Top 50 Universities in UK: rankings, fees, admission requirements & acceptance rate

Darshan Shah

21 Sep 2024

UK universities are globally recognised for their deep-rooted education legacy, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries! Some of the world’s oldest universities are in the United Kingdom. Scroll below to find the complete list of top universities in the UK.

Why Study at the Best Universities in the UK?

Globally Recognised Universities

Degrees from top universities in the UK are recognised globally and prestigious UK universities offer diverse courses and specializations. Excellent faculty, high-quality teaching methods, and a rich cultural heritage just add to the whole experience of studying abroad. Degrees from UK universities enhance your international reputation and thus employability.

Shorter Courses

This is perhaps the best reason to choose UK universities if you’re planning to study your masters abroad. While other countries offer master's courses that are 2-3 years long, top universities in UK offer much shorter courses that will get you a degree in just a year. This also means that you’ll have to spend less on your cost of living.

Unique in Culture and Diversity

Top universities in UK are located in cities that are even richer in culture and student diversity. The country is friendly towards international students and UK universities have a good local: international students ratio. Studying at top universities in the UK will allow you to interact with peers from around the globe and get global exposure.

Safety and Strict Regulations

It is safe to study at UK universities since the country follows strict regulations to maintain a lower crime rate.

Career Opportunities

Degrees from top universities in UK make your resume valuable in the eyes of large companies. The pay scales are mind blowing after graduating from UK universities and you can also work part-time in the country for up to 20 hours a week during your studies.

Free Healthcare Benefits

While studying at UK universities, you will have access to free healthcare facilities, unlike other countries.

Scholarships by UK Universities

Almost all UK universities offer their students merit-based scholarships to support their study. Additionally, UK universities can also offer funding opportunities to support their cost of living for the duration of their studies.

Private vs. Public UK Universities

A top public university in UK is funded by the government of UK and it doesn’t focus on generating profit. Therefore, the tuition costs will be much cheaper at a top public university in UK.

It has larger campuses as compared to a top private university in UK. Any top public university in UK will also offer a diverse range of programs to choose from.

The top public university in the UK also focuses strongly on research and has a strong industry network. The student population is larger at a top public university in UK.

Top private universities in UK have smaller campuses with specific programs.

Top 10 UK Universities

These are the top 10 UK universities with their annual tuition fees, acceptance rate, placement probability, and requirements for admission:

QS Ranking	University	Annual Tuition Fees	Acceptance Rate	Employability	Requirements
2	University of Cambridge	24 Lakh INR	21%	100%	TOEFL 100+
					IELTS 7+
					SAT 1460+
					ATAR 98.5+
					GPA 3.25+
3	University of Oxford	36-54 Lakh INR	16%	100%	GRE 260+
					GPA 3.3+
					IELTS 7+
					TOEFL 100+
					SAT 1470+
6	Imperial College London	35-37 Lakh INR	14.3%	83%	GPA 3.6+
					GMAT 600+
					GRE 314+
					SAT 1200+
					PTE 62+
					IELTS 6.5+
					TOEFL 92+
					Cambridge CAE Advanced 176+
					International Baccalaureate 38+
9	UCL	22-32 Lakh INR	32.72%	51.6%	GPA 3.5+
					GRE 322+
					GMAT 600+
					ACT 32+
					SAT 1490+
					ATAR 96+
					PTE 62+
					TOEFL 92+
					IELTS 6.5+
					International Baccalaureate 39+
					Cambridge CAE Advanced 176+
22	The University of Edinburgh	12-16 Lakh INR	10%	48.1%	SAT 1290+
					ATAR 92+
					IELTS 6.5+
					TOEFL 92+
32	The University of Manchester	33 Lakh INR	76%	71.9%	SAT 1290+
					IELTS 6.5+
					TOEFL 90+
40	King’s College London	25 Lakh INR	13%	34.4%	ATAR 92+
					TOEFL 90+
					IELTS 6.5+
					GPA 2.7+
45	The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	23 Lakh INR	8.9%	98.6%	Program Specific
55	University of Bristol	17.5 Lakh INR	67%	39.6%	PTE 67+
					ACT 24+
					IELTS 6.5+
					TOEFL 90+
					GPA 3.4+
					SAT 650+
					Cambridge CAE Advanced 168+
					International Baccalaureate 37+
67	University of Warwick	30 Lakh INR	24%	47.2%	IELTS 6+
					ATAR 94.05+
					SAT 660+
					TOEFL 87+
					GPA 3+

Note: Please make sure to refer to your program specific requirements before applying. Also, many of the requirements mentioned are either Bachelor’s or Master’s specific but the required scores don’t differ much and only by 5 or so points. The tuition fees for a year are approximate too. Please make sure to check out the finances required for your specific course on the respective university’s website.

Other Top 50 UK Universities by QS Ranking

QS Ranking	University
75	University of Leeds
=76	University of Glasgow
78	Durham University
=81	University of Southampton
84	University of Birmingham
=95	University of St Andrews
=100	University of Nottingham
104	The University of Sheffield
110	Newcastle University
122	Lancaster University
=145	Queen Mary University of London
148	University of Bath
153	University of Exeter
=154	Cardiff University
167	University of York
=169	University of Reading
=176	University of Liverpool
202	Queen’s University Belfast
208	University of Aberdeen
212	Loughborough University
218	University of Sussex
235	Heriot-Watt University
244	University of Surrey
=272	University of Leicester
=276	University of Strathclyde
=295	University of East Anglia (UEA)
=307	Swansea University
=328	City, University of London
=336	University of Kent
343	Brunel University London
374	Birkbeck, University of London
=413	Oxford Brookes University
=413	Royal Holloway, University of London
=431	University of Stirling
=441	University of Dundee
446	Aston University
459	University of Essex
=481	Bangor University
=498	Ulster University
=502	University of Portsmouth

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Important Resources

Top 50 Universities in USA: rankings, fees, admission requirements & acceptance rate Top Universities in UK in 2024: why Coventry University is a good choice Top 10 UK Study Visa Interview Questions & Answers- Complete List How to Get a UK Study Visa: A Complete Guide Study in UK for Indian Students after 12th How to study in UK without taking language test

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which university is best in the UK for international students?

Some of the top universities in UK are:

University of Cambridge
University of Oxford
University College London (UCL)
Imperial College London
University of Edinburgh
University of Manchester

How much are the fees for UK universities?

UK universities usually cost around 24-28 Lakh INR per year.

Which UK universities are the cheapest for international students?

These are some of the cheapest UK universities that cost around 13-16 Lakh INR a year.

Liverpool Hope University
Queen Margaret University
University of Bolton
University of Chester
University of Derby
University of Hull
University of Kent
University of the Highlands and Islands
Wrexham Glyndwr University

Is IELTS required for the UK?

IELTS is a must for applying to UK universities. These test scores are mandatory for showcasing your English language proficiency to UK universities that you apply to.

Which part of UK is best for students?

London has the most popular UK universities and is considered the top location to study due to its world-class universities, diverse culture, and numerous opportunities. Apart from London, Edinburgh and Manchester are also cities with top universities in UK.

Can I study in UK for under 10 Lakhs?

Postgraduate programs at UK universities are typically a year long in duration. You can study masters in UK for 10-13 Lakhs INR.

Is the UK very expensive for students?

Studying at UK universities can cost up to 1.4-2 Lakhs INR per month. And fees to study at top universities in UK can cost 11-42 Lakh INR.