Best Universities in England – The Complete Guide For 2024

In this comprehensive guide, we present the top universities in England for the year 2024. Whether you’re a prospective student or simply curious about higher education, our rankings are based on factors such as academic reputation, faculty expertise, research output, and student satisfaction. Join us as we explore the universities in England that have excelled in fostering a vibrant learning environment, shaping the minds of tomorrow’s leaders in various fields of study.

Studying in England

When considering higher education options, universities in England often emerge as an enticing choice for international students, and for good reasons.

Renowned for academic excellence, England boasts a rich history of distinguished universities that offer a wide array of programmes and courses. Quality education is at the forefront, with many institutions consistently ranking high on global university lists. Moreover, world-class faculty and cutting-edge research opportunities ensure students receive top-tier instruction.

The country’s diverse and inclusive culture also fosters an enriching experience for international students, promoting cross-cultural understanding and personal growth. Furthermore, English-language proficiency opens doors to global career prospects and networking opportunities.

From the iconic city of London to the picturesque countryside, England’s unique blend of tradition and modernity offers an extraordinary backdrop for an unforgettable educational journey. So, for those seeking a rewarding and internationally recognised education, choosing England as a study destination could be the key to a successful future.

Top 5 Universities in England

1. University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge, steeped in centuries of academic tradition, stands tall as one of the world’s leading institutions. Renowned for its academic rigor and intellectual prowess, Cambridge consistently excels across diverse fields, producing trailblazing research and nurturing exceptional scholars. Its prestigious colleges provide a close-knit community fostering an environment where innovation thrives. With a strong emphasis on critical thinking and interdisciplinary learning, Cambridge shapes individuals who make a lasting impact on society, from groundbreaking discoveries to influential leadership roles.

On a more interesting note, the University of Cambridge psychologists have recently developed the misinformation susceptibility test to determine your likelihood of being duped by fake news. Try it out now!

2. University of Oxford

As the oldest university in the English-speaking world, the University of Oxford holds a distinguished legacy of excellence in education. Oxford’s hallmark lies in its exceptional teaching faculty, comprising world-renowned experts and Nobel laureates, who inspire and challenge students to reach their full potential. Embracing a holistic approach to learning, Oxford encourages intellectual exploration and independent thinking. Its storied libraries, cultural heritage, and vibrant student life add to the allure of this iconic institution, providing an unforgettable academic journey that cultivates future leaders and change-makers.

Check out their latest UNIQ+ Research Programme!

3. Imperial College London

Imperial College London stands at the forefront of scientific and technological advancements, making it a powerhouse for innovation and cutting-edge research. Recognised globally for its focus on science, engineering, medicine, and business, Imperial’s commitment to practical application and real-world problem-solving sets it apart. Collaborative partnerships with industry leaders and access to state-of-the-art facilities create a dynamic learning environment, empowering students to transform theoretical knowledge into tangible solutions that address societal challenges on a global scale.

Imperial College London also ranks #1 for research in the UK based on the Research Excellence Framework!

4. UCL

UCL, a pioneer in progressive education, boasts a vibrant atmosphere where creativity and diversity thrive. With a commitment to interdisciplinary research and an inclusive approach to learning, UCL fosters an environment that encourages students to challenge conventions and pioneer new ideas. The university’s strategic location in the heart of London further enriches the experience, providing access to a myriad of cultural, social, and professional opportunities. UCL’s pioneering spirit and emphasis on research-driven teaching ensure that graduates emerge as thought leaders, equipped to drive meaningful change across a broad spectrum of disciplines.

Learn more about how UCL maintains disruptive thinking at its core since 1826!

5. The University of Manchester

The University of Manchester shines as a beacon of academic excellence and innovation. Known for its pioneering research and global collaborations, Manchester is a melting pot of diverse perspectives and ideas. Students benefit from a nurturing and supportive community that fosters both personal growth and academic achievement. Emphasising experiential learning and practical skills, Manchester equips graduates with the tools to thrive in an ever-evolving world. With an impressive alumni network that includes Nobel laureates and industry leaders, the university opens doors to a wealth of opportunities and a lasting impact on the world stage.

