List of universities in the United Kingdom

This is a list of universities in the United Kingdom (alphabetical by substantive name). Below that are lists of university colleges and other recognised bodies (institutions with degree awarding powers), followed by a list of defunct institutions.

Universities alphabetically

This list follows the list of recognised bodies on the UK government website.^[1] All the institutions on this list are recognised bodies with university status, indicated either by their use of university title in their name on the recognised bodies list or by reference to the Office for Students database^[2] for the few universities that do not use the title in their name. Member institutions of the University of London are listed here if they hold university status.

Arms	University	Established	University status	Total students (2023/24)[3]	Notes
	University of Aberdeen	1495	1495	15,455	King's College and Marischal College merged in 1860.
	Abertay University	1888	1994	4,950	Dundee
	Aberystwyth University	1872	2007	8,320
	Anglia Ruskin University	1858	1992	35,895	Campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Peterborough, and London.
None	Arden University	1990	2015	28,710	Private, distance learning & blended learning, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Berlin
	University of the Arts London	1986	2003	22,800	The university is a federation of six arts colleges: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, the London College of Communication, the London College of Fashion and the Wimbledon College of Arts.
	Aston University	1895	1966	18,605	Birmingham
	Bangor University	1884	2007	10,835
	University of Bath	1886	1966	19,695
None	Bath Spa University	1852	2005	24,585
	Birkbeck, University of London	1823	2023	8,440	Member institution of the University of London. University in its own right since 2023.
None	University of Bedfordshire	1882	2006	13,790	Campuses in Luton and Bedford.
None	BIMM University	2001	2022	7,115	Private university with campuses at Brighton, London, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Essex, Dublin, Berlin
	University of Birmingham	1825	1900	36,835
	Birmingham City University	1843	1992	31,415
	Birmingham Newman University	1973	2012	4,080
	University College Birmingham	1957	2012	6,890	Despite its name, University College Birmingham holds full university status.[4]
	Bishop Grosseteste University	1862	2012	2,375	Lincoln
None	Arts University Bournemouth	1880	2012	3,960
	Bournemouth University	1900s	1992	18,620
None	BPP University	1992	2013	33,750	Private, 6 London centres, 12 across rest of England, and 2 in Channel Islands.
	University of Bradford	1832	1966	12,265
None	University of Brighton	1858	1992	16,665
	University of Bristol	1595	1909	32,145
	Brunel University of London	1798	1966	15,475	Campus at Uxbridge, London. Member institution of the University of London.
	University of Buckingham	1973	1983	3,055	First private university in the UK
	Buckinghamshire New University	1891	2007	19,670	High Wycombe
	University of the Built Environment	1919	2025	3,190	Reading
	University of Cambridge	1209	1209–1226	22,710	Collegiate university. Established by migration from Oxford in 1209; organised under a chancellor by 1226[5]
	Canterbury Christ Church University	1962	2005	38,430
	Cardiff Metropolitan University	1865	2011	11,445	Formerly University of Wales Institute Cardiff
	Cardiff University	1893	2005	33,020
	University of Chester	1839	2005	14,215	Campuses at Chester and Warrington
	University of Chichester	1977	2005	6,825
	City St George's, University of London	1834	2024		Member institution of the University of London. Formed in 2024 by merger of City, University of London and St George's, University of London. Date of foundation is for St George's Medical School, the oldest constituent part of the university.[6]
	Coventry University	1970	1992	29,495	Includes CU Coventry, CU Scarborough and CU London
	Cranfield University	1946	1993	5,025
	University for the Creative Arts	1856	2008	11,775	Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester
