By Daniel Walton

Copyright expressandstar

Each year, The Times and Sunday Times releases its Good University Guide, offering budding students a glance at the top universities to apply for across the UK in 2026.

This year, five Midlands-based Universities have made the top 30 spot in the national league table, with 133 universities being included nationally.

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This year saw the London School of Economics and Political Science take the overall win again, retaining its number 1 spot in the UK, followed by the University of St Andrews, and then Durham University, respectively.

Shockingly, this year also marks the first year in the guide’s 32-year history that both Oxford University and Cambridge University were knocked from the top spots at the same time, with both world-renowned universities being beaten into joint fourth place.

While the top rankings have experienced a shake up this year, in the Midlands, it’s much of the same, with the top three spaces being retained by the respective institutes from the 2025 period.

See our list of the 19 top-ranked universities in the Midlands region, as well as how they fared nationally.

1. University of Warwick.

The University of Warwick achieved the top spot in the Midlands region and ranked 8th nationally.

The institution was awarded the University of the Year in the Midlands 2026 region and the Highly Commended Russell Group University of the Year 2026.

2. Loughborough University.

In the runner-up spot was Loughborough University, which was ranked second in the Midlands, also achieving a national ranking of 12th place.

The Sunday Times Good University Guide also awarded the facility the Runner-up Sports University of the Year 2026.

3. University of Birmingham.

Coming in third was the University of Birmingham (UOB), which also jumped the ranks nationally, now being ranked in 16th instead of 22nd in 2025.

UOB was also named as this year’s Highly Commended University of the Year 2026.

4. University of Leicester.

At rank four was the University of Leicestershire, which sadly dropped down a rank from its 2025 national listing, now coming 28th.

5. University of Nottingham.

In the final spot for the national top 30 was the University of Nottingham, which dropped from its national ranking of 27 in 2025.

UON came in fifth in the Midlands ranking, beating its sister facility, Nottingham Trent University.

6. Aston University.

Still trying to chase the lead of its sister institution is Aston University, which came sixth in the Midlands rankings, and 41st in the nationals, dropping from the previous year’s 35th place.

7. Keele University.

In Staffordshire, Keele University came seventh in the Midlands ranking, jumping from 11th place last year.

Nationally, in 2025, the university was ranked 57th; however, it has since jumped to 43rd.

8. Nottingham Trent University.

At the bottom of the top eight list is Nottingham Trent University (NTU), which achieved eighth place in the Midlands.

In the national rankings, NTU came 46th.

9. University of Lincoln.

The University of Lincoln moved up one space this year, reaching spot nine and ranking 64th nationally.

10. Lincoln Bishop University.

Coming in at number 10 was Lincoln Bishop University, which also achieved a national ranking of 74th.

11. Coventry University.

Coventry University came in at 11th, dropping down from its spot at ninth place.

Nationally, Coventry was ranked 78th by The Sunday Times guide.

12. Harper Adams University.

Harper Adams University came in at 12th on the regional rankings, with the institute being placed 79th nationally.

13. Staffordshire University.

Staffordshire University, or the University of Staffordshire as it’s now known, was ranked at spot number 13 regionally, and was awarded the 87th place nationally.

14. University of Derby.

The University of Derby was ranked 14th regionally by the Good University Guide and ranked 96th nationally.

15. University of Worcester.

The University of Worcester fell to the 15th spot again this year and moved up one spot from its national 2025 rank, being ranked 98th.

16. Birmingham Newman University.

Birmingham Newman University was ranked 16th in the Midlands and 107th nationally.

The university was named the University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2026.

17. De Montfort University.

Ranked 17th was De Montfort University, who were also ranked 108th in the UK.

18. Birmingham City University.

Birmingham City University was handed a regional ranking of 18th place, with the University being ranked 113th in the UK.

19. University of Wolverhampton.

Coming last in the list was the University of Wolverhampton, which was ranked 19th in the Midlands.

Nationally, the University of Wolverhampton came 121st