The best universities for Earth sciences
A student-opinion league table using only what recent undergraduates said in the National Student Survey—not research reputation, entry grades or staff ratios.
Cardiff University, followed by University of Aberdeen and The University of Leicester make up the leading three for Earth sciences 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 28 current providers, the analysis below compares the leading five with the whole provider field.
Why Cardiff University leads—and where the next four stand out
This comparison uses all 28 current providers, not only universities. It identifies the NSS questions where each leading university is furthest above the subject peer average.
Cardiff University
It has climbed 8 places from 9 in the previous table. It is position 2 when every current provider is included.
- Students' unionStudents' union represents academic interests
89.8% positive—21.8 percentage points above the 68.0% all-provider peer average.
- Learning resourcesIT resources support learning
100.0% positive—11.0 percentage points above the 89.0% all-provider peer average.
University of Aberdeen
Where it stands out: Feedback helps improvement is 87.8%, which is 15.2 points above the 72.6% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 3 when all 28 providers are included. It has fallen 1 place from 1 in the previous table.
The University of Leicester
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 93.7%, which is 14.5 points above the 79.2% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 4 when all 28 providers are included. It has fallen 1 place from 2 in the previous table.
Royal Holloway and Bedford New College
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 86.5%, which is 20.6 points above the 66.0% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 5 when all 28 providers are included. It has climbed 20 places from 24 in the previous table.
University of Exeter
Where it stands out: Feedback helps improvement is 88.0%, which is 15.4 points above the 72.6% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 6 when all 28 providers are included. It has fallen 2 places from 3 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 Earth sciences
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 | 92024–2025 average | ↑ 8 | Cardiff University2025–2026 average | 90.41% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 2 | 12024–2025 average | ↓ 1 | University of Aberdeen2025–2026 average | 89.91% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 3 | 22024–2025 average | ↓ 1 | The University of Leicester2025–2026 average | 89.25% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 4 | 242024–2025 average | ↑ 20 | Royal Holloway and Bedford New College2025–2026 average | 88.80% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 5 | 32024–2025 average | ↓ 2 | University of Exeter2025–2026 average | 88.75% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 6 | 212024–2025 average | ↑ 15 | The University of Reading2025–2026 average | 88.53% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 7 | —Not ranked | New | Harper Adams University2026 only | 87.05% | 2026 only | 26 / 26 | |
| 8 | 52024–2025 average | ↓ 3 | University of Bristol2025–2026 average | 86.94% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 9 | 192025 only | ↑ 10 | University of Ulster2025–2026 average | 86.80% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 10 | 272024–2025 average | ↑ 17 | University of Keele2025–2026 average | 86.10% | 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 Earth sciences 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 Earth sciences ranking
What leads the Earth sciences ranking in 2026?
Cardiff University is first among universities, with an NSS-based score of 90.41%. 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 Earth sciences ranking contains every eligible university or, when the provider switch is enabled, every eligible NSS provider.