Ranking body	Latest available result	What it indicates
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026	41st in the UK and top 500 globally	Teaching, research, industry links and international outlook
Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025	Top 10 in the UK and joint 59th globally	Sustainability and UN SDG performance
QS World University Rankings: Europe 2026	295th out of 958 institutions	European reputation, teaching quality, research impact and employability
People & Planet University League 2025/26	6th in the UK	Environmental and ethical performance
Department for Education apprenticeship provider figures 2026	51st out of 1,111 providers in the UK; top 5% nationally	Apprenticeship delivery and completion performance
BUCS league 2025/26	37th out of 142 universities	Competitive sport performance

Ranking Notes

Bournemouth University has a strong 2026 profile for a practical, career-focused institution. Its official rankings page says BU is 41st in the UK and in the top 500 globally in the THE World University Rankings 2026.

BU also reports strong sustainability performance, placing in the top 10 in the UK in the THE Impact Rankings 2025 and 6th in the UK in the People & Planet University League 2025/26. That combination is useful for students who care about both employability and responsible campus culture.

For applicants, the most useful comparison is not just the headline rank. It is whether the course, campus, fee and career support match the student's goals.

What To Compare

Students comparing BU with other universities should also check:

• Subject-specific reputation
• Placement and internship support
• International tuition fee and deposit
• Accommodation and living costs in Bournemouth
• International orientation and visa support
• Student life and support services
• Graduate outcomes in the chosen field
• Whether the south coast location fits their study style