List of universities in the United Kingdom


This is a list of universities in the United Kingdom. Below that are lists of university colleges and other recognised bodies, followed by a list of defunct institutions.

Universities alphabetically

This list follows the list of recognised bodies on the UK government website. 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 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.
ArmsUniversityEstablishedUniversity
status		Total
students 		Notes
University of Aberdeen14951495King's College and Marischal College merged in 1860.
Abertay University18881994Dundee
Aberystwyth University18722007
Anglia Ruskin University18581992Campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Peterborough, and London.
-Arden University19902015Private, distance learning & blended learning, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Berlin
University of the Arts London19862003The 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 University18951966Birmingham
Bangor University18842007
University of Bath18861966
-Bath Spa University18522005
Birkbeck, University of London18232023Member institution of the University of London. University in its own right since 2023.
-University of Bedfordshire18822006Campuses in Luton and Bedford.
-BIMM University20012022Private university with campuses at Brighton, London, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Essex, Dublin, Berlin
University of Birmingham18251900
Birmingham City University18431992
Birmingham Newman University19732012
University College Birmingham19572012Despite its name, University College Birmingham holds full university status.
Bishop Grosseteste University18622012Lincoln
-Arts University Bournemouth18802012
Bournemouth University1900s1992
-BPP University19922013Private, 6 London centres, 12 across rest of England, and 2 in Channel Islands.
University of Bradford18321966
-University of Brighton18581992
University of Bristol15951909
Brunel University of London17981966Campus at Uxbridge, London. Member institution of the University of London.
University of Buckingham19731983First private university in the UK
Buckinghamshire New University18912007High Wycombe
University of the Built Environment19192025Reading
University of Cambridge12091209–1226Collegiate university. Established by migration from Oxford in 1209; organised under a chancellor by 1226
Canterbury Christ Church University19622005
Cardiff Metropolitan University18652011Formerly University of Wales Institute Cardiff
Cardiff University18932005
University of Chester18392005Campuses at Chester and Warrington
University of Chichester19772005
City St George's, University of London18342024Member institution of the University of London.
Formed in 2024 by merger of City, University of London and St George's, University of London.
Coventry University19701992Includes CU Coventry, CU Scarborough and CU London
Cranfield University19461993
University for the Creative Arts18562008Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester
University of Cumbria18902007Main campus at Carlisle, with campuses at London, Lancaster, Penrith and Ambleside
De Montfort University18701992Leicester
University of Derby18511992
University of Dundee18811967
Durham University18321832Collegiate university
University of East Anglia19631963Norwich
University of East London18981992
Edge Hill University18852006Ormskirk, Lancashire
University of Edinburgh15831583
Edinburgh Napier University19641992
University of Essex19641965Campuses at Colchester and Southend-on-Sea
University of Exeter18381955
Falmouth University19022012
University of Glasgow14511451
Glasgow Caledonian University18751993
Formed by the merger of The Queen's College, Glasgow and Glasgow Polytechnic.
University of Gloucestershire18342001Two campuses at Cheltenham and two at Gloucester.
Goldsmiths, University of London18912024A member institution of the University of London. Since 2013 Goldsmiths has had its own degree awarding power.
University of Greater Manchester18242004Previously called the University of Bolton
University of Greenwich18901992
Harper Adams University19012012Newport, Shropshire
Hartpury University19472018Gloucestershire
-Health Sciences University19172024Bournemouth and London
Heriot-Watt University18211966Campuses at Edinburgh and Galashiels
University of Hertfordshire19521992Hatfield
University of the Highlands and Islands19922011Federal university with a main campus at Inverness, and colleges at Elgin, Perth & across north and western Scotland
University of Huddersfield18251992Campuses at Huddersfield and Barnsley
University of Hull19271954
Imperial College London19072007Despite its name, Imperial College holds full university status.
Keele University19491962Staffordshire
University of Kent19651965Campuses at Canterbury and Medway. Collegiate university
King's College London18292023Member institution of the University of London. Since 2008 King's awarded its own degrees.
Kingston University18991992Kingston upon Thames
University of Lancashire18281992Campuses at Preston and Burnley.
Lancaster University19641964Collegiate university
University of Law186520128,000Private university
University of Leeds18311904Formerly part of the federal Victoria University
-Leeds Arts University18462017
-Leeds Beckett University18241992
Leeds Trinity University19662012
University of Leicester19211957
University of Lincoln18611992Campuses at Lincoln, Riseholme, and Holbeach
University of Liverpool18811903Formerly part of the federal Victoria University
Liverpool Hope University18442005
Liverpool John Moores University18231992
University of London18361836205,400Federal university
London Metropolitan University18482002Formed by merger of London Guildhall University and the University of North London
London School of Economics18952022Member institution of the University of London. Since 2008 the LSE has awarded its own degrees.
London South Bank University18921992
Loughborough University19091966
University of Manchester18242004Formed by merger of the Victoria University of Manchester and UMIST in 2004
Manchester Metropolitan University18241992
Middlesex University18781992London
Newcastle University18341963
University of Northampton19242005
-Northeastern University – London20102022Subsidiary of Northeastern University in the US. Formerly the New College of the Humanities.
Northumbria University18771992
-Norwich University of the Arts18432013
University of Nottingham17981948
Nottingham Trent University18431992
Open University19691969Milton Keynes
University of Oxford10961200–1214Collegiate university. Teaching as early as 1096; schools organised into a university from, with statutes given by a legatine charter in 1214.
-Oxford Brookes University18651992
Plymouth Marjon University19932013Formerly the University of St. Mark & St. John
-Arts University Plymouth18562022
University of Plymouth18621992
University of Portsmouth18701992
Queen Margaret University187520072007/2008 moved to a new campus in Musselburgh, East Lothian.
Queen Mary University of London17852023A member institution of the University of London which has awarded its own degrees since 2014.
Queen's University Belfast18101908
-Ravensbourne University London19622018London
University of Reading18921926
-Regent's University London198420132,171Private university
Richmond American University London197220191,600Private university
Robert Gordon University17501992Aberdeen
-University of Roehampton19752004Collegiate university with four colleges
Royal Agricultural University18452013Cirencester
Royal Holloway, University of London18792022Member institution of the University of London; since 2022 a university in its own right.
Royal Veterinary College17912023Member institution of the University of London. University in its own right since 2023.
University of Salford18501967
University of Sheffield18971905
Sheffield Hallam University18431992
SOAS University of London19162023A member institution of the University of London with degree awarding powers since 2013. University in its own right since 2023.
University of South Wales18412013Merger of University of Wales, Newport and University of Glamorgan
University of Southampton18621952
Southampton Solent University19842005Southampton
University of St Andrews14131413
St Mary's University, Twickenham18502014
University of Staffordshire19061992Campuses at Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, and Lichfield
University of Stirling19671967Bridge of Allan
University of Strathclyde17961964Glasgow
-University of Suffolk20072016Campuses at Ipswich, Bury St. Edmunds, Great Yarmouth, and Lowestoft
University of Sunderland19011992
University of Surrey18911966Guildford
University of Sussex19591961Brighton
Swansea University19202007
Teesside University19301992Campuses at Middlesbrough and Darlington
Ulster University18651984Formed by merger of the New University of Ulster and Ulster Polytechnic
-University College London1826202346,830Member institution of the University of London; since 2023 a university in its own right.
University of Wales18931893Functionally merged with UWTSD in 2017 but still constitutionally separate
University of Wales Trinity Saint David18222010UWTSD. Formed by merger of the University of Wales, Lampeter, Trinity College, Carmarthen and Swansea Metropolitan University.
Campuses at Lampeter, Carmarthen and Swansea.
University of Warwick19651965Coventry
University of the West of England15951992Bristol
University of the West of Scotland18971992Campuses at Paisley, Hamilton, Ayr, and Dumfries
-University of West London18601992Campuses at Ealing and Brentford
University of Westminster18381992
University of Winchester18402005
University of Wolverhampton18991992
University of Worcester19462005
Wrexham University18872008
University of York19631963
York St John University18412006