	University of Cumbria	1890	2007	9,450	Main campus at Carlisle, with campuses at London, Lancaster, Penrith and Ambleside
	De Montfort University	1870	1992	25,245	Leicester
	University of Derby	1851	1992	20,350
	University of Dundee	1881	1967	14,990
	Durham University	1832	1832	21,750	Collegiate university
	University of East Anglia	1963	1963	18,390	Norwich
	University of East London	1898	1992	20,735
	Edge Hill University	1885	2006	14,000	Ormskirk, Lancashire
	University of Edinburgh	1583	1583	40,625
	Edinburgh Napier University	1964	1992	14,240
	University of Essex	1964	1965	16,270	Campuses at Colchester and Southend-on-Sea
	University of Exeter	1838	1955	32,880
	Falmouth University	1902	2012	7,915
	University of Glasgow	1451	1451	38,125
	Glasgow Caledonian University	1875	1993	21,965	Formed by the merger of The Queen's College, Glasgow and Glasgow Polytechnic.
	University of Gloucestershire	1834	2001	8,235	Campuses at Cheltenham, Gloucester, and London.
	Goldsmiths, University of London	1891	2024	8,330	A member institution of the University of London. Since 2013 Goldsmiths has had its own degree awarding power.[7]
	University of Greater Manchester	1824	2004	11,920	Previously called the University of Bolton
	University of Greenwich	1890	1992	29,695
	Harper Adams University	1901	2012	5,360	Newport, Shropshire
	Hartpury University	1947	2018	2,540	Gloucestershire
None	Health Sciences University	1917	2024	1,415	Bournemouth and London
	Heriot-Watt University	1821	1966	10,665	Campuses at Edinburgh and Galashiels
	University of Hertfordshire	1952	1992	34,255	Hatfield
	University of the Highlands and Islands	1992	2011	9,530	Federal university with a main campus at Inverness, and colleges at Elgin, Perth & across north and western Scotland
	University of Huddersfield	1825	1992	20,030	Campuses at Huddersfield and Barnsley
	University of Hull	1927	1954	15,575
	Imperial College London	1907	2007	22,420	Despite its name, Imperial College holds full university status.[8]
	Keele University	1949	1962	13,525	Staffordshire
	University of Kent	1965	1965	17,190	Campuses at Canterbury and Medway. Collegiate university
	King's College London	1829	2023	39,435	Member institution of the University of London. Since 2008 King's awarded its own degrees.[9]
	Kingston University	1899	1992	18,825	Kingston upon Thames
	University of Central Lancashire	1828	1992	25,300	Campuses at Preston and Burnley. Will rebrand as University of Lancashire in September 2025
	Lancaster University	1964	1964	18,380	Collegiate university
	University of Law	1865	2012	8,000	Private university
	University of Leeds	1831	1904	38,100	Formerly part of the federal Victoria University
None	Leeds Arts University[10]	1846	2017	2,170
None	Leeds Beckett University	1824	1992	24,040
	Leeds Trinity University	1966	2012	14,765
	University of Leicester	1921	1957	18,480
	University of Lincoln	1861	1992	20,185	Campuses at Lincoln, Riseholme, and Holbeach
	University of Liverpool	1881	1903	30,735	Formerly part of the federal Victoria University
	Liverpool Hope University	1844	2005	5,055
	Liverpool John Moores University	1823	1992	27,170
	University of London	1836	1836	205,400[11]	Federal university
	London Metropolitan University	1848	2002	14,730	Formed by merger of London Guildhall University and the University of North London
	London School of Economics	1895	2022	12,910	Member institution of the University of London. Since 2008 the LSE has awarded its own degrees.[12]
	London South Bank University	1892	1992	16,965
	Loughborough University	1909	1966	18,825
	University of Manchester	1824	2004	46,915	Formed by merger of the Victoria University of Manchester (itself formed by the merger of Owens College and the Victoria University) and UMIST in 2004
	Manchester Metropolitan University	1824	1992	39,545
	Middlesex University	1878	1992	15,855	London
	Newcastle University	1834	1963	27,660
	University of Northampton	1924	2005	16,420
None	Northeastern University – London[13]	2010	2022	845	Subsidiary of Northeastern University in the US. Formerly the New College of the Humanities.
	Northumbria University	1877	1992	30,625
