List of prime ministers of the United Kingdom by education

A list of prime ministers of the United Kingdom and the educational institutions they attended. As of July 2024^[update], of the 58 prime ministers to date, 31 were educated at the University of Oxford (including 13 at Christ Church), and 14 at the University of Cambridge (including six at Trinity College). Three attended the University of Edinburgh, three the University of Glasgow, two Mason Science College, a predecessor institution of the University of Birmingham, and one – the incumbent prime minister Keir Starmer – the University of Leeds. John Major was (as of 2026) the last of the eight living prime ministers who did not attend university after leaving secondary education. A number of the prime ministers who attended university never graduated. Oxford gained its 29th prime-ministerial alumnus when Liz Truss succeeded Boris Johnson in September 2022, and its 30th – and fifth consecutive – a month later in Rishi Sunak.^[1] Starmer followed his undergraduate degree at Leeds with a postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law degree at Oxford.

More information University, Number of prime ministers ...

Universities attended by British prime ministers
University	Number of prime ministers
Oxford	31
Cambridge	14
Edinburgh	3
Glasgow	3
Other British university	4
University outside UK	5
No university	8

Close

A bar chart of universities attended by British prime ministers.

Twenty prime ministers were schooled at Eton College, of whom nine were educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, including all three who held office between 1880 and 1902 (Gladstone, Salisbury, Rosebery). Seven were educated at Harrow School and six at Westminster School. Rishi Sunak was the second to be educated at Winchester College. Eleven prime ministers to date have been educated at only non-fee-paying schools; these include all five who held office between 1964 and 1997 (Wilson, Heath, Callaghan, Thatcher, Major). Theresa May was educated at both independent and grammar schools. Three did not receive (primary or secondary) school education and were homeschooled during childhood.

Sixteen Prime ministers trained as barristers at the Inns of Court, including 12 at Lincoln's Inn (although not all were called to the bar). Two (Wellington and Churchill) completed officer training at military academies.

Although William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath (in 1746) and James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave (in 1757) briefly attempted to form governments, neither is usually counted as prime minister. They are not listed below.

The Earl of Bute (Groningen & Leiden): the first prime minister to graduate from a university outside the UK
William Pitt the Younger (Pembroke, Cambridge): home schooled; went to Cambridge aged 14, graduated at 17, MP at 21, prime minister at 24. MP for Cambridge University
W. E. Gladstone (Eton; Christ Church, Oxford; Lincoln's Inn): attended the three institutions with most alumni prime ministers. MP for Oxford University
Margaret Thatcher (Somerville, Oxford): the first female PM, educated at an all-female school and college; studied chemistry, the only PM with a science degree
Gordon Brown (Edinburgh): the only prime minister to complete a PhD. Served as university rector 1972–75, while still a student

List of British prime ministers by education

More information Prime Minister, Term of office ...

