Times Good University Guide 2025 ranks Bristol as second best in the South West

The University of Bristol has been ranked as the second best university in the South West by The Times and Sunday Times - losing out on the top spot to the University of Bath. Meanwhile, the University of the West of England (UWE) features in fourth place on the latest list.

The rankings, published in The Times & The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025, say that the University of Bristol has risen one spot in the South West - from third place last year - and has risen by five places nationally to rank 11th. UWE is ranked at 68th in this year's list - up four spots from last year's ranking of 72.

The University of Bath has been named the best university in the South West again, and also retains its national ranking of eighth. It has been in the top 10 for a decade and holds its own without being a member of the elite Russell Group.

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Last year the university saw a record-breaking number of applications - 34,000 with just 3.5 per cent of places achieved through clearing. Bath is also runner up for the Sports University of the Year 2025.

The £35 million Sports Training Village is a national training centre for several Olympic and Paralympic sports, and students have free use of most of its facilities.

Elsewhere in the West Country, the University of Exeter has slipped but remains in the top 20. The University of the West of England, Plymouth Marjon, Arts Bournemouth, and the University of Gloucestershire have improved in their national ranking year on year. And Falmouth University has slipped from 51st to 73rd.

On a national level, London School of Economics and Political Science has been awarded University of the Year 2025. University of Sheffield was named as runner-up.

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Helen Davies, editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said: "The best universities — whether they were founded in the 15th century or 2005 — are local and global powerhouses of intellectual thought and creativity, from the arts to science, that can power economic regeneration and lead the way to a better life. But what and where to study — and how to pay for it — has never been tougher. This is where our comprehensive guide can help.

“This year we have tweaked our methodology to keep up with contemporary concerns around climate change and careers and have added in a sustainability metric, teaming up with People & Planet, and boosted the weighting of graduate prospects.

“The higher education sector is facing unprecedented challenges from debates on free speech to financial stability, but it is important to remember the force for good that going to university can be. See how the universities compare subject by subject, a guide on campus life, and what scholarships and bursaries may be on offer online.”

Here is ranking of South West universities for 2025: