Educads

193 Best Public Universities in the United Kingdom

Imperial College London leads the 193 Public universities in the United Kingdom at #2 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. University of Oxford (QS World #4) and University of Cambridge (QS World #6) complete the top three. The universities on this list offer 2,221 matching courses between them.

193 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
145Ranked
RC Runshaw College logo
#145 in United Kingdom United Kingdom

Runshaw College

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
#145 in United Kingdom · by research impact
178 citations · h-index 8
156Ranked
UG University of Glamorgan logo
United Kingdom

University of Glamorgan

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found
158Ranked
HU Huron University USA in London logo
United Kingdom

Huron University USA in London

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found
160Ranked
UW University of Wales, Lampeter logo
United Kingdom

University of Wales, Lampeter

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found
161Ranked
LG London Guildhall University logo
United Kingdom

London Guildhall University

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found
162Ranked
UW University of Wales, Newport logo
United Kingdom

University of Wales, Newport

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found
164Ranked
UP University of Paisley logo
United Kingdom

University of Paisley

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found
166Ranked
SB South Bank University logo
United Kingdom

South Bank University

Public University · 0 courses

No course listed yet for this search — see the university's full profile.

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found

How these universities are ranked

54 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #2 (Imperial College London) to #662 (University of Portsmouth); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. University College London has the largest research record in this group, with 67,811,539 citations and an h-index of 2,079. 48 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 193 public to 0 private institutions. By location, England (5) and Scotland (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is University of Oxford, founded in 1096. University College London is the largest, with 46,000 students.

Inside the course list

By level: 1,389 bachelor's, 505 master's, 42 foundation and 30 professional. The most common subjects are Business & Management (299), Medicine & Health Sciences (254), Arts, Design & Architecture (209) and Social Sciences & Psychology (197). The usual length is 4 years and 3 years. 97% are full-time and 42 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (92% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (78% of courses with a stated intake). University of Manchester offers the widest choice, with 254 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 6 of these universities. University of Manchester is the least expensive at USD 34,000 a year and Imperial College London the most at USD 47,000; the middle of the range is about USD 43,000. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Public in the United Kingdom?

Imperial College London (QS World #2), University of Oxford (QS World #4) and University of Cambridge (QS World #6) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Public 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 in the United Kingdom?

193 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Public course take in the United Kingdom?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 3 years the next most common.

When do Public courses start in the United Kingdom?

Fall is the main intake — 92% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Public online with a university in the United Kingdom?

42 of these courses are listed as online.

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