# 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. 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.
| Arms | University | Established | University status | Total students | Notes |
| | University of Aberdeen | 1495 | 1495 | 15,185 | King's College and Marischal College merged in 1860. |
| | Abertay University | 1888 | 1994 | 4,280 | Dundee |
| | Aberystwyth University | 1872 | 2007 | 7,720 | |
| | Anglia Ruskin University | 1858 | 1992 | 26,715 | Campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Peterborough, and London. |
| – | Arden University | 1990 | 2015 | 6,245 | Private, distance learning & blended learning, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Berlin |
| | Aston University | 1895 | 1966 | 15,385 | Birmingham |
| | Bangor University | 1884 | 2007 | 9,945 | |
| | University of Bath | 1886 | 1966 | 18,560 | |
| – | Bath Spa University | 1852 | 2005 | 8,450 | |
| – | University of Bedfordshire | 1882 | 2006 | 16,725 | Campuses in Luton and Bedford. |
| – | BIMM University | 2001 | 2022 | 5,295 | Private university with campuses at Brighton, London, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Essex, Dublin, Berlin |
| | University of Birmingham | 1825 | 1900 | 35,760 | |
| | Birmingham City University | 1843 | 1992 | 26,930 | |
| | Birmingham Newman University | 1973 | 2012 | 2,795 | |
| | University College Birmingham | 1957 | 2012 | 4,930 | Despite its name, University College Birmingham holds full university status. |
| | Bishop Grosseteste University | 1862 | 2012 | 2,280 | |
| – | Arts University Bournemouth | 1880 | 2012 | 3,445 | |
| | Bournemouth University | 1900s | 1992 | 17,390 | |
| – | BPP University | 1992 | 2013 | 12,160 | Private, 6 London centres, 12 across rest of England, and 2 in Channel Islands. |
| | University of Bradford | 1832 | 1966 | 9,770 | |
| – | University of Brighton | 1858 | 1992 | 18,985 | |
| | University of Bristol | 1595 | 1909 | 27,375 | |
| | Brunel University of London | 1798 | 1966 | 15,520 | Campuses at Uxbridge and London |
| | University of Buckingham | 1973 | 1983 | 3,100 | First private university in the UK |
| | Buckinghamshire New University | 1891 | 2007 | 14,075 | High Wycombe |
| | University of Cambridge | 1209 | 1209–1226 | 21,340 | Collegiate university. Established by migration from Oxford in 1209; organised under a chancellor by 1226 |
| | Canterbury Christ Church University | 1962 | 2005 | 13,340 | |
| | Cardiff Metropolitan University | 1865 | 2011 | 10,920 | Formerly University of Wales Institute Cardiff |
| | Cardiff University | 1893 | 2005 | 33,260 | |
| | University of Chester | 1839 | 2005 | 13,545 | Campuses at Chester and Warrington |
| | University of Chichester | 1977 | 2005 | 5,545 | |
| | Coventry University | 1970 | 1992 | 38,430 | Includes CU Coventry, CU Scarborough and CU London |
| | Cranfield University | 1946 | 1993 | 4,825 | |
| | University for the Creative Arts | 1856 | 2008 | 6,765 | Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester |
| | University of Cumbria | 1890 | 2007 | 7,945 | Main campus at Carlisle, with campuses at London, Lancaster, Penrith and Ambleside |
| | De Montfort University | 1870 | 1992 | 29,000 | Leicester |
| | University of Derby | 1851 | 1992 | 19,685 | |
| | University of Dundee | 1881 | 1967 | 16,270 | |
| | Durham University | 1832 | 1832 | 19,520 | Collegiate university |
| | University of East Anglia | 1963 | 1963 | 18,035 | Norwich |
| | University of East London | 1898 | 1992 | 15,355 | |
| | Edge Hill University | 1885 | 2006 | 13,560 | Ormskirk, Lancashire |
| | University of Edinburgh | 1583 | 1583 | 35,375 | |
| | Edinburgh Napier University | 1964 | 1992 | 13,930 | |
| | University of Essex | 1964 | 1965 | 16,530 | Campuses at Colchester and Southend-on-Sea |
| | University of Exeter | 1838 | 1955 | 26,935 | |
| | Falmouth University | 1902 | 2012 | 6,245 | |
| | University of Glasgow | 1451 | 1451 | 32,465 | |
| | Glasgow Caledonian University | 1875 | 1993 | 17,540 | Formed by the merger of The Queen's College, Glasgow and Glasgow Polytechnic. |
| | University of Gloucestershire | 1834 | 2001 | 7,915 | Campuses at Cheltenham, Gloucester, and London. |
| | University of Greater Manchester | 1824 | 2004 | 8,175 | Previously called the University of Bolton |
| | University of Greenwich | 1890 | 1992 | 19,825 | |
| | Harper Adams University | 1901 | 2012 | 4,680 | Newport, Shropshire |
| | Hartpury University | 1947 | 2018 | 1,995 | Gloucestershire |
| | Heriot-Watt University | 1821 | 1966 | 11,155 | Campuses at Edinburgh and Galashiels |
| | University of Hertfordshire | 1952 | 1992 | 25,520 | Hatfield |
| | University of the Highlands and Islands | 1992 | 2011 | 9,905 | Federal university with a main campus at Inverness, and colleges at Elgin, Perth & across north and western Scotland |
| | University of Huddersfield | 1825 | 1992 | 17,305 | Campuses at Huddersfield and Barnsley |
| | University of Hull | 1927 | 1954 | 14,255 | |
| | Imperial College London | 1907 | 2007 | 19,400 | Despite its name, Imperial College holds full university status. |
| | Keele University | 1949 | 1962 | 10,880 | Staffordshire |
| | University of Kent | 1965 | 1965 | 18,710 | Campuses at Canterbury and Medway. Collegiate university |
| | Kingston University | 1899 | 1992 | 18,070 | |
| | University of Central Lancashire | 1828 | 1992 | 24,715 | Campuses at Preston and Burnley. Will rebrand as University of Lancashire in September 2025 |
| | Lancaster University | 1964 | 1964 | 15,665 | Collegiate university |
| | University of Leeds | 1831 | 1904 | 36,330 | Formerly part of the federal Victoria University |
| – | Leeds Arts University | 1846 | 2017 | 2,145 | |
| – | Leeds Beckett University | 1824 | 1992 | 23,290 | |
| | Leeds Trinity University | 1966 | 2012 | 4,985 | |
