How Many Unis Are in England?

England has around 130 universities as of 2025, making it home to the vast majority of UK higher education institutions. The total number of universities across the UK sits at approximately 164, with 311 higher education institutions in total when you include specialist colleges and providers (HESA, 2023/24).

England dominates UK higher education for a simple reason: it has the largest population. London alone has 39 universities within the city boundary, rising to 45 across the greater London area.

Over 2.9 million students are currently enrolled at UK universities, with roughly 750,000 new applications submitted in 2024 — nearly double the figure from 1994.

England vs the Rest of the UK

One important distinction: Scottish students studying in Scotland pay no tuition fees. Welsh students receive a tuition fee grant. Only students in England (and international students everywhere) pay the full £9,250/year domestic rate.

What Are the Best Universities in the UK?

According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, the top five UK universities are all based in England:

1. University of Oxford — ranked 1st globally
2. University of Cambridge — ranked 2nd globally
3. Imperial College London — ranked 3rd globally
4. University College London (UCL) — ranked 4th globally
5. University of Edinburgh — 5th in the UK (Scotland)

For purely English institutions, the top five in the QS World University Rankings 2025 are Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, and the London School of Economics (LSE).

These universities sit at the top because they combine research output, graduate employment rates, international reputation, and teaching quality in a way that few institutions anywhere in the world can match.

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Best British Colleges: Subject-by-Subject

Raw rankings don't tell the whole story. Some universities consistently top subject-specific tables:

• Law: Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, King's College London
• Medicine: Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London
• Engineering: Imperial College London, Cambridge, UCL
• Business: London Business School, Oxford (Saïd), Cambridge (Judge)
• Arts & Humanities: Oxford, Cambridge, King's College London
• Computer Science: Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, UCL
• Social Sciences: LSE, Oxford, UCL

If you have a specific subject in mind, always check the subject-level rankings rather than relying on overall league table position.

Read Also: Living Expenses in UK for International Students

What Are the Big 5 Universities in the UK?

The "big 5" commonly refers to the G5 universities, also known as the Golden Triangle. These are the five institutions that Times Higher Education has described as "super-elite":

1. University of Oxford (founded ~1096)
2. University of Cambridge (founded 1209)
3. Imperial College London (founded 1907) — STEM-focused
4. London School of Economics (LSE) (founded 1895) — social sciences-focused
5. University College London (UCL) (founded 1826)

All five are located in the southeast of England—three in London, one in Oxford, one in Cambridge—which is why they're called the "Golden Triangle."

Why the G5 Matters

• All five consistently rank in the global top 50
• Together they attract a disproportionate share of UK research funding
• Employers worldwide recognise a degree from any of the five
• Admission is highly competitive across all five institutions
• Combined, they are affiliated with over 120 Nobel laureates (Cambridge alone accounts for more than 100)

G5 Entry Requirements (A-Levels)

What Is the Russell Group?

The Russell Group is a self-selected association of 24 of the UK's most research-intensive universities, formed in 1994. Think of it as the UK equivalent of the US Ivy League — though it's larger and more formally structured.

All five G5 universities are Russell Group members. The full list of Russell Group universities in England includes:

• University of Birmingham
• University of Bristol
• University of Cambridge
• Durham University
• Imperial College London
• King's College London
• University of Leeds
• University of Liverpool
• London School of Economics (LSE)
• University of Manchester
• Newcastle University
• University of Nottingham
• University of Oxford
• Queen Mary University of London
• University of Sheffield
• University of Southampton
• University College London (UCL)
• University of Warwick
• University of York

(Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Queen's University Belfast are also Russell Group members but are in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland respectively.)

What Makes Russell Group Universities Stand Out?

• Responsible for 65% of all world-leading research conducted in the UK
• Russell Group graduates hold 61% of jobs requiring a degree, despite making up only 17% of all graduates
• Win more than £1 billion a year in research grants — around 70% of the UK total
• Over 95% of graduates find employment or further study within six months

Types of Universities in England

Not every university in England is the same. Understanding the landscape helps you make a better choice.

Ancient Universities

Oxford and Cambridge are in a category of their own. Both have been operating for over 800 years, use a collegiate teaching system, and produce a significant share of the UK's political, scientific, and cultural leadership.

Red Brick Universities

Founded in major industrial cities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, and Bristol fall into this group. All are now Russell Group members. They tend to have large campuses, strong research programmes, and active student unions.

Plate Glass Universities

Built in the 1960s as part of a government expansion of higher education. Warwick, York, Essex, and Sussex are examples. Several have punched well above their weight in research and rankings.

Post-1992 Universities (Modern Universities)

These were polytechnics that gained university status in 1992. They tend to focus more on applied, vocational, and professional courses. Entry requirements are lower, but many are strong in specific subject areas.

Specialist Institutions

Conservatoires, art colleges, and specialist providers that focus on a single discipline. The Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and the Royal College of Art are examples. These are not ranked on standard league tables but are world-class within their fields.

How to Choose the Right University in England

The number of options is overwhelming. These are the questions that actually matter:

1. Does the course content match what you want to study? Course structures vary significantly even between universities offering the same subject. Read the module lists, not just the course titles.

2. What are the graduate outcomes? Look at employment rates, average starting salaries, and the types of employers who recruit from that campus. The Complete University Guide and What Uni both publish this data.

3. Where is it? London has unmatched networking and job opportunities but the highest cost of living in the UK. Cities like Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, and Birmingham offer strong graduate markets at lower living costs. Smaller university towns offer a more contained campus experience.

4. What are the entry requirements? Apply to universities where your predicted grades are at or above the typical offer. Stretching slightly is fine; applying to universities where the typical offer is three grades above your prediction is not a good use of UCAS choices.

5. Is the university financially stable? This matters more now than it did five years ago. Several UK universities are under financial pressure due to frozen domestic fees and falling international student numbers. Check recent news for the universities you're considering.

Tuition Fees in England (2025)

The £9,250 cap for domestic students has been in place since 2017 and has created real financial pressure for English universities. Some institutions have begun seeking approval to raise fees, though this remains politically sensitive.

Student loans cover tuition fees and a maintenance contribution. Repayments only begin when you earn over £25,000/year, and any outstanding balance is written off after 40 years.

FAQs

How many unis are in England?

Around 130 unis in England, out of 164 across the UK. The total rises to 311 when specialist higher education providers are included.

What are the big 5 universities in the UK?

The G5 (Golden Triangle) universities: Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, LSE, and UCL. All five are in England and all five consistently rank in the global top 50.

What are the best British colleges?

For overall prestige: Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, and LSE. For specific subjects, other universities may rank higher — Imperial leads in engineering, LSE in economics and social sciences, and several specialist conservatoires are world-class in music and performing arts.

How many universities are in London?

39 universities within Greater London, rising to 45 across the wider metropolitan area. London has the highest concentration of universities of any city in the UK.

What is the Russell Group?

A self-selected association of 24 research-intensive UK universities. Russell Group institutions conduct 65% of the UK's world-leading research and attract 70% of all research grant funding. Membership includes Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, LSE, and 19 other leading universities.

Is a Russell Group degree better than a non-Russell Group degree?

For most employers and postgraduate applications, a degree from a Russell Group university carries additional weight. However, non-Russell Group universities can be stronger in specific subject areas, and the difference matters less than the class of degree you achieve.