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Posted on 23 Mar '23
The Top 5 Universities in the UK
The UK regularly has universities listed among the top institutions in the world. Plus, with a variety of funding opportunities for domestic and international students alike, it’s no wonder that the UK has become such a popular place to study!
To help you decide if the UK could be for you, we’ve taken a look at the top five universities according to Times Higher Education (THE). THE break down each university through a scoring system. For postgraduate students, we’ve paid specific attention to their research score, citations (how often their research is cited by other institutions) and international outlook. Even if you’re planning on studying a taught Masters, it’s reassuring to know you’re at an institution that can support your dissertation with world class researchers. Each is marked out of 100 and, if you’re interested, you can read more about THE’s methodology on their website.
#1 University of Oxford
Currently sitting at the number one spot for universities all over the world is the University of Oxford.Regularly listed among the top three, Oxford has a long history of academic prowess and is part of the UK university power duo Oxbridge. Not only is it the oldest university in England but it’s one of the oldest in the world! Historians have evidence of teaching taking place in 1096!
Made up of 44 colleges, Oxford has an impressive list of alumni, including 11 Nobel Prize winners. Stephen Hawking, Hugh Grant and Oscar Wilde are among some of the most famous names people associate with Oxford. For postgraduate students, the university scored high on research (100) and citations (99). The international score is also nothing to sniff at, achieving an impressive 97.5. Not only is Oxford University #1 in the world, but they’re also #1 for Medicine. While competitive to get into, the University of Oxford certainly provides the resources and academic culture to help support early career researchers and postgraduate students.
#2 University of Cambridge
Unsurprisingly, next up on the list is the other half of the famous Oxbridge duo, the University of Cambridge. Currently fifth in the world, the University of Cambridge boasts some impressive resources, and the scores reflect that. Achieving a 100 in research and a 98 in citations, Cambridge has an air of authority when it comes to research quality.
Founded in 1209, Cambridge is also one of the oldest universities in the world. The institute is home to 31 colleges, over 100 libraries and an impressive 15 million books. As a hub of academic scholarship, 92 affiliates of the university have gone on to achieve a Nobel Prize. If achieving a prestigious postgraduate degree, recognised across the world, is your goal then make sure to consider the University of Cambridge when it comes to application season.
#3 Imperial College London
Next up is the much younger Imperial College London, ranked eighth in the world. If your academic interests are mainly science based, then Imperial College could be for you. They aim to advance research across a few key fields, including Science, Engineering, Medicine and even Business. But that doesn’t mean any creatives out there won’t thrive at Imperial College as some of their most famous alumni include Sci-fi writer H.G. Wells and guitarist Brian May.
Imperial College London achieved a high score of 95.5 in research and an even higher mark of 98.6 in citations. Their international score was also impressive, hitting 98.3. Overall, Imperial College is a popular choice for postgraduate students all around the world looking to specialise in the university’s key subjects in the nation’s capital.
#4 UCL
In at fourth place in the UK is University College London (UCL). Currently ranked 22nd in the world, UCL was founded to bring higher education to those who were typically excluded. In 1878 it was the first English university to admit women on equal terms. Throughout history UCL has continued to prove itself to be at the forefront of innovation, equality and progress.
Boasting 29 Nobel Prize winners, UCL has a strong academic culture perfect for many postgraduate students. Achieving a research score of 86.4 is highly impressive. Moreover, a 98.6 in citations demonstrates how well respected their outputs are in the wider academic fields. UCL also scored highly on the international front, earning a 97.9 for their diverse and inclusive culture.
#5 University of Edinburgh
And finally, in at fifth place in the UK is the only non-English institution, the University of Edinburgh. Ranked 30th in the world, Edinburgh’s long history has allowed the university to go from strength to strength. Founded in 1583, Edinburgh is one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world and is part of the exclusive ancient universities club. If you’re interested in medicine, then this is the place for you as the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine is an established world-leader in the field.
Notable alumni include Charles Darwin, David Hume and Sir Arthur Conon Doyle. Their research score is a high 77.5 but their citations earned an even higher 96.9. The University of Edinburgh is also well known for its international outlook, with a high student population of Chinese and US residents. Various funding opportunities available encourage international experiences, such as the Go Abroad fund which supports 250 students in short-term studying outside of the UK. It is therefore unsurprising that the university achieved a 97 in international outlook.
While this blog has highlighted the current best overall performing universities in the UK, there are plenty of other institutions with lots to offer postgraduates. The world rankings are a good method to assess the quality of research centres, however there’s a lot more factors that go into deciding your place of study. If you’re interested in learning more about postgraduate study in the UK, you can check out our guides for prospective Masters and PhD students.
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