If you’re curious about what the top universities in the United Kingdom are for 2022, keep reading! Every year, Times Higher Education publishes its annual World University Rankings. Although there have been some fluctuations in the following UK universities’ global rank, the country remains an internationally renowned leader in education and a popular option for international students looking to study abroad.
Join us as we count down the 10 best universities in the UK for 2022.
10. University of Glasgow
Global Rank: 86
The University of Glasgow has carved out a spot on 2022’s list of best universities in the UK. The university is located in Glasgow, Scotland’s creative and cultural hub, and scores almost perfect ratings in international outlook and citations. The University of Glasgow’s student population diversity is impressive, with international students making up 40% of the university’s nearly 35,000 students.
Fun Fact: The University of Glasgow was founded in 1451, making it the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world.
9. University of Warwick
Global Rank: 78
The University of Warwick opened its doors in 1965, making it a young university, but one that has a big impact on the world stage. Although the institution is well known for its commitment to research, its score in this field could stand to be higher than its ranking of 53 out of 100. However, the university makes up for it with impressive rankings in citations and international outlook. The University of Warwick scores a respectable 65.4 out of 100 overall. International students make up 43% of the university’s population, making it a welcoming option for students wanting to study abroad.
8. University of Manchester
Global Rank: 50
Located in the bustling city of Manchester, the University of Manchester is known for its internationally impactful research and groundbreaking discoveries, such as the first splitting of an atom. The university scores an impressive 14.3 in student to faculty ratio and boasts a score of 54 to 46 for its female to male student ratio. However, with a score of 45.6 in industry income, the university could aspire to improve in this area.
Fun Fact: The University of Manchester is widely considered to be the largest university in the UK.
7. King’s College London
Global Rank: 35
King’s College London is located in vibrant London, a city that is internationally known for its festivals, music, and museums. The university is also home to the largest health care learning centre in Europe. Considering its high scores in research, citations, and international outlook, it’s no wonder that it ranks 35th globally and comes in at number 7 on the top UK universities list. 49% of King’s College London’s student population is made up of international students, so if you’re thinking about studying abroad in the UK, you’ll feel right at home.
6. University of Edinburgh
Global Rank: 30
The University of Edinburgh is one of Britain and Ireland’s seven ancient universities. The university could improve its female to male student ratio. Despite a lower score for this ranking criteria, the University of Edinburgh does an excellent job of fostering an environment where international students want to study, as international students make up 44% of its student population.
5. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Global Rank: 27
The London School of Economics and Political Science sits in the middle of this list and is one of the leading social science universities in the world. So, it’s no surprise that LSE charts consistently high scores in international outlook, citations, and research. Also, LSE takes the top spot on the list for the percentage of international students enrolled. The institution estimates that an impressive 72% of its student body is composed of international students.
4. UCL
Global Rank: 18
UCL has kept the fourth place spot for another year. The university’s consistency can be attributed to its nearly perfect score for international outlook and citations. Its score for the number of students per staff is 10.6—making it the highest scoring institution on the list for this ranking criteria. However, UCL is one of the lowest-ranking UK institutions on the list for industry income, with a score of 44.7.
Fun Fact: UCL was the first university in England to admit women on equal terms as men.
3. Imperial College London
Global Rank: 12
Imperial College London cracked the top 3 on the UK list this year. This science-focused institution, located in the centre of the English capital, estimates that a whopping 59% of its student population is made up of international students. The accomplishments don’t end there: Imperial College London scores an impressive 11.3 for number of students per staff member. However, the university could work to improve its student ratio score of 40 to 60 for female to male students.
2. University of Cambridge
Global Rank: 5 (tie)
The University of Cambridge is the fourth-oldest university in the world and boasts an overall score of 94.6. The university scored almost perfect rankings in five of the six Times Higher Education ranking criteria: teaching, research, citations, international outlook, and overall impression. The university estimates that an impressive 39% of its student body are international students.
1. University of Oxford
Global Rank: 1
The University of Oxford comes in first place on this year’s list of top academic institutions in the UK. It has now held the top spot globally for the sixth year in a row. In terms of performance, Oxford achieved nearly perfect ratings for its teaching, research, citations, and international outlook ranking criteria. With a score of 10.7 for the number of students per staff, it boasts the second-highest score on the list for this ranking criteria.
Fun Fact: Stephen Hawking is a University of Oxford alumni.
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