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Top Universities in the United Kingdom

Imperial College London tops our list of 195 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. Across the whole list there are 2,574 courses to choose from.

195 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
193Ranked
HC Harlaxton College logo
United Kingdom

Harlaxton 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
Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found
194Ranked
UC University of Chichester logo
United Kingdom

University of Chichester

Public University · 0 courses

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

—Tuition (indicative)
—Founded
—Students
—International
Not yet ranked No QS position or research record found
195Ranked
WU Wrexham University logo
United Kingdom

Wrexham University

Public University · 0 courses

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

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

By university type

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 67,859,442 citations and an h-index of 2,079. 50 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 195 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.

Levels, lengths and start dates

By level: 1,457 bachelor's, 719 master's, 66 phd / doctorate and 53 diploma. The most common subjects are Business & Management (353), Medicine & Health Sciences (275), Arts, Design & Architecture (223) and Social Sciences & Psychology (223). The usual length is 4 years and 3 years. 97% are full-time and 46 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (92% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (69% 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

Which is the best university 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 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 universities in the United Kingdom are public?

195 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a course take in the United Kingdom?

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

When do 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.

Which university has the most courses in the United Kingdom?

University of Manchester, with 254, ahead of Bath Spa University (129).

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