The best universities for Physics
A student-opinion league table using only what recent undergraduates said in the National Student Survey—not research reputation, entry grades or staff ratios.
Nottingham Trent University, followed by Loughborough University and University of St Andrews make up the leading three for Physics 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 48 current providers, the analysis below compares the leading five with the whole provider field.
Why Nottingham Trent University leads—and where the next four stand out
This comparison uses all 48 current providers, not only universities. It identifies the NSS questions where each leading university is furthest above the subject peer average.
Nottingham Trent University
It has climbed 5 places from 6 in the previous table. It is position 1 when every current provider is included.
- Assessment and feedbackFeedback helps improvement
95.5% positive—24.7 percentage points above the 70.8% all-provider peer average.
- Assessment and feedbackAssessments demonstrate learning
97.8% positive—16.9 percentage points above the 80.9% all-provider peer average.
Loughborough University
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 94.0%, which is 26.6 points above the 67.4% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 2 when all 48 providers are included. It has climbed 6 places from 8 in the previous table.
University of St Andrews
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 84.0%, which is 16.4 points above the 67.6% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 3 when all 48 providers are included. It holds the same position as in the previous 2024+2025 table.
The University of Leicester
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 95.5%, which is 15.2 points above the 80.3% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 4 when all 48 providers are included. It has climbed 5 places from 9 in the previous table.
University of Keele
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 92.3%, which is 24.9 points above the 67.4% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 5 when all 48 providers are included. It has climbed 12 places from 17 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 Physics
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 | 62024–2025 average | ↑ 5 | Nottingham Trent University2025–2026 average | 92.39% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 2 | 82024–2025 average | ↑ 6 | Loughborough University2025–2026 average | 91.61% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 3 | 32024–2025 average | — | University of St Andrews2025–2026 average | 91.20% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 4 | 92024–2025 average | ↑ 5 | The University of Leicester2025–2026 average | 90.84% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 5 | 172024–2025 average | ↑ 12 | University of Keele2025–2026 average | 90.79% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 6 | 52024–2025 average | ↓ 1 | The University of Lancaster2025–2026 average | 90.04% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 7 | 42024–2025 average | ↓ 3 | The University of Hull2025–2026 average | 89.51% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 8 | 72024–2025 average | ↓ 1 | Royal Holloway and Bedford New College2025–2026 average | 88.60% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 9 | 182024–2025 average | ↑ 9 | Swansea University2025–2026 average | 88.51% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 10 | 252024–2025 average | ↑ 15 | The University of Birmingham2025–2026 average | 88.21% | 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 Physics 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 Physics ranking
What leads the Physics ranking in 2026?
Nottingham Trent University is first among universities, with an NSS-based score of 92.39%. 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 Physics ranking contains every eligible university or, when the provider switch is enabled, every eligible NSS provider.