| | University of Leicester | 1921 | 1957 | 16,180 | |
| | University of Lincoln | 1861 | 1992 | 16,425 | Campuses at Lincoln, Riseholme, and Holbeach |
| | University of Liverpool | 1881 | 1903 | 29,600 | Formerly part of the federal Victoria University |
| | Liverpool Hope University | 1844 | 2005 | 4,985 | |
| | Liverpool John Moores University | 1823 | 1992 | 25,050 | |
| | University of London | 1836 | 1836 | 205,400 | Federal university |
| | London Metropolitan University | 1848 | 2002 | 10,390 | Formed by merger of London Guildhall University and the University of North London |
| | London School of Economics | 1895 | 2022 | 12,050 | Member institution of the University of London; since 2022 a university in its own right. |
| | London South Bank University | 1892 | 1992 | 16,840 | |
| | Loughborough University | 1909 | 1966 | 18,295 | |
| | University of Manchester | 1824 | 2004 | 40,485 | 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 | 33,420 | |
| | Middlesex University | 1878 | 1992 | 20,175 | London |
| | Newcastle University | 1834 | 1963 | 28,070 | |
| | University of Northampton | 1924 | 2005 | 12,060 | |
| – | Northeastern University – London | 2010 | 2022 | 215 | Subsidiary of Northeastern University in the US. Formerly the New College of the Humanities. |
| | Northumbria University | 1877 | 1992 | 28,325 | |
| – | Norwich University of the Arts | 1843 | 2013 | 2,360 | |
| | University of Nottingham | 1798 | 1948 | 34,840 | |
| | Nottingham Trent University | 1843 | 1992 | 35,785 | |
| | Open University | 1969 | 1969 | 129,420 | Milton Keynes (an open-access distance learning university) |
| | University of Oxford | 1096 | 1200–1214 | 25,910 | Collegiate university. Teaching as early as 1096; schools organised into a university from c. 1200, with statutes given by a legatine charter in 1214. |
| – | Oxford Brookes University | 1865 | 1992 | 16,900 | |
| | Plymouth Marjon University | 1993 | 2013 | 2,750 | Formerly the University of St. Mark & St. John |
| – | Arts University Plymouth | 1856 | 2022 | 1,305 | |
| | University of Plymouth | 1862 | 1992 | 18,410 | |
| | University of Portsmouth | 1870 | 1992 | 26,775 | |
| | Queen Margaret University | 1875 | 2007 | 5,130 | 2007/2008 moved to a new campus in Musselburgh, East Lothian. |
| | Queen's University Belfast | 1810 | 1908 | 24,915 | |
| – | Ravensbourne University London | 1962 | 2018 | 2,535 | London |
| | University of Reading | 1892 | 1926 | 18,735 | |
| – | Regent's University London | 1984 | 2013 | 2,171 | Private university |
| | Richmond American University London | 1972 | 2019 | 1,600 | Private university |
| | Robert Gordon University | 1750 | 1992 | 12,660 | Aberdeen |
| – | University of Roehampton | 1975 | 2004 | 12,495 | Collegiate university with four colleges |
| | Royal Agricultural University | 1845 | 2013 | 1,125 | Cirencester |
| | Royal Holloway, University of London | 1879 | 2022 | 11,530 | Member institution of the University of London; since 2022 a university in its own right. |
| | University of Salford | 1850 | 1967 | 21,500 | |
| | University of Sheffield | 1897 | 1905 | 30,055 | |
| | Sheffield Hallam University | 1843 | 1992 | 30,960 | |
| | University of South Wales | 1841 | 2013 | 23,090 | Merger of University of Wales, Newport and University of Glamorgan |
| | University of Southampton | 1862 | 1952 | 22,665 | |
| | Southampton Solent University | 1984 | 2005 | 10,510 | Southampton |
| | University of St Andrews | 1413 | 1413 | 10,535 | |
| – | St George's, University of London | 1733 | 2022 | 4,330 | Member Institution of the University of London; since 2022 a university in its own right |
| | St Mary's University, Twickenham | 1850 | 2014 | 5,520 | |
| | University of Staffordshire | 1906 | 1992 | 15,675 | Campuses at Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, and Lichfield |
| | University of Stirling | 1967 | 1967 | 12,540 | Bridge of Allan |
| | University of Strathclyde | 1796 | 1964 | 24,330 | Glasgow |
| – | University of Suffolk | 2007 | 2016 | 9,565 | Campuses at Ipswich, Bury St. Edmunds, Great Yarmouth, and Lowestoft |
| – | University of Sunderland | 1901 | 1992 | 15,740 | |
| – | University of Surrey | 1891 | 1966 | 16,990 | Guildford |
| | University of Sussex | 1959 | 1961 | 19,395 | Brighton |
| | Swansea University | 1920 | 2007 | 20,375 | |
| – | Teesside University | 1930 | 1992 | 19,290 | Campuses at Middlesbrough and Darlington |
| – | University College London | 1826 | 2023 | 46,830 | Member institution of the University of London; since 2023 a university in its own right. |
| – | University of the Arts London | 1986 | 2003 | 19,965 | |
| | Ulster University | 1865 | 1984 | 27,680 | Formed by merger of the New University of Ulster and Ulster Polytechnic |
| | University of Law | 1865 | 2012 | 8,000 | Private university |
| | University of Wales | 1893 | 1893 | | Functionally merged with UWTSD in 2017 but still constitutionally separate |
| | University of Wales Trinity Saint David | 1822 | 2010 | 12,700 | 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 | 26,825 | Coventry |
| – | University of the West of England | 1595 | 1992 | 30,680 | Bristol |
| | University of the West of Scotland | 1897 | 1992 | 16,105 | Campuses at Paisley, Hamilton, Ayr, and Dumfries |
| – | University of West London | 1860 | 1993 | 11,985 | Campuses at Ealing and Brentford |
| | University of Westminster | 1838 | 1992 | 19,470 | |
| – | University of Winchester | 1840 | 2005 | 8,000 | |
| | University of Wolverhampton | 1899 | 1992 | 18,875 | |
| – | University of Worcester | 1946 | 2005 | 10,180 | |
| | Wrexham University | 1887 | 2008 | 6,045 | |
| | University of York | 1963 | 1963 | 19,790 | |
| | York St John University | 1841 | 2006 | 7,000 | |
| | Health Sciences University | 1965 | 2024 | | |

