The best universities for Pharmacy
A student-opinion league table using only what recent undergraduates said in the National Student Survey—not research reputation, entry grades or staff ratios.
Queen's University of Belfast, followed by University of Sunderland and Liverpool John Moores University make up the leading three for Pharmacy 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 32 current providers, the analysis below compares the leading five with the whole provider field.
Why Queen's University of Belfast leads—and where the next four stand out
This comparison uses all 32 current providers, not only universities. It identifies the NSS questions where each leading university is furthest above the subject peer average.
Queen's University of Belfast
It has climbed 1 place from 2 in the previous table. It is position 1 when every current provider is included.
- Organisation and managementCourse is well organised
95.7% positive—31.6 percentage points above the 64.1% all-provider peer average.
- Organisation and managementChanges are communicated well
95.8% positive—23.2 percentage points above the 72.6% all-provider peer average.
University of Sunderland
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 94.0%, which is 29.9 points above the 64.1% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 2 when all 32 providers are included. It has climbed 2 places from 4 in the previous table.
Liverpool John Moores University
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 86.3%, which is 21.2 points above the 65.1% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 3 when all 32 providers are included. It has fallen 2 places from 1 in the previous table.
Swansea University
Where it stands out: Teaching is engaging is 91.0%, which is 11.2 points above the 79.8% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 4 when all 32 providers are included. It has climbed 7 places from 11 in the previous table.
Aston University
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 77.5%, which is 12.1 points above the 65.4% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 5 when all 32 providers are included. It has climbed 9 places from 14 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 Pharmacy
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 | 22024–2025 average | ↑ 1 | Queen's University of Belfast2025–2026 average | 93.55% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 2 | 42024–2025 average | ↑ 2 | University of Sunderland2025–2026 average | 89.70% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 3 | 12024–2025 average | ↓ 2 | Liverpool John Moores University2025–2026 average | 89.26% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 4 | 112025 only | ↑ 7 | Swansea University2025–2026 average | 87.27% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 5 | 142024–2025 average | ↑ 9 | Aston University2025–2026 average | 86.19% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 6 | 72024–2025 average | ↑ 1 | University of Strathclyde2025–2026 average | 85.64% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 7 | 52024–2025 average | ↓ 2 | University of Newcastle upon Tyne2025–2026 average | 84.68% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 8 | 132024–2025 average | ↑ 5 | The University of Reading2025–2026 average | 84.13% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 9 | 122024–2025 average | ↑ 3 | Cardiff University2025–2026 average | 83.60% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 10 | 62024–2025 average | ↓ 4 | The University of East Anglia2025–2026 average | 83.60% | 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 Pharmacy 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 Pharmacy ranking
What leads the Pharmacy ranking in 2026?
Queen's University of Belfast is first among universities, with an NSS-based score of 93.55%. 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 Pharmacy ranking contains every eligible university or, when the provider switch is enabled, every eligible NSS provider.