Best universities for computer science

Imperial College London comes top for computer science, with a median salary of £55k 15 months after graduating and 91% of graduates in professional jobs. UCL, University of Cambridge and University of St Andrews complete the top four.

134 unis ranked£30k typical early salary72% in graduate jobs

#1 for computer science100

Imperial College London

Satisfaction91%better than 96% of computer science unis
Stay on course96%better than 95% of computer science unis
Graduate jobs91%better than 86% of computer science unis
Early salary£55kbetter than 97% of computer science unis

Half of students who started had more than 228 UCAS points, counting all their qualifications

Ranked 2 to 5

2UCL9781% satisfied, £72k salary
3University of Cambridge8685% satisfied, £49k salary
4University of St Andrews8492% satisfied, £40.5k salary
5Oxford University8483% satisfied, £55k salary

Scores are out of 100 and relative to other unis offering computer science. Data: Discover Uni, September 2026.

Will my grades get me in?

Enter your predicted grades to see which computer science courses you’d meet the offer for, where you’re a good match and which are a stretch.

We use each university’s typical offer from its course pages. Where we couldn’t get it, we show an estimated offer (marked ~) worked out from courses whose students had similar grades, so always check the course page. Your grades stay on this device. Jump to the table

Best for…

Happiest studentsLeeds Trinity University94%positive about their course
Highest early salaryUCL£72kmedian, 15 months after graduating
Best for graduate jobsUCL100%of working graduates in professional jobs
Best if you’re aiming below ABBRoyal Holloway, University of London55/100half of starters had under 117 UCAS points

Full computer science ranking

Tap a column to sort. Bars show where each uni sits between the lowest and highest for computer science. ^* Ranked on fewer than five measures because some data isn’t published. ~ estimate = we couldn’t get the university’s own offer, so it’s estimated from similar courses. Check the course page.

