Best Universities in UK
Many of the world’s finest educational institutions can be found in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, one can choose from more than 160 different colleges and universities. The majority of these institutions welcome international students with great perks, and several excel in giving their international students an excellent education. To choose the best university for them, international students who seek to study in UK must be aware of the top universities in the UK for them.
Since the United Kingdom is home to many prestigious educational institutions, it’s understandable if you’re experiencing difficulties settling on which one would be ideal for you as an international student. What sets many of these institutions apart is their warm and inclusive approach toward international students and their commitment to delivering a top-notch education.
With the abundance of top-notch educational institutions, it’s only natural to feel overwhelmed when selecting the ideal university as an international student. To aid in this decision-making process, it’s essential for international students aspiring to study in the UK to acquaint themselves with the finest options among British universities.
For those in need of guidance, look no further!
Read this blog by MSM Unify for a curated list of the best institutions preferred by competent and talented international students.
List of the top universities in the UK for international students:
1. University of Oxford
If you’re looking for the most prestigious and well-known university in the United Kingdom, look no further than the oldest and first one in the English-speaking world. Oxford University located at Wellington Square in Oxford, England, is a distinguished educational institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.
There are more than 26,000 students enrolled at Oxford, including 12,000+ international students. From these numbers, the university’s openness to overseas students is greatly evident. Furthermore, the university offers a wide range of scholarship opportunities to students from around the world to facilitate their educational journey.
The admissions process in the UK at Oxford University is rigorous, making it important for the aspirants to start preparing for the same in advance.
QS World Ranking 2024 | Acceptance rate | Popular courses | Annual course fees payable by an international student |
3 | 17.5% | Mathematics, Economics, Medicine, Fine Arts, etc. | Between £33,050 and £48,620 approx. |
2. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a prominent British research institution. It is the world’s fourth-oldest university and the second-oldest in the English-speaking world. Cambridge offers a variety of educational opportunities, including undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and even continuing education, executive, and professional education.
This historic institution offers six different schools of study to its population of over 22,000, 9,000 of which are international students from 140 countries. It offers more than 80 different sports to its students and has a wide variety of clubs and organizations for them to participate outside the classroom.
QS World Ranking 2024 | Acceptance rate | Popular courses | Annual course fees payable by an international student |
2 | 21% | Mathematics, Architecture, Engineering, Medical and Veterinary Science, etc. | Between £24,507 and £63,990approx. |
3. University College London (UCL)
UCL is widely considered one of the greatest universities in London, and it provides top international courses to study in the UK. The education and research at University College London are widely recognized as among the world’s best. Furthermore, its central London location is perfect for cultural immersion for international students.
When University College London initially opened its doors in 1826, it was London’s only higher education institution. UCL calls itself “London’s global university” for its diverse student body (coming from over 150 different countries) and its partnerships with 300 international academic institutions.
QS World Ranking 2024 | Acceptance rate | Popular courses | Annual course fees payable by an international student |
9 | 26% | Science, Arts, Law, Management, Medicine and Healthcare, etc. | Between £26,200 and £57,700 approx. |
4. University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh is known for attracting world-class scholars and business leaders. A total of about 45,000 students are enrolled at the university’s five sites in and around the city at present. About a third of the student body is made up of students from other countries.
Some of the world’s finest art, musical instruments, natural history, anatomy, geology, publications, and more can be found in the vaults of these campuses.
QS World Ranking 2024 | Acceptance rate | Popular courses | Annual course fees payable by an international student |
22 | 46% | Chemistry, Biology, Architecture, Computer Science, Economics, Psychology, etc. | Between £24,500 and £38,700 approx. |
5. University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university in Manchester, United Kingdom, that was founded in 1824. More than a thousand undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs are available at the university. Furthermore, the university offers cutting-edge research and learning facilities in a diverse range of fields, notably science, engineering, and medicine.
There are more than 10,000 international students at the University of Manchester, representing more than 160 different nations. The university offers several financial aid opportunities along with excellent career opportunities, attracting more and more students every year from all over the world.
