The full ranking of Wales' universities revealed in Complete University Guide
Five of Wales' universities have risen and three fallen in the latest UK rankings that have been released today
The University of South Wales has leapt up the UK rankings
(Image: Western Mail )
Cardiff has been ranked top university in Wales again but still has the least satisfied students, according to the latest listing in the Complete University Guide out on Tuesday. The CUG rankings 2026 again put Swansea in second place and Aberystwyth in third.
The CUG has released data on what it says are the best universities in the UK, based on markers including drop out rates, student satisfaction and staff student ratios as well as graduate outcomes. Five of the eight Welsh universities have risen in the CUG rankings this year and three have fallen.
The University of South Wales has leapt up 18 places from 95th to 77th in UK but remains number six in Wales. Wrexham Glyndwr languishes at the bottom of the list for Wales. It ranks 129th in the UK but is up one place compared to 130 last year.
Cardiff is now listed as 22nd in the UK, up five on last year. Swansea in second place for Wales comes 40th in the UK, down three places on last year while Aberystwyth in third for Wales has fallen three places to 45th in the UK.
Bangor has overtaken Cardiff Metropolitan University to fourth place in Wales soaring 15 places up to 53rd in the UK compared to 68th last year.
Each summer term the Complete University Guide publishes its UK university and subject league tables which it says aims to help prospective students make choices about weighing up late decisions or exploring Clearing options. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
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As in previous years the CUG tables for Wales are almost entirely reversed for student satisfaction with the lowest CUG ranking universities scoring best on that measure.
Cardiff and Swansea lead the list on graduate prospects Cardiff Metropolitan University with USW in third place and Bangor fourth on that score.
Drop out rates are highest at Wrexham, followed by Cardiff Met and then the University of Wales Trinity St David. Cardiff University scores best on students continuing their studies.
How all Wales' eight universities rank in the CUG 2026
Cardiff (22 in UK up 5)
Swansea (40 in UK down 3)
Aberysywyth (45 in UK down 3)
Bangor (53 in UK up 15)
Cardiff Metropolitan University (66 in UK down 4)
University of South Wales (77 in UK up 18)
UWTSD (110 in UK up 17)
Wrexham (129 in UK up one)
Satisfaction score
Wrexham 3.30
UWTSD 3.27
Aberystwyth 3.23
Cardiff Met 3.15
USW 3.14
Swansea/Bangor joint 3.10
Cardiff 3.04
Best for Student/staff ratio
Cardiff
Aberystwyth
Swansea
Bangor
USW
Cardiff Met
Wrexham
Graduate prospects and outcome CUG scores
Cardiff 84.4
Swansea 80.1
Cardiff Met 73.5
Wrexham 70.9
University of South Wales 69.7
Bangor 69.2
Wrexham 70.9
Students continuing their course CUG scores
Cardiff 94.7
Swansea 91.4
Aberystwyth 92.3
Bangor 89.3
USW 89.1
UWTSD 88.3
Cardiff Met 87.3
Wrexham 80.7
The top 10 UK university according to CUG:
1. Cambridge
2. Oxford
3. London School of Economics
4. St Andrew's
5. Durham
6. Imperial
7. Loughborough
8. Bath
9. Warwick
10. Lancaster
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