Top 10 Best & Most Popular Universities in the UK (Updated)

Post By

Saumya M.

Reviewed By

Jo S., Faheem H., and Marc T.

Post By

Saumya M.

Reviewed By

Jo S., Faheem H., and Marc T.

Can you remember our list of the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Universities in the World? According to that, globally, more and more individuals are pursuing higher education, and the United Kingdom is no exception, boasting one of the most renowned and well-established university systems anywhere in the world. That’s why we previously shared with you the Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Study Abroad in the UK. Today, the World’s #1 Source of Research-Based Content, The Daily Top 10 is here with a list of the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Universities in the UK.

According to the Top 10 Best Scholarships in the UK for International Students, higher education in the UK is highly regarded for its high standards and world-class quality education on a global scale. There are over 160 higher education institutions to choose from in the UK, with the most prestigious graduate and postgraduate programs while facilitating over 2.75 million students as of 2021.

You may already be updated with the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Universities in the Philippines now. So, let’s see what are the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Universities in the UK now.

What is the Best and Most Popular University in the UK?

In addition to the UK, can you name the list of the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Universities in Australia and the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Places to Visit in the UK? However, do you know that London is regarded as the global center of higher education? It has the most globally ranked universities per city, with four of its universities listed among the top 10 universities in the world. Furthermore, UK Universities also rank highly in the top 100 Global University Rankings with 8 UK Universities.

As stated on Statista, the total number of international students in the UK is 679,970 as of 2021/2022. Are you curious to know more? So, let us check out the rest of the universities in the UK right before moving to the Best and Most Popular University in the UK. You can also read the Top 10 Best Universities for Special Education in Asia for more details on universities.

10

University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow is known as the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking globe, which was established in 1451. It is based in Scotland’s largest city and deemed to be the world’s friendliest (Rough Guides 2019) and was currently ranked in the top 10 “Best Cities in the World in 2019” by Time Out as stated in a Study in UK. It is home to nearly 35,000 students from over 140 countries and is renowned worldwide for its pioneering research and has influenced thinkers like Adam Smith and distinguished scientist Lord Kelvin as mentioned on Top Universities.

Besides, It placed #14 in UK University Rankings 2023, #11 in the Guardian University Guide as of 2023, #81 in QS World University Rankings 2023, and was awarded the “2020 THE University of the Year” in recognition of its contribution to reparative justice. Not to mention the university is also a founding member of Universities 21, an international group of universities devoted to establishing global standards for higher education; member of the prestigious Russell Group, a collection of top UK research-intensive universities.

9

University of Bristol

Bristol was originally founded in 1876 and is located in a welcoming and lovely metropolis in the southwest of England and the third-most cultural and creative city in the UK. It is at the forefront of international study as a member of the Russell Group of UK universities with a strong focus on research. In the Times Higher Education analysis of REF 2021, which deemed that 94% of Bristol’s research was “world-leading” or “internationally excellent,” this university was ranked as one of the top five UK institutions for research.

Furthermore, the University of Bristol is ranked #61 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and became one of the four in High Fliers Research 2023. Not only the campus but also the city of Bristol has ranked among the top 50 in Qs Best Student Cities for 2023. Most importantly, this university is known to be excellent in engineering, mathematics, computer science, geography, and psychology. In addition, the University of Bristol was the first higher education institute in the UK to admit both males and women on an equal basis.

8

University of Manchester

According to Into Study, the University of Manchester is a long-running 200 years of history institution renowned for its world-changing discoveries and excellent study. This university which can trace its roots back to 1824, provides a vibrant city campus atmosphere and some of the best-funded student amenities in the UK. By overall enrollment, Manchester University is the third-biggest university in the United Kingdom.

With students from 160 different nations, this highly regarded institution attracts many international students because of the high caliber of its instruction, its employment opportunities, and its student life. Do you know that this university is a part of the Russell Group, the N8 Group, and the Universities Research Association? However, there have been 25 Nobel laureates affiliated with the University of Manchester, including its predecessor colleges as stated in Wikipedia.

7

London School of Economics and Political Science

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a premier institution for teaching and conducting study in the entire spectrum of the social, political, and economic sciences it was established in 1895. LSE has the highest number of international students which is around 73% more than any other Top 10 university in the UK and it ranked #4 in UK University Rankings 2023 and #3 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022 for Social Sciences & Management and #37 globally in the Times Higher Education Rankings 2023.

What’s more, LSE has a distinguished reputation for scholastic excellence, and With the largest library in the world devoted to social sciences, it takes pleasure in having some of the most academically driven students in the nation. Not to mention its 40 Bachelor’s Degrees except Master’s, Diplomas, and Ph.D. programs with further assistance to the career maze that you are given and the vast cultural and social life you can experience there in London.

6

King’s College London

Did you know that King’s College London is one of the two founding colleges of the University of London? In addition, it is a public research university established in 1829. King’s is frequently thought of as being a component of the prestigious universities known as the “golden triangle” that is situated in Oxford, Cambridge, and London cities. According to the University of London, King’s is well known for its top-notch instruction and cutting-edge study.

In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), which considers both the quality and quantity of research activity, King’s was placed #6 in the UK and #7 for quality according to Times Higher Education Rankings. Further, at King’s, 84% of the study was rated as “world-leading” or “internationally excellent.” In addition to being a founding member of the Francis Crick Institute, MedCity, and King’s Health Partners university health sciences center, King’s boasts six Medical Research Council centers.

