
Top 10 Universities in UK
The top 10 universities in UK are renowned for their academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and diverse programs, making them ideal choices for students seeking the best education.

The United Kingdom stands as a beacon of excellence with over 90 universities that made it to the QS World University Rankings. This makes the United Kingdom an exceptional destination in providing the best academic experiences to students. Among the top 10 universities in the UK, four of these top are leading positions and ranked among the top 50 schools of the world which proves the UK’s excellence in education.
The educational system in UK universities is highly improved and with the modern facilities, their students could majorly focus on research. These top universities provide a unique experience to their international students so that they can achieve their full potential.
In this article, we will explore the top ten universities in the UK offering insights of these universities, so that you can have an in-depth understanding of what to expect as you will have this exciting academic journey.
Table of Content
Top 10 ranked universities in the UK
Top 10 ranked universities in the UK
Below there is a table of estimated tuition fees of the top ten low cost universities in UK:
University Name |
Estimated Tuition Fees for Undergraduate Programs |
Estimated Tuition Fees for Postgraduate Programs |
55,080 GBP/Year |
10,360 GBP/Year |
|
41,080 GBP/Year |
30,180 GBP/Year |
|
37,900 GBP/Year |
21,625 GBP/Year |
|
24,200 GBP/Year |
10,700 GBP/Year |
|
26,500 GBP/Year |
9,600 GBP/Year |
|
24,750 GBP/Year |
24,900 GBP/Year |
|
22,000 GBP/Year |
9,500 GBP/Year |
|
25,880 GBP/Year |
21,390 GBP/Year |
|
18,400 GBP/Year |
7,875 GBP/Year |
|
23,995 GBP/Year |
22,560 GBP/Year |
Now let's move forward to explore some more details about these top 10 universities in UK.
1. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge leads again at the top this year in the UK universities rankings and ranks second globally in the World University Rankings. Cambridge has been placed on top for all the parameters of excellence and is especially known for its employability rank where it stands first in the United Kingdom and fourth in the world.
Founded in 1209 and is composed of thirty-one colleges. Also, having a diverse student population from all around the world. Being the fourth oldest university in the world, Cambridge is an active people’s community where more than 20 thousand students from over 140 countries collaborate. Its structure includes 31 constituent colleges, and the university has a record of successful student careers with employment of 91% of students getting permanent jobs within the 15 months of their course completion.
University of Cambridge Living cost |
13000 GBP/Year |
Scholarships |
Aker Cambridge Scholarship Beit Cambridge Scholarship BP Cambridge Scholarship for Egypt Cambridge Australia Scholarships Bhutan King's Scholarship at the University of Cambridge |
Major Faculties |
Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Business & Management, Social & Behavioural Science |
2. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford and Cambridge University are every year competing for being the best university in the UK rankings, yet this year Oxford is in the second position in the UK, but the first in the world.
Oxford is famous for being one of the world’s oldest universities with teaching traditions going back to 1096 and the founding of the initial colleges and halls of residence in 1249. Currently, the university includes 36 colleges and 3 societies as the result of its long-standing development. As the hub of learning, teaching, and research, each division is further subdivided into departments, faculties, and schools with a total of 39 Colleges and a structured approach to education.
University of Oxford Accommodation |
8,940 GBP/Year |
University of Cambridge Living cost |
2,280 GBP/Year |
Scholarships |
Rhodes Scholarship Oxford University Oxford University Clarendon Scholarship |
Major Faculties |
Arts & Humanities, Physical Science & Math, Business & Management, Social & Behavioural Science, Computer & IT |
3. Imperial College London
Imperial College London takes the third position among UK universities rankings and is the top UK university in London. Maintaining the sixth ranking globally, Imperial College also has high marks in good employment rate, which is a testament to its graduate's success in the job market.
