‘Oxbridge’ hasn’t ranked outside of the top three in 32 yearsThe prestigious universities of Oxford and Cambridge have lost their place among the top three of university rankings for the first time in 32 years. For the first time, neither Oxford nor Cambridge have held a place in the top three in the 32 years the Times guide has been issued. Last year, Oxford was ranked in third place, while Cambridge had been pushed to fourth. However, ‘Oxbridge’ is redeemed in The Guardian Guide 2026, published last week, where Oxford was ranked first and Cambridge third. Ms Davies added: “Competition to get a place at our top-ranked institutions continues to grow, leaving some lower-tariff universities with recruitment challenges.