The best and worst universities in Scotland have now been revealed in the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.
After being named the best university in the UK last year, St Andrews has slipped to second place with the London School of Economics and Political Science surpassing it in this year’s rankings.
Based on factors including entry standards, degrees awarded, staff to student ratio and overall satisfaction rates, the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide ranks institutions from the best to the worst.
Here are the 14 best and worst universities in Scotland according to the 2025 Good University Guide.
5. University of Strathclyde
The fifth best university in Scotland is the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. In the wider Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide for 2025, it rounds out the top 20 and is known for being the country’s top modern university. | GraemeJBaty - stock.adobe.com
6. University of Dundee
Just missing out on the top five is the University of Dundee, which is the sixth best university in Scotland. Founded in 1881, it has slid down three places in national rankings from last year as number 36 in the UK-wide Good University Guide. | Google Maps
7. Glasgow Caledonian University
Another Glasgow institution, Glasgow Caledonian University comes in as the seventh best university in Scotland – up one place from last year. | GoogleMaps
8. Heriot-Watt University
In eighth place is Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Founded as an institute for mechanics in 1821 it became a university in 1966. Since the 2024 Good University Guide, Heriot-Watt has risen 13 places in national rankings. | Google Maps