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9 Best Public Master's Social Sciences & Psychology Universities in the United Kingdom

University of Edinburgh leads the 9 Public Master's Social Sciences & Psychology universities in the United Kingdom at #34 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come University of Manchester (QS World #35) and University of Strathclyde (QS World #251). Across the whole list there are 33 courses to choose from.

9 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
2Top pick
MA University of Manchester logo
QS World #35 #8 in United Kingdom Manchester, England, United Kingdom

University of Manchester

Public University · 23 courses in Master's Social Sciences & Psychology

All 23 courses →
GBP 23,000 – GBP 31,000/yrTuition (indicative)
1824Founded
46,000Students
15,000International
Admissions open
#35 QS World University Rankings 2026
#8 in United Kingdom

Social Sciences & Psychology at other levels

How these universities are ranked

5 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. 2 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

The split is 9 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.

Inside the course list

The usual length is 1–2 years and 2 years. 78% are full-time and 1 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (71% of courses with a stated intake). University of Manchester offers the widest choice, with 23 of these courses.

What it costs

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.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Public Master's Social Sciences & Psychology in the United Kingdom?

University of Edinburgh (QS World #34), University of Manchester (QS World #35) and University of Strathclyde (QS World #251) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Public Master's Social Sciences & Psychology in the United Kingdom?

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.

How many public universities offer Public Master's Social Sciences & Psychology in the United Kingdom?

9 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Public Master's Social Sciences & Psychology course take in the United Kingdom?

Most listed courses run 1–2 years, with 2 years the next most common.

When do Public Master's Social Sciences & Psychology courses start in the United Kingdom?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Public Master's Social Sciences & Psychology online with a university in the United Kingdom?

1 of these courses are listed as online.

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