Studying in the UK will make your degree recognised and respected around the world. A degree from a UK institution will provide you with a strong foundation in the working world and assist you in landing your ideal career.

In this page, we will discuss the top universities in the UK and take a closer look at university rankings and their meaning.

Top universities in the UK

UK universities have the highest academic standards. You'll discover that practical information is valued more highly than textbook learning when studying in the UK. Subsequently, you will be able to develop critical thinking, analytical skills and creative abilities in your field of study. Here are the top universities in the UK for international students, as ranked by trusted, respectable organisations for 2023 - 2024.

The top 10 UK universities rank as follows:

University Name

THE Rankings

QS Rankings

Webometrics

ARWU

CUG

The Guardian

University of Oxford

1

3

5

7

2

2

University of Cambridge

=3

2

14

4

1

3

Imperial College London

10

6

16

23

6

5

UCL

22

9

8

18

9

9

University of Edinburgh

29

22

56

35

12

12

King’s College London

35

40

49

48

=24

29

London School of Economics and Political Science

37

45

572

1101-150

3

4

University of Manchester

=45

32

71

38

19

30

University of Bristol

76

55

-

81

16

16

University of Glasgow

=82

=76

135

=101-150

26

11

Understanding the rankings of UK universities

1- Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE)

The influences listed under this ranking are teaching (30%), research (30%), citation (30%), industry income (2.5%) and international outlook (7.5%).

2- QS World University Rankings

Ranking the best universities in the world, the QS world university rankings system takes into account the university's reputation among other institutions (40%), employers (10%), student-teacher ratio (20%), citations-academic staff ratio (20%), and worldwide outlook including students and staff (10%).

3- The Webometrics Ranking

The Webometrics rating method employs the university's online content impact, top researchers and top-cited papers as its indications for its rating instead of the traditional characteristics.

4- Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)

The ARWU, also known as the Shanghai Ranking, is based on the citation indices of articles (20%), articles in Nature or Science journals (20%), highly cited (top 1%) scientists (20%), whether a university alumnus or alumna is a Nobel laureate (10%), receiving a Nobel prize or a Fields Medal while working in the university (20%), and the ratio of the aforementioned accomplishments to the number of academic staff (10%). For students pursuing research or doctorate degrees, ARWU can be very helpful.

5- Complete University Guide (CUG) Rankings

CUG considers a number of variables, including admission requirements, graduate prospects and satisfaction among students.

6- Guardian University Rankings

Guardian University Rankings evaluates and ranks universities using a variety of factors, including satisfaction among students, graduate employment prospects, student-to-staff ratio and research excellence. It also considers other aspects like the cost per student, the requirements for admission and the percentage of students who graduate with top degrees.

What’s Next?

University rankings serve as a starting point, but it's essential to consider other factors such as course offerings, location, campus facilities and student support services when choosing the right university for you. Get in touch with your IDP counsellor for FREE to provide you with personalised guidance tailored to your academic goals.

FAQs

1. How many UK universities are in the world’s top 100 universities?

There are 17 UK universities in the world’s top 100 universities according to the QS World University Rankings 2024

University Name

World Ranking

University of Cambridge

2

University of Oxford

3

Imperial College London

6

UCL (University College London)

9

University of Edinburgh

22

University of Manchester

32

King's College London

40

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

45

University of Bristol

55

University of Warwick

67

University of Leeds

75

University of Glasgow

=76

Durham University

78

University of Southampton

=81

University of Birmingham

84

University of St Andrews

=95

University of Nottingham

=100

2. What is the number 1 university in the UK?

The University of Oxford takes first place in the UK according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023.