The best universities for Management studies
A student-opinion league table using only what recent undergraduates said in the National Student Survey—not research reputation, entry grades or staff ratios.
Buckinghamshire New University, followed by De Montfort University and University of Staffordshire make up the leading three for Management studies 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 88 current providers, the analysis below compares the leading five with the whole provider field.
Why Buckinghamshire New University leads—and where the next four stand out
This comparison uses all 88 current providers, not only universities. It identifies the NSS questions where each leading university is furthest above the subject peer average.
Buckinghamshire New University
It is new to the current table because it has eligible 2026 data but no comparable prior position. It is position 3 when every current provider is included.
- Student voiceStudent feedback is acted on
95.0% positive—23.7 percentage points above the 71.3% all-provider peer average.
- Assessment and feedbackFeedback helps improvement
95.7% positive—19.9 percentage points above the 75.8% all-provider peer average.
De Montfort University
Where it stands out: Feedback helps improvement is 97.8%, which is 22.0 points above the 75.8% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 5 when all 88 providers are included. It has climbed 8 places from 10 in the previous table.
University of Staffordshire
Where it stands out: Course is intellectually stimulating is 94.5%, which is 14.2 points above the 80.3% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 7 when all 88 providers are included. It has climbed 3 places from 6 in the previous table.
London Metropolitan University
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 90.7%, which is 19.3 points above the 71.4% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 8 when all 88 providers are included. It has climbed 5 places from 9 in the previous table.
University of Wales: Trinity Saint David
Where it stands out: Feedback helps improvement is 91.4%, which is 15.6 points above the 75.8% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 11 when all 88 providers are included. It has fallen 3 places from 2 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 Management studies
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 | —Not ranked | New | Buckinghamshire New University2026 only | 94.70% | 2026 only | 26 / 26 | |
| 2 | 102024–2025 average | ↑ 8 | De Montfort University2025–2026 average | 94.19% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 3 | 62024–2025 average | ↑ 3 | University of Staffordshire2025–2026 average | 93.42% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 4 | 92024–2025 average | ↑ 5 | London Metropolitan University2025–2026 average | 93.16% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 5 | 22024–2025 average | ↓ 3 | University of Wales: Trinity Saint David2025–2026 average | 91.48% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 6 | 52024–2025 average | ↓ 1 | Prifysgol Aberystwyth2025–2026 average | 90.66% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 7 | 182024–2025 average | ↑ 11 | Edge Hill University2025–2026 average | 89.92% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 8 | 112024–2025 average | ↑ 3 | Coventry University2025–2026 average | 89.63% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 9 | 82024–2025 average | ↓ 1 | The University of Warwick2025–2026 average | 89.44% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 10 | 392024–2025 average | ↑ 29 | University of the West of England, Bristol2025–2026 average | 89.18% | 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 Management studies 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 Management studies ranking
What leads the Management studies ranking in 2026?
Buckinghamshire New University is first among universities, with an NSS-based score of 94.70%. 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 Management studies ranking contains every eligible university or, when the provider switch is enabled, every eligible NSS provider.