The best universities for Natural sciences (non-specific)
A student-opinion league table using only what recent undergraduates said in the National Student Survey—not research reputation, entry grades or staff ratios.
University of Exeter, followed by University of Nottingham, the and The University of Lancaster make up the leading three for Natural sciences (non-specific) 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.
Top 10 for Natural sciences (non-specific)
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 | — | University of Exeter2025–2026 average | 94.21% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 2 | 42024–2025 average | ↑ 2 | University of Nottingham, the2025–2026 average | 89.79% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 3 | 32024–2025 average | — | The University of Lancaster2025–2026 average | 86.64% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 4 | 82024–2025 average | ↑ 4 | University of Durham2025–2026 average | 86.24% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 5 | 62024–2025 average | ↑ 1 | Loughborough University2025–2026 average | 84.51% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 6 | 72024–2025 average | ↑ 1 | The University of Bath2025–2026 average | 80.91% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 7 | 102024–2025 average | ↑ 3 | The University of Leeds2025–2026 average | 79.97% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 8 | 112024–2025 average | ↑ 3 | University College London2025–2026 average | 79.45% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 9 | 92024–2025 average | — | University of York2025–2026 average | 78.83% | 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 Natural sciences (non-specific) 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 Natural sciences (non-specific) ranking
What leads the Natural sciences (non-specific) ranking in 2026?
University of Exeter is first among universities, with an NSS-based score of 94.21%. 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 Natural sciences (non-specific) ranking contains every eligible university or, when the provider switch is enabled, every eligible NSS provider.