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Colleges In United Kingdom

Best Universities in UK: Ranking, Scholarships, Fees, Job Opportunities in 2025

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Tanya Verma

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Choose the Best Universities in UK

Students from all over the world come to the best universities in UK to study at prestigious institutions and take any courses they want, making it a major center for higher education. According to the records marked in 2022/2023, an approx of 605,000 international students enrolled in the private and public universities in UK. 

The academic quality, research output, and career opportunities of the UK educational system set it apart.

The University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London are the universities that hold the top rank position for their quality of education and high graduate employability. Top universities provide undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs that are highly regarded worldwide, with 97% of research from UK universities. 

In addition, the UK has plenty to offer international students, such as post-study work, scholarships, and access to good quality research facilities. The government permits graduates to remain and work in the UK for two years after graduation under the Graduate Route visa.

Why Study in the Best Universities in UK?

There are several benefits of studying in the UK:

  • World Ranked Universities:- Many top universities in UK are listed in the QS World University Rankings.
  • Shorter Course Duration:- The time period for undergraduate degrees is three years and master degree is for one year. This helps in saving time and cost.
  • Globally Recognized Degrees:- UK degrees hold high demand globally, increasing job prospects for graduates.
  • Post-Study Work Visa:- Work visa for two years is granted to gain work experience 
  • Rich Cultural and Academic Environment:- Pursuing studies in the UK provides global networking opportunities.

Top 10 UK University List (2024 Rankings)

Rank

University Name

Location

QS World Ranking 2024

Top Programs

1

University of Oxford

Oxford

#3

Medicine, Law, Humanities

2

University of Cambridge

Cambridge

#2

Engineering, Business, Science

3

Imperial College London

London

#6

Computer Science, Engineering, Medicine

4

University College London (UCL)

London

#9

Architecture, Law, Social Sciences

5

University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

#22

Humanities, Business, Medicine

6

King’s College London (KCL)

London

#40

Politics, Dentistry, Health Sciences

7

University of Manchester

Manchester

#32

Business, Engineering, Data Science

8

London School of Economics (LSE)

London

#45

Economics, Law, Politics

9

University of Bristol

Bristol

#55

Medicine, Engineering, Psychology

10

University of Warwick

Coventry

#67

Business, Economics, Data Analytics

These are globally recognized, top universities in the UK for their academic excellence, industry connections, and strung graduate employability.

Top Public Universities in UK

Top public universities in the UK offer high-quality education at lower cost in comparison to the private universities. These universities are funded by the government. 

List of top public universities in the UK

University Name

Location

Year Established

Specialization

University of Oxford

Oxford

1096

Humanities, Law, Science

University of Cambridge

Cambridge

1209

Engineering, Business, Medicine

University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

1583

Literature, Medicine, Science

University of Glasgow

Glasgow

1451

Business, Engineering, Law

University of Birmingham

Birmingham

1900

Life Sciences, Economics, AI

University of Sheffield

Sheffield

1905

Engineering, Social Sciences

University of Leeds

Leeds

1904

Data Science, Media, Management

Public Universities in the UK are research focused, highly ranked, and offer affordable tuition fees compared to private universities.

Best Colleges in UK: With Respect to Field of Study

Many universities in UK differ in their specialized field. The best colleges in UK on the basis of their area of specialization.

  1. Best Business School in the UK
  • London Business School (LBS) :- Best for MBA programs
  • University of Oxford :- Expertise in Finance and Management
  • University of Cambridge :- Holds top rank for Executive MBA|
  1. Best Engineering College in UK
  • Imperial College London :- Best known for Mechanical and Civil Engineering
  • University of Cambridge :- Top for AI and Robotics
  • University in Manchester :- Excellent in Chemical and Electrical Engineering
  1. Best Medical Schools in the UK
  • University of Oxford :- Top ranked for Medical and Public Health
  • University of Edinburgh :- Best in Neuroscience and Clinical Research 
  • King’s College London :- Famous for Dentistry and Biochemical Science. 
  1. Best Law Schools in the Uk
  • University of Oxford- Faculty of Law :- Best to learn International Law
  • London School Of Economics (LSE) :- Best in Human Rights and Corporate Law. 
  • King’s College London (KCL) :- Famous for Criminal Law and Policy Studies.

