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Imperial College London has overtaken the universities of Oxford and Cambridge to be named the UK’s University of the Year in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027.
Imperial climbed three places to claim the top honour in the prestigious annual ranking. It also rose from sixth to third in the guide’s overall national ranking, according to local media outlet London Now.
The achievement marks the first time Imperial has ranked ahead of both Cambridge and Oxford in the guide. Cambridge and Oxford are placed fourth and fifth respectively in the 2027 ranking.
It is only the second time in the 33-year history of the Good University Guide that Oxford and Cambridge have both fallen outside the top three.
Imperial was also named University of the Year for graduate employment and Medical School of the Year.
In the guide’s national ranking, the University of St Andrews took first place, followed by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Imperial ranked third, with Cambridge fourth and Oxford fifth.
According to data in the guide, 90.4% of Imperial graduates achieved first-class or upper-second-class honours degrees, while its graduate employment rate stood at 93%.
Imperial also received recognition as runner-up for Russell Group University of the Year and London University of the Year.
The LSE was named London University of the Year and Russell Group University of the Year.
The Good University Guide assesses institutions using criteria including teaching quality, student experience, continuation rates and graduate employment prospects. Its 2027 edition features profiles of 133 universities and rankings across 70 subjects, along with information on research reputation, facilities, scholarships and financial support.
The full searchable edition of the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027 was published online on Friday, September 18.