Glasgow Caledonian named UK’s University of the Year for Graduate Jobs and top modern university once again
Glasgow Caledonian University has been named the UK’s University of the Year for Graduate Jobs 2026 in the prestigious Daily Mail University Guide – and has once again secured its position as the top-ranked modern university in the UK.
The University has climbed to 36th equal in the overall UK rankings, rising four places from last year and continuing to lead the 71 modern universities across the country – those institutions established since 1992.
This latest recognition reinforces Glasgow Caledonian’s continued excellence in preparing students for successful futures, particularly in graduate employment. As the University of the Year for Graduate Jobs, GCU stands out nationally for its success in placing graduates into high-skilled roles, a long-standing strength of the institution.
The Daily Mail University Guide ranking is based on 12 key performance indicators, including student satisfaction with teaching and support, graduate outcomes and salaries, research quality, degree results, social mobility, and more. Notably, it uniquely measures universities’ contributions to social mobility through the proportion of first-generation students they admit.
Alastair McCall, editor of the Daily Mail University Guide, said: “Last year’s winner of the Daily Mail Modern University of the Year award has taken on – and beaten – universities of all ages to win the Daily Mail University of the Year for Graduate Jobs 2026 title.
“Under our analysis of graduate destinations, Glasgow Caledonian University ranks joint 14th in the UK for the proportion of graduates securing high-skilled jobs – achieved by more than four in five students.
“That is exceptional in itself. What sets GCU’s success apart, however, is a student profile very different from any other university in the UK top 20 for graduate destinations. GCU recruits more students from homes in the most deprived 20% of Scottish postcodes than any other university – and those students share in the university’s success in the graduate jobs market.
“Bespoke schemes also target particular groups of students, such as Grow Aspire Lead (GAL), which is aimed at female students to encourage them towards challenging careers. Students can also access the careers service for up to two years after graduating to help them launch successfully into the working world.
“For the efforts GCU takes to ensure that success at all levels is an option for every student, GCU is the Daily Mail’s University of the Year for Graduate Jobs.”
Professor Steve Decent, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “We’re proud to be named the UK’s University of the Year for Graduate Jobs – a recognition of the talent and ambition of our students, and the dedication of our staff. This is also another endorsement of our position as the leading modern university in Scotland and the UK.
“Our mission is to provide excellent, accessible education and impactful research that transforms lives and communities. These rankings reflect our unwavering commitment to that mission – to deliver opportunity, drive social mobility,and support the economic and social wellbeing of Glasgow, Scotland and beyond.”
Ellen Gibson, Head of Careers at Glasgow Caledonian, said: “This is a tremendous accolade for GCU and a testament to the outstanding work of our Careers Service in supporting our exceptional students into graduate employment. I’m particularly proud of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programmes, which play a vital role in enhancing student employability and ensuring fair access to opportunity.
“Among the standout initiatives is GAL, but we also host the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Careers Festival, delivered in partnership with the GCU Students’ Association, which offers targeted support and networking opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds. In addition, our new programme supporting neurodiverse students − particularly those with autism spectrum disorder − helps ease the transition into employment and reflects our inclusive approach to careers education.
“These initiatives exemplify GCU’s commitment to creating equitable opportunities for all students, ensuring every graduate is equipped to thrive in the workplace.”