Bradford named University of the Year for Social Inclusion

The University of Bradford is today named as University of the Year for Social Inclusion in the Daily Mail University Guide 2026.

The University is also shortlisted for overall UK University of the Year 2026 and its ranking has increased to 42nd in the country (up from 48 in the 2025 guide and 49 in 2024, when the league table first launched).

The Social Inclusion award is in recognition of the outstanding work the University does to make university an attainable ambition for the widest possible cross-section of society.

Professor Shirley Congdon, University of Bradford Vice-Chancellor, said: “We are proud to be recognised for transforming life chances, especially for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

“Through Clearing, we will provide personalised opportunities for as many people as possible to study with us and support them to succeed and thrive.”

This latest accolade comes on top of Bradford’s four-year consecutive run topping the Higher Education Policy Institute’s Social Mobility Index, which measures graduate outcomes and means Bradford does more than any other English university to improve the life chances of its students.

Alastair McCall, editor of the Daily Mail University Guide, said: “Bradford has one of the most socially diverse student populations of any University, reflective of the social and ethnic diversity of the city in which it stands, with 70 per cent of students the first in their immediate family to go to University.

“It recognises, however, that just admitting students to University is not enough, striving to ensure students go on to achieve highly, too.

“It is no accident that for four successive years Bradford has been recognised as the university that contributes most to social mobility when measuring the social distance travelled by its graduates.

“The University’s mission for social inclusion extends way beyond its recruitment strategy, however, and is evident across a spread of teaching, research and community initiatives.”

Clearing commitment 

The University of Bradford’s recognition as University of the Year for Social Inclusion by the Daily Mail underscores its commitment to transforming lives and that commitment is front and centre during Clearing. 

With contextual offers, tailored support, and the innovative Clearing Community Pass, the University is able to help students from all backgrounds access opportunity, thrive academically, and build successful futures. 

Clearing lines are open: call 08081 969129 from: 

• August 14: 8am-8pm 

• August 15: 8am-7pm 

• August 16 & 17: 9am-4pm 

• August 18-23: 9am-5pm 

• August 24: 9am-4pm 

• August 26-29: 9am-5pm 

• September 1-October 20 (Mon-Fri): 9am-5pm 

There will also be a Clearing Open Day, an in-person event on Saturday August 16, from 9am to 2.30pm, on campus. Registration is available now online

Why Bradford? 

• Bradford has been consistently named as one of the UK’s most affordable cities, in 2022 by Comparethemarket.com and again in 2025 by StudentCrowd 

• The number of FT Home First Degree (UG) students in employment or further study is 92%. 

• Bradford leads in space AI, data analytics and applied artificial intelligence, offering unique specialist courses like MSc Satellite Systems Engineering and MSc in Applied Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics 

• Career & Employability Service offers mock interviews, placements, and tailored CV help, plus up to five years support after graduation. 

Ranking success across the board 

• In June, the University was ranked 511 in the world and 47 in UK by QS World University Rankings 2026, its highest ranking since 2014. 

• It has also been ranked #1 on the Higher Education Policy Institute’s Social Mobility Index in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. 

• The University was also named University of the Year at the 2024 Social Mobility Award. 

• In May 2025, the University of Bradford was ranked highly for creating CEOs and those going into leadership roles in new research from Novuna Business Cash Flow – it was ranked 16th out of 120 UK universities. 

• In October 2024, the University won a Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 

• The University of Bradford is a University of Sanctuary, a signatory of the Care Leavers Covenant and a member of NNECL (reflecting its commitment to supporting care-experienced students)