The Sunday Times University of the Year is an annual award given to a British university or other higher education institution by The Sunday Times. The current University of the Year for 2027 is Imperial College London.
The award is given as part of the annual Times and Sunday Times University Guide since the second supplement's second edition in 1999. Though the guide contains a league table of UK universities compiled from various statistics, the award is not necessarily given to the university at the top (in fact, it only has been in 2007, 2010 and 2025). Instead, a university is chosen by a panel of experts based on all round academic excellence.
In addition to the winner, shortlisted universities are also named. A runners-up position was introduced in 2006.
From 2009 onwards, the University Guide took the year of its name from the following year (so the guide published in 2009 is known as 2010, the guide published in 2010 is known as 2011 etc.)
Although similar in name, this award has no connection to the "University of the Year" award given by Times Higher Education.
List of winners
YearWinnerRunner-upAlso shortlisted2027Imperial College LondonUniversity of Birmingham2026Durham UniversityUniversity of StrathclydeUniversity of BathUniversity of Birmingham2025London School of Economics and Political ScienceUniversity of SheffieldDurham University University of Leicester University of Warwick2024University College LondonUniversity of ExeterUniversity of Buckingham University of LiverpoolLondon School of Economics and Political Science University of York2023University of BathUniversity of ExeterUniversity of Birmingham University of Oxford University of Surrey2022Imperial College LondonUniversity of WarwickEdge Hill UniversityUlster UniversityUniversity of York2021University of OxfordQueen Mary, University of LondonUniversity of BathCoventry UniversityUniversity of Strathclyde2020University of St AndrewsHarper Adams UniversityLondon School of Economics and Political ScienceRoyal Holloway, University of LondonStaffordshire University2019Loughborough UniversitySwansea UniversityUniversity of AberdeenUniversity of NottinghamUniversity of St Andrews2018Lancaster UniversityLoughborough UniversityUniversity of EssexUniversity of GlasgowUniversity of Nottingham2017University of LeedsUniversity of St AndrewsUniversity of Dundee2016University of SurreyUniversity of LeedsDurham University Imperial College London University of Kent2015University of WarwickUniversity of LeedsCoventry UniversityLoughborough UniversityUniversity of St Andrews2014Alastair McCall, Birmingham is on the move: Taking the stress out of results day helped our University of the Year stand out from the rest, says Alastair McCall', The Sunday Times, 30 September 2013, University Guide 2014 sectionUniversity of BirminghamUniversity of LeicesterCoventry UniversityUniversity of St AndrewsUniversity of Surrey2013University of ExeterUniversity of LeicesterPlymouth University2012Alastair McCall, 'University of Bath University of the Year', The Sunday Times, 11 September 2011, University Guide 2012 sectionUniversity of BathUniversity of ExeterUniversity of LeedsThe Robert Gordon UniversityUniversity of Surrey2011Alastair McCall, 'King's Takes Academic Crown', The Sunday Times, 12 September 2009, University Guide 2011 section, p. 2King's College LondonUniversity of NottinghamEdge Hill UniversityUniversity of ExeterLondon School of Economics and Political ScienceOxford Brookes University2010(Published 2009)University of OxfordUniversity College LondonUniversity of BirminghamEdge Hill UniversityUniversity of GlasgowUniversity of Stirling2009 Change in name to represent forthcoming year.2008Loughborough UniversityImperial College LondonAston UniversityUniversity of SheffieldUniversity of Southampton2007University of CambridgeUniversity of St AndrewsEdge Hill UniversityHarper Adams University CollegeUniversity of LeicesterQueen's University Belfast2006University of ManchesterUniversity of ExeterKing's College LondonLancaster UniversityUniversity of St Andrews2005Durham UniversityUniversity of BathUniversity of East AngliaUniversity of HullLoughborough University2004University College LondonUniversity of DundeeDurham UniversityKingston UniversityUniversity of Manchester2003University of YorkCardiff UniversityUniversity of ExeterLoughborough UniversityOxford Brookes University2002University of St AndrewsThe London InstituteUniversity of PlymouthUniversity of SouthamptonUniversity of Warwick2001University of SheffieldUniversity of ExeterThe London InstituteOxford Brookes UniversityUniversity of UlsterUniversity of Warwick2000University of Newcastle upon TyneUniversity of BathKingston UniversityUniversity of NottinghamUniversity of York1999University of BrightonUniversity of BristolLoughborough UniversityUniversity of Northumbria at Newcastle
Universities with multiple appearances
+ Universities with 3+ Shortlists University Shortlists University of Bath 4 Edge Hill University University of St Andrews University of Birmingham 3 Coventry University Durham University University of Exeter Imperial College London London School of Economics and Political Science Loughborough University University of Nottingham Oxford Brookes UniversityUniversity of SurreyUniversity of WarwickUniversity of York
+ Universities with 2+ Runner-ups University Runner-Ups University of Exeter 4 University of Leeds 2University of LeicesterUniversity of St Andrews
+ Universities with 2+ Wins University WinsUniversity of Bath 2 Durham UniversityImperial College London Loughborough UniversityUniversity of OxfordUniversity of St AndrewsUniversity College London
References