The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide
The Sunday Times Good University Guide is the UK’s most trusted resource for students and parents exploring higher education. Celebrating excellence in teaching, research, and student life, it highlights the universities that consistently deliver academic quality and opportunity.
Award Overview
The trusted benchmark in higher education
The Sunday Times Good University Guide is the trusted compass for students and parents navigating the world of higher education. Celebrating excellence across teaching, research, and student experience, this guide highlights the universities that consistently deliver on academic standards and future opportunities.
From historic institutions with global reputations to modern universities redefining the student experience, The Sunday Times Good University Guide offers a comprehensive look at higher education in the UK. It goes beyond the numbers, shining a light on the qualities that make each university unique – from world-class facilities to vibrant campus life.
Benefits of Participation
Recognition in The Sunday Times Good University Guide delivers both reputational and practical advantages.
Prestige and Recognition
Awards highlight excellence in teaching, research, student experience, and graduate outcomes, showcasing the university’s strengths to key audiences.
Marketing Advantage
Winners may license the official award logo, providing a powerful endorsement to feature in prospectuses, digital campaigns, and student recruitment materials.
National Exposure
Coverage in The Sunday Times and its online platforms ensures national exposure, reaching prospective students, parents, policymakers, and sector peers.
Trust & Confidence
Independent recognition from a respected source reinforces credibility, inspiring confidence among applicants, parents, staff, and partners.
Award Categories
While specific categories may vary annually, the awards typically recognise universities both nationally and regionally for:
- Academic Performance
- Teaching Quality
- Student Experience
- Social Inclusion
- Sustainability
- Bursaries & Scholarships
- Graduate Prospects
- Graduate Employment
- Sports
How to Enter
The Sunday Times Good University Guide is editorially curated and data-driven — institutions do not pay to enter. Inclusion is based on performance across key measures of excellence.
- Provide institutional data: Universities supply validated data on metrics such as entry standards, student satisfaction, continuation rates, research outcomes, and graduate employment.
- Review & verification: The Times / Sunday Times methodologists and partners check and validate submissions, often seeking clarification where required.
- Inclusion & ranking: Institutions are ranked using the published methodology, with overall and subject-level league tables published annually.
- Logo licensing: Universities featured in the official guide have the option to license the Good University Guide logo for use in marketing and promotional materials.
Request access to this award
Congratulations on being listed in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.
To celebrate and maximise your success, we are delighted to offer a special marketing package which consists of the official awards logo.
Please complete the form to request access to logo license options. Your request will be reviewed by our team and if approved, you will receive a notification with access details via email. If you do not receive a notification within 24 hours, please call us on 020 7711 7826.