131 in United Kingdom #870 in Europe

96% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2007 Founded

81

London

London South Bank University

#88 in United Kingdom #452 in Europe

83% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1892 Founded

82

Chichester

University of Chichester

#129 in United Kingdom #850 in Europe

73% Acceptance

11,340 Enrollment

2005 Founded

83

Buckingham

University of Buckingham

#123 in United Kingdom #789 in Europe

78% Acceptance

19,000 Enrollment

1973 Founded

84

Leicester

De Montfort University

#68 in United Kingdom #335 in Europe

64% Acceptance

29,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

85

Chester

University of Chester

#104 in United Kingdom #608 in Europe

95% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2005 Founded

86

London

Heythrop College

#153 in United Kingdom #1457 in Europe

79% Acceptance

6,295 Enrollment

1614 Founded

87

London

University of East London

#86 in United Kingdom #444 in Europe

70% Acceptance

19,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

88

Falmouth

Falmouth University

#133 in United Kingdom #929 in Europe

59% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

2012 Founded

89

Carlisle

University of Cumbria

#122 in United Kingdom #785 in Europe

67% Acceptance

14,000 Enrollment

2007 Founded

90

Coventry

Coventry University

#63 in United Kingdom #303 in Europe

62% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

91

Ormskirk

Edge Hill University

#103 in United Kingdom #594 in Europe

87% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2006 Founded

92

London

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

#142 in United Kingdom #1103 in Europe

63% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

2005 Founded

93

Wolverhampton

University of Wolverhampton

#85 in United Kingdom #440 in Europe

71% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

1992 Founded

94

Canterbury

University for the Creative Arts

#136 in United Kingdom #967 in Europe

33% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

2005 Founded

95

York

York St John University

#120 in United Kingdom #756 in Europe

86% Acceptance

4,270 Enrollment

1841 Founded

96

Hatfield

University of Hertfordshire

#61 in United Kingdom #286 in Europe

70% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1992 Founded

97

Sunderland

University of Sunderland

#101 in United Kingdom #571 in Europe

83% Acceptance

19,090 Enrollment

1992 Founded

98

London

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

#139 in United Kingdom #1049 in Europe

40% Acceptance

1,000 Enrollment

1906 Founded

99

Kingston upon Thames

Kingston University

#81 in United Kingdom #418 in Europe

68% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

100

Lincoln

Bishop Grosseteste University

#150 in United Kingdom #1380 in Europe

95% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

1862 Founded