List of universities in the United Kingdom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University College of Estate Management | 1919 | 2016 | 3,580 | Reading Application for university status approved 2025 but awaiting supplemental charter; currently using University of the Built Environment as a trading name.[20] | |
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 (2024/25)[3] |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birkbeck, University of London | 1823 | 1920 | 7,720 | A university in its own right since 2023,[23] with degree awarding powers since 2012.[24] | |
| Brunel University of London | 1798 | 2024 | 12,705 | A university since 1966, became a member institution of the University of London in 2024.[25] | |
| City St George's, University of London | 1834 | 2016 | 26,415 | Formed in 2024 by merger of City, University of London and St George's, University of London. City became a member institution of the University of London in 2016,[26] and became a university in its own right again in 2023. | |
| None | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama | 1906 | 2005 | 1,015 | Degree awarding powers since 2005.[27] |
| None | Courtauld Institute of Art | 1932 | 2002 | 630 | |
| Goldsmiths, University of London | 1891 | 1905 | 7,910 | 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 since 2024,[29] with degree awarding powers since 2013.[30] | |
| None | Institute of Cancer Research | 1909 | 2003 | 370 | |
| King's College London | 1829 | 1900 | 40,870 | 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 | 2,275 | |
| London School of Economics | 1895 | 1900 | 12,950 | 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 | 945 | Original school of the university in 1900.[22] Degree awarding powers since 2013.[31] Approved for university status and applying for supplemental charter in 2024/5.[32] |
| Queen Mary University of London | 1785 | 1907 | 24,640 | A university in its own right since 2023,[33] which awarded its own degrees since 2014.[34] | |
| Royal Academy of Music | 1822 | 1999 | 775 | Degree awarding powers since 2012.[35] | |
| Royal Holloway, University of London | 1879 | 1900 | 13,115 | Original school of the university in 1900.[22] Since 2022 a university in its own right.[36] | |
| Royal Veterinary College | 1791 | 1949 | 2,575 | A university in its own right since 2023,[37] with degree awarding powers since 2009.[38] | |
| SOAS University of London | 1916 | 1916 | 6,400 | A university in its own right since 2023,[39] with degree awarding powers since 2013.[40] | |
| None | University College London | 1826 | 1900 | 51,315 | 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 since 2023,[41] with degree awarding powers since 2005.[42] |
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[43]
- Ashridge Executive Education[44]
- ASU London (formerly TEDI–London)[45][46]
- Blackpool and The Fylde College[47]
- College of Legal Practice[45][48]
- Cornwall College[49]
- Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology[50][51]
- ESCP Europe Business School[52]
- Engineering College of Technology[53]
- Guildhall School of Music and Drama[54]
- Hult International Business School[45][55]
- Institute of Contemporary Music Performance[45][56]
- Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts[57]
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine[58]
- LTE Group[59]
- London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art[45][60]
- London Interdisciplinary School[61][62]
- Luminate Education Group[63]
- Multiverse[64][65]
- National Film and Television School[45][66]
- New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering[45][67]
- NCG (Newcastle College Group)[68]
- The Northern School of Art[69]
- Northern School of Contemporary Dance[70]
- Norland College[71]
- Presbyterian Theological Faculty, Ireland (Union Theological College)
- Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance[72]
- Royal College of Art[73]
- Royal College of Music[74]
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- Royal Northern College of Music[75]
- S P Jain London School of Management Limited[45][76]
- School-Led Development Trust (National Institute of Teaching)[77]
- TEC Partnership[45][78]
- Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance[79]
- Walbrook Institute London[80]
- Warwickshire College[45][81]
Recognised bodies that can only award foundation degrees
These institutions are recognised bodies with foundation degree awarding powers only.[1]
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

- 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".[84][85] 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".[86] 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[86] providing courses leading to UK degrees from the University of Northampton and the University of Bolton[87])
- Arcadia University, Holborn
- Bader College, Hailsham (part of Queen's University at Kingston in Canada[88])
- 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[89])
- 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[90])
- NYU in London, London
- Pepperdine University UK Ltd, London
- PHBS-UK, Oxford (part of Peking University HSBC Business School[91])
- 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 Dependent Territories
Universities in British dependent territories are not considered UK Universities and are not recognised as UK degree-awarding bodies by the British government.[92]
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.[92]
- 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.

- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- 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
- 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[94][95] 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.[96] The plan was cancelled in 2021.[97]
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

































































































































