Universities in the United Kingdom ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 164 Universities in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is divided into 4 countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. England is further subdivided into regions. The vast majority of higher education institutions meeting the uniRank selection criteria are located in England, particularly in its most populated regions, London and South East England. The following uniRank sub-rankings and league tables take into account all UK countries and the regions of England that include at least one higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

East Midlands (7)  
East of England (11)  
London (40)  
North East England (5)  
North West England (15)  
Northern Ireland (2)  
Scotland (18)  
South East England (18)  
South West England (14)  
Wales (10)  
West Midlands (11)  
Yorkshire and the Humber (13)  

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Overview of UK Universities

The United Kingdom hosts a globally renowned higher education system characterized by historic institutions and academic excellence. UK universities are primarily public (88.4%), funded by the government, with a smaller private sector (9.1%). Institutions range from comprehensive research universities to specialized schools, many belonging to prestigious groups like the Russell Group. Degrees include Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral programs across arts, sciences, engineering, medicine and social sciences. The UK's Quality Assurance Agency ensures rigorous academic standards, making its qualifications internationally recognized.

Top 10 UK Universities

1. University of Oxford
   Acronym: -
   Country Rank: 1 | World Rank: 10
   Location: Oxford, South East England | Established: 1096
   Control: Public | Research: Research-intensive | Type: Comprehensive
   Fields: Arts, Sciences, Humanities, Medicine, Law, Social Sciences
   Levels: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
2. University of Cambridge
   Acronym: -
   Country Rank: 2 | World Rank: 19
   Location: Cambridge, East of England | Established: 1209
   Control: Public | Research: Research-intensive | Type: Comprehensive
   Fields: STEM, Arts, Business, Medicine, Social Sciences
   Levels: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
3. University College London (UCL)
   Acronym: UCL
   Country Rank: 3 | World Rank: 40
   Location: London | Established: 1826
   Control: Public | Research: Research-intensive | Type: Comprehensive
   Fields: Engineering, Medicine, Architecture, Social Sciences, Arts
   Levels: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
4. University of Edinburgh
   Acronym: -
   Country Rank: 4 | World Rank: 53
   Location: Edinburgh, Scotland | Established: 1583
   Control: Public | Research: Research-intensive | Type: Comprehensive
   Fields: Informatics, Literature, Medicine, Veterinary Science, Business
   Levels: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
5. London School of Economics (LSE)
   Acronym: LSE
   Country Rank: 5 | World Rank: 73
   Location: London | Established: 1895
   Control: Public | Research: Research-intensive | Type: Specialized
   Fields: Economics, Politics, Law, International Relations, Sociology
   Levels: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
6. University of Southampton
   Acronym: -
   Country Rank: 6 | World Rank: 91
   Location: Southampton, South East England | Established: 1952
   Control: Public | Research: Research-intensive | Type: Comprehensive
   Fields: Engineering, Computer Science, Oceanography, Health Sciences
   Levels: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
7. University of Manchester
   Acronym: -
   Country Rank: 7 | World Rank: 95
   Location: Manchester, North West England | Established: 1824
   Control: Public | Research: Research-intensive | Type: Comprehensive
   Fields: Life Sciences, Engineering, Humanities, Business
   Levels: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
8. Imperial College London
   Acronym: -
   Country Rank: 8 | World Rank: 106
   Location: London | Established: 1907
   Control: Public | Research: Research-intensive | Type: Specialized
   Fields: Science, Engineering, Medicine, Business
   Levels: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
9. University of Glasgow
   Acronym: UofG
   Country Rank: 9 | World Rank: 110
   Location: Glasgow, Scotland | Established: 1451
   Control: Public | Research: Research-intensive | Type: Comprehensive
   Fields: Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, Arts
   Levels: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
10. University of Warwick
    Acronym: -
    Country Rank: 10 | World Rank: 116
    Location: Coventry, West Midlands | Established: 1965
    Control: Public | Research: Research-intensive | Type: Comprehensive
    Fields: Business, Economics, Engineering, Social Sciences
    Levels: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral

Analysis of University Types

The UK's 164 universities are predominantly public institutions (145 universities, 88.4%). Private universities constitute a smaller segment (15 institutions, 9.1%), reflecting the state-funded nature of British higher education. This distribution ensures broad access to government-subsidized education while allowing niche private providers to offer specialized programs.

Global Ranking and Standing

UK universities dominate global rankings, with 21 institutions in the top 200 worldwide (12.8% of all UK universities). Additionally, 86 UK universities (52.4%) rank within the top 1,000 globally. This strong representation underscores the UK's academic influence and research output.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many universities are in the UK?
There are 164 recognized universities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

What percentage of UK universities are public?
88.4% (145 institutions) are publicly funded, while 9.1% (15 institutions) are private.

How many UK universities rank in the global top 200?
21 UK universities feature in the world's top 200, including Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Imperial College London.

What are the oldest universities in the UK?
The University of Oxford (founded 1096) and University of Cambridge (1209) are the UK's oldest institutions.

Do UK universities offer specialized degrees?
Yes, institutions like LSE (social sciences) and Imperial College London (STEM) focus on specialized fields, while others like Oxford and Cambridge offer comprehensive programs.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about UK universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in the United Kingdom
  Explore the most traditional and long-established UK post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in the United Kingdom
  Search for UK higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• UK Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular UK town or city.
• Top Public Universities in the United Kingdom
  Discover UK public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in the United Kingdom
  Find out about UK private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in the United Kingdom
  Explore UK not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in the United Kingdom
  Look for UK for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top UK Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in the United Kingdom have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top UK Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in the United Kingdom that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top UK Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in the United Kingdom are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top UK Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in the United Kingdom with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.