The university recognized through the Silver Athena Swan award proves its commitment to supporting the progress of women in STEM fields and highlighting its more inclusive context of academic atmosphere. With more than 15,000 students choosing Imperial College's dynamic learning community. The university guarantees housing for first-year undergraduates and also offers a few rooms for second-year students, making sure it has support for its students in the aspects of accommodations for their stay at the university.
Imperial College London Accommodation |
10,608 GBP/Year |
Scholarships |
Aziz Foundation Masters Scholarship MSc + PhD Departmental Scholarships for Women 2024 Unite Foundation Scholarship Women's Scholarship |
Major Faculties |
Engineering & Technology, Business & Management, Physical Science & Math, Life Sciences |
4. University College London
University College London (UCL) secured its fourth position this year in the UK, however, this year, UCL has fallen to ninth rank in the world university rankings. Nevertheless, UCL became the first university in the United Kingdom to enter into the world's top universities rankings; demonstrating the university’s extensive international research network of which it ranks as the second best research university in both the United Kingdom and in the entire world.
UCL has in recent years launched an ambitious new ethnographic Research Innovation and Global Engagement office to increase its research capacity overseas. This initiative with the main goal of enhancing dissemination of the university research findings in society means the work the university does has more impact on the lives of people. It has a large number of students from over 150 countries and provides a complete range of undergraduate/postgraduate programs reflecting its commitment to inclusivity and academic excellence.
University College London Accommodation |
11,596 GBP/Year |
Scholarships |
UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship UCL Global Masters Scholarship |
Major Faculties |
Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Business & Management, , Health & Medicine, Social & Behavioural Science, |
5. University of Edinburgh
With a history dating back to 1582, the University of Edinburgh is one of the oldest universities in the UK, currently, it occupies the 5th position among the universities in the UK, also ranked 55th in world universities rankings, which allows it to be considered as a member of the top 10 universities.
It excels greatly, especially in the international research network, which reveals the amount of international academic collaborations also engaged with it. Also, the university is a leader in sustainably; currently being ranked sixth globally sustainable university and also the most sustainable university in the UK. Determined to further its environmental efforts, Edinburgh has an objective of achieving carbon neutrality by the year 2040. The university plays a prominent role in the annual festival of the city and welcomes more than 30 thousand students yearly, thus positively affecting the vibrant academic life.
University of Edinburgh Accommodation |
15,028 GBP/Year |
Scholarships |
Edinburgh Global Scholarships |
Major Faculties |
Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Business & Management, , Physical Science & Math, Social & Behavioural Science, |
6. Durham University
Durham University holds the reputation of one of the best global universities as it is ranked among the top 100 universities in the QS World University Rankings. The university follows a collegiate system with 17 colleges each offering world-class facilities to its students.
Durham’s business school is accredited by three major certifications: AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS; Over 25% of the students at Durham University are international students coming from 150 different countries fostering a diverse and global learning environment.
Durham University Accommodation |
9,048 GBP/Year |
Scholarships |
British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM Chevening Scholarships Commonwealth Masters Scholarships Fulbright - Durham Scholarship |
Major Faculties |
Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Business & Management, Physical Science & Math, Social & Behavioural Science, |
7. University of Manchester
The University of Manchester occupies the seventh place among universities in the UK and the 40th among universities in the world universities rankings just because its graduates are highly regarded by employers.
According to the International Graduate Employers’ Ranking, the University is in the 21st place among universities worldwide and in the 4th place among universities in the UK according to the employers’ reputation. As one of the first civic universities in England, the institution has its roots in industrial heritage. Today it focuses on graduates’ employability success rate and emphasizes the success rate through services including internships, career mentoring, CV workshops, and vacancy emails. Their Manchester Leadership Programme also enhances their student experience through volunteering work and academic studies.
University of Manchester Accommodation |
7,020 GBP/Year |
Scholarships |
Global Futures Scholarship Humanitarian Scholarship Engineering the Future Scholarships Global Futures Scholarship GREAT scholarships |
Major Faculties |
Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Business & Management, Computer & IT, Education, Physical Science & Math, Social & Behavioural Science, |
8. University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, was established in 1413 and is still awarded as one of the oldest universities in the entire English-speaking world along with being in the top ten list of UK University rankings. St Andrews was founded in 1401 and can claim to have over 600 years of providing education of high standards for its students.
