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Of the 8 Public Master's Science universities in the United Kingdom, University of Edinburgh ranks highest at #34 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come University of Manchester (QS World #35) and University of York (QS World #169). Across the whole list there are 34 courses to choose from.
8 universities · ranked best first
how we rankPublic University · 1 course in Master's Science
Public University · 20 courses in Master's Science
Public University · 1 course in Master's Science
Public University · 2 courses in Master's Science
Public University · 3 courses in Master's Science
Public University · 5 courses in Master's Science
Public University · 1 course in Master's Science
Public University · 1 course in Master's Science
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4 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #34 (University of Edinburgh) to #461 (Royal Holloway and Bedford New College); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. University of Manchester has the largest research record in this group, with 29,568,191 citations and an h-index of 1,244. 1 university have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".
The split is 8 public to 0 private institutions. By location, Scotland (1) and England (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583. University of Manchester is the largest, with 46,000 students.
The usual length is 1–2 years and 4 years. 100% are full-time. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (73% of courses with a stated intake). University of Manchester offers the widest choice, with 20 of these courses.
We hold indicative fees for 2 of these universities. University of Manchester is the least expensive at USD 34,000 a year and University of Edinburgh the most at USD 38,000; the middle of the range is about USD 38,000. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.
University of Edinburgh (QS World #34), University of Manchester (QS World #35) and University of York (QS World #169) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.
Of those with published fees, University of Manchester is the least expensive at about USD 34,000 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.
8 public and 0 private universities are on this list.
Most listed courses run 1–2 years, with 4 years the next most common.
Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.
University of Manchester, with 20, ahead of Keele University (5).
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