The best universities for Politics
A student-opinion league table using only what recent undergraduates said in the National Student Survey—not research reputation, entry grades or staff ratios.
Liverpool Hope University, followed by The University of Surrey and Nottingham Trent University make up the leading three for Politics 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 83 current providers, the analysis below compares the leading five with the whole provider field.
Why Liverpool Hope University leads—and where the next four stand out
This comparison uses all 83 current providers, not only universities. It identifies the NSS questions where each leading university is furthest above the subject peer average.
Liverpool Hope University
It has climbed 4 places from 5 in the previous table. It is position 2 when every current provider is included.
- Students' unionStudents' union represents academic interests
88.9% positive—19.5 percentage points above the 69.4% all-provider peer average.
- Student voiceStudent feedback is acted on
80.7% positive—16.5 percentage points above the 64.2% all-provider peer average.
The University of Surrey
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 87.5%, which is 23.4 points above the 64.1% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 3 when all 83 providers are included. It holds the same position as in the previous 2024+2025 table.
Nottingham Trent University
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 81.0%, which is 16.9 points above the 64.2% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 4 when all 83 providers are included. It has climbed 12 places from 15 in the previous table.
Brunel University London
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 83 providers are included. It has climbed 4 places from 8 in the previous table.
The University of West London
Where it stands out: Students' union represents academic interests is 89.5%, which is 20.2 points above the 69.4% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 6 when all 83 providers are included. It has climbed 4 places from 9 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 Politics
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 | 52024–2025 average | ↑ 4 | Liverpool Hope University2025–2026 average | 91.73% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 2 | 22024–2025 average | — | The University of Surrey2025–2026 average | 91.01% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 3 | 152024–2025 average | ↑ 12 | Nottingham Trent University2025–2026 average | 90.85% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 4 | 82024–2025 average | ↑ 4 | Brunel University London2025–2026 average | 90.78% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 5 | 92024–2025 average | ↑ 4 | The University of West London2025–2026 average | 90.34% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 6 | 182024–2025 average | ↑ 12 | University of Greenwich2025–2026 average | 88.73% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 7 | 102024–2025 average | ↑ 3 | Swansea University2025–2026 average | 88.51% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 8 | 32024–2025 average | ↓ 5 | Prifysgol Aberystwyth2025–2026 average | 88.14% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 9 | 172024–2025 average | ↑ 8 | Liverpool John Moores University2025–2026 average | 87.70% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 10 | 12024–2025 average | ↓ 9 | Coventry University2025–2026 average | 87.37% | 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 Politics 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 Politics ranking
What leads the Politics ranking in 2026?
Liverpool Hope University is first among universities, with an NSS-based score of 91.73%. 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 Politics ranking contains every eligible university or, when the provider switch is enabled, every eligible NSS provider.