Best Universities in UK : Fee Structure

Study Level

Annual Tuition Fees (GBP)

Equivalent in USD (Approx.)

Undergraduate (Bachelor’s)

£12,000 – £35,000

$15,000 – $44,000

Postgraduate (Master’s)

£15,000 – £40,000

$19,000 – $50,000

MBA Programs

£30,000 – £70,000

$38,000 – $89,000

Scholarships for International Students in the UK

Many top universities offer scholarships and financial help to merited students with tuition fees. Some top universities in the UK are:- 

Scholarship Name

University

Coverage

Chevening Scholarships

All Major Universities

Full tuition + living expenses

Commonwealth Scholarships

Various UK Universities

Full tuition + stipend

Rhodes Scholarship

University of Oxford

Full tuition + monthly stipend

GREAT Scholarships

Multiple UK Universities

£10,000 towards tuition fees

These scholarships are highly competitive, therefore students must apply early . 

Best Universities in UK: Job Opportunities

Graduates from the UK have high employability chances in various industries. Some of the best job opportunities are:

Industry

Job Role

Average Salary (GBP)

IT & Software

Data Scientist

£55,000

Business & Finance

Financial Analyst

£48,000

Engineering

Mechanical Engineer

£52,000

Healthcare

Medical Doctor

£70,000

Law

Corporate Lawyer

£65,000

Conclusion

The United Kingdom is still a strongly sought-after place for higher studies, with opportunities to access a few of the world's premier universities. 

The UK has public universities with high-quality and affordable education offered to both national and foreign students. These public universities, e.g., University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, and the University of Leeds, are noted for their reasonableness in terms of funding, research orientations, and mixed academic programs.

Students can study shorter courses in the UK, which may result in earlier graduation and early employment. The post-study work visa is a valuable asset for international students who want to gain professional experience after their studies are overdue; many of them also have rights or obligations towards working within EU member states that apply directly toward higher education institutions due to legal challenges facing overseas universities

As fees vary with the university and course, some scholarships such as the Chevening Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarships, and Rhodes scholarship help fund the education of the students.

Showing 66 Colleges
Aberystwyth University Logo

Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth| Approved| Government

20–30 LPA - Avg Package

(£18,008/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

Acceptance Rate - 94

|

Eligible exams -GMAT, IELTS, PTE
Ulster University Logo

Ulster University, Belfast

Belfast| Approved| Government

30–45 LPA - Avg Package

£16,453/Yr - Avg Tuition Cost

£8,544/Yr - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 81%

|

Eligible exams -IELTS, PTE
University of Oxford Logo

University of Oxford, Oxford

Oxford| Approved| Government

70–120 LPA - Avg Package

£39,096/Yr - Avg Tuition Cost

£17,040/Yr - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 17.50%

|

Eligible exams -GRE, PTE, TOEFL
Heriot Watt University Logo

Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh

Edinburgh| Approved| Government

30–50 LPA - Avg Package

£21,706/Yr - Avg Tuition Cost

£9,168/Yr - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 80%

|

Eligible exams -GRE, IELTS, PTE
University of Portsmouth Logo

University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth

Portsmouth| Approved| Government

30–45 LPA - Avg Package

£17,088/Yr - Avg Tuition Cost

£220/Yr - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 79%

|

Eligible exams -IELTS, PTE
Teesside University Logo

Teesside University, Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough| Approved| Government