For undergraduates, the university offers a very flexible system in which students are free to choose three different subjects that they will cover up to the second year. This allows students to follow the course subjects in which they are interested to study, hence promoting this unique approach of study.
University of St Andrews Accommodation |
7,427 GBP/Year |
Scholarships |
International Excellence Scholarship Saints Abroad Scholarship St Andrews Access Scholarship Sanctuary Scholarships |
Major Faculties |
Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Physical Science & Math, Computer & IT, Social & Behavioural Science |
9. University of Bath
The University of Bath, was founded in 1966 and is characterized by a close connection with research activities and innovative teaching approaches. It has a close relationship with industry and business experts that provide a practical edge in the academic curriculum.
Students from over 130 countries are studying at this university; therefore, their choice of undergraduate and postgraduate programs are from various fields such as engineering and business. Since Bath is a member of the Russell Group, it is considered one of the most research-focused universities in the United Kingdom, which contributes to the enhancement of the academic reputation.
University of Bath Accommodation |
11,492 GBP/Year |
Scholarships |
Global Leaders Scholarship Deans Award for Academic Excellence Scholarship MBA scholarships GREAT Scholarship |
Major Faculties |
Arts & Humanities, Business & Management, Engineering & Technology, Physical Science & Math, Computer & IT, Social & Behavioural Science |
10. University of Warwick
The University of Warwick gets tenth position in the UK university rankings this year while being 67th in the world university rankings. It is also internationally oriented as it gets high scores in the international faculty and student ratios; the university also positions itself 17th in the UK in terms of international research network.
Founded in 1965 as one of the youngest universities in the UK also works very hard on growing rapidly which results in the student population which stands at around 29,000 out of which 10,000 are international students from 150 different countries. Their international population is significantly very high with over 42.9% of their students and teachers from other different countries.
University of Warwick Accommodation |
4,732 GBP/Year |
Scholarships |
Albukhary Undergraduate Scholarship Alumni Discount Ashinaga Warwick Scholarship The Aziz Foundation Scholarship |
Major Faculties |
Arts & Humanities, Business & Management, Social & Behavioural Science, Engineering & Technology, Physical Science & Math, Computer & IT |
Conclusion
These top ten universities in the UK reflect the results of their achievements and their global influence. To those who are considering studying abroad in the UK, the decision could be challenging. However, with the use of the university compare option, you can not only compare these universities also you can compare their courses as well, thereby.
If you are still confused about choosing the best universities in the UK, we invite you to create a free account on TCF. This will enable you to avail a free counseling session with our professionals, who will give you the best advice and help you to achieve your goals of studying abroad in the UK.
FAQs
-
What are the top 10 universities in the UK for 2024?
The top 10 universities in the UK for 2024 are typically based on rankings from sources like The Times Higher Education, QS World University Rankings, and The Complete University Guide. While rankings can slightly vary, the top institutions usually include:
-
University of Cambridge
-
University of Oxford
-
Imperial College London
-
University College London (UCL)
-
University of Edinburgh
-
Durham University
-
University of Manchester
-
University of St Andrews
-
University of Bath
-
University of Warwick
These universities are renowned for their academic excellence, research output, and overall student satisfaction.
-
How are UK university rankings determined?
UK university rankings are determined based on various criteria, including:
-
Academic Reputation: Surveys of academics and employers assessing the quality of graduates.
-
Student Satisfaction: Feedback from current students about their experiences.
-
Research Quality: The impact and frequency of research published by the university.
-
Graduate Employability: The percentage of graduates who secure employment or further study after graduation.
-
Entry Standards: The average grades of students entering the university.
-
Student-Staff Ratio: The number of students per staff member, indicating the level of personalised attention.
