Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ Leicester (Æß²ÊÖ±²¥) has surged 33 places in the highly-respected Guardian university league tables for 2027 – with its Paramedic Science course ranked the best in the UK.
Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ has climbed from 118th to 85th in the country in the Guardian University Guide 2027, published today (Saturday, 12 September) – the move continues a run of strong results for the university in national rankings.
As well as taking the number one spot for Paramedic Science, four other Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ subject areas were ranked in the UK top 10 – Interior Design was third, Product Design and Animation and Game Design were both sixth, and Fashion and Textiles was eighth. In total, 12 Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ subject areas made the national top 20.
The Guardian University Guide is designed to help prospective students compare universities and courses, with a particular focus on the student experience rather than research performance.
Its rankings use eight measures, including students’ satisfaction with teaching and assessment, student-to-staff ratios, spending per student, entry qualifications, how well students perform compared with their qualifications on arrival, continuation rates and graduate career prospects.
Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ Vice-Chancellor Professor Katie Normington said: “This is a very encouraging result and reflects the work taking place across Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ to strengthen teaching, the student experience and the opportunities available to our graduates.
“It is particularly good to see so many of our creative and skills-based courses ranked among the best in the country. These are subjects where students are developing practical, professional skills that prepare them for their future careers, so to see them performing so strongly is especially pleasing.”
Æß²ÊÖ±²¥’s 33-place climb was the biggest improvement of any university in the East Midlands, and one of largest in the whole of this year’s Guardian table.
The university has made a series of changes to teaching and the student experience in recent years, including the introduction of block teaching, which allows students to concentrate on one module at a time rather than studying several simultaneously.
The approach is designed to give students greater focus, more regular assessment and feedback and closer contact with fellow students and teaching staff.
The Guardian says its rankings are intended to show which universities give their students the best experience, rather than simply identifying those strongest in academic research. It also advises prospective students to look at individual subject tables as well as a university’s overall position when making their choice.
The latest result follows another significant rise for Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ in a national university league table last month.
Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ climbed 20 places to 89th in the Daily Mail University Guide 2027, one of the biggest rises in that table, while five Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ subject areas were ranked in the UK top five and Dance was named number one in the country.
Æß²ÊÖ±²¥’s Guardian University Guide 2027 top-20 subject rankings are:
Paramedic Science – 1st
Interior Design – 3rd
Product Design – 6th
Animation and Game Design – 6th
Fashion and Textiles – 8th
Health Professions – 14th
Journalism – 16th
Creative Writing – 17th
Music – 17th
Pharmacy and Pharmacology – 17th
Midwifery – 18th
Forensic Science – 19th
Posted on Saturday 12 September 2026