Rank University Total score 1 London School of Economics and Political Science 1000 2 University of St Andrews 933 3 Durham University 906 4= University of Cambridge 903 4= University of Oxford 903 6 Imperial College London 890 7 University of Bath 861 8 University of Warwick 839 9 University College London 837 10 University of Bristol 814The UK’s higher education system, long dominated by Oxford and Cambridge , has seen a major shift in the 2026 rankings. The London School of Economics has emerged as the top university, while Durham University secured third place. For the first time in more than three decades, Oxford and Cambridge both fell out of the top three in The Times UK Universities Rankings 2026.According to The Times report, the London School of Economics secured the top position with a perfect score of 1000. The University of St Andrews followed in second place with 933 points, while Durham University ranked third with 906.Oxford and Cambridge, historically fixtures at the top, were jointly placed at the fourth position with 903 points each. This marks the first time in 32 years that neither university appeared in the top three.The rankings are based on factors including teaching quality, employment outcomes, and sustainability measures.

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy noticeThe UK Government faces tough tax choices in the years ahead with mounting public spending pressures versus sluggish economic growth, according to new forecasts. The accountancy giant is forecasting UK gross domestic product (GDP) to rise by 1.2% over 2025 and 1.1% in 2026. This is likely to result in tax rises in the autumn Budget, rather than cutbacks to spending on public services, KPMG forecast. Ms Selfin said the Bank of England will “proceed cautiously” but that slowing economic growth and a weakening jobs market means it is likely to ease borrowing costs before the end of the year.

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=23rd in the UK and 4th in Scotland in Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026Dear colleagues,I am pleased to report that the University has continued to perform well in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 published today, with a ranking of =23rd within the UK and 4th in Scotland. It is particularly pleasing to see that the University remains ranked in the national top quartile band for Student Experience, Entry Standards, Graduate Prospects and Good Honours. Going forward, the University will be focusing on improving performance under various measures, including the National Student Survey metric for Teaching Quality. The People & Planet metric introduced last year, which focuses on sustainability, is the area with the greatest potential for improvement. We have also been ranked in the UK Top 10 in another six subjects: Anatomy & Physiology (6th), Politics & IR (6th), English (6th), Geology (7th), Drama, Dance & Cinematics (8th), and Education (9th).

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is weighing proposals to abolish visa fees for leading scientists, academics, and digital experts as part of efforts to drive growth, the Financial Times reported. While the Home Office has not yet formally taken up the proposals, officials confirmed that visa routes remain under review. “This isn’t about diluting our determination to bring down net migration but it’s about getting the brightest and best into Britain. There is unity across government on this,” said one official.Chancellor Rachel Reeves is also reviewing the tax system to ensure it supports the UK’s ability to attract top global talent. Her recent changes to the non-domicile tax regime have raised concerns about wealthy individuals leaving Britain, though early data suggests the impact has been limited.In the year ending June 2023, the number of global talent visas granted rose 76 per cent to 3,901.

The United States has termed the recognition of Palestinian state by key allies like Britain, Australia and Canada a "performative gesture." It further cleared its stance on the middle east crisis listing Israel's security as one of it priority, along with the release of hostages. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized a two-state solution, called for a Gaza ceasefire, and rejected Hamas’ role in governance. Over 65,000 Palestinians have died and roughly 1,66,000 have been injured, according to the health ministry. Nearly 90% of the population has been displaced, and famine conditions are emerging in Gaza City, as the conflict fuels ongoing international diplomatic concern and condemnation.

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Dr Zubir Ahmed – the MP for Glasgow South West – was appointed as a health minister in the Prime Minister’s re-shuffle brought about by the resignation of Angela Rayner earlier this month. The UK Government has been reticent to describe the crisis in Gaza as a “genocide”, despite activist calls and Scottish First Minister John Swinney taking such a step. “We have members of that government [Israel] who certainly have genocidal intent – members of that government indicted by the International Criminal Court. The MP added that he felt “relatively powerless” about the situation in Gaza. “It doesn’t mean I don’t have any agency and I don’t need to strive to make a difference, but to tell you that I feel relatively powerless in the place of power in the UK is painful.”The UK Government has been contacted for comment.

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Follow our live coverage of Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in Arizona. One by one, the angry residents who had packed the council chambers on Monday night in Palmetto Bay, Fla., stepped to the podium to express their disgust over online comments that a councilman, Stephen Cody, had made about Charlie Kirk. One man called Mr. Cody’s comments “vile.” Another called them “abnormal and dangerous.” A third man said that the councilman’s Facebook post, which went up a few hours after Mr. Kirk was fatally shot in Utah, “smells like it came out of the pit of hell.”All three wanted Mr. Cody to resign from office. If that did not happen, a fourth speaker said, “We’ll come after him.” While he did not intend to harm Mr. Cody, he added, “He’s not going to have a very nice life while he’s living here.”The most contentious civic matters anyone had anticipated this month in Palmetto Bay, a prosperous Miami suburb of 25,000, involved the tax rate and the details of a contract to manage a municipal pickleball facility. But in the last few days, Palmetto Bay, like many communities around the country, has been consumed by the wave of ferocious indignation directed at people who declared their lack of remorse about Mr. Kirk’s death or merely took issue with things he had said or believed.

Tom Homan, now the president’s border czar, was recorded last year accepting a bag with $50,000 in cash by undercover FBI agents in an investigation the Trump Justice Department later closed, The New York Times reported Saturday. The September 2024 payment arose from a probe that was not targeting Homan, The Times reported, citing people familiar with the case. A person familiar with the matter told CNN that Homan accepted a cash payment in a sting operation. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementThe cash was inside a bag from the fast-casual chain Cava, The Times reported. Investigators began looking into Homan after the original target of a case suggested that a payment to Homan could lead to federal border security contracts, The Times reported.

UK and Palestine: A historic contextCanada, the United Kingdom, and Australia on Sunday announced official recognition of Palestinian statehood in a coordinated move, challenging Israel and putting them at odds with the United States. Lammy said in July that these rights have largely been neglected and described recognition as correcting "a historical injustice which continues to unfold." Palestinian head of mission Husam Zomlot echoed this, saying, "The issue today is ending the denial of our existence that started 108 years ago, in 1917. I think today, the British people should celebrate a day when history is being corrected. "Israel’s government has repeatedly opposed a two-state solution and continues to expand settlements in the West Bank, land intended for a future Palestinian state.Since the October 7, 2023, invasion by Hamas on Israel, more than 60,000 Palestinians have died, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

But Mr Lammy, now the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary as well as Sir Keir Starmer’s deputy, said “three jobs is quite enough”. David Lammy said there was no serious prospect of him replacing Lord Mandelson in Washington (Carl Court/PA)Mr Lammy, who was mentioned as a possible contender for the Washington job in a Sun column, suggested there were other suitable candidates for the role. He told LBC Radio: “I’m not just Deputy Prime Minister, I’m also Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. But really, there’s no serious prospect of me going to Washington, DC.”Lord Mandelson was sacked over the extent of his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Potential ambassadors could include outgoing MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore, former cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill or veteran diplomat Christian Turner, who is set to take up the role of ambassador at the United Nations in New York.