Find a university

Region Fits my grades Placement year Year abroad Foundation year

	University
1	Imperial College London11 courses	AAA	100	91%	96%	91%	£55k	228
2	UCL6 courses	AAA+ others	97	81%	92%	100%	£72k	212
3	University of Cambridge1 course	AAA	86	85%	99%	95%	£49k	235
4	University of St Andrews9 courses	AAA+ others	84	92%	95%	100%	£40.5k	217
5	Oxford University3 courses	A*AA+ others	84	83%	96%	93%	£55k	223
6	University of Bath12 courses	AAA	80	86%	95%	95%	£41k	195
7	Durham University3 courses	A*AA	78	83%	87%	93%	£50k	197
7	University of Birmingham16 courses	A*AA+ others	78	91%	91%	92%	£34.5k	166
9	University of Warwick9 courses	AAA+ others	77	82%	94%	94%	£45k	206
10	University of Sheffield12 courses	AAA+ others	70	87%	95%	93%	£34k	167
11	University of Exeter16 courses	AAA–AAB	67	85%	94%	94%	£34k	154
12	University of Bristol17 courses	A*AA+ others	67	87%	90%	83%	£37k	174
12	Loughborough University27 courses	AAA+ others	67	84%	95%	91%	£34k	153
14	University of Manchester6 courses	A*AA+ others	67	80%	92%	92%	£40k	191
15	University of Edinburgh11 courses	AAA*–AAB+ others	61	78%	95%	89%	£39k	198
16	University of York23 courses	AAA+ others	59	81%	92%	87%	£38k	150
17	King's College London9 courses	AAA+ others	58	75%	93%	94%	£37k	177
18	University of Glasgow40 courses	AAA–AAB+ others	57	80%	90%	87%	£35.7k	201
19	University of Surrey26 courses	ABB+ others	57	86%	92%	84%	£30k	130
20	University of Southampton32 courses	AAB+ others	56	76%	95%	86%	£37k	180
21	University of Leeds23 courses	AAA+ others	55	78%	86%	97%	£34k	148
22	Royal Holloway, University of London23 courses	AAB–ABB+ others	55	83%	91%	87%	£32k	117
23	Queen Mary University of London13 courses	AAA	55	81%	92%	80%	£35k	153
24	University of Dundee7 courses	–	54	90%	86%	90%	£35k	167
25	University of Liverpool21 courses	AAB+ others	53	80%	94%	85%	£32k	135
26	University of Kent (Part of London and South East University Group)18 courses	BBB+ others	53	84%	88%	85%	£31k	119
27	London School of Economics and Political Science^*1 course	A*AA	52	82%	100%	–	–	180
28	University of the Arts, London^*5 courses	BCC+ others	52	90%	91%	–	–	106
29	Aston University11 courses	BBB+ others	51	83%	91%	81%	£30k	126
30	Queen's University Belfast13 courses	AAA–AAB	50	75%	97%	90%	£31.3k	148
30	Swansea University21 courses	ABB–BBC+ others	50	87%	84%	79%	£30k	113
32	Lancaster University29 courses	AAB+ others	49	81%	93%	77%	£31.3k	145
33	University of Nottingham8 courses	AAA	49	74%	93%	87%	£35k	155
34	Cardiff University11 courses	AAB–BBB+ others	49	76%	95%	87%	£32.3k	146
35	University of Reading7 courses	ABB+ others	49	82%	92%	84%	£32k	117
36	University of Leicester21 courses	ABB+ others	48	84%	93%	75%	£31k	113
37	University of Essex32 courses	~BBB–BBCestimate	48	85%	84%	80%	£35k	104
38	University College Birmingham^*3 courses	~BBB–BBCestimate	48	90%	81%	–	–	96
39	Leeds Trinity University^*8 courses	112 UCAS points	47	94%	82%	65%	–	93
40	University of Sussex18 courses	ABB–BBB+ others	46	80%	93%	82%	£30k	116
41	Manchester Metropolitan University15 courses	BBB+ others	46	86%	88%	72%	£27.9k	123
42	Richmond, The American International University in London^*2 courses	BBC	46	87%	65%	–	–	200
43	University of East London5 courses	112 UCAS points	45	94%	85%	58%	£28.6k	90
44	Aberystwyth University25 courses	AAB–BBB+ others	45	84%	91%	75%	£30k	95
45	University of Wales: Trinity Saint David^*14 courses	96–112 UCAS points	45	88%	78%	–	–	99
46	Bath Spa University^*6 courses	BBB–BCC	44	87%	81%	–	–	114
47	York St John University4 courses	104 UCAS points	44	86%	94%	70%	£27.5k	113
48	Robert Gordon University7 courses	CCC+ others	44	87%	87%	80%	£28k	146
48	Nottingham Trent University29 courses	104–112 UCAS points	44	86%	85%	74%	£30k	104
50	University of Buckingham^*7 courses	ABB–BBB	43	87%	68%	95%	–	91
51	Ulster University^*18 courses	AAA+ others	43	82%	91%	65%	–	124
52	Norwich University of the Arts40 courses	BCC+ others	42	89%	91%	62%	£27.5k	121
53	The Northern School of Art^*1 course	–	42	94%	100%	30%	–	–
54	Abertay University4 courses	CCC	42	84%	88%	69%	£30k	165
54	University of Plymouth9 courses	104 UCAS points	42	83%	87%	78%	£28.1k	111
56	Wrexham University^*3 courses	96–112 UCAS points	42	87%	97%	45%	–	92
56	Liverpool John Moores University12 courses	BBC+ others	42	88%	86%	65%	£27.5k	112
58	University of Wolverhampton8 courses	~BBB–BBCestimate	42	89%	82%	72%	£28k	89
59	WCUC^*1 course	–	41	88%	85%	55%	–	–
60	University of Northumbria at Newcastle12 courses	96–112 UCAS points	41	84%	90%	71%	£27k	122
61	University of Portsmouth18 courses	BBB–BBC+ others	41	82%	89%	74%	£29.5k	108
62	University of East Anglia14 courses	ABB+ others	41	81%	86%	76%	£30.5k	113
62	Bangor University14 courses	120–136 UCAS points	41	88%	78%	70%	£30k	109
64	University of Strathclyde9 courses	BBB+ others	40	77%	89%	71%	£32.8k	197
65	Regent's University^*2 courses	CCC	40	87%	85%	–	–	84
66	University of Hull26 courses	BBC+ others	40	85%	77%	75%	£32.2k	110
67	University for the Creative Arts4 courses	BBC	40	90%	79%	70%	£26.5k	114
