Top Universities in UK by Rankings

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Meridean Overseas
Meridean Overseas

Updated On 20 December 2023 & Read Time 9 minutes

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Introduction

 If you are an international student and want to study at top universities in UK, then one question we want to ask is whether you are aware of the top Universities in UK by Rankings?

 

Well, everyone has a dream of studying at a top university, as it delivers quality education, offers top courses, and provides scholarships to international students. So, to study in UK Universities, it is crucial to check the ranking. But where do you check the ranking of UK universities?

 

Many authorised organisations, such as QS World University, THE, Guardian USNews, etc., provide the ranking for the universities in the UK. In this blog, we are providing the list of top universities in UK according to the various organisations’ rankings. Read the blog if you want to know the best universities in UK. 

 

List of Top Universities in UK by QS Ranking

The United Kingdom boasts a rich academic landscape and the QS World University Rankings provide a comprehensive guide to the top-tier institutions shaping higher education in the country. The best universities in UK consistently earn their prestigious positions on the QS list due to their commitment to academic excellence and innovative research.

 

Many top ranking universities in UK create a vibrant educational environment to attract students from around the world. The QS World University Rankings serve as a compass for prospective students, guiding them toward institutions that are at the forefront of global education and research.

 

Below, you can check the list of Top Universities in UK by QS Ranking.

Best Universities in UK by QS Ranking

University Name

QS World University Ranking 2024

Overall Score

University of Cambridge

2

99.2

University of Oxford

3

98.9

Imperial College London

6

97.8

UCL

9

92.4

The University of Edinburgh

22

86.1

The University of Manchester

32

82.2

King's College London

40

79.3

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

45

76.9

University of Bristol

55

72.4

The University of Warwick

67

68.6

University of Leeds

75

65.5

University of Glasgow

=76

65.2

Durham University

78

65.1

University of Southampton

=81

63.5

University of Birmingham

84

63

University of St Andrews

=95

61

University of Nottingham

=100

60.4

The University of Sheffield

104

59.7

Newcastle University

110

58.6

Lancaster University

122

55.7

Queen Mary University of London

=145

51.9

University of Bath

148

51.8

University of Exeter

153

50.9

Cardiff University

=154

50.5

University of York

167

49.4 

List of Top Universities in UK by Times Higher Education Ranking

Times Higher Education (THE) is an organisation that provides the top ranking universities in UK worldwide by considering various factors such as faculties expertise, research environment, research quality, industry connections, and international outlook.

 

Universities that surpass the above factors are counted as top universities. Below, you can check the list of top Universities in UK released by Times Higher Education Ranking.

Universities in UK by Times Higher Education Ranking

University Name

Times Higher Education Ranking 2024

Overall Score

University of Oxford

1

98.5

University of Cambridge

5

97.5

Imperial College Londoon

8

95.1

UCL

22

88.1

University of Edinburgh

=30

82.5

King’s College London

=38

79.0

London School of Economics and Political Science

45

76.8

University of Manchester

51

75.6

University of Bristol

81

69.8

University of Glasgow

=87

68.2

University of Southampton

=97

66.9

University of Birmingham

101

66.6

University of Sheffied

105

66.2

University of Warwick

=106

66.1

University of Leeds

129

63.9

University of Nottingham

=130

63.8

Queen Mary University of London

135

63.1

University of Tork

147

62.4

Lancaster University

=155

61.8

University of Liverpool

=168

60.8

Newcastle University

=168

60.8

Durham University

174

60.6

University of Exeter

=177

60.2

Cardiff University

190

59.3

University of St Andrews

=193

59.0 

List of Top Universities in UK by The Guardian Ranking

As students contemplate their academic journeys, the best Universities in UK come to the top position as they excel in teaching quality, student satisfaction, and employability.

 

The top universities in UK by rankings recognised by The Guardian provide higher education by offering diverse experiences in their academic pursuits. These rankings serve as a valuable resource that prioritises their overall educational journey, combining rigorous academics with a supportive and enriching environment.

 

Here, we have provided the list of top universities in UK by the Guardian Ranking 2024 with a score. 

Best Universities in UK by The Guardian Ranking

University Name

The Guardian Ranking 2024

Guardian Score/100

University of St Andrews

1

100

University of Oxford

2

96.5

University of Cambridge

3

94.8

London School of Economics

4

89.7

Imperial College London

5

82.2

University of Bath

6

81.2

Durham University

7

77.4

UCL

8

76.7

University of Warwick

9

75.6

Loughborough University

10

75.3

Lancaster University

11

74.5

University of Aberdeen

12

73.7

University of Glasgow

13

73.5

The University of Edinburgh

14

73

University of the Arts London

15

70.5

University of Strathclyde

16

69.8

University of Bristol

17

69.7

University of Exeter

18

69.7

University of York 

19

68.4

University of Southampton

20

67.3

University of Sheffield

21

66.5

University of Surrey

22

66.5

King's College London

23

65.9

University of Manchester

24

65.8

University of Aston

25

65 

List of Top Universities in UK by The Complete Guide

The Complete University Guide rankings provide the list of top universities in UK, encompassing factors like research quality, graduate prospects, and student satisfaction, offering a nuanced understanding of each university's strengths.