25–35 LPA - Avg Package

£16,327/Yr - Avg Tuition Cost

£5,600/Yr - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 31%

|

Eligible exams -GRE, IELTS, PTE
Birkbeck University of London Logo

Birkbeck University of London, London

London| Approved| Government

30–50 LPA - Avg Package

£19,093/Yr - Avg Tuition Cost

Acceptance Rate - 76%

|

Eligible exams -PTE, TOEFL
Oxford Brookes University Logo

Oxford Brookes University, Oxford

Oxford| Approved| Government

30–50 LPA - Avg Package

£16,951/Yr - Avg Tuition Cost

£16,061/Yr - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 21%

|

Eligible exams -IELTS, PTE
University of Huddersfield Logo

University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield

Huddersfield| Approved| Government

25–40 LPA - Avg Package

£17,414/Yr - Avg Tuition Cost

Acceptance Rate - 84%

|

Eligible exams -IELTS
Kingston University Logo

Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames

Kingston upon Thames| Approved| Government

30–50 LPA - Avg Package

£18,305/Yr - Avg Tuition Cost

£11,040/Yr - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 30%

|

Eligible exams -GMAT, IELTS, PTE
University of East Anglia Logo

University of East Anglia, Norwich

Norwich| Approved| Government

30–50 LPA - Avg Package

£22,560/Yr - Avg Tuition Cost

£134/Yr - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 79%

|

Eligible exams -IELTS, PTE
University of Cambridge Logo

University of Cambridge, Cambridge

Cambridge| Approved| Government

80–120 LPA - Avg Package

(£38,935/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£2,200/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 21

|

Eligible exams -GMAT, TOEFL
University College London Logo

University College London, London

London| Approved| Government

60–100 LPA - Avg Package

(£35,714/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£17,981/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 63

|

Eligible exams -Duolingo, IELTS, PTE
King"s College London Logo

King"s College London, London

London| Approved| Government

50–80 LPA - Avg Package

(£31,372/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£1,800/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 13

|

Eligible exams -IELTS, PTE
University of Edinburgh Logo

University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

Edinburgh| Approved| Government

40–60 LPA - Avg Package

(£33,080/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£11,808/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 10

|

Eligible exams -IELTS, PTE
Durham University Logo

Durham University, Durham

Durham| Approved| Government

30–50 LPA - Avg Package

(£27,834/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£11,436/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 72

|

Eligible exams -IELTS, PTE
Middlesex University Logo

Middlesex University, London

London| Approved| Government

20–35 LPA - Avg Package

(£16,438/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£175/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 57

|

Eligible exams -IELTS, PTE
University of Warwick Logo

University of Warwick, Coventry

Coventry| Approved| Government

45–65 LPA - Avg Package

(£28,935/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£800/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 14

|

Eligible exams -IELTS, PTE
coventry university Logo

coventry university, Coventry

Coventry| Approved| Government

25–40 LPA - Avg Package

(£19,025/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£6,837/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 32

|

Eligible exams -IELTS, PTE
University of Bristol Logo

University of Bristol, Bristol

Bristol| Approved| Government

40–55 LPA - Avg Package

(£28,233/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£5,114/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 67

|

Eligible exams -IELTS, PTE
Queen Mary University of London Logo

Queen Mary University of London, London

London| Approved| Government

30–50 LPA - Avg Package

(£26,667/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£6,692/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 43

|

Eligible exams -PTE, TOEFL

70–120 LPA - Avg Package

(£30,751/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£13,416/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 25.3

|

Eligible exams -IELTS, PTE
The University of Manchester Logo

The University of Manchester, Manchester

Manchester| Approved| Government

30–50 LPA - Avg Package

(£31,782/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£8,580/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 70.6

|

Eligible exams -GMAT, IELTS, PTE
University of Southampton Logo

University of Southampton, Southampton

Southampton| Approved| Government

35–50 LPA - Avg Package

(£27,153/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£14,136/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 84

|

Eligible exams -Duolingo, IELTS, PTE
University of Sheffield Logo

University of Sheffield, Sheffield

Sheffield| Approved| Government

30–50 LPA - Avg Package

(£27,486/Yr) - Avg Tuition Cost

(£8,012/Yr) - Avg Living Cost

Acceptance Rate - 85.6

|

Eligible exams -IELTS, PTE