Leicester records its highest position in the Daily Mail University Guide rankings
Leicester has recorded its highest-ever position in the Daily Mail University Guide 2027, rising seven places to 27th= out of 128 UK universities.
The top 30 placing comes just two years after the University of Leicester was named the 2025 Daily Mail University of the Year, in September 2024.
Subjects-wise, Medicine and Physics & Astronomy are ranked second in the UK, followed by Classics (4th) and Chemistry (5th). Three other subjects are in the top 10, nationally: Archaeology (6th), Genetics (8th) and Physiotherapy (9th).
The Daily Mail also ranks Leicester highly for student experience, research income and first-year completion, with top 20 positions for all.
The Daily Mail University Guide rankings are based on performance in 12 areas and include National Student Survey (NSS) feedback from final-year students on the quality of their teaching, the support they receive and their wider university experience. Universities are also ranked by their graduate jobs records and where the starting salaries are
highest. The rankings also take into account the quality of research,entry qualifications, student retention rates and universities’ records for fair admissions.
The Guide praises Leicester for its partnership with Microsoft and its Copilot AI tool, which is offered to all of its students and staff, with the aim of putting “the university at the forefront of AI in education, while giving students the employability skills, digital skills and personal productivity that will help them hit the ground running when theyenter an increasingly AI-dominated workplace.”
The Guide adds: “The partnership sits well with the university's guarantee from this September to provide a minimum of 100 hours of employer-informed work-related learning embedded into every degree.”
The Guide concludes: “Leicester is one of the best bargains to be had in the annual dash [Clearing] to secure a university place. In exchange for mostly medium-tariff offers, it offers a high quality student experience to a socially and ethnically mixed intake in a bustling multicultural city.”
The Daily Mail result comes hot on the heels of a hat-trick of strong Leicester performances in various rankings.
In July, the University recorded its third consecutive year of improvement in the National Student Survey. In June, the University of Leicester experienced a rise of 12 places to =314th in the QS World Rankings 2027 and maintained its position as a top 35 UK University, in the Complete University Guide 2027.
Linda Ralphs, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Learning Innovation) at the University of Leicester, said: “We are delighted with our rise into the top 30 of the Daily Mail University Guide 2027 – just two years after we were named the newspaper’s University of the Year.
“This amazing news comes off the back of strong results in the NSS, QS World Rankings and the Complete University Guide, which all demonstrate the University of Leicester’s reputation as a leading national, and international destination of choice for students.”
The good news coincides with A-level results day, which sees many students turn to Clearing to secure a university course. All courses available via Clearing at Leicester are on the website.
Students who have their grades can call 0116 373 6000 where staff can chat through the options or contact us on WhatsApp by clicking the link on our website.
The University offers guaranteed University-managed accommodation if applicants apply before Tuesday 1 September 2026.