The best universities for Applied psychology
A student-opinion league table using only what recent undergraduates said in the National Student Survey—not research reputation, entry grades or staff ratios.
Teesside University, followed by University of Sunderland and Leeds Trinity University make up the leading three for Applied psychology in our 2026 student-view ranking.
Unlike a conventional university guide, this list makes one narrow comparison: how positively recent students described their course experience. The score gives equal influence to the 26 questions shared across all three NSS files and averages 2025 with 2026 wherever both are published. Because this subject has 34 current providers, the analysis below compares the leading five with the whole provider field.
Why Teesside University leads—and where the next four stand out
This comparison uses all 34 current providers, not only universities. It identifies the NSS questions where each leading university is furthest above the subject peer average.
Teesside University
It holds the same position as in the previous 2024+2025 table. It is position 1 when every current provider is included.
- Learning opportunitiesBalance of directed and independent study
100.0% positive—24.0 percentage points above the 76.0% all-provider peer average.
- Assessment and feedbackFeedback helps improvement
96.5% positive—23.4 percentage points above the 73.1% all-provider peer average.
University of Sunderland
Where it stands out: Feedback helps improvement is 100.0%, which is 27.0 points above the 73.0% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 2 when all 34 providers are included. It is new to the current table because it has eligible 2026 data but no comparable prior position.
Leeds Trinity University
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 87.6%, which is 19.8 points above the 67.8% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 3 when all 34 providers are included. It has climbed 9 places from 12 in the previous table.
University of Winchester
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 87.5%, which is 19.7 points above the 67.8% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 4 when all 34 providers are included. It has climbed 1 place from 5 in the previous table.
University of Lancashire
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 90.6%, which is 22.9 points above the 67.7% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 5 when all 34 providers are included. It has climbed 11 places from 16 in the previous table.
“Above average” compares each provider with every other current provider in this subject. It describes relative NSS strength, not course content, admissions or graduate outcomes.
Top 10 for Applied psychology
Current positions use the 2025+2026 window. Previous positions use 2024+2025; “New” means no eligible prior comparison.
| Current pos.2025+2026 table | Previous pos.2024+2025 table | Change | University | Score | Current score data | Questions | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12024–2025 average | — | Teesside University2025–2026 average | 95.31% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 2 | —Not ranked | New | University of Sunderland2026 only | 91.08% | 2026 only | 26 / 26 | |
| 3 | 122024–2025 average | ↑ 9 | Leeds Trinity University2025–2026 average | 90.35% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 4 | 52024–2025 average | ↑ 1 | University of Winchester2025–2026 average | 90.27% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 5 | 162024–2025 average | ↑ 11 | University of Lancashire2025–2026 average | 89.85% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 6 | 22024–2025 average | ↓ 4 | The University of Chichester2025–2026 average | 88.32% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 7 | 42024–2025 average | ↓ 3 | The University of Essex2025–2026 average | 87.75% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 8 | 62024–2025 average | ↓ 2 | University of the Arts, London2025–2026 average | 85.65% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 9 | 112024–2025 average | ↑ 2 | Liverpool John Moores University2025–2026 average | 85.38% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 10 | 202024–2025 average | ↑ 10 | Coventry University2025–2026 average | 85.19% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 |
Universities are shown by default. The site-wide switch can include every current NSS provider in this live top ten.
See the complete Applied psychology ranking →One source. One clear point of view.
The National Student Survey asks final-year undergraduates about teaching, learning opportunities, assessment and feedback, support, organisation, resources, student voice, their students’ union and wellbeing information.
We do not add research output, selectivity, institutional spending, staff ratios or graduate salary data. Those measures may be useful elsewhere, but they cannot change what former students said about studying this subject.
Read the complete methodology →About this Applied psychology ranking
What leads the Applied psychology ranking in 2026?
Teesside University is first among universities, with an NSS-based score of 95.31%. The result reflects student opinion across the common questions, not a prediction of which institution will suit every applicant.
Why average two NSS years?
Averaging 2025 and 2026 makes the result less sensitive to one unusual cohort. A provider must have published 2026 data to enter the current table; a 2026-only entrant is included and labelled “New”.
Where can I see every university?
The full Applied psychology ranking contains every eligible university or, when the provider switch is enabled, every eligible NSS provider.