The Top Ten UK Universities 2021/22

There are plenty of incredible options to choose between when it comes to deciding which UK university is the best fit for you.  

If you’re struggling with where to begin in the search for your dream university, it’s useful to look at the league rankings. These rankings will help to give you an idea of important factors like a university’s prestige, student satisfaction rates, and quality of research output. 

Here, we’ll use the Guardian University Rankings guide to look at each of the top ten universities in Britain for the 2021/22 academic cycle, considering the strengths and weaknesses of each institution in turn. 

University of Oxford

The oldest university in England, Oxford is home to top scholars, hundreds of libraries, and gorgeous architecture. Its alumni include 28 British Prime Ministers, 120 Olympic medallists, and over 50 Nobel Prize winners. 

Good Bits

The connections that you’ll make. Attend Oxford, and you will have employers courting you before you even graduate. The tutorial system of education also means that you’ll receive a level of personal attention from leaders in their field that only Cambridge can match (when it comes to British universities).

Not-So-Good Bits

The heavy workload. If you’re able to manage your time effectively, and you relish the thought of an intellectual challenge, you’ll thrive in Oxford. If you’re looking for a slightly more laidback university experience, you might want to look elsewhere.

What Else?

Oxford is a collegiate university, made up of 39 colleges and six private halls. The college is often your social hub at the university, with each college acting essentially as a mini-campus within the university.

Top Ten UK Universities: University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is the second-oldest university in England, founded in 1209. Oxford and Cambridge are ancient rivals, with this rivalry manifesting itself in major sporting events like The Boat Race and The Varsity Matches every year.

Good Bits

Cambridge is particularly renowned for its approach to science-based subjects. A number of tech start-ups have emerged that are connected to the university, leading to the colloquial nickname ‘Silicon Fen’. Cambridge has a unique approach to teaching the sciences. Find out more about the innovative Natural Sciences Tripos system here. 

Not-So-Good Bits

Cambridge is a beautiful city, but it is also only a very small city. If you want a big city experience at university, you might want to look at a different institution. Cambridge also tends to ask for higher-grade requirements in IB or A-Level exams than Oxford does.

What Else?

Cambridge and Oxford are very similar, but their differences are important. They do not offer all the same courses, and often the structure can vary greatly. Be sure to do your research to figure out which suits you best.

University of St Andrews

The oldest university in Scotland, St Andrews is a prestigious institution that’s situated on the picturesque northeast coast of Fife, Scotland. It’s also one of the most competitive universities to get into in the UK, with an average admissions rate of between 20% and 30% for subjects like Creative Writing and Psychology.

Good Bits 

The location. St Andrews is a beautiful seaside town, with three gorgeous sandy beaches, the dramatic ruins of an ancient cathedral, and three main high streets that are lined with grey stone buildings. 

Not-So-Good Bits 

Also the location. If you’re looking for a big city experience as an undergraduate student, you shouldn’t go to St Andrews. It’s a relatively small town, with no official clubs (although there are some excellent pubs). 

What Else? 

The University of St Andrews men’s and women’s rugby teams play their University of Edinburgh counterparts in the Scottish Varsity Matches every year. There’s an incredible atmosphere, with thousands of fans descending on Edinburgh for the games.

London School of Economics 

Often just referred to as LSE, the London School of Economics and Political Science is just one of Britain’s top universities that are located in London. This institution is particularly strong when it comes to subjects like Law, Economics, History, Philosophy, and Politics.

Good Bits 

If you want to be taught by experts in the Social Sciences, LSE is the place for you. LSE has been instrumental in influencing public policy since its creation in the late 1800s. Its founders, Beatrice and Sidney Webb, set up LSE with the express purpose to “contribute to the ‘betterment of society.’”

Not-So-Good Bits

Do some research into the degree you’re applying for at LSE before committing to the university. For example, the BA History degree doesn’t explore anything before the fifteenth century, and as you might expect, has a strong focus on economic and political history. If this is not the sort of history you enjoy, apply elsewhere.

What Else?

All of the London universities have very internationally diverse student populations, but LSE has an exceptionally high proportion of international students. These individuals make up 70% of the total student population.

Top Ten UK Universities: Durham University 

Another collegiate university, Durham is located in County Durham, around 15 miles south of Newcastle. This excellent institution has exceptional strength and conditioning facilities, with a host of top-tier university sports teams. 