None	Norwich University of the Arts	1843	2013	2,865
	University of Nottingham	1798	1948	36,180
	Nottingham Trent University	1843	1992	38,555
	Open University	1969	1969	133,265	Milton Keynes (an open-access distance learning university)
	University of Oxford	1096	1200–1214	27,160	Collegiate university. Teaching as early as 1096; schools organised into a university from c. 1200, with statutes given by a legatine charter in 1214.[14]
None	Oxford Brookes University	1865	1992	23,405
	Plymouth Marjon University	1993	2013	2,850	Formerly the University of St. Mark & St. John
None	Arts University Plymouth	1856	2022	1,070
	University of Plymouth	1862	1992	19,230
	University of Portsmouth	1870	1992	24,525
	Queen Margaret University	1875	2007	6,835	2007/2008 moved to a new campus in Musselburgh, East Lothian.
	Queen Mary University of London	1785	2023	26,080	A member institution of the University of London which has awarded its own degrees since 2014.[15]
	Queen's University Belfast	1810	1908	24,930
None	Ravensbourne University London	1962	2018	6,555	London
	University of Reading	1892	1926	20,245
None	Regent's University London	1984	2013	2,171	Private university[16]
	Richmond American University London	1972	2019	1,600	Private university
	Robert Gordon University	1750	1992	14,585	Aberdeen
None	University of Roehampton	1975	2004	12,050	Collegiate university with four colleges
	Royal Agricultural University	1845	2013	1,010	Cirencester
	Royal Holloway, University of London[17]	1879	2022	12,975	Member institution of the University of London; since 2022 a university in its own right.
	Royal Veterinary College	1791	2023	2,600	Member institution of the University of London. University in its own right since 2023.
	University of Salford	1850	1967	26,155
	University of Sheffield	1897	1905	31,070
	Sheffield Hallam University	1843	1992	32,235
	SOAS University of London	1916	2023	6,285	A member institution of the University of London with degree awarding powers since 2013.[18] University in its own right since 2023.[19]
	University of South Wales	1841	2013	23,670	Merger of University of Wales, Newport and University of Glamorgan
	University of Southampton	1862	1952	25,995
	Southampton Solent University	1984	2005	9,650	Southampton
	University of St Andrews	1413	1413	11,895
	St Mary's University, Twickenham	1850	2014	7,190
	University of Staffordshire	1906	1992	19,030	Campuses at Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, and Lichfield
	University of Stirling	1967	1967	12,865	Bridge of Allan
	University of Strathclyde	1796	1964	23,265	Glasgow
None	University of Suffolk	2007	2016	13,915	Campuses at Ipswich, Bury St. Edmunds, Great Yarmouth, and Lowestoft
	University of Sunderland	1901	1992	19,975
	University of Surrey	1891	1966	16,315	Guildford
	University of Sussex	1959	1961	19,220	Brighton
	Swansea University	1920	2007	21,225
	Teesside University	1930	1992	25,045	Campuses at Middlesbrough and Darlington
	Ulster University	1865	1984	31,915	Formed by merger of the New University of Ulster and Ulster Polytechnic
None	University College London	1826	2023	46,830	Member institution of the University of London; since 2023 a university in its own right.
	University of Wales	1893	1893	15,660	Functionally merged with UWTSD in 2017 but still constitutionally separate[20]
	University of Wales Trinity Saint David	1822	2010	15,660	UWTSD. Formed by merger of the University of Wales, Lampeter, Trinity College, Carmarthen and Swansea Metropolitan University. Campuses at Lampeter, Carmarthen and Swansea.
	University of Warwick	1965	1965	29,435	Coventry
	University of the West of England	1595	1992	35,925	Bristol
	University of the West of Scotland	1897	1992	16,780	Campuses at Paisley, Hamilton, Ayr, and Dumfries
None	University of West London	1860	1992	18,410	Campuses at Ealing and Brentford
	University of Westminster	1838	1992	22,040
	University of Winchester	1840	2005	7,515
	University of Wolverhampton	1899	1992	19,700
	University of Worcester	1946	2005	9,160
	Wrexham University	1887	2008	8,990
	University of York	1963	1963	22,445
	York St John University	1841	2006	10,905

