Best Universities for History in the UK 2025

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We’ve looked at history uni rankings from our sister site, Complete University Guide, to put together a list of the top universities for history in the UK to help you make your uni choices. We’ve looked at who came top in a range of different categories, from best in their nation to best for student satisfaction.

Best university for history in student satisfaction

University of Derby

The University of Derby offers a broad range of courses, with many incorporating the opportunity to study abroad. Teaching staff have a wealth of industry experience to pass on, and the university prides itself in keeping class sizes relatively small to offer students more personalised support. Staff are involved in a range of cutting-edge research, and the university publishes highly respected research across a range of different areas.

Read what students think of history at the University of Derby.

Best university for history in research quality

University of Kent

Cashkid121, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The University of Kent is made up of two campuses, one in Medway and the other in Canterbury and has postgraduate centres in Brussels and Paris, so there’s lots of opportunity to travel and study abroad as a student here. For those in Canterbury, you’ll find the city offers beautiful cobbled streets and quirky shops alongside all the traditional offerings. Any students at the Medway campus will find a cinema and shops a short walk from the campus and benefit from being close to London and everything it has to offer students.

Read what students think of history at the University of Kent.

Best university for history in graduate outcomes

University of St Andrews

One of the world’s oldest unis, St Andrews has a history dating back to 1413. It’s located close to the town centre, which is compact and easily explorable by foot. As well as offering the normal town amenities, St Andrews has museums, a botanic garden, an aquarium and is also famous for golf courses. If this wasn’t enough to keep you entertained during your studies, the uni is also near the coast, meaning there’s plenty of opportunity to get some sea air. The uni also boasts several famous alumni including Benjamin Franklin, JM Barrie, Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Read what students think of history at the University of St Andrews.

Best university for history in England

University of Cambridge

If you’re looking for a uni with access to lots of green space, then the University of Cambridge is a strong choice, as the city has plenty of parks and green space scattered across it. The uni itself is one of the UK’s most well-respected and prestigious, and the city lives up to the uni’s reputation, with plenty of beautiful historic buildings to see. The train journey to London is around an hour, so the location is ideal for access to other parts of the UK. In the city, you’ll have the option to go on one of the boat trips down the famous River Cam, and you’ll also find plenty of galleries, museums, cinemas and theatres to keep you busy when you’re not studying. The city also has a lively nightlife scene so you can party it up with your friends.

Read what students think of history at the University of Cambridge.

Best university for history in Scotland

University of St Andrews

Not only is the University of St Andrews top in graduate outcomes, but it also ranks in the top spot overall for Scottish universities offering history courses. What an achievement!

Read what students think of history at the University of St Andrews.

Best university for history in Wales

Cardiff University

Found in Wales’ capital city, Cardiff University is a large and diverse uni. The student body represents over 100 nations and is over 20,000 strong. Students here have access to everything the capital has to offer, including great transport connections via Cardiff Station. The city features a wide choice of bars, pubs, clubs, museums, galleries and cinemas to keep students busy when not in class. Cardiff also benefits from being relatively compact, meaning you can easily explore the city and find everything you need within walking distance.

Read what students think of history at Cardiff University.

Best university for history in Northern Ireland

Queen's University Belfast

One of the UK’s top 30 universities overall according to Complete University Guide’s 2024 league tables, Queen’s University Belfast is a well-respected and renowned institution. The uni is close to the centre of Northern Ireland’s capital city Belfast, which can easily be explored by foot or on bike. For those who prefer to take a bus, there’s also a strong local transport network across the city. Belfast has a lively nightlife scene as well as plenty of entertainment to keep you busy when you’re not studying. The city is also close to spots of natural beauty such as Giant’s Causeway.