Durham University named University of the Year 2026
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Congratulations to our university partner, Durham University on being named University of the Year 2026 by The Times and The Sunday Times.
Durham has also been recognised as the top university in the North and Northeast of England and joint runner-up for Graduate Employment. In the Good University Guide 2026, Durham climbed two places to rank 3rd overall in the UK, a result that highlights its exceptional teaching and research quality, student satisfaction, and graduate outcomes.
Further strengthening its position as a leading institution, on the global stage, Durham places in the Top 100 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2026, 64th for employability, and 22nd for sustainability. Durham is also one of only a few universities to achieve a Top 5 ranking across all three major UK league tables: The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, The Guardian University Guide, and The Complete University Guide.
Durham’s recognition as University of the Year is a fantastic achievement and well deserved. We are proud to work in partnership with such a globally respected institution, offering NCUK students the opportunity to progress to one of the UK’s leading universities. These results reflect the exceptional education and opportunities Durham provides, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership.
Holly Searson, Head of University Partnerships at NCUK
This award further reinforces Durham’s position as a world-leading university and highlights the outstanding opportunities available to students within the NCUK global network.