About the University of Leicester

Rankings

Our standing

Teaching Excellence Framework

The University of Leicester has been awarded gold in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

This means that typically, the experience students have at the University of Leicester and the outcomes it leads to are outstanding.

  • Our student experience rating is Silver, which means the student academic experience is typically very high quality.
  • Our student outcomes rating is Gold, which means student outcomes are typically outstanding.

Find out more about our TEF rating.

Our research

The University was ranked 30th in the Times Higher Education analysis of the REF 2021 results, up 23 places from the previous Research Excellence Framework in 2014.

This is our best-ever performance in a national research assessment exercise and recognises the world-changing impact and quality of the research which takes place at Leicester.

Other highlights of the REF 2021 include:

  • Our research in Clinical Medicine, History, and Sports and Exercise Science is 2nd in the UK, Museum Studies 3rd, Archaeology 5th, Media 7th and English 11th
  • Leicester’s Archaeology and Biological Sciences research is top in the UK for impact, with Clinical Medicine, Sports Science and Sociology all top for research outputs
  • More than 89% of our research is classed as ‘world-leading’ (4*) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*)
  • More than half (52%) of Leicester research is assessed as ‘world-leading’ (4*) for its impact.
  • 100% of Chemistry research classed as ‘world-leading’ (4*) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3*)

Read more about our REF 2021 results.

Student support

Leicester is ranked ninth in the UK for Student Support in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2023.

Sustainability

The University is ranked 49th out of 1,591 universities in the world - and 10th in the UK - in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking.

We are ranked 157th in the world - and 32nd in the UK - in the QS Sustainability rankings 2025.

And it is first in the world for goal 15, life on land, due to its academic excellence and commitment to conserving the biodiversity of the local land and buildings as part of its Biodiversity Action Plan.

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