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Top 20 UK Universities for PhD Study in 2025
Written by Marcus Holt
The United Kingdom has a world-famous higher education system and a large range of degree programmes, making it a very popular destination to study in. So, it’s no surprise that British universities are some of the highest ranking in the world.
But how do you choose the best university to study your PhD at?
It’s not always as straightforward as you might think but you can start by looking at the rankings. These tell you which UK universities are the most internationally respected and renowned.
So, how good are the top universities in the UK for PhD study?
The short answer is: very good! With 13 universities in the top 100 THE ranking, the UK has more top-ranked universities than any other European country.
In fact, the only other country to beat the UK globally is the USA. But, unlike the USA, all the UK’s top universities are publicly funded, reflecting their substantial investment in higher education.
Here we’ve given a brief introduction to university rankings. For a more detailed overview of how the system works and how to get the best out of it, check our guide to PhD rankings.
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Marcus Holt
Marcus brought his experience and expertise in data analysis and project management to the FindAPhD team in 2020, whilst completing a PhD at the University of Leeds. He experienced the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on doctoral research first hand and helped share honest advice and support with prospective students.
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