University colleges

This is a list of university colleges in the UK. Institutions included on this list are university colleges that are recognised bodies with their own degree awarding powers;^[1] it does not include institutions with "university college" in their title that are listed bodies as parts of a university (see colleges within universities in the United Kingdom), or other institutions with "university college" in their title. Separate citations are given for institutions that have been awarded university college title recently and are not yet shown under that name on the recognised bodies list or which do not use the title in their name.

Arms	University	Established	University college status	Total students	Notes
-

Member institutions of the University of London

All member institutions of the University of London are recognised bodies as institutions that have the right to grant University of London degrees. Some also hold their own degree awarding powers and, since the passing of the University of London Act 2018, can apply for university status in their own right without leaving the federal university.^[21] Member institutions that are also universities in their own right are listed both here and in the list of universities above. The university was an examining board until 1900, when it became a federal university and admitted colleges as "Schools of the University".^[22]

Arms	University	Established	Joined University of London	Total students (2023/24)[3]	Notes
	Birkbeck, University of London	1823	1920	8,440	A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2012.[23]
	Brunel University of London	1798	2024	15,475	A university since 1966, became a member insitution of the University of London in 2024.[24]
	City St George's, University of London	2024	2024	26,415	Formed in 2024 by merger of City, University of London and St George's, University of London. City was founded in 1894, became as an independent university in 1966, surrendered university status in 2016 to join the University of London,[25] and became a university in its own right again in 2023. St George's medical school was founded in 1834,[6] became an original school of the university in 1900,[22] and became a university in its own right in 2022.[26]
None	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama	1906	2005	930	A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2005.[27]
None	Courtauld Institute of Art	1932	2002	630
	Goldsmiths, University of London	1891	1905	8,330	Became an institution owned by the university in 1905[22] and a school of the university in 1988.[28] A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2013.[29]
None	Institute of Cancer Research	1909	2003	345
	King's College London	1829	1900	39,435	Along with University College London, one of the two colleges named in the 1836 charter as having the right to submit students for examination and an original school of the university in 1900.[22] Since 2023 a university in its own right.
None	London Business School	1964	1964	2,255	LBS is a university in its own right, having received a Royal Charter in 1986.[30]
	London School of Economics	1895	1900	12,910	Original school of the university in 1900.[22] Since 2023 a university in its own right.
None	London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine	1899	1900	980	Original school of the university in 1900.[22] A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2013.[31]
	Queen Mary University of London	1785	1907	26,080	A university in its own right which awarded its own degrees since 2014.[32]
	Royal Academy of Music	1822	1999	795	A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2012.[33]
	Royal Holloway, University of London	1879	1900	12,975	Original school of the university in 1900.[22] Since 2022 a university in its own right.[34]
	Royal Veterinary College	1791	1949	2,600	A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2009.[35]
	SOAS University of London	1916	1916	6,285	A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2013.[36]
None	University College London	1826	1900	51,435	Along with King's College London, one of the two colleges named in the 1836 charter as having the right to submit students for examination and an original school of the university in 1900.[22] A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2005.[37]

Other recognised bodies

This section lists other education institutions that hold their own degree awarding powers but are neither universities (or colleges of the University of London) nor university colleges.^[1]

