Best UK Universities for Theology & Religious Studies 2027 — Complete University Guide Rankings

Theology & Religious Studies examines the world’s major religions academically. The CUG ranks 17 universities, all of which we present below. Durham University leads with a perfect 100 overall.

Top Universities — Theology & Religious Studies

Rank	University	Overall	Entry	Satisfaction	Research	Grad Prospects
1	Durham University	100	82	85	83	92
2	University of St Andrews	100	100	89	74	n/a
3	University of Cambridge	99	95	80	84	82
4	University of Oxford	99	96	85	78	84
5	University of Exeter	95	74	88	90	68
6	University of Manchester	95	76	82	76	n/a
7	Cardiff University	95	69	88	76	84
8	University of Birmingham	94	69	82	87	78
9	King’s College London	94	77	78	88	76
10	University of Edinburgh	93	84	78	81	78
11	University of Bristol	93	76	81	79	76
12	University of Leeds	91	77	77	83	72
13	St Mary’s University, Twickenham	89	55	74	67	80
14	University of Glasgow	87	83	81	57	78
15	Birmingham Newman University	86	n/a	86	54	68
16	University of Chester	85	52	n/a	80	72
17	York St John University	84	54	80	56	n/a

Analysis

Theology & Religious Studies remains a classic research-led humanities subject dominated by ancient and Russell Group institutions — Durham takes sole first place with a perfect 100, with St Andrews (100) and Cambridge and Oxford (both 99) close behind. Entry standards reward the most selective: St Andrews records a perfect 100 (189 UCAS points), followed by Oxford (96) and Cambridge (95), with the Scottish-Highers effect again evident at St Andrews, Edinburgh (84) and Glasgow (83).

Research quality is the subject’s hallmark — Exeter leads on 90, followed by King’s College London (88) and Birmingham (87) — reflecting deep scholarly traditions. Student satisfaction is strong at the very top this year: St Andrews (89), Exeter and Cardiff (88), with Birmingham Newman (86) the standout among smaller faith-affiliated providers.

With only 17 universities ranked in 2027 — down from 22 the previous year, after Aberdeen, Liverpool Hope, Gloucestershire and Canterbury Christ Church dropped out for insufficient data — this is an increasingly niche field. The remaining Cathedrals Group institutions (St Mary’s Twickenham, Birmingham Newman, Chester, York St John) occupy the lower half, showing a distinct sub-sector serving faith-based and vocational study. The year’s biggest riser is Manchester, up nine places to 6th. Graduate-prospects scores are more modest (68–92) than in vocational subjects, typical of humanities.

For international students, theology offers strong transferable analytical skills; those prioritising research prestige should target Exeter, King’s College London, Birmingham, Cambridge and Durham, while Durham, St Andrews, Cambridge and Oxford lead overall.

Agent Scholarship Options

The following table highlights the top UK universities for Theology & Religious Studies based on the Complete University Guide 2027 rankings, matched with their corresponding “Agent Scholarship” or pathway opportunities. Eligible international students can apply through these links to secure exclusive corporate scholarships.

Theology & Religious Studies Rank (2027)	University Name	Agent Scholarship / Pathway Page Link
1	Durham University	Durham University Pathway Agent Scholarship
5	University of Exeter	University of Exeter Pathway Agent Scholarship
6	University of Manchester	The University of Manchester Pathway (INTO Manchester) Agent Scholarship
7	Cardiff University	Cardiff University Pathway Agent Scholarship
12	University of Leeds	University of Leeds Pathway Agent Scholarship

Notes:

University of Manchester utilizes the INTO Manchester center for its pathway provision, so the associated INTO Manchester scholarship link has been provided.

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