University colleges

ArmsUniversityEstablishedUniversity college statusTotal studentsNotes
-

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. 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".
ArmsUniversityEstablishedJoined
University
of London		Total
students 		Notes
Birkbeck, University of London18231920A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2012.
Brunel University of London17982024A university since 1966, became a member institution of the University of London in 2024.
City St George's, University of London1834201626,415Formed 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, and became a university in its own right again in 2023.
-Royal Central School of Speech and Drama19062005A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2005.
-Courtauld Institute of Art19322002
Goldsmiths, University of London18911905Became an institution owned by the university in 1905 and a school of the university in 1988.
A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2013.
-Institute of Cancer Research19092003
King's College London18291900Along 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. Since 2023 a university in its own right.
-London Business School19641964LBS is a university in its own right, having received a Royal Charter in 1986.
London School of Economics18951900Original school of the university in 1900. Since 2023 a university in its own right.
-London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine18991900Original school of the university in 1900.
A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2013.
Queen Mary University of London17851907A university in its own right which awarded its own degrees since 2014.
Royal Academy of Music18221999A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2012.
Royal Holloway, University of London18791900Original school of the university in 1900. Since 2022 a university in its own right.
Royal Veterinary College17911949A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2009.
SOAS University of London19161916A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2013.
-University College London18261900Along 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. A university in its own right, with degree awarding powers since 2005.

Other recognised bodies

This section lists other education institutions that hold their own degree awarding powers but are neither universities nor university colleges.

Recognised bodies that can only award foundation degrees

These institutions are recognised bodies with foundation degree awarding powers only.

Defunct university institutions

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

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.
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". 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". The following are approved overseas higher education institutions and foreign universities that are listed bodies in the UK, with their UK locations:

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.

Anguilla

Bermuda

Cayman Islands

Gibraltar

Montserrat

Turks and Caicos Islands

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 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. The plan was cancelled in 2021.