Essex ranked best in UK for social work in Good University Guide

The University of Essex has been ranked the best in the UK for social work in The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.

The top ranking means Essex has climbed from 12th to first in social work in the last year, while it was placed in the top 10 for physiotherapy, where it was ranked 8th.

Other subjects ranked in the top 20 by The Sunday Times include drama, which came 11th, both bioengineering and criminology were 12th, and liberal arts and linguistics were 13th.

Essex also featured in the top 20 for sociology (18th) and anatomy and physiology (19th).

The University was also ranked in the top 25 for student experience and student satisfaction.

Gert Scheepers, Division Lead for Social Work and Social Justice at Essex, said it was an honour to be ranked number one in this year’s rankings.

“This recognition is a moment of celebration, but also one of reflection on the values, people, and practices that have contributed to our success,” he said.

“The values of impactful education and research for the benefit of people and communities shape our pedagogy, the learning experience we strive to offer, and our research culture.

“Research is a cornerstone of our subject area. Our team includes both early-career and experienced researchers whose work spans local, regional, national, and international contexts.

“Their contributions are reflected in impactful studies, publications, and presentations at leading conferences, ensuring that our teaching is research-led and always informed by cutting-edge academic and practice debates.”

Essex launched its BA Social Work programme at its Southend Campus in 2014.

This was expanded to the Colchester Campus in 2022, while MA Social Work was launched in 2019.

Gert added: “In a time when higher education faces many challenges, this accolade is a reassuring affirmation of the dedication and hard work of our academic and professional services staff, and of course, our students.

“We deeply value the voice of our students, and we will continue to do so with the increasing responsibility of this recognition; it is their programme, their future, and we are privileged to play a role in supporting their journey in social work.”

Celebrating the high ranking for physiotherapy, Professor Nelson Cortes, Head of the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences (SRES), said: “We are delighted that our programme has been ranked among the top ten in the UK and as the leading course in East Anglia.

“This recognition is a significant achievement that reflects the expertise and dedication of our staff, the commitment of our students, and the school’s strong focus on excellence in teaching, research and professional practice.

“At SRES, we strive to create an environment where innovative teaching, cutting-edge research, and real-world clinical practice come together to prepare our graduates to deliver the highest standards of care.

“This ranking highlights the strength of our programme and the positive impact we are making in shaping the future of healthcare."