International students who wish to study in the UK need to know the best universities in UK for international students so as to make the right choice of school.
The UK is home to some of the best universities in the world. There are over 160 universities and higher education institutions in the UK.
The United Kingdom (UK), made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland is an island nation situated in Northwestern Europe.
In 2020-21, UK has 605,130 international students, including 152,905 students from other EU countries. About 452,225 students are from Non-EU countries.
This shows that UK is one of the best countries to study for international students. In fact, UK has the second-highest number of international students in the world, after the US.
International students need to be aware of the fact that the cost of studying in the UK is quite expensive, especially in London, the UK’s capital.
As an international student, you may be indecisive in choosing the best university to study in the UK, because UK has a lot of top-ranked universities. However, this article is a ranking of the 15 Best Universities in UK for International Students to guide you.
A lot of students choose to study in the UK because of the reasons below.
Table of Contents
Reasons to Study in the UK
International students are attracted to the UK because of the following reasons:
1. High-Quality Education
The UK has one of the best education systems in the world. Its universities are constantly ranked among the best universities in the world.
2. Shorter Degrees
Compared to universities in other countries, you can earn a degree in the UK in a shorter period.
Most undergraduate programs in the UK can be completed within three years and a master’s degree can be earned in a year.
So, if you choose to study in the UK, you will be able to graduate sooner and also save money that would have been spent on paying for tuition and accommodation.
3. Work Opportunities
International students in the UK are allowed to work while studying. Students with a Tier 4 Visa can work in the UK for up to 20 hours per week during the study period and full time during holidays.
4. International Students are welcomed
The UK has a diverse student population – students are coming from different ethnic backgrounds.
According to UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), UK has 605,130 international students – the second-highest number of international students after the US. This shows that international students are welcome to study in the UK.
5. Free Healthcare
The United Kingdom has publicly funded healthcare called the National Health Service (NHS).
International students studying in the UK for more than six months and have paid for the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS) during visa application have access to free healthcare in the UK.
Paying the IHS means you can get free healthcare the same way as a UK resident. The IHS cost £470 per year.
List of the Best Universities in UK
These universities are ranked based on academic reputation and the number of international students. The universities listed below have the highest percentage of international students in the United Kingdom.
Below is a list of the Best Universities in the UK for International Students:
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- University College London (UCL)
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
- King’s College London (KCL)
- University of Manchester
- University of Warwick
- University of Bristol
- University of Birmingham
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
- University of Leeds
- University of Exeter
- Durham University.
15 Best Universities in UK for International Students
1. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university located in Oxford, UK. It is the oldest university in the English-speaking world.
Oxford is home to over 25,000 students, including about 11,500 international students. This shows that Oxford welcomes international students.
Oxford University is a very competitive school for both domestic and international students. It has one of the lowest acceptance rates among UK universities.
The University of Oxford offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs, as well as continuing education courses.
At Oxford University, programs are offered in four divisions:
- Humanities
- Mathematical, Physical, & Life Sciences
- Medical Sciences
- Social Sciences.
There are several scholarships awarded to both domestic and international students at the University of Oxford. In the 2020-21 academic year, just over 47% of new graduate students received full/partial funding from the university or other funders.
2. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a collegiate research university located in Cambridge, UK. It is the second-oldest university in the English-language world and the fourth-oldest university in the world.
Cambridge has a diverse student population. There are currently more than 22,000 students, including over 9,000 international students representing more than 140 different countries.
The University of Cambridge offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs, as well as continuing education, executive and professional education courses.
At Cambridge, programs are available in these areas:
- Arts and Humanities
- Biological Sciences
- Clinical Medicine
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Technology.
At Cambridge, international students are eligible for a limited number of scholarships. Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust is the largest provider of funding for International Students.
3. Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in South Kensington, London, UK.
According to Times Higher Education (THE) World’s Most International Universities 2020 ranking, Imperial is one of the world’s most international universities. 60% of Imperial’s students come from outside the UK, including 20% from other European countries.
Imperial College London offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in different study areas:
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Natural Sciences
- Business.
Imperial offers financial assistance to students in form of scholarships, loans, bursaries, and grants.