See how The University of Manchester rank in the top 10 for impact rankings every year.

England University Ranking

This ranking is based on the 2024 QS World University Rankings.

2024	Institution Name	Academic Reputation	Employer Reputation	Faculty Student	Citations per Faculty	International Faculty	International Students	International Research Network	Employment Outcomes	Sustainability	Overall
RANK		RANK	RANK	RANK	RANK	RANK	RANK	RANK	RANK	Rank	SCORE
2	University of Cambridge	3	4	14	68	64	85	7	6	33=	99.2
3	University of Oxford	2	5	8	73	110	60	1	3	26=	98.9
6	Imperial College London	23	12	42	58	61	14	35	45	61=	97.8
9	UCL	13	22	43	131	96	15	2	126	74	92.4
32	The University of Manchester	33	21	288	274	160	44	10	66	75=	82.2
40	King's College London	46	68	215	201	99	23	14	223	142=	79.3
45	The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	98	32	401	110	35	10	440	16	28	76.9
55	University of Bristol	78	60	331	179	205	136	122	181	141	72.4
67	The University of Warwick	86	56	420	275	109	47	87	148	239=	68.6
75	University of Leeds	89	77	421	320	208	118	16	193	88	65.5
78	Durham University	124	50	548	241	125	135	108	274	30=	65.1
81	University of Southampton	154	160	298	140	138	70	31	235	133=	63.5
84	University of Birmingham	99	81	379	364	169	148	41	270	146=	63
100	University of Nottingham	116	96	492	290	183	185	18	342	150=	60.4
104	The University of Sheffield	130	153	278	289	218	69	38	332	169	59.7
110	Newcastle University	170	87	445	264	182	203	39	349	17	58.6
122	Lancaster University	215	236	581	115	157	116	171	400	24	55.7
145	Queen Mary University of London	168	300	409	260	85	43	184	506	207=	51.9
148	University of Bath	244	88	701+	196	136	155	251	310	316=	51.8
153	The University of Exeter	199	161	555	308	174	180	85	424	57	50.9
167	University of York	194	275	351	342	192	171	150	421	26=	49.4
169	University of Reading	263	241	701+	161	189	158	158	237	189=	48.9
176	University of Liverpool	191	277	401	371	194	168	29	324	193	48.5
212	Loughborough University	283	116	604	392	198	237	162	446	231	44.2
218	University of Sussex	380	601+	701+	142	137	100	226	251	35	43.1
244	University of Surrey	428	409	613	230	129	127	192	503	259=	39.9
272	University of Leicester	412	576	441	298	226	91	167	468	301=	37.3
295	University of East Anglia (UEA)	466	601+	701+	164	287	360	218	678	123=	35.4
328	City, University of London	405	483	701+	321	151	46	527	284	356	32.6
336	University of Kent	522	601+	701+	306	133	195	354	413	118=	32.2
343	Brunel University London	601+	601+	701+	303	84	39	269	450	235=	31.9
374	Birkbeck, University of London	601+	601+	701+	172	123	62	692	701+	642=	29.7
413	Oxford Brookes University	301	329	701+	701+	282	209	481	454	409=	27.1
413	Royal Holloway University of London	546	601+	701+	384	155	125	511	701+	377=	27.1
446	Aston University	601+	416	701+	400	164	359	310	463	640=	25.7
459	Essex, University of	535	601+	701+	475	82	53	380	638	678=	25.1
502	University of Portsmouth	601+	601+	701+	572	253	134	348	690	187=	23.1
511	SOAS University of London	494	601+	701+	629	51	51	701+	427	701+	22.8
523	University of Hull	601+	601+	701+	477	322	221	407	507	118=	22.5
548	Northumbria University at Newcastle	601+	530	701+	621	291	199	314	523	456=	21.4
561	University of Plymouth	601+	601+	701+	443	352	352	342	701+	335	21
567	University of Huddersfield	601+	548	701+	547	295	165	367	701+	701+	20.8
571	Coventry University	601+	601+	701+	701+	257	26	308	626	481=	20.7
590	Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)	601+	601+	701+	701+	380	339	210	576	210=	20.1
593	Goldsmiths, University of London	587	601+	701+	663	117	101	701+	490	701+	20
595	Nottingham Trent University	601+	450	701+	701+	326	243	300	616	305=	19.9
