Staffordshire’s two universities have both recorded major successes in the latest Guardian University Guide, with University of Staffordshire achieving its highest-ever overall ranking and Keele University securing nine subject places in the national top 10.
University of Staffordshire has risen 48 places, from 82nd to 34th, in the 2027 guide, beating its previous best position of 37th, recorded in 2020.
Meanwhile, Keele has nine subjects ranked among the top 10 in England, including Midwifery in third place and Children’s Nursing in fifth.
The results provide a boost for the region’s higher education sector and come amid a strong year for both institutions.
University of Staffordshire has also been named Daily Mail Modern University of the Year 2027, won University of the Year at the Academic Employability Awards, and posted record results in the National Student Survey and graduate employment data.
And last week saw the opening of its £100 million Student Village, one of the university’s largest-ever investments in the student experience, providing 1,000 new and refurbished bedrooms.
The university is now ranked in 26 subjects in the Guardian University Guide, with six places in the top 10 – Sports Science (4th), Mental Health Nursing (6th), Film Production and Photography (7th), Paramedic Science (7th), Education (9th), and Fashion and Textiles (9th).
Professor Philip Plowden, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of University of Staffordshire, said: “This has been an exceptional year for our University, and this result is the clearest evidence yet of what we’re building.
“To rise 48 places in the Guardian table, on top of being named Modern University of the Year, University of the Year for employability, and recording our best-ever National Student Survey and graduate outcomes results, tells you this isn’t a one-off. It’s momentum.
“Every one of these results points to the same thing: students choosing Staffordshire are getting a genuinely excellent experience and real outcomes to show for it. I want to thank our staff and students for driving this progress, and we intend to keep climbing.”
Keele University is ranked 55th in the guide, which is a drop from 43rd place in 2026.
Its other subjects ranked among the top 10 are Forensic Science, Mathematics, International Relations, and Veterinary Science (all 6th), Pharmacy (8th), and Medicine and Philosophy (9th).
Professor Mark Ormerod OBE, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, said: “I’m really pleased that we have nine subjects from across the University ranked in the Top 10 in England in this year’s Guardian University Guide, a testament to the sector leading quality of teaching, student experience and graduate outcomes and employability in these subject areas at Keele.”
The Guardian guide ranks universities across the country on several metrics including their students’ levels of satisfaction, student retention, value add and career prospects after graduating.