Prime Minister	Term of office	School	University	Degree	Professional training
Walpole, RobertRobert Walpole	1721–1742	Eton College	Cambridge (King's Coll.)	1696–98, did not graduate (LL.D. 1728)^[2]
Compton, SpencerSpencer Compton Earl of Wilmington	1742–1743	St Paul's School	Oxford (Trinity Coll.)	1690–?, did not graduate (D.C.L. 1730)^[3]	Inns of Court: Middle Temple
Pelham, HenryHenry Pelham	1743–1754	Westminster School	Cambridge (King's Coll.)	1709–10^[4]
Pelham, HenryHenry Pelham	1743–1754	Westminster School	Oxford (Hart Hall)	1710–?, did not graduate^[5]
Pelham-Holles, ThomasThomas Pelham-Holles Duke of Newcastle	1754–1756 1757–1762	Westminster School	Cambridge (Clare Coll.)	1710–?, did not graduate (LL.D. 1728)^[6]
Cavendish, WilliamWilliam Cavendish Duke of Devonshire	1756–1757	—^[7]	—	—
Stuart, JohnJohn Stuart Earl of Bute	1762–1763	Eton College	Groningen University	Civil law 1730–32^[8]
Stuart, JohnJohn Stuart Earl of Bute	1762–1763	Eton College	Leiden University	Civil law 1732–34, graduated 1734^[9]
Grenville, GeorgeGeorge Grenville	1763–1765	Eton College	Oxford (Christ Church)	1730–?, did not graduate^[10]	Inns of Court: Inner Temple
Watson-Wentworth, CharlesCharles Watson-Wentworth Marquess of Rockingham	1765–1766 1782	Westminster School	—^[11]	—
Pitt, William 1William Pitt the Elder Earl of Chatham	1766–1768	Eton College	Oxford (Trinity Coll.)	1727–28, did not graduate^[12]
Pitt, William 1William Pitt the Elder Earl of Chatham	1766–1768	Eton College	Utrecht University	1728^[13]
FitzRoy, AugustusAugustus FitzRoy Duke of Grafton	1768–1770	Westminster School	Cambridge (Peterhouse)	1751–53, M.A. 1753^[14]
North, FrederickFrederick North Lord North	1770–1782	Eton College	Oxford (Trinity Coll.)	1749–50, M.A. 1750^[15]
North, FrederickFrederick North Lord North	1770–1782	Eton College	Leipzig University	1751–52^[16]^[17]
Petty, WilliamWilliam Petty (FitzMaurice) Earl of Shelburne	1782–1783	—^[18]	Oxford (Christ Church)	1755–57, did not graduate^[19]^[20]
Cavendish-Bentinck, WilliamWilliam Cavendish-Bentinck Duke of Portland	1783 1807–1809	Westminster School	Oxford (Christ Church)	1755–57, M.A. 1757^[21]
Pitt, William 2William Pitt the Younger	1783–1801 1804–1806	—^[22]	Cambridge (Pembroke Coll.)	1773–76, M.A. 1776^[23]
Addington, HenryHenry Addington	1801–1804	Winchester College	Oxford (Brasenose Coll.)	1774–78, B.A. 1778 (M.A. 1780)^[24]	Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn
Grenville, WilliamWilliam Grenville Lord Grenville	1806–1807	Eton College	Oxford (Christ Church)	1776–80, B.A. 1780^[25]	Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn
Perceval, SpencerSpencer Perceval	1809–1812	Harrow School	Cambridge (Trinity Coll.)	1780–82, M.A. 1782^[26]	Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn
Jenkinson, RobertRobert Jenkinson Earl of Liverpool	1812–1827	Charterhouse School	Oxford (Christ Church)	1787–90, M.A. 1790^[27]
Canning, GeorgeGeorge Canning	1827	Eton College	Oxford (Christ Church)	1787–91, B.A. 1791 (M.A. 1794)^[28]
Robinson, Frederick JohnFrederick J. Robinson Viscount Goderich	1827–1828	Harrow School	Cambridge (St John's Coll.)	1799–1802, M.A. 1802^[29]
Wellesley, ArthurArthur Wellesley Duke of Wellington	1828–1830 1834	Eton College	—	—	French Royal Academy of Equitation, Angers
Grey, CharlesCharles Grey Earl Grey	1830–1834	Eton College	Cambridge (Trinity Coll.)	1781–83, did not graduate^[30]
Lamb, WilliamWilliam Lamb Viscount Melbourne	1834 1835–1841	Eton College	Cambridge (Trinity Coll.)	1796–99, M.A. 1799^[31]	Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn
Lamb, WilliamWilliam Lamb Viscount Melbourne	1834 1835–1841	Eton College	Glasgow University	Resident pupil of Prof. John Millar 1799–1801^[32]	Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn
Peel, RobertRobert Peel	1834–1835 1841–1846	Harrow School	Oxford (Christ Church)	Classics and Mathematics 1805–08, B.A. 1808 (M.A. 1814)^[33]	Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn
Russell, JohnJohn Russell Earl Russell	1846–1852 1865–1866	Westminster School	Edinburgh University	Resident pupil of Prof. John Playfair 1809–12^[34]
Smith-Stanley, EdwardEdward Smith-Stanley Earl of Derby	1852 1858–1859 1866–1868	Eton College	Oxford (Christ Church)	Classics 1817–20, did not graduate^[35]^[36]
Hamilton-Gordon, GeorgeGeorge Hamilton-Gordon Earl of Aberdeen	1852–1855	Harrow School	Cambridge (St John's Coll.)	1800–04, M.A. 1804^[37]
Temple, Henry JohnHenry John Temple Viscount Palmerston	1855–1858 1859–1865	Harrow School	Edinburgh University	Resident pupil of Prof. Dugald Stewart 1800–03^[38]^[39]
Temple, Henry JohnHenry John Temple Viscount Palmerston	1855–1858 1859–1865	Harrow School	Cambridge (St John's Coll.)	1803–06, M.A. 1806^[40]
