The University of Plymouth sits in the mid-tier globally, with rankings that show limited growth over time. While it remains a recognised UK university, its global position has largely stayed within the 500-700 range, with only minor short-term improvements like the QS 2026 recovery.
At the UK level, the trend is more noticeable. The University of Plymouth has fallen from a top 50 institution to the 70-85 range, especially in student-focused rankings. This suggests some decline in student satisfaction, outcomes, or overall domestic perception.
At the subject level, performance varies significantly. While niche areas perform relatively better, core fields like Medicine, Engineering, and Computer Science show flat or declining trends, making course selection critical.
Major ranking movements you should know:
- QS Global: Improved to #613 (2026) after a drop in 2025, but still below 2024 peak (#561)
- THE Global: Dropped from #401–500 band to #501–600 and stayed there
- US News: Continuous decline from #541 (2022) → #667 (2025)
- Guardian UK: Sharp fall from #41 (2022) → #84 (2025 & 2026)
- CUG UK: Gradual drop from #64 (2024) → #75 (2026)
Also Read: University of Plymouth Reviews
University of Plymouth Ranking in World
The University of Plymouth shows overall stagnation with a mild downward trend across global rankings, though there’s a slight recovery in QS 2026. Its positioning remains in the mid-tier global band (500–700 range) without consistent upward momentum.
- QS Rankings:
- Fluctuating but inconsistent — improved to #613 in 2026 after a drop to #661–670 in 2025, but still below its 2024 peak (#561)
- THE Rankings:
- Clear decline — stable at #401–500 till 2024, then dropped to #501–600 and stayed there
- US News Rankings:
- Gradual deterioration — from #541 (2022) → #558 (2023) → #655 (2024) → #667 (2025)
| Ranking Type | 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank | 2022 Rank | 2021 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings | #613 | #661-670 | #561 | #651-700 | #601-650 | #651-700 |
| THE World University Rankings | #501-600 | #501-600 | #401-500 | #401-500 | #401-500 | #401-500 |
| US News and World Report Best Global Universities | - | #667 | #655 | #558 | #541 | - |
University of Plymouth Ranking in UK
The University of Plymouth shows a clear decline in UK domestic rankings after 2022, with a sharp drop in recent years, especially in the Guardian rankings. While it was once a top 50 UK university, it now sits in the mid-to-lower tier (70–85 range).
Trend breakdown:
- Guardian University Guide: Significant fall — from #41 (2022) to #84 (2025 & 2026), indicating declining student satisfaction and outcomes metrics
- Complete University Guide (CUG): Gradual decline — improved slightly till 2024 (#64) but dropped to #75 in 2026
- Peak Performance: 2022 was the strongest year (#41 Guardian, #69 CUG), followed by consistent deterioration
| Ranked By | 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank | 2022 Rank | 2021 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guardian University Guide | #84 | #84 | #69 | #63 | #41 | #53 |
| Complete University Guide | #75 | #65 | #64 | #64 | #69 | #71 |
University of Plymouth Medicine Ranking
The University of Plymouth’s medical-related subject rankings show consistent stability but no real improvement, staying in lower global bands over the years.
- QS Medicine: Stable for years (#401–450 from 2023–2025), but dropped slightly to #451–500 in 2026 → small decline
- QS Life Sciences & Medicine: Completely flat at #451–500 every year → no growth at all
- THE Medical & Health: Stuck at #501–600 throughout → consistent but low-tier positioning
| Subjects | 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QS Subject ranking- Medicine | #451-500 | #401-450 | #401-450 | #401-450 |
| QS- Life Sciences and Medicine | #451-500 | #451-500 | #451-500 | #451-500 |
| THE- Medical and Health | #501-600 | #501-600 | #501-600 | #501-600 |
Also Read: University of Plymouth Medicine Programs
University of Plymouth Engineering and Computer Science Rankings
Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Plymouth show a stable but slightly declining trend, with no strong upward improvement in recent years.
- THE Engineering: Dropped from #201–250 (2023) to #301–400, then stayed flat till 2026 → clear drop, then stability
- THE Computer Science: Stable at #301–400 till 2024, dropped to #401–500 in 2025, then recovered back to #301–400 in 2026 → fluctuation with slight instability
| Subjects | 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE- Engineering | #301-400 | #301-400 | #301-400 | #201-250 |
| THE- Computer Science | #301-400 | #401-500 | #301-400 | #301-400 |
Read More: University of Plymouth Engineering and Computer Science Programs
University of Plymouth QS Rankings
Check how Plymouth Uni ranks in the QS World University rankings.
| Ranked for | 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainability | #562 | #540 | #525 | #361-380 |
| Northern Europe University Ranking | #87 | #91 | #92 | - |
| Earth and Marine Sciences | #101-150 | #101-150 | #101-150 | #51-100 |
| Geology | #151-200 | #151-200 | #101-150 | #101-150 |
| Geophysics | #151-200 | #201-250 | #151-200 | #101-150 |
| Environmental Sciences | #151-200 | #201-250 | #201-250 | #201-250 |
| Biological Sciences | #601-650 | #601-650 | #551-600 | #451-500 |
| Education and Training | - | #401-450 | #251-300 | - |
| Agriculture and Forestry | #351-400 | #401-475 | #351-400 | - |
University of Plymouth Times Higher Education Rankings
The University of Plymouth Times Higher Education rankings by subjects are as follows.
| Subjects | 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arts and Humanities | #501-600 | #501-600 | #401-500 | #401-500 |
| Business and Economics | #301-400 | #251-300 | #251-300 | #176-200 |
| Education Studies | #251-300 | #301-400 | #301-400 | #301-400 |
| Life Sciences | #301-400 | #301-400 | #301-400 | #251-300 |
| Physical Sciences | #301-400 | #301-400 | #301-400 | #201-250 |
| Psychology | #401-500 | #401-500 | #301-400 | #301-400 |
The University of Plymouth is a stable mid-tier UK university with declining ranking momentum, especially after 2022. While it remains a viable option, your course choice is critical—stronger in niche areas, but less competitive in core fields like Engineering, CS, and Medicine.
For Indian students, Plymouth makes sense if you’re targeting specific subjects with lower competition and manageable entry requirements—but for better ROI and rankings, it’s worth comparing similar UK universities before applying.
FAQs
Ques: Is the University of Plymouth a good university?
Ans: Yes, it’s a decent mid-tier UK university. It’s a good option for students with moderate budgets and entry scores, but not among the UK’s top-ranked institutions.
Ques: What is Plymouth Uni famous for?
Ans: It’s best known for Marine, Environmental Sciences, and Ocean-related research. Its coastal location gives it an edge in these fields.
Ques: Which is the no. 1 ranking university in the UK?
Ans: Typically, University of Oxford and University of Cambridge compete for the #1 spot depending on the ranking system.
Ques: What is the ranking of Plymouth University in the QS?
Ans: In QS World University Rankings 2026, it is ranked #613 globally.
Ques: Is it hard to get into the University of Plymouth?
Ans: No, it’s relatively easier compared to top UK universities. Most courses have flexible entry requirements, making it accessible for Indian students.
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