Check the best universities in the UK for Indian students

The UK is home to some of the world’s most prestigious universities. The reason why most Indian students prefer studying at a top university in the UK is that a degree from a well-regarded UK institution can greatly enhance their future career prospects. With access to world-class faculty and resources, opportunities for research and professional development, and a prestigious degree that's recognized internationally, universities in the UK offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in popular domains, like science, technology, medicine, law, engineering and more, making it easier for students to find a course that matches their interests and career goals.

Table of Contents

  • Why study at top universities in the UK?

  • Types of universities in the UK

  • List of top 10 universities in the UK

  • Courses in UK Universities

  • Cost of studying in top UK universities

  • UK scholarship for Indian students

  • Admission intake in top UK universities

Why study at top universities in the UK?

As of 2025, UK universities continue to offer unparalleled academic opportunities, renowned for their strong academic reputations, high-quality research, and impressive graduate employability rates. Studying at top UK institutions provides access to exceptional education and valuable post-study work opportunities. Notably, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has achieved the top position in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025, surpassing both Oxford and Cambridge, which are ranked third and fourth respectively.

Types of universities in the UK

The UK has one of the reputed and oldest education systems recognized across the world. Due to their cultural significance, several terms are used to distinguish the universities in the UK. Here is a quick overview of the five types of universities in the UK:

1. Ancient Universities: Universities established during the 19th century are called ancient universities in the UK. Ancient universities introduced liberal education in the United Kingdom, giving way to academic research and development. These top universities in the UK are some of the first standard higher education institutions established in the English-speaking world.

2. Red Brick Universities: Customarily known as civic universities, the term “red brick” is used because of how these universities look. Red brick universities were established during World War I due to the growing demand for subjects such as science, engineering, design and technology.

3. Plate glass universities: Based on the Robins Report, these universities were established between 1963 and 1992 to increase the number of universities in the UK. These are popularly known as plate glass universities due to their modern architecture and glass structure.

4. New universities: Post-1992 universities, often called "new" or "metropolitan" universities, emerged following the 1992 Further and Higher Education Act, with many evolving from polytechnics and colleges of higher education. Typically located in cities, they distinguish themselves from traditional universities with unique naming conventions, such as Nottingham Trent University and Manchester Metropolitan University. While offering a broad range of subjects, these universities often excel in vocational fields tied to their past or in emerging disciplines like computer game design.

5. Russel Group universities: The Russel Group is the 24 British universities compared to the US Ivy League universities. This group maintains high-quality education and new teaching methods that ensure students receive the best education and experience.

Learn more about the different types of UK universities.

List of top 10 universities in the UK

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the QS World University Rankings by Top Universities are the two most renowned and distinguished university rating systems worldwide. The QS World University Ranks draw its rankings from a survey of numerous academic experts regarding the reputations of universities and an impartial evaluation of the quality of university instruction. The World University Rankings consider the research conducted at the universities and assess the extent to which that study has been cited and quoted internationally.

University Name

QS Rank 2025

Times Rank 2025

The Guardian Rank 2025

CUG Rank 2025

University of Cambridge

5

5

3

1

University of Oxford

3

1

1

2

Imperial College London

2

9

5

5

UCL

9

22

9

9

University of Edinburgh

27

29

15

15

University of Manchester

34

53

31

22

King’s College London

40

36

28

24

London School of Economics and Political Science

50

50

4

3

University of Bristol

54

78

16

16

University of Warwick

67

104

8

10

Courses in UK Universities

The UK boasts a high standard of higher education across various disciplines, establishing it as a premier destination for top-notch courses. With a reputation for excellence in business, engineering, humanities, and STEM fields, the UK is a sought-after choice for Indian students seeking the best courses.

Here’re the most popular courses Indians study at top UK universities:

  • Business Analytics

  • Data Science

  • Computer Science

  • MBA and MIM (Masters in Management)

  • MBBS

  • Finance, International Business and Accounting

  • Law

  • Architecture and Construction Management

  • Engineering

  • Fashion and Interior designing

Finding a course, let us help you. Connect with our UK education experts or start with our course search to discover the options available to you.

Cost of studying in top UK universities

The cost of studying at the top ranking universities in UK depends on the course you choose and where you wish to study in UK. For example, students who opt for humanities and social science courses would have to pay less than laboratory and clinic degree courses. Undergraduate international students' tuition fees vary from 11,400 GBP to 38,000 GBP (approx.), with an average cost of 22,200 GBP. Whereas international graduate programs can cost from 9000 GBP to 30,000 GBP with an average cost of 17,109 GBP.

UK scholarship for Indian students

If the cost of studying at top-ranking universities in UK is outside your budget, then you can apply to popular UK scholarships for Indian students. Scholarships are offered to students on merit-basis, need-basis, student-specific or course-specific grants. Merit-based scholarships are highly competitive and require a focused application and a remarkable statement of purpose. The eligibility criteria for UK scholarships for Indian students require students with Indian citizenship, completed education in English medium, and good academic background.

Some top Scholarships for Indian students to study in the UK are-

S.no.

Name of the UK scholarship

Description

1

Chevening Scholarship

Supports talented professionals who have shown prior leadership skills and exceptional performance in their respective fields. With Chevening, you can apply for a scholarship or fellowship, the selection of which is done by the high commission and British embassies.

2

Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship

The Commonwealth scholarship aims to give international students from commonwealth countries a chance to pursue postgraduate degrees in the UK. Basically, the scholarship scheme caters to students from commonwealth nations to study in the UK.

3

GREAT Scholarship

This scholarship is jointly funded by the UK Government’s GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council under the Study UK campaign. This program includes 99 postgraduate scholarships from 36 UK universities in a variety of subjects. However, for Indian students, 12 of the UK higher education institutions are offering 13 postgraduate scholarships.

4

Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships (CWIT)

Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships (CWIT) is the scholarship fund of Charles Wallace India Trust that provides grants to Indian students currently living in India in the early or middle stages of their career and either working or studying in the heritage conservation, arts, or humanities.

5

Scotland Saltire Scholarships

Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships is a scholarship program of the Scottish Government in collaboration with Scottish universities offered in the areas of creative industries, technology, science, medical sciences, healthcare, and renewable and clean energy.

*Please note: Please check the official websites for the latest application timeline for each grant/scholarship that you are applying for.

Admission intake in top UK universities

Universities in UK offer students two intakes; these intakes can also be referred to terms in certain universities. The three intakes in the UK are as follows:

  • Term 1: September to December

  • Term 2: January to April

  • Term 3: April to June

Choosing the best intake can be a bit confusing. You can consider certain factors, such as the availability of your course, your academic records, entrance test scores, acceptance rate, etc. If you do not have your scorecards ready, it would be better to apply for the next intake instead of rushing through the current one. The deadline for the intakes ends a few months before the start of the course. It is our advice to apply for the intake early to increase your chances of admission.

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