• Architectural Association School of Architecture
• Ashridge Executive Education
• Blackpool and the Fylde College
• College of Legal Practice Limited^[38]
• Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology^[39]
• Guildhall School of Music and Drama
• Hult International Business School^[38]
• ICMP Management Limited^[38]
• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
• London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art^[38]
• London Institute of Banking and Finance
• London Interdisciplinary School^[40]
• NCG (Newcastle College Group)
• Multiverse Group Ltd^[41]
• National Film and Television School^[38]
• New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering^[38]
• Norland College
• Petroc
• Presbyterian Theological Faculty, Ireland (Union Theological College)
• Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance
• Royal College of Music
• Royal College of Art
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
• Royal Northern College of Music
• TEC Partnership^[38]
• The Engineering and Design Institute, London^[38]
• S P Jain London School of Management Limited^[38]
• Spurgeon's College^[38]
• Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
• Warwickshire College^[38]

Recognised bodies that can only award foundation degrees

These institutions are recognised bodies with foundation degree awarding powers only.^[1]

• Cornwall College Group
• Hull College
• Luminate Education Group
• New College, Durham

Defunct university institutions

This section lists defunct universities, university colleges, polytechnics and colleges of federal universities.

• University of Durham:
  • Armstrong College, Durham – Merged with University of Durham College of Medicine to form King's College, Durham (now Newcastle University)
  • University of Durham College of Medicine – Merged with Armstrong College, Durham to form King's College, Durham (now Newcastle University)
• Fraserburgh University, Aberdeenshire (1592–1605)
• University of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Trefforest and Glyntaff – Merged with University of Wales, Newport to form University of South Wales
• King's College, Aberdeen – Merged with Marischal College, Aberdeen to form University of Aberdeen
• University of London:
  • Bedford College, London – Merged with Royal Holloway College to form Royal Holloway and Bedford New College (now Royal Holloway, University of London)
  • Heythrop College – closed 2018
  • St George's, University of London – Merged with City, University of London to form City St George's, University of London
  • Westfield College, London – Merged with Queen Mary, University of London
  • Wye College – Merged with Imperial College
• London Guildhall University – Merged with University of North London to form London Metropolitan University

Former University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) main building, now used by The University of Manchester

• University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) – Merged to form University of Manchester
• Marischal College, Aberdeen (1593–1858) – Merged with King's College, Aberdeen to form University of Aberdeen
• Mason Science College, Birmingham – Merged to form Mason College, now the University of Birmingham
• University of North London – Merged with London Guildhall University to form London Metropolitan University
• University of Northampton (1261–1265) (not to be confused with the current University of Northampton, which has no direct connection with the medieval foundation)
• Queen's University of Ireland, Belfast, Cork and Galway – Closed, replaced by Royal University of Ireland
• Royal University of Ireland, Belfast, Cork and Galway – Closed, replaced by National University of Ireland
• University College Salford – Merged with the University of Salford
• University College Scarborough – taken over by University of Hull
• University of Stamford (1333–1335)
• Federal University of Surrey – Divided into University of Surrey and Roehampton University
• Surrey Institute of Art & Design, University College, Farnham and Epsom – Merged to form University for the Creative Arts
• Swansea Metropolitan University – Merged with University of Wales Trinity Saint David
• Trinity University College, Carmarthen – Merged with University of Wales, Lampeter to form University of Wales Trinity Saint David
• Ulster Polytechnic – Merged with New University of Ulster to form University of Ulster
• New University of Ulster – Merged with Ulster Polytechnic to form University of Ulster
• Victoria University, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds – Merged with Owen's College, Manchester, to form Victoria University of Manchester; Other colleges become University of Leeds and University of Liverpool
• Victoria University of Manchester – Merged to form Manchester University
• University of Wales:
  • University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff – merged with Cardiff University
  • University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, Cardiff – Merged with University of Wales College Cardiff to form University of Wales, Cardiff (now Cardiff University)
  • University of Wales Lampeter – Merged with Trinity University College to form University of Wales Trinity Saint David
  • University of Wales, Newport – Merged with University of Glamorgan to form University of South Wales

Foreign universities with campuses in the United Kingdom

While based in the UK, these are not considered UK universities and are not recognised as UK degree-awarding bodies by the British government unless separately listed in one of the categories above. Many are 'study abroad' centres for non-UK universities, offering a year or a semester in the UK for students enrolled at the foreign university, rather than campuses offering their own courses.

