Wales' best universities for social and campus life ranked by students
Academic work is important but not the only part of life at university. Students have ranked the best places to study in terms of campus life, nightspots, bars, sports, and clubs
Students in Cardiff having fun at the annual Varsity 2025 sports event
Students have ranked the best universities based on local nightlife, bars, societies, and campus culture. One Welsh university has made it into the top 10.
Cardiff University takes the crown as the best in Wales for student life and was ranked sixth in the UK. The student life rankings assess universities across multiple categories about student life beyond academic work including community atmosphere.
All reviews are validated using verification systems to maintain authenticity with universities requiring a minimum of 10 verified reviews to qualify for inclusion.
Uni Compare has released its 2026 university student life rankings based on 28,430 verified student reviews across 209 universities. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
Newcastle University is in the top number one place for student life out of the 100 universities on the list followed by Nottingham Trent and Liverpool John Moores.
Unicompare looked at campus culture, social experiences, and student satisfaction beyond academic performance. Since the platform started it has gathered 151,805 reviews and ratings, creating what it says is one of the UK's largest student-led review databases focused solely on the university experience.
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Not all Welsh universities are on the list as the rankings only include universities that have reached the table's threshold of submitted student reviews.
Oxford University languishes at 84th on the list of 100 and Cambridge comes 64th on the list.
Top 10 Universities With The Best Student Life 2026
Rank
Rank Change
University
Student Social Score
Recommended Percentage
1
+2
Newcastle University
4.48
100%
2
–
Nottingham Trent University
4.42
98%
3
+1
Liverpool John Moores University
4.38
97%
4
-3
University of Liverpool
4.34
99%
5
+5
University of Leeds
4.3
94%
6
–
Cardiff University
4.28
98%
7
+20
Leeds Beckett University
4.25
99%
8
+37
University of Bristol
4.23
94%
9
-4
University of Nottingham
4.23
95%
10
+2
Middlesex University
4.21
96%
Top Welsh universities With The Best Student Life 2026 (with UK rank in brackets)
1. Cardiff ( 6)
2. Cardiff Metropolitan University (13)
3. Bangor University (31)
4.Swansea University (39)
5. Aberystwyth University (53)
6. Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (55)
7. University of South Wales (86)
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The full list of 100 universities ranked can be seen here.
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