Good Bits 

Durham has a great reputation when it comes to the Humanities subjects like History, Geography, English, and Classics. The Bill Bryson Library is one of the best academic libraries in the UK.

Not-So-Good Bits 

Again, Durham is a relatively small and quiet city. If you’re looking to live in a bustling, big-city environment, consider looking at university options in places like Manchester, Glasgow, or London instead. 

What Else? 

If you want a change of scene for a night out, head into Newcastle: it takes fifteen minutes on the train and only costs around £7 for a return (without a railcard). 

University of Warwick 

The University of Warwick was founded in 1965 and is a campus-based institution located on the outskirts of Coventry in the Midlands. It is consistently viewed as one of the best universities in the UK.

Good Bits

Warwick has literally hundreds of sports and societies for you to choose between when you’re looking to engage in the community. The cost of living on campus is relatively cheap (especially compared to some of the other universities on this list). Lastly, the university’s subject strengths lie in the Arts and Humanities, so if you’re interested in English or History then Warwick is a great place to study.

Not-So-Good Bits

The University of Warwick is not located in the picturesque old town of Warwick, but rather on a separate, modern campus closer to the city of Coventry and the town of Leamington Spa. If you are after quaint and beautiful surroundings, you will probably be disappointed.

What Else?

Warwick’s students have the opportunity to study abroad for either a semester or a year and can even obtain a double degree. Their international partners include Columbia, McGill, Cornell, UC Berkeley, and Sciences Po Paris.

Imperial College London

Imperial is consistently one of the leading universities in the UK for subjects like Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine, and Business. It is located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, one of the nicest (and most expensive) parts of London.

Good Bits

Imperial has a great reputation worldwide and is situated in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Many Imperial graduates are highly sought-after by start-ups and blue-chip companies.

Not-So-Good Bits

Attending a London-based university is expensive and you’ll often have to take accommodation on the other side of the city from the university campus as there isn’t anywhere affordable nearer. It is not uncommon for your halls to be an hour’s journey from your classes.

What Else?

Note Imperial’s specialisms: STEMB. It only offers degrees in science, engineering, medicine, and business-based subjects. 

University of Bath 

Founded in 1966, the University of Bath has a consistently excellent reputation when it comes to factors like research output, employment prospects for recent graduates, and teaching quality. 

Good Bits 

The town of Bath is beautiful, with gorgeous stone buildings and well-kept Roman architecture. The University of Bath is also highly ranked for student satisfaction, and it has a Gold award from the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Not-So-Good Bits 

If you’re looking for a university experience that involves going out a lot and visiting nightclubs and bars, you should look at places like Bristol or London instead. Bath is quite a small city and isn’t known for its nightlife. 

What Else?

The campus itself is pretty small, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting from class to class on a deadline. 

UCL

UCL is known as London’s Global University. It was the first English university to admit students irrespective of class, religion, or race. It was also the first to admit women on the same conditional terms as men.

Good Bits

UCL is one of the world’s leading universities and its graduates are considered amongst the most employable around. It’s one of the best universities in the UK when it comes to graduating students earning First-Class Honours.

Not-So-Good Bits

UCL is one of the most competitive British universities to get into, often asking for at least AAA in A-levels or 666 in your Higher Level subjects for IB. It’s particularly difficult to earn a place on the Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree. 

What Else? 

Notable alumni include Alexander Graham Bell, Marie Stopes, and Christine Ohuruogu.

Loughborough University 

This well-known university is located in the East Midlands, a few miles northwest of Leicester. Known for its sporting facilities, Loughborough also has an excellent track record when it comes to factors such as quality of research output and overall student satisfaction.

Good Bits 

The sport. If you’re a keen sportsperson, you’ll love the facilities that are on offer at Loughborough, from the HiPAC to the Powerbase Gym.

Not-So-Good Bits 

Again, if you want to be in the middle of a vibrant, bustling city for your undergraduate degree, you might want to look elsewhere. Loughborough campus is in a small and relatively quiet East Midlands market town.

What Else?

An astonishing 42 medals were won by Loughborough-affiliated athletes at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Final Thoughts 

There are plenty of exceptional universities in the UK, from ancient institutions to modern colleges with second-to-none sporting facilities.

If you want more in-depth information on the best British universities, get in touch with us at A&J Education to book a free consultation.