Glasgow Caledonian ranked top modern university in the UK by Times and Sunday Times Guide

Glasgow Caledonian University has been recognised as the UK’s leading modern institution, named the top-ranked modern university in the UK in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.

This national recognition is accompanied by another significant milestone, as Glasgow Caledonian has climbed into the UK top 40 in the 2026 Guide. We now stand at 36th place out of all universities in the UK, further cementing our position as Scotland’s leading modern (post-1992) university.

This year’s success builds on our strong track record, following Glasgow Caledonian being named the UK’s top-performing modern university and University of the Year for Graduate Jobs in the Daily Mail University Guide 2026.

Our subject-level performance also continues to excel, with the institution ranked as the UK’s leading university in key areas including physiotherapy and subjects allied to medicine, reflecting the strength of our education, research and partnerships in these vital fields.

Professor Steve Decent, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Glasgow Caledonian University has been ranked the UK’s top modern university in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026. This prestigious recognition highlights the dedication, talent and excellence of our whole University community.

“Alongside this, our top-40 ranking is a clear reflection of the hard work and commitment of our students and staff. Our focus on transforming lives through accessible, impactful education and research continues to drive us forward. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our exceptional colleagues whose unwavering dedication has made this outstanding achievement possible.”

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide is regarded as one of the most influential resources for prospective students considering higher education in the UK. Glasgow Caledonian’s strong showing this year is underpinned by excellent performance across entry standards, First and 2:1, graduate prospects, research, and People & Planet.

Elsewhere, the Guardian University Guide 2026 placed Glasgow Caledonian 105th in the UK, a change of 59 places from last year. While the overall ranking has dropped, the University continues to perform strongly across five of the eight key metrics, including entry tariff, value added score, career prospects and satisfaction with teaching, all of which remain in the top 50 nationally. Although this ranking reflects differences in methodology, our strong performance in the Times and Sunday Times and Daily Mail guides demonstrates the University’s continued progress and national recognition as one of the UK’s most impactful modern universities.