Rankings, awards and achievements
Source: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/rankings/ Parent: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/international/
Since our foundation in 1963, we’ve built a global reputation for academic excellence and a commitment to tackling the world’s most pressing challenges.
Rankings highlight strengths in teaching, research and global impact – but our true measure of success is how we perform against our founding values: excellence, equality and opportunity for all. As a University for Public Good, we harness knowledge to create a fairer, more just and sustainable world.
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York, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial
We're one of only four UK universities to be rated both Gold for teaching and top ten for research in the latest national assessment exercises.
Gold for teaching
Overall rating of Gold in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
See why York is gold-rated for teaching
Top ten for research
Awarded joint 10th in the Times Higher Education (THE) ranking of the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).
Explore our research performance
Key figures
12th in the Complete University Guide 2026
We climbed five places from last year and ranked first in the Yorkshire and Humber region. \ Learn more
20th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026
Ten of our subjects are ranked in the top ten. \ Learn more
15th in the UK for Climate Action in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025
We're also ranked joint 77th in the world out of 1,089 universities from 105 countries/territories.\ Learn more
Key facts
Our commitment to gender equality is recognised with a bronze institutional award and 22 departmental awards (including four golds) from Athena Swan.
Community University of the Year
Our York Festival of Ideas earned us Community University of the Year from The Mail University Guide 2026, proving how our spirit powers opportunity for all.
Top 2% in the world for sustainability
We're ranked 15th in the UK and 39th globally in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026. We achieved the number one global position for governance.
Rankings
Times Higher Education World University Rankings
In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, we are ranked:
- In the top 8% globally, ranked joint 154th out of 2,191 institutions.
- 120th in the world for 'international outlook'
- 20th in the UK.
In the Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings 2026, we are ranked:
- 62nd in the world for arts and humanities
- Top 175 in the world for life sciences
- Top 150 in the world for social sciences.
QS World University Rankings
- We’re 169th out of 1,501 institutions in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
- In the QS World University Rankings 2025 by Subject, covering 1,758 institutions across 55 specific subjects:
- We're ranked 75th in the world for Arts and Humanities (one of five broad subject groupings in the QS World University Rankings 2025 by Subject).
- Three of our subjects are in the global top 50 and nine are in the top 100.
Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings
In the 2026 edition of the Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings (ISR), we are ranked:
- In the top 10% globally, ranking =77th out 911 ranked institutions.
This ranking measures universities’ contributions and commitment to interdisciplinary science. It includes 11 performance indicators to assess institutions across three key areas in the life cycle of research projects:
- inputs (funding)
- process (measures of success, facilities, administrative support and promotion)
- outputs (publications, research quality and reputation).
Times Higher Education Impact Rankings
In the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025 we are ranked:
- 15th in the UK and =70th in the world for SDG 13 Climate action (recognising our efforts in addressing climate-related hazards, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing adaptive capacity through robust research and effective campus policies).
- In the banding 201–300 out of 2,526 institutions worldwide.
This global performance league table assesses universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Our city: Regularly named one of the best places to live and visit
York is a vibrant and welcoming city, celebrated for its rich heritage, winding medieval streets and outstanding art scene. 2,000-year-old York offers something for everyone. Recent accolades include:
- One of the happiest places to live in Britain by The Guardian (2025).
- UK's friendliest city by Aviva (2025).
- Britain’s most desirable place to live according to a study by housebuyers4u (2024).
Awards
200+ York researchers have been named among some of the best scientists in the world.
The leadership and management of the University’s programmes for teacher training was rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Our Department of Chemistry has been honoured with a Royal Society of Chemistry Horizon Prize for their innovative work to decolonise curriculums worldwide.
Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education
York is a six-time recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education for research in the following departments and centres:
- York Structural Biology Laboratory (YSBL)- Department of Archaeology- Department of Computer Science- Centre for Health Economics (CHE)- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products (CNAP)- Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU)
Times Higher Education Awards
Our people and projects continue to win prestigious Times Higher Education Awards:
- 2023: Oustanding Technician of the Year, awarded to Jason Daff, Department of Biology- 2022: International Collaboration of the Year
- 2015: Best Development and Alumni Relations team
- 2012: Outstanding Support for Early Career Researchers
- 2011: Outstanding Engineering Research Team, member of the Widening Participation Initiative of the Year partnership
- 2010: University of the Year
- 2009: Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development
Shortlisted for University of the Year awards
We've been shortlisted for prestigious University of the Year awards three times in the past five years:
- 2023: Times Higher Education Awards
- 2022: The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide
- 2021: Times Higher Education Awards
Community University of the Year
We’re proud to be named Community University of the Year by The Mail University Guide 2026, in celebration of our annual York Festival of Ideas.
Our community is more than a place for learning – it’s a force for positive change.
We believe in bringing people together to make a meaningful impact, both locally in York and across the globe. With a vibrant community of students, staff, alumni and partners, we offer something for everyone. At York, there’s a place here for you.
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