The best universities in London
Studying in London is probably the best decision you will make for your professional and personal development. Education in London goes beyond the classroom — it is in the social interactions with diverse crowds, the cultural attractions, the world-class academic research, and the determination to make the world better through education. Thirteen London higher education institutions are among the UK's top 50. Besides their outstanding teaching and research performance, these universities are right amid the buzzing global cultural, technological, scientific, business, and financial development in London.
The best higher education institutions in London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London ranked as the sixth-best university in the world for 2023. It focuses on four main areas of study: science, engineering, medicine, and business. Imperial College London is located in South Kensington, where London's magnificent science-dedicated museums are (e.g., the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum). Students of Imperial College are encouraged to take advantage of the central location and explore the diversity of culinary, shopping, and entertainment options that the area offers. Prince Albert's objective to make South Kensington an education centre has been achieved!
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University College London
University College London (UCL) dates back to 1826, when it was founded with the intention of inclusive and fair higher education. In 1878, UCL led the way, and for the first time in the UK, women enrolled in higher education on equal terms as men. There are eleven faculties at UCL, from Arts & Humanities and Law to Brain, Medical, and Population Health Sciences. Half of the student population at UCL is admitted into postgraduate studies, a factor explained by UCL's investment in cutting-edge and interdisciplinary research. UCL researchers aim to tackle some of the world's most relevant and urgent problems, such as cancer, migration, and sustainability. UCL is the first British university to open a campus in Doha, Qatar, focusing on studying cultural heritage. The main campus of UCL is in Bloomsbury, London's intellectual hub. You will find devoted medical scientists striving to improve human health, as well as talented writers who might be hoping their book will grasp the attention of Bloomsbury's publishing house, as Harry Potter once did.
Good to know:
UCL has over 150 nationalities, making up a third of the student body.
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London School of Economics and Political Sciences
As its name suggests, the London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE) specialises in economics, politics, law, sociology, and anthropology studies. The school was founded in the 1800s to study poverty and inequalities, and today, it has 16 Nobel Prize winners and 37 world leaders among its alumni. LSE has international students from over 140 countries and maintains cross-cultural collaborations with Columbia University in New York, Sciences Po in Paris, Peking University in Beijing, the National University of Singapore, and the University of Cape Town. All LSE's buildings and facilities are concentrated in central London, near Covent Garden and Thames, ensuring a community feel. LSE gives high priority to helping its students start building their careers well before they complete their studies. LSE offers a series of career services, such as one-to-one career advice, a network of employers, and internship agreements.
Good to know:
LSE runs The Parliamentary Internships Programme, open to MSc and PhD students. LSE also has one of the World's most extensive libraries, with over 4 million volumes and almost 30,000 e-books.
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King's College London
King's College London is renowned for its cutting-edge research, making it one of the most popular colleges globally for research in science and communications. The college has built research partnerships with colossal industries such as Siemens, Unilever, and Philips Healthcare and public agencies such as the NHS and Metropolitan Police. King's College London comprises five campuses in central London and nine faculties (i.e., Humanities, Law, Nursing, Business, Medicine, Psychiatry, Dentistry, Engineering, Social Science). The vision that unites students and staff from all fields is participating in informative and innovative research.
Good to know:
King's research activities have contributed to discovering the DNA structure and developing mass media such as the radio, television, mobile phones, and radar. The University is also known to have nearly 300 societies students can join.
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Queen Mary University of London
The Queen Mary University of London was founded more than 200 years ago as the London Medical College. Today, the institution results from merging four historical medical schools, has five campuses in central London, and delivers over 240 degree programmes in three faculties: Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Engineering, and Medicine and Dentistry. The main campus is in the Mile End area, which may lack the Shoreditch and Hackney nightlife extravaganza but has many pubs and bars, ideal for quieter gatherings. Mile End campus students also benefit from short commutes to central London (e.g., 16 minutes to Oxford Circus).
Good to know:
41% of the student population representing over 170 nationalities comes from outside the UK, making Queen Mary a multicultural and inclusive place of study.
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Queen Mary University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway isn't the typical city campus you would expect to see in London. With 135 acres of lawn, Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL) is located about 30 kilometres away from central London, in Egham, Surrey. The campus design is based on one of the most distinctive châteaux in the world, the Château de Chambord at Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France. However, a University cannot be a London University without a presence in the centre of the capital. Royal Holloway's central base is at Bedford Square in Bloomsbury, close to the British Museum and the University of London Senate House Library. The students and staff can use this convenient location for classes, activities, meetings, and a communal space in the afternoons and evenings.
Good to know:
When founded in 1986, Royal Holloway was looking to promote women's education.
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St George's, University of London
Established in 1733, St George's, University of London is the only higher education institution in the UK dedicated to medical and health sciences. Among the study subjects are biomedical science, healthcare practice, healthcare science, and medicine. The University collaborates with St George's Hospital, and, like every medical school in London (except the Imperial College School of Medicine), is a member of the United Hospitals. St George's location in Tooting, South London, is a bonus for students who appreciate the charm and personality of this community-driven neighbourhood and aren't looking to hang out in large coffee house chains. From South Asian restaurants and indoor markets to an outbreak of bars and restaurants, Tooting is self-sufficient, and so are the people who love the area.
Good to know:
Tooting is home to England's largest freshwater swimming pool, Tooting Bec Lido. Check out Expat.com's article on Leisure activities in London for more details.
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St George's Hospital education and research
St George's and University of Nicosia
Birkbeck, University of London
Since it was founded, Birkbeck, part of the University of London, has been led by the aspiration of an equal education that doesn't exclude candidates based on their socioeconomic background. Today, Birkbeck is the only higher education institution that offers flexible and evening learning to 18,000 students across five schools and 19 departments. Part-time studies aim at employed students and students with a family. The main campus is in Bloomsbury, an education, research, and cultural London hub.
