Our awards

Global Teaching Excellence Award

Leading educationalists from around the world have selected the University of Huddersfield as the first winner of the Global Teaching Excellence Award. The feedback from one of the judges said: “This University is truly inspiring and innovative.”

This award further recognises the University's commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

Learn more about the Global Teaching Excellence Award

Enterprise

We excel in enterprise and innovation and in 2012, the University was named the Times Higher Education Entrepreneurial University of the Year. This was followed up in 2013, when Professor Elizabeth Towns-Andrews, the University’s 3M Professor of Innovation won the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion. In 2022, we were awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.

Learn more about our awards for enterprise.

Leadership

The University relies on strong leadership. Headed by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bob Cryan CBE who in 2013 was awarded the Guardian Higher Education Award for Inspiring Leader and won the Leadership Award at the Educate North Awards in 2015. In 2019 he won the Examiner Business Person of the Year award.

Our leadership and management team have also been shortlisted in the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards and in 2015 we won Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development at the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards.

In 2019 the University's HR Staff Development Team won the CMI Outstanding Innovation and Delivery Award for their work on a study programme for managers at the University. This programme helps managers achieve the CMI's Level 7 Award and gain chartered status. 

 

Internationality

We are invested in building our profile and reputation globally, continuing to foster strategic partnerships and collaborations with world-class academic institutions to create a world-leading and inspiring student experience.

Amongst the best in the world

In the 2025 QS World University Rankings, we have been named as one of the top universities globally for the following subjects*:

• We rank 37th in the world for Performing Arts
• We’re ranked in the top 100 in the world for Petroleum Engineering
• We’re ranked in the top 250 in the world in Nursing, Communication and English Language

*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Reducing inequalities

We ranked 2nd in the world (top in the UK) for Reducing Inequalities in THE Impact Rankings*, with over 1,100 universities having submitted evidence for THE 2024 - recognising our work to widen opportunities for students from all backgrounds, both within the UK and around the world.

*THE Impact Rankings 2024

World-leading

We are in the top 50 UK universities for Research Power, and three quarters of all our research is world leading and internationally excellent**. 

Over 60% of our research environment is classified as world-leading and internationally excellent, especially in Music, Biological Sciences, Architecture and Built Environment, Social Work and Social Policy, History and Communication and Media Studies**.

**REF2021

Award-winning

In 2022, we were awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the category of International Trade.

In 2020 and 2023 we were proud to be recognised with 5 stars by QS (an international ratings organisation).

We’re now ranked 524th in the world in the 2026 QS World Rankings, retaining our position in the top 550 globally. We’re also ranked 230th in Europe (out of 685), a rise of 16 places on our 2024 placing in the 2025 QS World Rankings - Europe.

THE World University Ranking 2025

The University of Huddersfield is ranked 501 – 600 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025. 

 

Workplace

In 2014, we were awarded the Times Higher Education Best University Workplace and topped the tables in all four main categories in a survey carried out amongst staff in higher education across the country.

The University has been a member of the Athena SWAN Charter since 1st October 2015 and in 2020 renewed its Bronze Award for Gender Equality.

Innovative employability strategy sees University win top national award

The University of Huddersfield’s innovative approach to helping students find work after graduating has seen the institution win the best university employability strategy award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021.

Different programmes at the University ensure that undergraduates are preparing for the world of work throughout the duration of their courses, and it is also helping to improve the employability skills of local graduates and non-graduates on work placement schemes around the campus who are at risk of long-term unemployment without these interventions.

96.8% of our undergraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating

(HESA Graduate Outcomes 2018/19, UK domiciled, other activities excluded.)

Global Professional Award

The Global Professional Award (GPA) is studied alongside an undergraduate degree* to give students valuable skills and attributes that we know employers are looking for.

By completing the GPA, student will also receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield. This award, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge students gain as part of their degree, could help to set them apart from other graduates.

*full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.