The best universities for Physiotherapy
A student-opinion league table using only what recent undergraduates said in the National Student Survey—not research reputation, entry grades or staff ratios.
Leeds Beckett University, followed by Robert Gordon University and The University of Hull make up the leading three for Physiotherapy 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 55 current providers, the analysis below compares the leading five with the whole provider field.
Why Leeds Beckett University leads—and where the next four stand out
This comparison uses all 55 current providers, not only universities. It identifies the NSS questions where each leading university is furthest above the subject peer average.
Leeds Beckett University
It holds the same position as in the previous 2024+2025 table. It is position 1 when every current provider is included.
- Organisation and managementCourse is well organised
95.5% positive—21.4 percentage points above the 74.1% all-provider peer average.
- Assessment and feedbackClear marking criteria
97.0% positive—17.8 percentage points above the 79.1% all-provider peer average.
Robert Gordon University
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 96.2%, which is 22.2 points above the 74.0% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 2 when all 55 providers are included. It has climbed 2 places from 4 in the previous table.
The University of Hull
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 94.1%, which is 20.0 points above the 74.1% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 3 when all 55 providers are included. It has climbed 4 places from 7 in the previous table.
The University of Leicester
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 94.7%, which is 20.6 points above the 74.1% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 4 when all 55 providers are included. It has fallen 2 places from 2 in the previous table.
York St John University
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 91.8%, which is 17.6 points above the 74.1% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 5 when all 55 providers are included. It has climbed 1 place from 6 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 Physiotherapy
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 | — | Leeds Beckett University2025–2026 average | 95.50% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 2 | 42024–2025 average | ↑ 2 | Robert Gordon University2025–2026 average | 95.34% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 3 | 72024–2025 average | ↑ 4 | The University of Hull2025–2026 average | 95.02% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 4 | 22024–2025 average | ↓ 2 | The University of Leicester2025–2026 average | 94.92% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 5 | 62024–2025 average | ↑ 1 | York St John University2025–2026 average | 93.87% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 6 | —Not ranked | New | University of South Wales/Prifysgol De Cymru2026 only | 93.87% | 2026 only | 26 / 26 | |
| 7 | 32024–2025 average | ↓ 4 | University of Salford, the2025–2026 average | 93.74% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 8 | —Not ranked | New | Birmingham Newman University2026 only | 93.60% | 2026 only | 26 / 26 | |
| 9 | 142024–2025 average | ↑ 5 | The University of Liverpool2025–2026 average | 93.50% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 10 | 122024–2025 average | ↑ 2 | University of Hertfordshire2025–2026 average | 92.93% | 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 Physiotherapy 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 Physiotherapy ranking
What leads the Physiotherapy ranking in 2026?
Leeds Beckett University is first among universities, with an NSS-based score of 95.50%. 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 Physiotherapy ranking contains every eligible university or, when the provider switch is enabled, every eligible NSS provider.