 

These rankings serve as a roadmap for aspiring students, directing them toward institutions that prioritise academic rigour and a holistic and enriching educational experience.

 

Below, you can check the top ranking universities in UK.

Best Universities in UK by The Complete Guide

University Name

The Complete Guide 2024

Overall Score (%)

University of Oxford

1

100

University of Cambridge

2

99

University of St Andrews

3

95

Durham University

4

95

University of Warwick

5

94

UCL

6

94

University of York 

7

93

Loughborough University

8

93

The University of Edinburgh

9

92

University of Strathclyde

10

92

University of Birmingham

11

92

University of Exeter

12

92

University of Leeds

13

92

Newcastle University

14

92

University of Bristol

15

91

University of Manchester

16

91

Lancaster University

17

91

University of Nottingham

18

91

King’s College London, University of London

19

90

University of Southampton

20

89

University of Glasgow

21

89

University of Aberdeen

22

89

Royal Holloway, University of London

23

89

Cardiff University

24

89

University of Surrey

25

89 

List of Top Universities in UK by US News Ranking

The top universities in UK stand out on the international stage in the US News rankings due to their global reputation in academia.

 

As students navigate the complex landscape of higher education, the US News rankings serve as a valuable resource, guiding them toward institutions that have not only shaped the academic discourse within the UK but have also left an indelible mark on the world stage.

 

These Top Ranking Universities in UK provide a unique perspective, considering factors like global research reputation and international collaboration. These rankings underline the global impact of UK universities, emphasising their role as hubs of innovation and intellectual discovery.

 

Below, you will find the best universities in UK that you can consider to study there.

Best Universities in UK by USNews Ranking

University Name

USNews Ranking 2023

Global Score

University of Oxford

1

86.8

University of Cambridge

2

86.1

University College London

3

84.4

Imperial College London

4

84.3

King’s College London

5

77.9

University of Edinburgh

6

77.8

University of Manchester

7

73.8

University of Glasgow

8

72.8

University of Birmingham

9

71.3

University of Bristol

10

70.7

Queen Mary University London

11

70.2

University of Southampton

12

69.7

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

13

67.5

University of Sheffield

14

67.3

University of Leeds

15

66.9

University of Nottingham

16

66.7

University of Liverpool

17

66.6

Cardiff University

18

66.1

University of Exeter

18

66.1

Newcastle University - UK

20

65.9

University of Warwick

21

65.7

University of Sussex

22

64.2

Lancaster University

23

63.9

University of Leicester

24

62.1

London School Economics & Political Science

25

61.2 

List of Top Universities in UK by Sunday Times Ranking

For students who want to complete their higher education journey abroad, the Times and The Sunday Times Ranking serve as a valuable guide, as it provides the list of top universities in UK.

 

The Times and The Sunday Times Ranking prioritise academic rigor and student experience in providing the top ranking universities in UK. Here, you can check the Best universities in UK by The Times and The Sunday Times Ranking.

Best Universities in UK by Times and The Sunday Times Ranking

University Name

The Times and The Sunday Times Ranking 2023

University of Oxford

1

University of St Andrews 

2

University of Cambridge

3

London School of Economics and Political Science 

4

Imperial College London 

5

Durham University 

6

University College London

7

University of Bath

8

University of Warwick

9

University of Edinburgh

10

Loughborough University 

11

Lancaster University 

12

University of Exeter

13

University of Glasgow 

14

University of Bristol 

15

University of Southampton

16

University of York 

17

University of Strathclyde

18

University of Aberdeen 

19

University of Birmingham 

20= 

Conclusion

While considering the UK for higher education, the list of top ranking universities in UK, highlighted by various ranking organisations, stand as beacons of academic excellence and innovation. These rankings provide invaluable insights, guiding students to choose the best University in UK that meet the highest standards of academic achievement and offer a transformative and enriching educational experience.

 

We hope the above information regarding the Top Universities in UK by rankings will be helpful for you in selecting the best university for you to study in UK. However, if you have doubts, contact our expert counsellors at Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC). You can also take free online counselling through our website. Our expert counsellors will provide you with the best support and guidance you need for admission and visa. In addition, they will help you shortlist the universities according to your profile. For more information or any queries, contact application02@meridean.org or 1800-1230-00011.

 

FAQs

Q1. What criteria are considered in ranking universities in UK?

Ans. University ranking organisations in the UK often consider factors like academic reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, research output, international diversity, and employer reputation.

 

Q2. How frequently are university rankings updated?

Ans. Rankings are typically updated annually. However, the specific timings may vary among the different ranking organisations.

 

Q3. Which universities consistently rank high in the UK?

Ans. Universities like the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University College London (UCL), Imperial College London, and the University of Edinburgh consistently secure high rankings in various ranking organisation lists.

 

Q4. Do ranking organisations consider the student experience?

Ans. Some rankings include measures of student satisfaction, but it’s valuable to read student reviews, visit campuses, and attend university open days for a comprehensive understanding.

 

Q5. How many world’s top-ranked universities are there in the UK?

Ans. The United Kingdom is home to 90 of the universities listed in this year's QS World University Rankings, making it an excellent destination to study. Four of these institutions are ranked in the top ten in the world, and another 20 are ranked in the top 50.

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