QS World Ranking 2024 | Acceptance rate | Popular courses | Annual course fees payable by an international student |
32 | 56% | Engineering, Science, Arts, Law, Medicine etc. | Between £19,000 and £28,000 approx. |
6. Imperial College London
Located in South Kensington, London, UK, Imperial College London has long been ranked at the top of global rankings. The health, engineering, and scientific disciplines have all benefited from the long history of education and research at Imperial College.
The institution’s goal is to develop innovative solutions to global problems through strategic multidisciplinary research and the formation of academic and professional expertise.
Over 125 countries are represented among the university’s over 6,700 undergraduate and graduate degree recipients each year. 60% of Imperial’s students are from outside the UK, while 20% of these students are from Europe.
There are many kinds of financial aid available to Imperial College students, including scholarships, grants, bursaries, and loans, making it a preferred option for international students.
QS World Ranking 2024 | Acceptance rate | Popular courses | Annual course fees payable by an international student |
6 | 15% | Mathematics, Physics, Medicine, Engineering, etc. | Between £ 17,850 and £ 35,700 approx. |
7. London School of Economics and Political Science
Since 1895, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has been a global focus of academic discussion in the social sciences. Regularly, it hosts talks by some of the contemporary’s most influential politicians.
LSE’s extensive academic portfolio includes the entire range of social sciences subjects, from sociology and anthropology to finance and accounting, with 36 undergraduate and over 140 postgraduate and Ph.D. degrees offered in 25 departments.
The LSE has students from more than 140 nationalities studying there, as well as 16 Nobel Laureates among its alumni.
QS World Ranking 2024 | Acceptance rate | Popular courses | Annual course fees payable by an international student |
45 | 17% – 32% | Accounting, Law, Economics, Business and Management etc. | £25,272 approx. |
8. King’s College London
King’s College London was founded in 1829 by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington, and it is now one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in the United Kingdom and around the world. The institution offers a range of short courses and undergraduate and graduate degree programs for the aspirants.
Famous alumni at the institution include author-philosopher Alain de Botton, science fiction writer, and author Virginia Woolf, athlete Dina Asher-Smith, and biophysicist Rosalind Franklin.
At present, more than 33,000 students from 190+ countries around the world make up the university’s student community.
QS World Ranking 2024 | Acceptance rate | Popular courses | Annual course fees payable by an international student |
40 | 13% | Computer Science, Engineering, Law, Psychology, Medicine, Business, etc. | Between £8,610 and £29,460 approx. |
9. University of Warwick
With over 9,500 international students from 147 different countries attending the University of Warwick, it provides a wide variety of educational choices in addition to numerous opportunities to travel overseas. The university has 29 departments and more than 50 research centers and institutions across Science, Arts, Medicine, and various other fields.
While attending any program in this top-ranked university, International students experience rigorous academic challenges and are subject to wide exposure. This equips them with the ability to conquer any roadblocks in their career or beyond and develop a confident personality.
QS World Ranking 2024 | Acceptance rate | Popular courses | Annual course fees payable by an international student |
67 | 14% | Accounting and Finance, Law, Computer Science, etc. | Between £18,790 to £43,950 approx. |
10. University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham provides top-notch international learning while equipping its students with the knowledge and capabilities to become effective leaders and critical global citizens.
This university is dedicated to innovation, community involvement, and success. It guarantees to keep up with the rapidly evolving sector of economics while preserving and enhancing the local areas where they are situated.
The university boasts a strong student community with more than 40,000 students from 150+ countries. You too can join the bandwagon to elevate your career and lead a fulfilling life.
QS World Ranking 2024 | Acceptance rate | Popular courses | Annual course fees payable by an international student |
100 | 11% | Pharmacy, Veterinary Science, Literature, Nursing, etc. | Between £12,000 and £44,000 approx. |
From education, cuisine, culture, places, and people, the UK is surely a top study-abroad destination for more reasons than one. However, choosing the best-fit course and university from the myriad available educational institutions present in the UK is quite a daunting task!
So, get in touch with the expert MSM Unify study-abroad consultants to weigh your options and get appropriate advice based on your academic background and interests.
Also, watch this space to get the latest information on any new developments in the realm of overseas education!