14. Exeter (466) — Exeter scored consistently well in most metrics. Its entry requirements are typically A*AA to BBB. The school has become a world-leading centre for climate change and weather research thanks to its partnership with the Met Office.
13. Glasgow (467) — Glasgow is home to the largest student population in Scotland, with 26,815 students enrolling in the academic year 2014/15. It also has one of the largest library collections in Europe providing access to 2 million books.
12. Strathclyde (470) — Despite its high entry standards, Strathclyde ranked 48th overall — dropping 10 places since 2016's report. Its student satisfaction was its main downfall.
11. Bristol (476) — Founded in 1876, Bristol is a relatively young institution, and was the first in the country to admit women on an equal basis to men.
10. Bath (478) — For a university that is only just celebrating its 50th anniversary, Bath has climbed remarkably far up the ranking. It placed 12th overall and boasts some of the highest entry standards. The university scored well across the board.
9. Edinburgh (485) — In its 434-year history, Edinburgh University has been the study-place of Charles Darwin, J M Barrie, and Robert Louis Stevenson. It is the 9th hardest university in the UK to get into.
8. Warwick (485) — Aside from having some of the highest entry standards, Warwick University churns out some of the highest quality research of any university in the country.
7. University College London (505) — Situated in the heart of London, UCL is England's third oldest university and the first in the country to admit students of any race, class, or religion. Minimum entry requirement is at least one A and two B's in A-levels.
6. London School of Economics (518) — LSE specialises in anthropology, criminology, international relations, social psychology and sociology, as well as the obvious economics. The university's impressive alumni includes 35 world leaders and 16 Nobel Prize winners.
5. St Andrews (520) — Founded in 1413, Scotland's oldest university is also the third oldest in the English-speaking world. The university consistently ranks as one of the top in the country for teaching standards.
4. Durham (524) — Durham University in northern England has over 140 degree programmes for its undergraduates. 90% of students are satisfied with their experience here.
3. Imperial College London (567) — The 107-year-old institution is responsible for the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography, and the foundations of fibre-optics. It boasts eight campuses scattered throughout the city of London.
2. Oxford (574) — Oxford is consistently ranked among the best universities in the world and is the oldest in the English-speaking world, dating back to 1096. It also produces more world-leading research and academic publications than any other university in the country.
1. Cambridge (600) — It's not only the university with the highest entry standards, but Cambridge also topped the overall rankings in The Complete University Guide. Most degrees require at least two A*s and an A at A Level, or one A* and two As for arts courses.