## 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; 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 | 2013 | 4,000 | Reading |

## 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".
| Arms | University | Established | Joined University of London | Total students | Notes |
| | Birkbeck, University of London | 1823 | 1920 | 11,425 | Since 2023 a university in its own right. |
| | Brunel University of London | 1798 | 2024 | 18,370 | University from 1966 |
| | City St George's, University of London | 2024 | 2024 | 26,065 | 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, and became a university in its own right again in 2023. St George's was founded in 1733, became an original school of the university in 1900, and became a university in its own right in 2022. |
| None | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama | 1906 | 2005 | 1,100 | |
| None | Courtauld Institute of Art | 1932 | 2002 | 545 | |
| | Goldsmiths, University of London | 1891 | 1905 | 10,090 | Became an institution owned by the university in 1905 and a school of the university in 1988. |
| None | Institute of Cancer Research | 1909 | 2003 | 280 | |
| | King's College London | 1829 | 1900 | 10,090 | 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. Since 2023 a university in its own right. |
| | London Business School | 1964 | 1964 | 2,390 | |
| | London School of Economics | 1895 | 1900 | 12,975 | Original school of the university in 1900. Since 2023 a university in its own right. |
| - | London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine | 1899 | 1900 | 12,975 | Original school of the university in 1900. |
| | Queen Mary University of London | 1785 | 1907 | 26,045 | |
| | Royal Academy of Music | 1822 | 1999 | 860 | |
| | Royal Holloway, University of London | 1879 | 1900 | 11,530 | Original school of the university in 1900. Since 2022 a university in its own right. |
| - | Royal Veterinary College | 1791 | 1949 | 2,510 | |
| - | SOAS University of London | 1916 | 1916 | 6,295 | Since 2023 a university in its own right. |
| None | University College London | 1826 | 1900 | 46,830 | 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. Since 2023 a university in its own right. |

