The University of Bedfordshire's global standing has seen a noticeable decline in recent years. According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, it fell from the #801–1000 band in 2023 to the #1001–1200 bands in both 2024 and 2025.
In contrast to its global rank, the University of Bedfordshire demonstrates more varied performance across subject rankings. It excels in niche disciplines such as Social Work (#10) and Childhood and Youth Studies (#19) in the Complete University Guide 2025, maintaining top 20 positions. However, traditional fields like Business and Management Studies and Law have experienced significant declines.
Some subjects, such as English and Drama, Dance, and Cinematic Arts, have shown improvement or recovery, while others like Computer Science, Psychology, and Nursing have declined slightly but remain competitive.
Read More: University of Bedfordshire Reviews
University of Bedfordshire Times Higher Education Rankings
The University of Bedfordshire is ranked within #1001-1200 bands in Times Higher Education World University rankings 2025. Two of its subjects are also ranked by the same ranking agency. Trends of the University of Bedfordshire Times Higher Education rankings are as follows.
| Ranked For | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| World University | #1001-1200 | #1001-1200 | #801-1000 |
| Education Studies | #501-600 | #401-500 | #301-400 |
| Social Sciences | #501-600 | #501-600 | #301-400 |
Key Insights:
- The University of Bedfordshire has declined in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings over three years—dropping from the #801–1000 band in 2023 to #1001–1200 in both 2024 and 2025
- Subject-wise, Education Studies fell from #301–400 in 2023 to #501–600 in 2025, while Social Sciences followed the same trend, dropping from #301–400 in 2023 to #501–600 in 2025.
University of Bedfordshire Guardian Rankings
The University of Bedfordshire is ranked #122 in the Guardian University Guide 2025. National and subject wise ranking trends of Bedfordshire Uni as per Guardian are given below.
| Ranked For | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| University | #122 | #122 | #121 |
| Accounting and Finance | #100 | #99 | #92 |
| Business and Management | #118 | #118 | #118 |
| Electronic and Electrical Engineering | #54 | #52 | - |
| Law | #77 | #90 | #106 |
| Media and Film Studies | #81 | #81 | #86 |
| Sociology and Social Policy | #92 | #95 | #89 |
Key Insights
- Bedfordshire Uni has maintained a stable overall ranking at #122 for both 2024 and 2025, showing minimal movement from #121 in 2023.
- Subject-wise, Law showed the most improvement, rising from #106 in 2023 to #77 in 2025. Accounting and Finance slightly dropped from #92 to #100, while Business and Management remained unchanged at #118. Electronic and Electrical Engineering improved slightly to #54 in 2025. Media and Film Studies stayed consistent at #81, and Sociology and Social Policy saw a small decline from #89 to #92.
University of Bedfordshire Complete University Guide Rankings
Uni of Beds is ranked #129 in Complete University Guide rankings 2025. The university demonstrated strong performance in niche areas, especially Childhood and Youth Studies (#19) and Social Work (#10), maintaining top 20 positions. Forensic Science (#36), Paramedic Science (#26), and Health Studies (#30) also rank high. Notable improvements were seen in English, rising sharply from #82 (2023) to #42 (2025), and Drama, Dance, and Cinematic, recovering to #79 from a dip in 2023.
Conversely, several programs saw ranking declines: Business and Management Studies dropped significantly from #80 to #121, and Law fell from #83 to #107. Nursing and Midwifery, Psychology, and Computer Science showed gradual declines but remained competitive. Stability was observed in Art and Design, Biological Sciences, and Social Policy. National and subject wise rankings of Bedfordshire as the Complete University Guide are as follows.
| Ranked For | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Finance | #98 | #101 | #93 |
| Art and Design | #84 | #84 | #86 |
| Biological Sciences | #83 | #86 | #83 |
| Business and Management Studies | #121 | #118 | #80 |
| Childhood and Youth Studies | #19 | #19 | #7 |
| Communication and Media studies | #91 | #95 | #96 |
| Computer Science | #104 | #112 | #108 |
| Drama, Dance, and Cinematic | #79 | #66 | #93 |
| Education | #68 | #70 | #71 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering | #67 | #74 | #67 |
| English | #42 | #31 | #82 |
| Forensic Science | #36 | #38 | #37 |
| Health Studies | #30 | #24 | - |
| Law | #107 | #100 | #83 |
| Music | #57 | #54 | #71 |
| Nursing and Midwifery | #76 | #69 | #63 |
| Paramedic Science | #26 | #28 | #28 |
| Psychology | #109 | #104 | #104 |
| Social Policy | #40 | #40 | #42 |
| Social Work | #10 | #18 | #21 |
| Sociology | #73 | #84 | #77 |
| Sports Science | #65 | #59 | #59 |
| Tourism, Transport, Travel, and Heritage Studies | #48 | #52 | #60 |
Must Read: University of Bedfordshire Courses and Fees 2025
University of Bedfordshire presents a mixed academic profile. While its global ranking has declined, the university continues to perform well in specific subject areas, particularly in Social Work and Childhood and Youth Studies. However, inconsistent trends across several disciplines highlight the need for strategic improvements to enhance overall academic standing and competitiveness.
FAQs
Ques: What ranking is the University of Bedfordshire?
Ans: The University of Bedfordshire is ranked in the #1001–1200 band globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025. Nationally, it holds a #122 rank in the Guardian University Guide and #129 in the Complete University Guide 2025
Ques: What is the top 50 university in the UK?
Ans: The University of Bedfordshire is not in the UK top 50. For the latest top 50 universities in the UK, institutions like University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London consistently rank at the top.
Ques: What is the ranking of Bedfordshire University in 2025?
Ans: In 2025, the University of Bedfordshire is ranked:
- #1001–1200 globally (THE)
- #122 in the Guardian University Guide
- #129 in the Complete University Guide
Ques: Why should I choose Bedfordshire?
Ans: Despite its modest overall rankings, Bedfordshire excels in niche subject areas like Social Work (#10), Childhood and Youth Studies (#19), and Paramedic Science (#26). It offers strong career-oriented programs and continues to show subject-level strengths, making it a suitable choice for students focused on these disciplines.
Ques: Which is the No 1 ranking university in the UK?
Ans: The University of Oxford is often ranked as the No. 1 university in the UK by major ranking agencies like Times Higher Education and the Guardian University Guide.
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