Why this is the place
A world Top 100 university
At the University of Nottingham, we're not just a place of learning; we're a powerhouse of change.
An award-winning university with an international outlook, we're proud to be ranked among the Top 20 in the UK and in the world's Top 100 (QS World University Rankings 2026).
A member of the prestigious Russell Group of world-class, research-intensive universities, we deliver teaching excellence and equip our graduates to go further, faster. In fact, we're the number one UK university for graduates entering highly skilled employment.*
With a commitment to ground-breaking research and an unparalleled student experience, we're shaping the future on a global scale.
*HESA Graduate Outcomes, classification of full-time, UK graduates entering work in the UK from 2018/19 to 21/22, published 2024.
Top 5 UK university for student life
UniCompare 2025
7th in the UK for research power
Research Excellence Framework 2021
Top 40 in the world for sustainability
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025
Creating a better future for all
We’re proud to be ranked among the world’s Top 200 universities in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025, recognising our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
We achieved Top 100 placements for four goals: SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.
This recognition highlights our dedication to creating a better future through pioneering research, transformative education and global collaboration.
Read more about our commitment to the SDGs
Careers and employability
We’re the third most targeted university by top employers (The Graduate Market, High Fliers 2024), and have been Top 10 since 2013. Our students rate us the 7th best university in the UK for work experience (Rate my Placement, Best Universities for Work Experience, 2025).
Boost your career potential
World-class sport and fitness
We have been crowned Sports University of the Year three times in the last seven years, most recently in 2024 (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide). We are also proud to be the Top UK University for Team Sport (British Universities and Colleges Sport - BUCS).
Be part of the team
Academic achievement
Nottingham University Business School has solidified its reputation as a global education leader earning top rankings in finance, international trade, and other key disciplines.
Discover our business excellence
Welcome to Nottingham
A thriving city with a legendary past, we're proud to call one of the best student cities in the UK our home (51st in the world and 9th of the UK cities featured, QS Best Student Cities 2025).
A great place to live
Educational excellence and student experience
A top 20 UK university
Join the University of Nottingham and be taught by academics who are leaders in their field, while enjoying a student experience that’s rated among the very best in the country.
Why students choose us
Rankings results
| | UK rankings | World ranking (if available) |
|---|
|
QS Sustainability Rankings 2025
|
13
|
36
|
|
QS World University Rankings 2026
|
17
|
97
|
|
QS World University Rankings: Europe 2025
|
15
|
24
|
|
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
|
16
|
136
|
| Shanghai Ranking Academic Ranking of World Universities 2022 |
9-16 |
101-150 |
UniCompare - Best Universities for Student Life 2025
|
5 |
N/A |
UniCompare - Best Universities 2025
|
7 |
N/A |
The StudentCrowd Best UK Universities 2025
|
13 |
N/A |
|
The Daily Mail University Guide 2024
|
32
|
N/A
|
|
The Complete University Guide 2026
|
26
|
N/A
|
|
The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
|
30
|
N/A
|
|
The Guardian University Guide 2024
|
62 |
N/A |
| The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024 |
N/A |
101 - 200 |
|
Financial Times Masters in Finance 2024
|
10
|
24
|
| QS International Trade Rankings 2025 |
6 |
16 |
Pioneering research
In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) – the UK's official assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions – we have been placed 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education (THE).
100% of our research is recognised internationally, and 90% is classed as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent', according to THE's analysis.
Discover our world-changing research
Birthplace of MRI
In 2003, our leading academic Sir Peter Mansfield was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Paul Lauterbur 'for their discoveries concerning magnetic resonance imaging' (MRI). Today, it is estimated that an MRI scan takes place every 3 seconds, improving outcomes for millions around the world.
We are continuing to push the boundaries of MRI and have recently been awarded £29.1 million to establish the UK’s most powerful Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner as a national facility. This scanner will give researchers and doctors unprecedented insights into brain function and the mechanisms of human disease.
Learn more about the history of MRI
Supporting spin-out companies
Nottingham Technology Ventures has helped to support a wide range of businesses get off the ground and supported their development. As of June 2024, we have 35 active spin-out companies - technological innovations developed from our research.
Bringing business and research together
Environmental and social stewardship and SDGs
At the University of Nottingham, we take sustainability seriously.
We actively address the complex challenges facing our planet and are committed to making significant contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We’re proud to be recognised among the world’s top higher education institutions for our efforts, ranking in the Top 200 in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025. These global rankings evaluate 2,526 universities from 130 countries based on their performance against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which set out a blueprint for creating a more sustainable future.
Our world-leading research places us within the world’s Top 100 for a number of individual SDG goals:
While there is still a long road ahead, these results show our unwavering dedication to the SDGs and our commitment to creating a better future for all through pioneering research and education.
This is the place making the sustainable obtainable.
Find out more about our commitment to the goals