## 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.
* Architectural Association School of Architecture
* Ashridge Executive Education
* Blackpool and the Fylde College
* College of Legal Practice Limited
* Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology
* Guildhall School of Music and Drama
* Hult International Business School
* ICMP Management Limited
* Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
* London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
* London Institute of Banking and Finance
* London Interdisciplinary School
* NCG (Newcastle College Group)
* Multiverse Group Ltd
* National Film and Television School
* New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering
* Norland College
* 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
* The Engineering and Design Institute, London
* S P Jain London School of Management Limited
* Spurgeon's College
* Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
* Warwickshire College

### Recognised bodies that can only award foundation degrees

These institutions are recognised bodies with foundation degree awarding powers only.
* 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
** 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, 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:
* Advanced Studies in England Ltd, Bath
* American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Preston
* Amity University [IN] London, London (listed body providing courses leading to UK degrees from the University of Northampton and the University of Bolton)
* Arcadia University, Holborn
* Bader College, Hailsham (part of Queen's University at Kingston in Canada)
* 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)
* 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)
* NYU in London, London
* Pepperdine University UK Ltd, London
* PHBS-UK, Oxford (part of Peking University HSBC Business School)
* 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.
* 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

* Saint James School of Medicine

### Bermuda

* Bermuda College

### 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
* 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 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.