5 types of UK universities

If you want to study in the UK, you should know that there are 5 types of universities in the UK. We will be exploring them all in this article.


These are the universities that are dated back to medieval and renaissance times from c. 1096 to 1582 and continue to exist till today! These universities often have lecture rooms and corridors in buildings that are hundreds of years old. Due to their historical nature, they still offer tutorials in addition to the lectures to help students connect with faculty in smaller, separate groups.

Examples of ancient universities & year of foundation are displayed below for you:

These universities were established in the 19th century during World War I in major industrial cities to respond to the growing demand for university-level study in subject areas like science, design, technology, and engineering. These non-collegiate institutions admitted students regardless of religion or background and focused on teaching “real-world” skills to them.

Till today, the most attractive quality of these universities lies in their location, and these are built in the middle of the cities on undefined campuses (sometimes with public roads running through them). All six red brick universities are also a part of the Russell Group and are quite preferred by international students.

The below table shows the six red brick universities and the year each university got its status:

*Formed by the closure of Victoria University and University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology

These universities were formed between 1963 and 1992 based on the recommendation of the Robbins Report on Higher Education (1963) and as a part of education reforms to increase the number of universities in the UK. These universities were enlightened enough to take new initiatives in areas of syllabus, examination, administration, teaching methods, and discipline. These are popularly known as Plate Glass group because of their architectural style and as most of them are built on designated green-field sites like the self-contained US-style campuses.

These universities have evolved from Polytechnics, Further Education Colleges, Teacher Training Colleges, University Colleges and other higher education institutions as part of the education reforms between the 1980s and 1990s. Although they have recently received their university status, their education roots are old. These universities are growing rapidly and competing with other older institutions in terms of new facilities and a modern outlook.

Some of the new universities along with their area of specialization are:

The Russell Group is a group of the top 24 British research universities, which are often compared to the U.S. Ivy league institutions. The group enjoys the reputation of receiving two- thirds of all research grant funding from the government and its member universities are often regarded as the ‘best’ in the UK.

Also, the portfolio includes some of the ancient universities, 19th-century universities and few of the well-renowned civic universities, such as:

• University of Birmingham
• University of Bristol
• University of Cambridge
• Cardiff University
• Durham University

While deciding on the right university, match the university offerings with your needs and wants. Each type of these UK universities will have a unique characteristic. For instance, ancient universities require above average grades which might be overwhelming for students who aren’t prepared for an intense workload. Similarly, Russell Group universities focus on social wellbeing, research and offering outstanding courses, whereas new universities are the perfect hotspot for establishing a professional and personal network whilst exploring your interests.

We understand researching everything on your own can be an exhausting task, and you may feel further confused. But don’t worry. Our experienced international education experts can guide you to find the right institution for you. In fact, our experts are now virtually available, and you can book your free counselling session to seek guidance at a convenient time.

Or you can contact us now to book your appointment with one of our experts.

Discover why the UK could be your dream study destination!