As of 1 November 2023,^[update] there are 29 "Overseas Higher Education Institutions" that have been approved for student visa purposes by the UK Government as offering "an overseas course of degree level study that's equal to a UK higher education course".^[42][43] There is also one branch of an overseas university that is a "listed body", offering courses leading to a UK degree from a "registered body".^[44] The following are approved overseas higher education institutions and foreign universities that are listed bodies in the UK, with their UK locations:

• Advanced Studies in England Ltd, Bath
• American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Preston
• Amity University [IN] London, London (listed body^[44] providing courses leading to UK degrees from the University of Northampton and the University of Bolton^[45])
• Arcadia University, Holborn
• Bader College, Hailsham (part of Queen's University at Kingston in Canada^[46])
• Boston University London Programme, London
• Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Oxford
• Florida State University International Programs Association UK, London
• Fordham University, Tarrytown
• Georgetown University (USA) UK Initiatives Organisation, London
• Global Education Oregon in London, London
• Harlaxton College, Grantham (part of the University of Evansville^[47])
• Healthcare Education Student Support Services Ltd, Winchester
• Ithaca College, London
• James Madison University and JMU Overseas Programs Ltd, London
• Lawrence University London Centre
• Luther College Study Centre, Nottingham
• MUN (UK) Ltd, Old Harlow (part of Memorial University^[48])
• NYU in London, London
• Pepperdine University UK Ltd, London
• PHBS-UK, Oxford (part of Peking University HSBC Business School^[49])
• Samford University London Study Centre, London
• St Cloud State University, Alnwick
• St. Lawrence University (USA) London Programme, London
• Syracuse University London Program, London
• Teikyo University of Japan in Durham, Durham
• University of Chicago Booth School of Business, London
• University of North Carolina, London
• University of Notre Dame, London
• Wroxton College of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Banbury

Universities in British Overseas Territories

Universities in British Overseas Territories are not considered UK Universities and are not recognised as UK degree-awarding bodies by the British government.^[50]

• University of the West Indies Open Campus, with one country site in each of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

University of the West Indies in Mona

Anguilla

• Saint James School of Medicine

Bermuda

• Bermuda College

Cayman Islands

Main article: List of universities in the Cayman Islands

• Truman Bodden Law School: A law school affiliated with the University of Liverpool in the UK
• International College of the Cayman Islands: A private university
• St. Matthews University: A private institution containing a medical school and a veterinary school
• University College of the Cayman Islands: The only public university in the Cayman Islands

Gibraltar

• University of Gibraltar

Montserrat

• University of Science, Arts and Technology^[51]
• American University of the Caribbean

Turks and Caicos Islands

• Charisma University

Universities in Crown Dependencies

See list of universities in the Isle of Man for university institutions on the Isle of Man. There are currently no universities in the Channel Islands; in 2013^[52][53] the States of Guernsey gave approval for the opening of a university there but, as of February 2017, no progress has been made on the project.^[54] The plan was cancelled in 2021.^[55]

See also

• Armorial of British universities
• Colleges within universities in the United Kingdom
• Levels of education: higher education, foundation degree and further education
• List of colleges in the United Kingdom offering higher education courses
• List of universities in the United Kingdom by endowment
• List of universities in the United Kingdom by enrolment
• List of universities in the United Kingdom by date of foundation
• List of universities in England
• List of universities and colleges in Northern Ireland
• List of universities in Scotland
• List of universities in Wales*
• Lists of universities and colleges
• Lists of universities and colleges by country
• National Union of Students of the United Kingdom
• Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom
• Tuition fees in the United Kingdom
• UCAS (Universities & Colleges Admissions Service)
• Universities in the United Kingdom