Important:
Birkbeck is one of the UK's higher education institutions with a likelihood for its graduates to earn over £30,000 a year.
Good to know:
Birkbeck has developed international partnerships and exchange programmes with Brazil's University of Sao Paulo, University of Milano-Bicocca in Italy, and Hosei University in Japan.
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City, University of London
Research is at the centre of City, University of London's academic activities, defined by collaboration, innovation, and creativity. City delivers courses relevant to the modern world and opens the doors to the global job market. The University has an extensive network of London employers and supports students in finding internships and paid jobs through career advice and workshops. City's students benefit from the university's central location in London's financial district, alongside the headquarters of global corporations, startups, law firms, and London's Tech City.
Important:
Each professional legal course of The City Law School is accredited by the relevant bodies to ensure that graduates can start practising their specialities immediately.
Good to know:
The Lord Mayor of London is City's Rector.
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Brunel University London
Brunel University London, a campus-based university in Uxbridge, comprises three colleges: Engineering, Design, and Physical Sciences; Business, Arts, and Social Sciences; and Health and Life Sciences. Three prominent research institutes are Energy Futures and Environment; Health and Societies; and Materials and Manufacturing. The University's technology corresponds to the latest trends, and students can access flight simulators and a 3D body scanner, among other revolutionary equipment. Uxbridge is far from central London (more than an hour on the tube). However, Brunel's campus has its community, and student life here has its own charm.
Important:
Brunel values the importance of relevant work experience for developing professional skills. The university offers academic study courses and one year of intensive placement (thick sandwich) or two six-month-long placements (thin sandwich).
Good to know:
Every year, the Department of Design organises an exhibition titled Made in Brunel to showcase the work of its graduates.
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Middlesex University
Middlesex University comprises six schools across North London and offers degrees in Art and Design, Business, Law, Health and Education, Media and Performing Arts, and Science and Technology. Businesses and employers can consider Middlesex for their employees' development through Middlesex's Institute for Work-Based Learning, which provides training to organisations and individuals in their workplace. There are 24,000 students enrolled at the London campus.
Good to know:
Middlesex has opened overseas campuses in Dubai, Mauritius, and Malta. The University has student exchange international partners in China, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, and the United States.
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Royal Veterinary College
Royal Veterinary College of the University of London offers undergraduate and postgraduate veterinary medicine and nursing courses. The college has two campuses: in Camden, central London, and in North Mymms, Hertfordshire, 15 minutes on the train from Kings Cross station. RVC is the best veterinary school in Europe. The College collaborates with businesses and offers sandwich degrees with one-year-long full-time industry placements for students who wish to gain work experience and employability skills before graduating.
Good to know:
RVC owns and operates the London Bioscience Innovation Centre and Bolton Park Farm in Hertfordshire, a practical teaching facility.
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London Bioscience Innovation Centre
SOAS, University of London
Founded in 1916, The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) is a research University and a member college of the University of London. SOAS offers 350 undergraduate degrees and over 100 postgraduate degrees and PhD programmes. The SOAS School of Law is the only law school in the world that studies the legal systems of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. SOAS Brunei Gallery in Russell Square hosts exhibitions from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, aiming to promote the cultures of these regions and educate the public on Asian, African, and Middle Eastern matters.
Good to know:
The SOAS library has more than 1.3 million volumes, rare books, manuscripts, and electronic resources and is a member of the Research Library UK.
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Choosing a London university
As you can see from the above list of top universities, there are several options in London. Here are a few things to consider before making the final call.
Level of study
If you wish to engage in ground-breaking research at a PhD or postdoctoral level, you should probably aim for the best, such as Imperial College and UCL. Imperial College has three major research centres: the Data Science Institute, the Institute of Global Health Innovation, and the Centre for Hedge Fund Research. And, if you are looking for international experience, Imperial College partners with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US and Seoul National University in South Korea, offering research summer programmes.
Subject
World-leading universities meet the highest education standards and have outstanding performance regarding teaching, research, reputation, and global outlook. However, as a candidate student, it's vital to recognise in which subjects different universities specialise and whether they deliver the best possible curriculum for your desired area of study. See below some examples of the best Universities in London by subject, as ranked by the Times Higher Education.
University College London is top for studies in Arts and Humanities (performing arts, design, literature, linguistics, history, philosophy, theology, architecture, and archaeology), Social Sciences (geography, politics and international relations, and communication and media studies), Business & Economics, Psychology, Computer Science, Engineering & Technology, and Clinical and Health studies.
King's College is considered among the best for studies in Education, including teacher's training, Life Sciences (agriculture and forestry, biology, sports science, and veterinary), and Clinical and Health studies.
London School of Economics and Political Sciences is world-class for Law, Social Sciences (geography, politics and international relations, communication and media studies), and Business & Economics.
Birkbeck offers some of the best programmes in Psychology.
Imperial College London is among the best in the world for Clinical and Health Studies, Computer Science, Engineering & Technology, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences(mathematics, statistics, physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, and environmental sciences).
Note:
The above information is based on Times Higher Education UK University Rankings 2023.
Tuition fees
A home student wishing to study at an undergraduate level should expect to pay up to £9,250 per year. In contrast, an international or EU student will pay anything from £11,400 for lecture-based programmes up to £38,000 for medical degrees. Postgraduate tuition fees vary significantly, depending on the university and the subject, but the average is estimated at £17,000. However, regardless of the level of study, degrees in humanities and social sciences usually cost less than science and clinical degrees.
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UK government financial support
Tip:
When you have shortlisted about five universities, start contacting their admissions offices for further information. If it's possible, attend a university open day in London.