5

University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh was officially established in 1583 and is among the largest and most prestigious universities in the world. Its popularity among students makes it the seventh-largest university by student enrollment in the UK. Over 45,000 students are currently enrolled at the university, which has five campuses spread out across the metropolis. Moreover, the institution of Edinburgh is the oldest civic foundation in the English-speaking world and the sixth-oldest institution in the United Kingdom.

Additionally, it is currently placed in the top 15 in the QS World University Rankings 2023 whilst ranked #4 in the Qs Sustainability Rankings-2023. Some of the most significant collections of art, musical instruments, rare books, manuscripts, natural history, geology, and anatomy in the world can be found on these campuses. They have received the renowned Queen’s Anniversary Prize five times, and 90% of their research has lately been assessed to be of world-leading or exceptionally high caliber on a global scale as mentioned on Scotland Org.

4

University College London

University College London is one of the top multidisciplinary institutions in the world, and one of the two founding institutions of the University of London, which was established in the center of London in 1826. It is known to be the first institution in England to accept students of any religion and the first to treat women equally to men was the institution College London (UCL). Most importantly, it has 39,000 students from 150 different nations being the first university with the highest number of Non-UK students in England with 23,360 students. Further, UCL ranked 8th in the world in the “QS World University Rankings 2022 and ranked among the top 20 universities worldwide in the 2022 QS Graduate Employability Rankings.

Besides, UCL is well known for its research education and addressing real-life problems. Recently, it became the Top University in the United Kingdom for Research Excellence and the UCL Institute of Education has also been ranked as the best university in the world for the study of Education for the last nine years. According to our research, we know that the UCL received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, a celebration of excellence, innovation, and public benefit in work carried out by UK colleges and universities, in 2015 as a Study in UK states.

3

Imperial College London

Imperial College London (legally Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom established in 1907. The university became an independent institution in 2007 which was previously a college of the University of London and the main campus can be found in South Kensington. Imperial is mainly focused on the fields of science, technology, medicine, and business.

Nonetheless, the Imperial College London ranked #6 in QS World University Rankings 2023, #4 in Best Global Universities in Europe, and also, #4 in Best Global Universities in the United Kingdom as stated on US News. Further, it ranked among the 30 in the Qs Graduate Employability Rankings-2022, providing students the opportunity to join a community of world-class researchers makes it well-known. To be highlighted, it is housing 61% of international students representing 140 nations.

2

University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is a public collegiate research university in Cambridge, England that dates back to 1209. Its 800-year history makes it the third-oldest institution in the English-speaking world and the fourth-oldest surviving university in the entire world. There are around 150 faculties and other institutions housed there. Did you know that more than 18,000 students from diverse backgrounds and regions of the globe attend Cambridge?

Over 120 different countries are represented among its nearly 4,000 international students. Interestingly, 20% of the city is filled with university students and its grand buildings add an impressive look to the city. Not to mention, its excellency is measured through ranks as follows. The University of Cambridge ranked #3 globally according to Times Higher Education, ranked #2 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and #11 in Graduate Employability Ranking,#8 in Best Global Universities, #2 in Best Global Universities in Europe, and Best Global Universities in the United Kingdom.

1

University of Oxford

Fantastically, being the oldest university in the English-speaking world, its founding date is still uncertain. However, the University of Oxford in the UK tops the ranking for the seventh consecutive year and ranked #4 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and #7 in Qs Graduate Employability Rankings-2022. According to Top Universities, it is situated in and around Oxford’s medieval city center and has the biggest library system in the UK in addition to 44 colleges and halls. Oxford University offers 48 undergraduate degrees under four major alumni, social sciences, medical sciences, mathematical, physical, and life sciences.

The university’s specialty is the sciences, and it is reportedly the best in the world at teaching medicine. In addition to that, at Oxford, there are 22,000 total students, of which 42% are foreign students, and home to the youngest population in the UK as a result of a quarter of its population being students. Moreover, 30 modern world leaders including Bill Clinton, Aung San Suu Kyi, Indira Gandhi, and 26 UK Prime Ministers & Nobel prize winners, Olympic medalists, and more renowned individuals have been created from the University of Oxford. Thus, the Best and Most Popular University in the UK is the University of Oxford.

What are the Best and Most Popular Universities in the UK?

According to the Top 10 List of Most Spoken Languages in the World, English is the most spoken language in the world. So, while earning a degree that is highly valued all around the world, studying in the UK lets you avail yourself of all the country has to offer in terms of beauty. Each year, an all-time high of international students enroll at the best universities in the UK, having earned the right to attend some of the most esteemed colleges and universities in the world. Thus, second thoughts will not be required if you choose to study in one of these universities in the UK that we brought to you today.

Here is the list of the Top 10 Best and Most Popular Universities in the UK:

1. University of Oxford
2. University of Cambridge
3. Imperial College London
4. University College London
5. University of Edinburgh
6. King’s College London
7. London School of Economics and Political Science
8. University of Manchester
9. University of Bristol
10. University of Glasgow

Higher education in the UK undoubtedly supports you in securing your dream lifestyle in the future. So, if you enjoyed our article today, you can sign up for our Newsletter to keep updated with more articles like Top 10 Most Common Mental Health Issues in College Students, Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Study Abroad in Australia, and the Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Study Abroad in Canada from our Education Work Facts Category.

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Author: Saumya M.

Saumya M. is a passionate content writer known for her impeccable storytelling and research. She has covered topics ranging from travel and lifestyle to entertainment, community, and education. She helps people live their best lives and reach their full potential.