York climbs rankings in The Complete University Guide 2026

Posted on Tuesday 10 June 2025

York climbed five places in The Complete University Guide (CUG) 2026, and also claimed the top spot in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The annual league table is aimed at guiding prospective students in their higher education decision making - which ranks 130 universities throughout the UK.

The main league table is based on a range of criteria including entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, spending on student facilities and graduate prospects.

Want to get a feel for what university life is all about?                          Booking is now open for our Open Days. You can sign up for undergraduate event updates to be the first to hear when our September dates are announced, and when booking opens for them. Our undergraduate campus tours offer a fantastic opportunity to see our vibrant campus and imagine yourself living and learning here. Visit our campus tour pages for more information.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charlie Jeffery, said: “Our ranking marks a significant step forward, showing strong momentum as we push towards the top 10

“These results reflect the hard work and dedication of our community and underscores our commitment to innovative teaching and learning and strong student support amid a vibrant research culture.

“If you are thinking about university, do come visit us and find out what makes York so special.”

High standards

Professor Amanda Chetwynd, Chair of the Complete University Guide Advisory Board, said: “Our methodology draws on a range of trusted, independent measures that reflect the factors students care most about, including teaching quality, student satisfaction and graduate outcomes.

“The close competition within the top 20 highlights the consistently high standards across UK higher education.”