68	Newcastle University8 courses	AAB+ others	40	72%	92%	88%	£32k	128
69	University of Stirling8 courses	BBB	40	84%	81%	75%	£32k	148
70	St Mary's University, Twickenham^*14 courses	120 UCAS points	39	80%	85%	–	–	111
71	Glasgow Caledonian University6 courses	CCC	39	82%	86%	72%	£30.2k	160
71	Sheffield Hallam University9 courses	BBC+ others	39	81%	92%	72%	£28.8k	111
73	UA92^*4 courses	BCC	39	84%	70%	–	–	120
73	Brunel University of London16 courses	ABB–BBB+ others	39	82%	86%	70%	£30k	122
75	Teesside University12 courses	96–112 UCAS points	38	89%	79%	68%	£24.5k	101
76	Heriot-Watt University12 courses	BBC+ others	38	78%	89%	82%	£28k	169
76	Anglia Ruskin University40 courses	96–112 UCAS points	38	84%	83%	72%	£28.9k	96
78	Leeds Beckett University8 courses	112 UCAS points	38	86%	85%	62%	£30k	103
79	University of West London20 courses	112 UCAS points	37	85%	87%	61%	£31.2k	101
80	De Montfort University7 courses	BBC+ others	37	80%	90%	74%	£30k	92
81	University of Suffolk^*1 course	BBC	37	80%	85%	60%	–	114
82	London South Bank University7 courses	112 UCAS points	37	83%	84%	65%	£33.6k	96
83	Birmingham City University21 courses	BBC	36	87%	83%	66%	£26.5k	97
84	Birmingham Newman University^*1 course	~BBB–CCCestimate	35	80%	80%	–	–	80
85	UWE, Bristol9 courses	112 UCAS points	34	84%	82%	66%	£29k	105
86	University of Brighton6 courses	ABB–BCC	34	82%	87%	64%	£30k	101
87	University of Hertfordshire11 courses	ABB–BBB+ others	34	81%	78%	73%	£27.9k	130
88	University of Bradford18 courses	BBC	33	82%	71%	78%	£27k	115
89	Bournemouth University25 courses	BBB–BCC+ others	33	79%	89%	69%	£30k	98
90	Canterbury Christ Church University10 courses	BBC	33	86%	74%	64%	£30.8k	91
90	Keele University19 courses	BBB+ others	33	79%	80%	77%	£30k	107
92	University of the West of Scotland5 courses	CCD	32	82%	92%	70%	£28.1k	116
93	Middlesex University^*6 courses	BBC	32	83%	80%	50%	–	92
94	Oxford Brookes University7 courses	BBC	32	75%	85%	76%	£30k	104
94	University of Lancashire^*14 courses	104–112 UCAS points	32	78%	78%	–	–	114
96	Roehampton University^*7 courses	112–128 UCAS points	32	83%	78%	65%	–	82
97	University of Aberdeen13 courses	BBC+ others	31	68%	94%	82%	£34k	168
97	University of Lincoln9 courses	BBC–BCC+ others	31	78%	86%	70%	£28.5k	108
99	University of Northampton8 courses	BBC	31	80%	78%	74%	£30.8k	87
100	University of Salford9 courses	112 UCAS points	31	81%	83%	66%	£29k	112
100	University of South Wales/Prifysgol De Cymru^*10 courses	BCC+ others	31	82%	–	65%	£25k	110
102	Buckinghamshire New University12 courses	88–112 UCAS points	30	85%	71%	72%	£30k	69
103	University of Worcester^*8 courses	CCC+ others	30	80%	72%	–	–	93
104	Edinburgh Napier University12 courses	BCC+ others	29	83%	80%	65%	£28.4k	147
105	Northeastern University London^*3 courses	ABB–BBB	29	60%	90%	–	–	104
106	University of Greater Manchester^*15 courses	104 UCAS points	29	82%	68%	–	–	78
107	Birkbeck, University of London^*13 courses	BBC	28	78%	76%	–	–	82
108	Escape Studios4 courses	72 UCAS points	28	73%	93%	60%	£32k	133
109	Edge Hill University11 courses	BBC–BCC+ others	28	76%	91%	53%	£31.7k	108
109	Glasgow School of Art.^*3 courses	–	28	68%	91%	–	–	149
111	University of Huddersfield14 courses	BBB–BBC+ others	27	80%	89%	60%	£27.8k	112
112	University of Staffordshire15 courses	BBC	27	83%	76%	65%	£27k	101
113	University of Sunderland^*4 courses	96–112 UCAS points	27	78%	71%	–	–	84
114	University of Chester15 courses	BBC–BCC	27	83%	76%	58%	£28k	114
115	Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance1 course	64 UCAS points	27	47%	85%	90%	£34k	118
116	City St George's, University of London17 courses	ABB+ others	26	78%	81%	60%	£30k	128
117	Coventry University25 courses	BBB+ others	26	83%	64%	71%	£31.4k	86
118	Liverpool Hope University5 courses	BBC	26	78%	73%	71%	£27k	93
118	South East London Teaching Partnership13 courses	CCC	26	77%	69%	73%	£35k	107
120	Southampton Solent University5 courses	104–120 UCAS points	24	82%	73%	66%	£25k	86
121	University of Greenwich (Part of London and South East University Group)15 courses	~BBB–BBCestimate	24	82%	81%	57%	£28k	106
122	Cardiff Metropolitan University6 courses	CCC	24	83%	70%	61%	£27k	108
123	Kingston University15 courses	112–128 UCAS points+ others	23	80%	86%	52%	£31.4k	87
124	Rtc Education Ltd^*4 courses	96 UCAS points	21	78%	70%	–	–	51
125	University of Gloucestershire6 courses	BCC	20	80%	72%	55%	£28k	92
126	Falmouth University6 courses	104 UCAS points	19	78%	82%	56%	£25k	121
126	University of Derby19 courses	BBC+ others	19	80%	67%	60%	£28.9k	107
128	University of Bedfordshire12 courses	96 UCAS points	19	81%	78%	39%	£29.5k	83
129	Ravensbourne University London^*6 courses	BBC+ others	17	65%	81%	60%	–	111
130	Institute of Contemporary Music Performance1 course	72 UCAS points	17	64%	90%	35%	£24.5k	109
131	University of Westminster9 courses	CCC+ others	15	80%	78%	50%	£28.7k	93
132	London Metropolitan University7 courses	CCE+ others	6	82%	58%	42%	£30k	82
133	Arden University^*2 courses	–	6	79%	68%	20%	–	44
134	University of Winchester5 courses	BBC–BCC+ others	0	60%	74%	62%	£28.9k	104

