The best universities for Zoology
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 the West of Scotland, followed by University of Stirling and Swansea University make up the leading three for Zoology 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 40 current providers, the analysis below compares the leading five with the whole provider field.
Why University of the West of Scotland leads—and where the next four stand out
This comparison uses all 40 current providers, not only universities. It identifies the NSS questions where each leading university is furthest above the subject peer average.
University of the West of Scotland
It holds the same position as in the previous 2024+2025 table. It is position 1 when every current provider is included.
- Student voiceStudent feedback is acted on
92.9% positive—27.2 percentage points above the 65.7% all-provider peer average.
- Assessment and feedbackFeedback helps improvement
97.9% positive—24.0 percentage points above the 73.9% all-provider peer average.
University of Stirling
Where it stands out: Feedback helps improvement is 96.2%, which is 22.3 points above the 73.9% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 2 when all 40 providers are included. It has climbed 17 places from 19 in the previous table.
Swansea University
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 87.8%, which is 22.0 points above the 65.8% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 3 when all 40 providers are included. It has climbed 2 places from 5 in the previous table.
University of Plymouth
Where it stands out: Students' union represents academic interests is 92.0%, which is 17.0 points above the 75.0% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 4 when all 40 providers are included. It holds the same position as in the previous 2024+2025 table.
Anglia Ruskin University
Where it stands out: Feedback helps improvement is 88.5%, which is 14.5 points above the 74.1% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 5 when all 40 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 Zoology
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 the West of Scotland2025–2026 average | 95.56% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 2 | 192024–2025 average | ↑ 17 | University of Stirling2025–2026 average | 93.25% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 3 | 52024–2025 average | ↑ 2 | Swansea University2025–2026 average | 91.50% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 4 | 42024–2025 average | — | University of Plymouth2025–2026 average | 91.13% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 5 | 62024–2025 average | ↑ 1 | Anglia Ruskin University2025–2026 average | 89.67% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 6 | 32024–2025 average | ↓ 3 | Nottingham Trent University2025–2026 average | 89.47% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 7 | 132024–2025 average | ↑ 6 | University of Derby2025–2026 average | 89.23% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 8 | 142024–2025 average | ↑ 6 | The University of Sheffield2025–2026 average | 88.16% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 9 | 22024–2025 average | ↓ 7 | University of Lincoln2025–2026 average | 87.84% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 10 | 112024–2025 average | ↑ 1 | University of Aberdeen2025–2026 average | 87.16% | 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 Zoology 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 Zoology ranking
What leads the Zoology ranking in 2026?
University of the West of Scotland is first among universities, with an NSS-based score of 95.56%. 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 Zoology ranking contains every eligible university or, when the provider switch is enabled, every eligible NSS provider.