De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has recorded another significant rise in a major national university league table – climbing 21 places in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027 published today.
DMU rose from 108th to 87th in the UK, making it one of the ten most improved universities in the table and, once again, the biggest climber in the East Midlands.
It is the third time in a matter of a few weeks that DMU has shown substantial improvement in a major university league table. Last week, DMU surged 33 places to 85th in The Guardian University Guide 2027, while in The Daily Mail rankings published in August, the university climbed 20 places to 89th.
DMU has also recently been shortlisted for University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2026.
Professor Katie Normington, Vice-Chancellor of DMU, said: “We are delighted to see another significant rise for DMU and, coming so soon after our results in The Guardian and Daily Mail guides, it is very encouraging to see that direction of travel reflected across three different national rankings.
“League tables are important, and it would be wrong to pretend that it isn’t pleasing to see the enormous efforts of our staff and, of course, the achievements of our brilliant students reflected in results like these.
“But what matters most is that we stay true to our purpose: transforming lives through education, innovation and community. Over the past five years we have worked hard to build something distinctive at DMU, reimagining how we teach, strengthening our research and our civic role, and creating opportunities for our students to succeed. That remains the focus as we look to the future.”
One standout aspect of this year’s Times and Sunday Times guide is its emphasis on preparing students for future careers through practical, hands-on learning.
DMU students using the university's state-of-the art Trading Floor facility
Helen Davies, editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, says universities are increasingly tailoring their campuses to support hands-on learning, pointing to examples across the sector including mock courtrooms, simulated clinical settings and trading floors.
All three have clear parallels at DMU.
The university stages mock trials in its own historic former courtrooms, where Law students can develop advocacy and other professional skills, as well as a professional-standard Trading Floor which gives students experience of the financial data and technology used in industry.
Students on healthcare courses learn in simulated clinical environments, while Forensic Science students work in specially recreated crime scenes, developing their skills through realistic investigations. The crime-scene facilities are also used by police for their own training.
Professor Normington added: “It was particularly interesting to see the guide put such an emphasis on practical, career-focused learning because employability is something we work extremely hard at DMU, and with some success.
“The examples highlighted in the guide are very familiar to us. We want our students to be able to put what they learn into practice, whether that is in a mock courtroom, investigating a recreated crime scene, using professional financial systems, developing clinical skills or working on a live brief with an employer.
“A degree should give students knowledge and intellectual challenge, but also the opportunity to develop the practical skills and professional confidence that will help them make the most of their lives and careers.”
The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide assesses universities using measures including teaching quality, student experience, graduate prospects, research quality, entry standards and sustainability.
In The Guardian University Guide, DMU climbed from 118th to 85th, with Paramedic Science ranked first in the country and Interior Design third. Product Design and Animation and Game Design were both sixth, while Fashion and Textiles was ranked eighth.
Posted on Friday 18 September 2026