National top 10 success and rankings climb in Guardian guide

Subjects taught at the University of Bradford have been ranked in the top 10 nationally in the Guardian University Guide 2026.

Bradford’s Paramedic Science programme is third nationally, while its Chemical Engineering is fifth in the prestigious guide.

Midwifery (16th), Physiotherapy (16th), Pharmacy and Pharmacology (17th), and Mental Health Nursing (19th) all made the top 20.

The University moved up 12 places in the overall rankings to 69 out of 123 institutions.

Paul Watson, Provost and Director of Teaching Excellence and Student Experience at the University of Bradford, said: “This strong performance across a wide range of subjects shows the progress we’re making as a university.

“Our results for student continuation and career prospects are especially encouraging, reflecting our core mission to improve the life chances of our students.

“Climbing 12 places this year is a fantastic achievement, and we remain committed to building on this momentum.”

How the Guardian rankings work? 

The Guardian University Guide ranks UK institutions through eight measures to compile its annual league table (published this year on September 13), including National Student Survey results, career prospects, course completion rates, graduate outcomes, how satisfied students are with teaching and student to staff ratio.

This year’s edition has new features including coverage of how AI is shaping life on campus, practical advice on using Clearing, and guidance on how to make the most of the university experience.

Bradford’s other Guardian Guide scores  

•    89.1% for continuation, meaning it has excellent rates of first year students continuing into their second year
•    78.6% of University of Bradford students were satisfied with their course and 83% were satisfied with teaching.
•    83% for career prospects after 15 months, which is the percentage of graduates who find graduate-level jobs, or are in further study at professional or higher education level, within 15 months of graduating.
•    Ten subjects have made improvements in their respective areas from the 2025 guide, with Business & Management (+37), Midwifery (+17), Chemical Engineering (+15) and Paramedic Science (+15) making the most significant gains.
•    It remains eighth nationally for the Value Added measure, which compares students’ degree results with their entry qualifications.
•    Bradford’s overall score was 53.1 out of 100.

Clearing call 

Clearing 2025 runs until October 20, offering prospective students the chance to secure a place at University. Prospective students may include those taking all Level 3 qualifications (this year or last), or mature students who want to return to education.

The University of Bradford is offering a range of services this year, including its Clearing Community Pass, which features webinars, a dedicated phone line and SMS and email updates.

Its call-lines – 08081 969129 – and self-apply form are now open. The self-apply link is also available on the Clearing website.

These rankings directly support the University of Bradford’s strategic vision to be a world-leading institution for social mobility, inclusion, and impact.

The strong performance in health and engineering subjects aligns with its goal to address societal challenges through high-quality teaching and research.

Improvements in student satisfaction and career outcomes reflect the strategy’s emphasis on student success, inclusive education and preparing graduates for meaningful careers, key pillars of the University’s 2025 strategic plan.

Ranking success 

• In August, The University of Bradford was named as University of the Year for Social Inclusion by the Daily Mail University Guide 2026.   

• Bradford was ranked 511 in the world and 47 in UK by QS World University Rankings 2026, released in June. 

• Ranked first on the Higher Education Policy Institute’s Social Mobility Index in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.