Disraeli, BenjaminBenjamin Disraeli Earl of Beaconsfield	1868 1874–1880	Dr Cogan's School, Walthamstow	—	—	Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn
Gladstone, WilliamWilliam Ewart Gladstone	1868–1874 1880–1885 1886 1892–1894	Eton College	Oxford (Christ Church)	Classics and Mathematics 1828–32: B.A. 1832 (M.A. 1834)^[41]	Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn
Gascoyne-Cecil, RobertRobert Gascoyne-Cecil Marquess of Salisbury	1885–1886 1886–1892 1895–1902	Eton College	Oxford (Christ Church)	Mathematics 1847–50, B.A. 1850 (M.A. 1853), Fellow of All Souls Coll. 1853^[42]	Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn
Primrose, ArchibaldArchibald Primrose Earl of Rosebery	1894–1895	Eton College	Oxford (Christ Church)	1866–68, did not graduate^[43]^[44]
Balfour, ArthurArthur Balfour	1902–1905	Eton College	Cambridge (Trinity Coll.)	Moral Sciences 1866–70, B.A. 1870 (M.A. 1874)^[45]
Campbell-Bannerman, HenryHenry Campbell-Bannerman	1905–1908	High School of Glasgow	Glasgow University	Greek and Logic 1851–53^[46]
Campbell-Bannerman, HenryHenry Campbell-Bannerman	1905–1908	High School of Glasgow	Cambridge (Trinity Coll.)	Classics 1854–58, B.A. 1858 (M.A. 1861)^[47]
Asquith, Herbert HenryH. H. Asquith	1908–1916	City of London School	Oxford (Balliol Coll.)	Classics 1870–74, B.A. 1874, Fellow 1874–82^[48]	Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn
Lloyd George, DavidDavid Lloyd George	1916–1922	Llanystumdwy National School	—	—	Solicitor
Law, BonarBonar Law	1922–1923	High School of Glasgow	Glasgow University	Extramural student 1879–80^[49]
Baldwin, StanleyStanley Baldwin	1923–1924 1924–1929 1935–1937	Harrow School	Cambridge (Trinity Coll.)	History 1885–88, B.A. 1888 (M.A. 1892)^[50]
Baldwin, StanleyStanley Baldwin	1923–1924 1924–1929 1935–1937	Harrow School	Mason College	Metallurgy
Macdonald, RamsayRamsay MacDonald	1924 1929–1935	Drainie Parish School	Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution	Extramural student 1886–87^[51]^[52]
Chamberlain, NevilleNeville Chamberlain	1937–1940	Rugby School	Mason College	Metallurgy 1887–89^[53]
Churchill, WinstonWinston Churchill	1940–1945 1951–1955	Harrow School	—	—	RMC Sandhurst
Attlee, ClementClement Attlee	1945–1951	Haileybury College	Oxford (University Coll.)	Modern History 1901–04, B.A. 1904 (M.A.)^[54]	Inns of Court: Inner Temple
Eden, AnthonyAnthony Eden	1955–1957	Eton College	Oxford (Christ Church)	Persian and Arabic 1919–22, B.A. 1922 (M.A.)
Macmillan, HaroldHarold Macmillan	1957–1963	Eton College	Oxford (Balliol Coll.)	Classics 1912–14, did not graduate
Douglas-Home, AlecAlec Douglas-Home Earl of Home	1963–1964	Eton College	Oxford (Christ Church)	Modern History 1922–25, B.A. 1925 (M.A.)
Wilson, HaroldHarold Wilson	1964–1970 1974–1976	Royds Hall Grammar School; Wirral Grammar School for Boys	Oxford (Jesus Coll.)	PPE (transferred from Modern History)^[55] 1934–37, B.A. 1937 (M.A.) Fellow of University Coll. 1938–45^[56]
Heath, EdwardEdward Heath	1970–1974	Chatham House Grammar School	Oxford (Balliol Coll.)	PPE 1935–39, B.A. 1939 (M.A.)
Callaghan, JamesJames Callaghan	1976–1979	Northern Secondary School, Portsmouth	—	—	Civil Service: Inland Revenue
Thatcher, MargaretMargaret Thatcher	1979–1990	Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School	Oxford (Somerville Coll.)	Chemistry 1943–47, B.A. 1947 (M.A. 1950)	Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn
Major, JohnJohn Major	1990–1997	Rutlish School	—	—	Correspondence course in banking
Blair, TonyTony Blair	1997–2007	Fettes College	Oxford (St John's Coll.)	Law 1972–75, B.A. 1975 (M.A.)	Inns of Court: Lincoln's Inn
Brown, GordonGordon Brown	2007–2010	Kirkcaldy High School	Edinburgh University	History 1967–82, M.A. 1972, Ph.D. 1982,^[57] University Rector 1972–75^[58]
Cameron, DavidDavid Cameron	2010–2016	Eton College	Oxford (Brasenose Coll.)	PPE 1985–88, B.A. 1988 (M.A.)
May, TheresaTheresa May	2016–2019	Holton Park Girls' Grammar School	Oxford (St Hugh's Coll.)	Geography 1974–77, B.A. 1977 (M.A.)
Johnson, BorisBoris Johnson	2019–2022	Eton College	Oxford (Balliol Coll.)	Classics 1983–87, B.A. 1987 (M.A.)
Truss, LizLiz Truss	2022	Roundhay School	Oxford (Merton Coll.)	PPE 1993–96, B.A.
Rishi Sunak	2022–2024	Winchester College	Oxford (Lincoln Coll.)	PPE 1998–2001, B.A.
Rishi Sunak	2022–2024	Winchester College	Stanford University	Business administration 2004–06, M.B.A. 2006^[59]
Keir Starmer	2024–present	Reigate Grammar School	Leeds University	Law 1982–85, LL.B. 1985	Inns of Court: Middle Temple
Keir Starmer	2024–present	Reigate Grammar School	Oxford (St Edmund Hall)	Law 1985–86, B.C.L. 1986	Inns of Court: Middle Temple
Prime Minister	Term of office	School	University	Degree	Professional training