What computer science graduates earn

Typical (median) earnings for computer science graduates, across the universities we rank.

£30kAfter 15 months
£28kAfter 3 years
£37.7kAfter 5 years

Highest earnings five years after graduating

The 15-month figure comes from the Graduate Outcomes survey and covers graduates in full-time work. The 3 and 5-year figures come from tax records and include everyone in work, including part-time, so they can be lower than the 15-month figure. Pay also depends on where people live. Compare earnings across all subjects or see what you’d repay on your student loan.

What the measures mean

Student satisfaction: Average share of final-year students answering positively across the seven themes of the National Student Survey: teaching, learning opportunities, assessment, support, organisation, resources and student voice.
Stay on course: Share of students still studying or having qualified a year after starting. Lower numbers mean more people drop out.
Graduate-level jobs: Of graduates in work 15 months after finishing, the share in professional or managerial roles.
Salary after 15 months: Median salary of graduates in full-time work in the UK, 15 months after finishing.
Entry points (median): The middle UCAS tariff score of students who started: half had more, half had less. It counts all their qualifications (a fourth A-level, EPQ, AS levels, music grades and so on), so it usually sits above the published offer, especially at selective universities. It shows how competitive entry is. Always check the real offer on the university’s course page.

See exactly how the overall score is calculated

Not ranked yet

These offer computer science but don’t yet have enough published data to rank fairly, often because the course is new or small.

Blackburn College, University Centre Somerset College Group, Burnley College, East Sussex College, Leeds Arts University, Lincoln College, Rnn Group, University of the Highlands and Islands, University Centre Weston, Wigan and Leigh College, University of London, Pembrokeshire College, SAE Institute Ltd, University of Cumbria, Coleg Sir Gar, Grwp NPTC Group, Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts, Mont Rose College of Management and Sciences Limited, Waltham International College Limited, Qahe (Ulst) Limited, University of Law, Harper Adams University, University Centre Peterborough, Asu London Centre for Advanced Learning, School of Coding, UoNL