601-610	Kingston University, London	506	601+	701+	701+	265	45	690	605	669=	-
641-650	University of Bradford	601+	601+	701+	582	301	99	543	384	701+	-
661-670	Middlesex University	601+	601+	701+	650	209	38	540	529	693	-
671-680	University of Greenwich	601+	601+	701+	701+	173	30	368	671	636=	-
711-720	University of Westminster	601+	601+	701+	701+	235	28	701+	515	701+	-
731-740	Bournemouth University	601+	601+	701+	594	224	293	515	701+	560=	-
741-750	University of the West of England	601+	601+	701+	701+	363	183	499	701+	528=	-
751-760	Liverpool John Moores University	601+	601+	701+	645	365	480	278	701+	497=	-
771-780	University of Brighton	601+	601+	701+	622	330	270	473	701+	687	-
781-790	Keele University	601+	601+	701+	462	344	391	642	701+	701+	-
801-850	De Montfort University	601+	601+	701+	701+	250	67	701+	701+	701+	-
851-900	London South Bank University	601+	601+	701+	701+	237	83	701+	701+	701+	-
851-900	University of East London	601+	601+	701+	701+	258	31	701+	701+	701+	-
851-900	University of Hertfordshire	601+	601+	701+	701+	305	42	647	701+	701+	-
851-900	University of Lincoln	601+	601+	701+	701+	298	421	679	701+	382=	-
851-900	University of Salford	601+	601+	701+	701+	422	210	539	701+	669=	-
901-950	London Metropolitan University	601+	601+	701+	701+	315	18	701+	609	701+	-
901-950	University of Central Lancashire	601+	601+	701+	701+	439	156	579	701+	701+	-
1001-1200	Birmingham City University	601+	601+	701+	701+	385	179	701+	701+	701+	-
1001-1200	Canterbury Christ Church University	601+	601+	701+	701+	447	194	701+	701+	701+	-
1001-1200	Leeds Beckett University	601+	601+	701+	701+	453	574	701+	701+	701+	-
1001-1200	Sheffield Hallam University	601+	601+	701+	701+	455	412	701+	701+	701+	-
1001-1200	The University of Northampton	601+	601+	701+	701+	426	78	701+	701+	701+	-
1001-1200	University of Derby	601+	601+	701+	701+	486	305	701+	701+	701+	-
1001-1200	University of Wolverhampton	601+	601+	701+	701+	457	200	701+	701+	701+	-

How were the Rankings Measured

The QS World University Rankings methodology is designed to be accessible, globally relevant, and stable. It focuses on key objectives of top universities, including research quality, graduate employability, teaching experience, and international outlook. QS consulted with university leaders and gathered feedback from nearly 8,000 academics to shape the ranking criteria. To ensure credibility, the rankings employ a tried and tested approach with an expert Peer Review Survey, designed to provide valid and reliable results, similar to online political polls used to anticipate election outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the language requirements for studying in England?

Most universities in England require international students to demonstrate English language proficiency through tests like IELTS or TOEFL. Minimum score requirements may vary depending on the course and institution.

What is the typical duration of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in England?

Undergraduate courses usually last for three years, while postgraduate programmes can vary from one to two years, depending on the course and level of study.

Can international students work while studying in England?

Yes, international students can work part-time while studying. However, there are restrictions on the number of hours you can work during term-time.

How safe is it to study and live in England as an international student?

England is generally considered a safe country for students. However, like any other place, it’s essential to stay aware of your surroundings and follow safety guidelines.

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