**Wales’ Universities Rise and Fall in Latest Complete University Guide Rankings**
The landscape of higher education in Wales has witnessed a noticeable reshuffling in the latest Complete University Guide (CUG) rankings for 2026, offering a fresh perspective on university performance across a range of critical categories. While some Welsh institutions celebrated significant advances, others have seen their positions slip in this latest assessment, unveiled on Tuesday 10 June.
Once again, Cardiff University claims the accolade as the top university in Wales. Despite this, it retains the unenviable record for the nation’s lowest student satisfaction rate, highlighting a persistent challenge for the capital’s leading institution. Swansea University, holding on to its position as runner-up, also remains a strong contender on the Welsh scene, with Aberystwyth University rounding out the top three.
The Complete University Guide compiles its rankings based on varied criteria including rates of student retention, satisfaction, teaching ratios, and the prospects of graduates. This comprehensive approach is intended to assist prospective students in making informed decisions, particularly those who are considering late applications or Clearing routes.
Notably, more than half of Wales’ eight universities have improved their standing in this year’s rankings, a promising sign for the sector’s overall health. Leading the charge in upward mobility, the University of South Wales has surged by 18 places across the UK league, securing the 77th spot but remaining sixth within Wales itself. Wrexham, while still at the lower end for Welsh universities, has climbed one position, moving from 130th to 129th in the UK.
Cardiff University’s UK-wide performance has also strengthened, now at 22nd nationally—a five-place gain. Meanwhile, Swansea’s UK ranking has dipped slightly, dropping by three slots to 40th. Aberystwyth, too, has seen a minor decline, landing at 45th in the UK, down by three places from last year.
A significant shift was noted at Bangor University, which has leapfrogged Cardiff Metropolitan University to claim fourth place in Wales. Bangor’s remarkable 15-place advancement, moving from 68th to 53rd in the UK rankings, underscores a year of notable achievement for the institution.
However, the data continues to paint an intriguing picture regarding student satisfaction. Traditionally, Welsh universities with the lowest overall rankings score highest on satisfaction measures—a trend that persists. Wrexham Glyndwr University, for instance, achieved the top satisfaction score of 3.30, outperforming institutions with a much higher UK-wide standing.
When it comes to graduate prospects—often a crucial factor for applicants—Cardiff and Swansea lead the Welsh table, with Cardiff Metropolitan, University of South Wales and Bangor following behind. Conversely, the highest dropout rates were recorded at Wrexham, Cardiff Metropolitan, and University of Wales Trinity Saint David, while Cardiff University saw the highest retention, reflecting the varied nature of the student experience across Wales.
A breakdown of the 2026 league sees Cardiff at 22nd overall in the UK, followed by Swansea (40th), Aberystwyth (45th), Bangor (53rd), Cardiff Metropolitan (66th), University of South Wales (77th), University of Wales Trinity Saint David (110th), and Wrexham (129th). These figures reveal not just the relative success and struggles of each institution but also shifting priorities and strengths throughout the Welsh higher education sphere.
On the larger UK stage, traditional academic heavyweights continue to dominate, with Cambridge, Oxford, and the London School of Economics occupying the top three positions nationwide, as per the Complete University Guide’s latest analysis.
As students across Wales now turn their attention to university choices for the coming academic year, these rankings reinforce the diverse strengths—and challenges—facing Welsh universities. They also serve as another reminder that league positions, while telling, are just one part of a complex university landscape shaped by both achievement and ambition.