Times Higher Education Awards 2026: shortlist announced

The finalists for the 22nd edition of the Times Higher Education Awards have been announced.

After more than 500 entries were received, 125 finalists have been picked across 20 categories, representing all aspects of university activity.

The event – dubbed the “Oscars of higher education” – recognises everything from innovative teachers and world-class research to outstanding estates teams and international collaborations.

This year’s recipient of the THE Outstanding Achievement Award will also be named at the ceremony, which will take place at The Vox in Birmingham on the evening of 26 November.

Competing for the coveted University of the Year title are De Montfort University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Queen Mary University of London, Robert Gordon University, SOAS University of London and the University of Birmingham.

Including collaborative entries, 75 unique institutions are represented this year. Seven universities lead the way with four appearances each: Brunel University of London, King's College London, Manchester Metropolitan University, and the universities of Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, and Worcester.

“These continue to be challenging times for our higher education sectors but that makes it only more important to celebrate the contribution of the teams and individuals who continue to transform lives for the better, week in, week out, across the UK and Ireland,” said THE editor Chris Havergal.

“To have again received more than 500 entries is a sure sign that our sectors’ commitment to improving the societies they serve is undimmed, and we offer our sincere congratulations to all the institutions and individuals shortlisted. It is a huge achievement to have reached this stage in another very competitive year.”

“Too often the outstanding endeavours of academics and higher education professionals are overlooked in the public narrative about our universities. We hope that our awards ceremony in Birmingham will contribute towards changing the conversation about these vital institutions and the people who work in them.”

Learn more about the finalists’ work here, and find more information about the event here.

Shortlist for the Times Higher Education Awards 2026

Business School of the Year

• Aston Business School, Aston University
• ESCP Business School
• J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, University of Galway
• Newcastle University Business School
• Royal Docks School of Business and Law, University of East London
• University of Exeter Business School

International Collaboration of the Year

Sponsored by Anderson Quigley

• Coventry University, in collaboration with L’Escola Superior d’Art Dramàtic de les Illes Balears (ESADIB)
• King’s College London
• St Mary’s University, Twickenham
• University of Liverpool
• University of Warwick
• University of the West of England

Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year

• King’s College London and the University of Portsmouth
• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
• University of Birmingham
• University of Hertfordshire, UCL, Cranfield University and Rothamsted Research
• University of Salford
• University of Surrey

Most Innovative Teacher of the Year

• Lindsey Gaston, Liverpool John Moores University
• Gerry Gormley, Queen’s University Belfast
• Alison Hawkings, University of West London
• Adam Hodgson, University of Sheffield
• Claire Mulhall, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Hongmei Sun, University of Sheffield
• Pin Shen Teh, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Ourania Varsou, University of Glasgow

Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership

• Harper Adams University
• Lancaster University
• University of Chichester
• University of Manchester
• University of South Wales
• University of Worcester

Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Sponsored by Veredus

• Leeds Trinity University
• Northumbria University
• University of Birmingham
• University of Bradford
• University College Cork
• University of York

Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community

Sponsored by Anderson Quigley

• Leeds Trinity University
• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
• University of Bradford
• University of Bristol
• University of Glasgow
• University of Liverpool

Outstanding Entrepreneurial University

Sponsored by NCEE

• Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)
• Aston University
• Durham University
• Royal College of Art
• Swansea University
• University of York

Outstanding Estates Team

• London Business School
• St Mary’s University, Twickenham
• The Open University
• University of Southampton
• University of Wolverhampton

Outstanding Library Team of the Year

Sponsored by Kortext

• Manchester Metropolitan University
• University of Derby
• University of Liverpool
• University of London
• University of Strathclyde
• University of Worcester

Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team of the Year

• King’s College London
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Queen Mary University of London
• St Mary’s University, Twickenham
• University of Chichester
• University of Warwick

Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year

• Kimberley Bennett, Abertay University
• Eleanor Bradley, University of Worcester
• Victor Chang, Aston University
• Judith Dyson, Birmingham City University
• Veena Kumari, Brunel University of London
• Vahid Niasar, University of Manchester
• John Nicholson, University of Huddersfield
• Nauman Reayat, University of Leicester

Outstanding Support for Students

Sponsored by Studiosity

• RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Teesside University
• UCL
• University of Leicester
• University of Wolverhampton
• University of Worcester

Outstanding Technician of the Year

Sponsored by Technician Commitment

• Michael Bayliss, University of Liverpool
• Jennifer Cassels, University of Glasgow
• Amelia Dingley, Brunel University of London
• Saimir Luli, Newcastle University
• Joanna Scamp, University of Kent
• Christopher Spice, University of Essex
• Karen Swales, Institute of Cancer Research
• Ian Tidmarsh, Manchester Metropolitan University

Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

• Birmingham City University
• University of East London
• University of Huddersfield
• University of Hull
• University of Sheffield
• University of Southampton

Research Project of the Year: STEM

• Heriot-Watt University
• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
• University of Birmingham
• University of Essex
• University of Glasgow
• University of Nottingham

Specialist Institution of the Year

• Cranfield University
• Escape Studios
• Health Sciences University
• Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
• Pointblank Music School
• RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year

Sponsored by Jisc

• Brunel University of London
• Imperial College London
• King’s College London
• Lancaster University
• University of East London
• University of Salford

Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year

• Brunel University of London
• UCL
• University of Gloucestershire
• University of Reading
• University of the West of Scotland
• University of York

THE Outstanding Achievement Award

There is no shortlist for this category. The winner, chosen by Times Higher Education, will be announced at the awards ceremony.

University of the Year

Sponsored by Adobe

• De Montfort University
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• Queen Mary University of London
• Robert Gordon University
• SOAS University of London
• University of Birmingham