4. University College London (UCL)
University College London is a public research university located in London, UK.
Founded in 1826, UCL claims to be the first university in England to welcome students of any religion or social background. 48% of UCL’s students are international, representing over 150 different countries.
Currently, UCL offers over 450 undergraduate and 675 postgraduate programs. Programs are offered in these study areas:
- Arts & Humanities
- Built Environment
- Brain Sciences
- Engineering Sciences
- Education & Social Sciences
- Law
- Life Sciences
- Mathematics & Physical Sciences
- Medicine Sciences
- Heath Sciences
- Social and Historical Sciences.
University College London has scholarship programs for international students.
5. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
London School of Economics and Political Sciences is a social science specialist university located in London, UK.
The LSE community is very diverse with students from over 140 different countries.
London School of Economics and Political Sciences offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as executive education and online courses. LSE programs are available in these areas:
- Accounting
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Finance
- Law
- Public Policy
- Psychological and behavioural science
- Philosophy
- Communication
- International Relations
- Sociology e.t.c.
The school provides generous financial support in form of bursaries and scholarships to all students. LSE awards around £4m in scholarships and financial support to undergraduate students every year.
6. King’s College London (KCL)
Founded in 1829, King’s College London is a public research university located in London, UK.
King’s College London is home to more than 29,000 students from over 150 countries, including over 16,000 students from outside the UK.
KCL offers over 180 undergraduate courses and several postgraduate taught and research courses, as well as executive education and online courses.
At King’s College London, programs are offered in these study areas:
- Arts
- Humanities
- Business
- Law
- Psychology
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Dentistry
- Social Sciences
- Engineering e.t.c.
KCL awards several scholarships to international students.
7. University of Manchester
Established in 1824, the University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, UK.
The University of Manchester claims to be the most globally diverse university in the UK, with over 10,000 international students from over 160 countries.
Manchester offers undergraduate, taught master’s, and postgraduate research courses. These courses are offered in different study areas:
- Accounting
- Business
- Engineering
- Arts
- Architecture
- Physical Sciences
- Computer Science
- Dentistry
- Education
- Economics
- Law
- Medicine
- Music
- Pharmacy e.t.c.
At the University of Manchester, international students are eligible for several scholarships. The University of Manchester offers awards worth more than £1.7m to international students.
8. University of Warwick
Founded in 1965, the University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, UK.
The University of Warwick has a very diverse student population of more than 29,000 students, including over 10,000 international students.
At the University of Warwick, study programs are offered in four faculties:
- Arts
- Science & Medicine
- Engineering
- Social Sciences.
International students can apply for several scholarships to fund their education at the University of Warwick.
9. University of Bristol
Founded in 1876 as University College Bristol, the University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, UK.
The University of Bristol is home to more than 27,000 students. About 25% of Bristol’s student body are international students, representing more than 150 countries.
The University of Bristol offers more than 600 undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in different study areas:
- Arts
- Life Sciences
- Engineering
- Health Sciences
- Science
- Social Sciences
- Law.
There are several scholarships for international students at the University of Bristol.
10. University of Birmingham
Founded in 1900, the University of Birmingham is a public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. It also has a campus in Dubai.
The University of Birmingham claims to be England’s first civic university – a place where students from all backgrounds were accepted on an equal basis.
There are more than 28,000 students at the University of Birmingham, including over 9,000 international students from over 150 countries.
The University of Birmingham offers over 350 undergraduate courses, over 600 postgraduate taught courses, and 140 postgraduate research courses. These courses are available in different study areas:
- Arts
- Law
- Medicine
- Life and Environmental Sciences
- Engineering
- Physical
- Business
- Education
- Dentistry
- Pharmacy
- Nursing e.t.c.
The University of Birmingham offers several prestigious international scholarships.
11. University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a public research university located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
There are more than 29,000 international students from over 150 countries studying at the University of Sheffield.
The University of Sheffield offers a wide range of high-quality courses from undergraduate and postgraduate courses to research degrees and adult education classes.
Undergraduate and postgraduate courses are offered in different study areas including:
- Arts and Humanities
- Business
- Law
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Science
- Social Sciences
- Health Sciences e.t.c.