These factors are weighted differently depending on the ranking organisation, leading to slight variations in university placements.
-
Which UK university is best for international students?
The best UK universities for international students often combine academic prestige with strong support services. Institutions like the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge , and Imperial College London consistently rank highly, but University College London (UCL) is particularly known for their international student communities.
These universities offer dedicated services such as international student advisors, orientation programs, and societies that help students from abroad integrate into the UK culture and academic life. Additionally, cities like London provide a multicultural environment that appeals to international students.
-
What are the best universities in the UK for specific subjects (e.g., Law, Engineering, Medicine)?
UK universities excel in different subject areas, so the best university often depends on your field of study:
-
Law: University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and University College London (UCL) are top choices for law students.
-
Engineering: Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, and University of Manchester are renowned for engineering programs.
-
Medicine: University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and University College London (UCL) offer highly competitive and prestigious medical degrees.
-
Business: London Business School, University of Warwick, and LSE are top contenders for business and management studies.
When choosing a university, it's important to consider subject-specific rankings alongside overall university rankings.
-
How do UK university rankings compare globally?
UK universities consistently rank among the best in the world. The University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, frequently appear in the top 5 of global rankings, often competing with leading institutions like Harvard University and Stanford University in the United States.
In particular, UK universities are known for their research excellence, with many institutions being part of the Russell Group, which is similar to the Ivy League in the U.S. The UK's global reputation for high-quality education attracts students from around the world, solidifying its position in global rankings.
-
What is the cost of studying at the top universities in the UK?
The cost of studying at the top UK universities varies depending on your nationality and course. For international students, tuition fees can range from £20,000 to £50,000 per year, especially for courses like medicine or engineering. UK students typically pay around £9,250 per year in tuition fees.
In addition to tuition, living expenses (including accommodation, food, transportation, and leisure) are estimated at £12,000 to £15,000 per year, especially in cities like London. Scholarships and financial aid are available, but competition is intense.
-
How competitive is admission to the top 10 universities in the UK?
Admission to the top 10 universities in the UK is highly competitive. These institutions often require A or A grades* at A-level (or equivalent qualifications) and high scores on standardized tests like the UCAT or LNAT for specific courses. The application process typically includes personal statements, reference letters, and sometimes interviews.
For international students, equivalent high academic performance is required, along with English language proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL. Acceptance rates at these universities can be as low as 10-20%, depending on the course and the university.
-
What is the student experience like at the top universities in the UK?
The student experience at the top universities in the UK is generally enriching and diverse. These universities offer a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports, arts, and student societies. Cities like Oxford, Cambridge, and London also provide a vibrant cultural scene.
In addition to academics, students benefit from robust support services, such as career counselling, mental health resources, and academic tutoring. The rich tradition and history of these institutions, combined with modern facilities, create a unique blend of the old and new, enhancing the overall student experience.
-
What are the job prospects after graduating from the top universities in the UK?
Graduates from the top UK universities enjoy excellent job prospects. Employers often value degrees from these institutions due to their academic rigour and the high calibre of students they attract. Many graduates secure positions in top firms across sectors like finance, law, consulting, and technology.
-
How do I apply to the top universities in the UK?
To apply to the top universities in the UK, you must submit an application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Here’s a step-by-step guide:
-
Choose Your Course: Research and decide on the course you want to study.
-
Meet the Requirements: Ensure you meet the entry requirements, including grades, subject prerequisites, and any required standardized tests.
-
Write a Personal Statement: This is your opportunity to showcase your passion for the subject and why you're a good fit for the university.
-
Gather References: Usually, you'll need a teacher or academic mentor to write a reference supporting your application.
-
Submit Your Application: Applications typically open in September, and the deadline for most courses is in January. However, Oxford, Cambridge, and medicine courses have earlier deadlines.
-
Prepare for Interviews: Some universities, especially Oxford and Cambridge, require interviews as part of the selection process.