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36 Best Science Universities in the United Kingdom

Imperial College London tops our list of 36 Science universities in the United Kingdom at #2 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is followed by University of Oxford (QS World #4) and University of Cambridge (QS World #6). The universities on this list offer 91 matching courses between them.

36 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
5Ranked
MA University of Manchester logo
QS World #35 #8 in United Kingdom Manchester, England, United Kingdom

University of Manchester

Public University · 22 courses in Science

All 22 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
20Ranked
KU Keele University logo
#63 in United Kingdom United Kingdom
#63 in United Kingdom · by research impact
2,436,676 citations · h-index 465

Science at other levels

By university type

How these universities are ranked

18 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #2 (Imperial College London) to #561 (University of Plymouth); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: University of Oxford is cited most (64,607,071 citations). 4 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

36 are public and 0 private (100% public). By location, England (4) and Scotland (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is University of Oxford, founded in 1096. University of Manchester is the largest, with 46,000 students.

Inside the course list

By level: 42 bachelor's, 34 master's, 5 phd / doctorate and 2 foundation. The usual length is 4 years and 3 years. 100% are full-time. Start dates lean to Fall (98% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (84% of courses with a stated intake). University of Manchester offers the widest choice, with 22 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 5 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

Which is the best university in the United Kingdom for Science?

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 Science 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 Science in the United Kingdom?

36 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

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

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

When do Science courses start in the United Kingdom?

Fall is the main intake — 98% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Which university has the most Science courses in the United Kingdom?

University of Manchester, with 22, ahead of Keele University (9).

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