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Physics and Astronomy research in United Kingdom

University of Oxford ranks first in United Kingdom for Physics and Astronomy research in 2022–2025 (#9 worldwide), followed by University of Cambridge and University College London.

United Kingdom's world rank
#4
of 79 countries, 2022–2025
Works, 2022–2025
18k
Top-10% rate
24.9%
Ranked institutions
52

Research strength only: this says nothing about teaching, admissions or cost.

What is the best university for Physics and Astronomy in United Kingdom?

#InstitutionWorld rankScoreTop-10% rateWorks
1University of OxfordOxford #970.333.4%1,116
2University of CambridgeCambridge #1761.732.8%1,244
3University College LondonLondon #5446.125.9%756
4Imperial College LondonLondon #7242.225.6%837
5University of EdinburghEdinburgh #12434.932.7%534
6University of ManchesterManchester #12834.525.0%597
7King's College LondonLondon #13833.537.7%405
8Durham UniversityDurham #15032.337.7%588
9University of NottinghamNottingham #15432.026.3%345
10University of SouthamptonSouthampton #18629.428.4%540
11University of GlasgowGlasgow #21927.224.2%411
12University of SheffieldSheffield #23826.123.4%339
13University of BristolBristol #28323.817.0%343
14University of BirminghamBirmingham #30422.825.8%316
15University of ExeterExeter #31922.222.8%223
16University of LeedsLeeds #33321.618.4%271
17University of WarwickCoventry #36020.519.7%411
18University of StrathclydeGlasgow #37819.917.9%237
19University of YorkYork #40119.126.1%210
20Diamond Light SourceDidcot #42018.416.5%107
21Heriot-Watt UniversityEdinburgh #42718.215.6%142
22Queen Mary University of LondonLondon #48616.537.4%316
23Rutherford Appleton LaboratoryDidcot #50815.919.4%198
24University of St AndrewsSt Andrews #52715.417.3%190
25Lancaster UniversityLancaster #53015.317.9%186
26Newcastle UniversityNewcastle upon Tyne #53815.127.5%146
27University of LiverpoolLiverpool #54914.827.3%278
28University of SurreyGuildford #57214.324.0%212
29Royal ObservatoryEdinburgh #60113.642.4%109
30Queen's University BelfastBelfast #60913.421.4%154
31University of SussexBrighton #61013.435.5%160
32Cardiff UniversityCardiff #64312.719.1%220
33National Physical LaboratoryLondon #7929.913.8%94
34University of HertfordshireHatfield #7969.837.4%109
35University of BathBath #7999.814.5%133
36Aston UniversityBirmingham #8009.711.2%84
37Loughborough UniversityLoughborough #8758.511.8%95
38Liverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpool #9048.131.6%94
39University of PortsmouthPortsmouth #9277.830.5%147
40Swansea UniversitySwansea #1,0566.039.3%129
41UK Astronomy Technology CentreEdinburgh #1,0655.936.2%60
42Royal Holloway University of LondonEgham #1,1544.826.4%66
43University of LeicesterLeicester #1,1884.418.9%176
44Northumbria UniversityNewcastle upon Tyne #1,3312.920.5%106
45University of KentCanterbury #1,3392.812.8%77
46The Open UniversityMilton Keynes #1,3682.512.3%136
47Culham Science CentreAbingdon #1,3862.355.3%61
48United Kingdom Atomic Energy AuthorityAbingdon #1,4351.942.2%72
49University of ReadingReading #1,495130.013.7%61
50Maxwell Institute for Mathematical SciencesEdinburgh #1,55379.036.6%61
51Oldham CouncilOldham #1,61427.01.6%88
52Lumen (United Kingdom)London #1,6359.00.0%132

Institutions in United Kingdom above the floor of 40 fractional works in Physics and Astronomy, ordered by their worldwide rank on research quality, 2022–2025.

Who are the top Physics and Astronomy researchers in United Kingdom?

P. J. Bell, G. A. Chelkov and T. Ekelöf rank highest among researchers based in United Kingdom.

  1. 1P. J. Bell#221 worldwide overall5.4k citations · 179 works
  2. 2G. A. Chelkov#314 worldwide overall5.5k citations · 225 works
  3. 3T. Ekelöf#352 worldwide overall5k citations · 207 works
  4. 4F. J. Wickens#379 worldwide overall5.9k citations · 268 works
  5. 5A. Cattai#418 worldwide overall4.6k citations · 185 works
  6. 6I. Bloch#558 worldwide overall4.6k citations · 191 works
  7. 7T. Greenshaw#852 worldwide overall4.2k citations · 180 works
  8. 8D. Axen#866 worldwide overall4k citations · 165 works
  9. 9T. Barillari#994 worldwide overall4.8k citations · 237 works
  10. 10D. Bailey#1,000 worldwide overall4.9k citations · 233 works
  11. 11C. Liu#1,133 worldwide overall4k citations · 186 works
  12. 12J. E. Sundermann#1,157 worldwide overall4.4k citations · 205 works
  13. 13Carlos S. Frenk#1,207 worldwide overall4.8k citations · 213 works
  14. 14F. Ë. Taylor#1,316 worldwide overall3.8k citations · 178 works
  15. 15N. Barlow#1,326 worldwide overall6.2k citations · 335 works

How United Kingdom compares with other countries in Physics and Astronomy