The University of Sheffield offers a range of scholarships for international students. For example, the University of Sheffield International Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, is worth 50% of tuition for an undergraduate degree.
12. University of Southampton
Established in 1862 as Hartley Institution and gained university status by Royal charter in 1952, the University of Southampton is a public research university located in Southampton, Hampshire, UK.
More than 6,500 international students from 135 different countries are studying at the University of Southampton.
The University of Southampton offers undergraduate, and postgraduate taught and research courses in different study areas:
- Arts and Humanities
- Engineering
- Physical Sciences
- Life and Environmental Sciences
- Medicine
- Social Sciences.
International students may be able to get help funding their studies from a variety of organizations.
A limited number of scholarships and bursaries are awarded to international students.
13. University of Leeds
Established in 1904, the University of Leeds is a public research university located in Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
The University of Leeds has more than 39,000 students including over 13,400 international students representing more than 137 countries.
This makes the University of Leeds one of the most diverse and multicultural in the UK.
The University of Leeds offers undergraduate, master’s, and research degrees, as well as online courses in different study areas:
- Arts
- Humanities
- Biological Sciences
- Business
- Physical Sciences
- Medicine and Health Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Environmental Sciences e.t.c.
The University of Leeds provides a limited number of scholarships for international students.
14. University of Exeter
Founded in 1881 as the Exeter Schools of Art and Sciences and received university status in 1955, the University of Exeter is a public research university located in Exeter, UK.
The University of Exeter has more than 25,000 students, including about 5,450 international students from 140 different countries.
There is a wide range of programs available at the University of Exter, from undergraduate programs to postgraduate taught and postgraduate research programs.
These programs are offered in these study areas:
- Sciences
- Technology
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Humanities
- Social Sciences
- Law
- Business
- Computer Science e.t.c.
15. Durham University
Established in 1832, Durham University is a public university located in Durham, UK.
In 2020-21, Durham University has a student population of 20,268. Over 30% of students are international, representing over 120 countries.
Durham University offers over 200 undergraduate courses, 100 taught postgraduate courses and many research degrees.
These courses are offered in different study areas:
- Arts
- Humanities
- Social Sciences
- Health Sciences
- Business
- Engineering
- Computer
- Education e.t.c.
At Durham University, international students are eligible for scholarships and bursaries. International scholarships and bursaries are either funded by the university or through partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions about Universities in Uk for International Students
Can International Students work in the UK while studying?
International students are allowed to work in the UK while studying. As an international student, you can work for up to 20 hours per week during the study period and full-time during holidays. However, there may be restrictions or conditions that guide working in the UK. Depending on your course of study, your school may limit your working hours. Some schools only allow students to work inside the campus. Also, if you are under 16 and don't have a Tier 4 visa (the official student visa in the UK), you are not qualified to work in the UK.
How much does it cost to study in the UK?
Undergraduate fees for international students are between £10,000 to £38,000, while postgraduate fees begin from £12,000. Although, degrees in medicine or MBA may cost more.
What is the cost of living in the UK?
The average cost of living for international students in the UK is £12,200 per year. However, the cost of living in the UK depends on where you wish to study and your lifestyle. For instance, the cost of living in London is more expensive than living in Manchester.
How many International Students are in the UK?
According to UK's Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), 605,130 international students are studying in the UK, including 152,905 EU students. China has the largest group of international students studying in the UK, followed by India and Nigeria.
What is the Best University in the UK?
The University of Oxford is the best university in the UK and is also ranked among the top 3 universities in the World. It is a collegiate research university located in Oxford, UK.
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Conclusion
Studying in the UK comes with a lot of benefits like top-quality education, free healthcare, the opportunity to work while studying, and many more.
Before you choose to study in the UK, you need to be ready financially. Education in the UK is quite expensive when compared to other European countries like France, Germany, e.t.c.
However, there are cheap universities in the UK for international students.
There are also several scholarships for international students funded by organizations, universities, and the government.
We have now come to the end of this article, it was a lot of effort!! Let us know your thoughts or contributions in the comments section below.