Top Universities in UK 2026: QS Ranking and Courses

Top Universities in UK

Last Updated on November 14, 2025

It is time to unearth the QS World rankings of the top universities in UK. Planning to pursue your foreign education dreams just got easier. QS World Rankings are looked up to by students and employers alike, so it is one of the parameters you cannot miss as a foreign education aspirant. Choose the best universities in UK, based on this UK university ranking, and fulfil your professional and personal aspirations today. 

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In this blog, we have listed the best colleges in UK, based on QS World rankings 2026. Learn about the best courses, world rankings and admission process for Indian students.  Find out work scope after you complete the course, as well. 

QS World Rankings 2026 for Top Universities In UK

There are almost 1,500 top global universities up on the list, from over 100 locations worldwide. Let us find out the best universities in UK, that find their way onto the most reliable UK university ranking. 

University NameQS World Rank
Imperial College London2
University of Oxford4
University of Cambridge6
University College London (UCL)9
King’s College London31
The University of Edinburgh34
The University of Manchester35
University of Bristol51
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)56
University of Warwick74

We have listed the top 10 best universities in UK, for study abroad aspirants in 2026. So, now you have something to refer to, before making the final choice. Still confused? Connect with a study abroad consultant. 

For now, let us find out what courses the best colleges in UK, offer. 

Courses at the Top Universities In UK

Imperial College London

The Imperial College London follows the unique education system, and is considered on top of the league in the country. Every year, one of the best colleges in uk, offers over 6.700 degrees. The college has its focus on STEM courses. Let us find out about the courses in general, offered by this prestigious institution and the average fees. 

Top Subjects/ CoursesAverage Annual Fees
AeronauticsGBP 40,940 
Electrical and Electronic EngineeringGBP 40,940 
Medical BiosciencesGBP 37,900
Medicine (Years 1 – 3)GBP 53,700
ChemistryGBP 41,650
PG In Metals and Energy FinanceGBP 44,400
PG In Medicine SubjectsGBP 37,800.00 
MBAGBP 73,000

University of Oxford

One of the world’s top colleges and counted amongst the top 10 in the UK, the University of Oxford has almost 11,500 students. Students stand to get plenty of financial support to study at the university, through scholarships and grants. 

Top Subjects/ CoursesAverage Annual Fees
Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry GBP 48,620
Bachelor of ScienceGBP 43,670
Bachelor of Medicine and SurgeryGBP 31,480
Bachelor of Arts, Computer ScienceGBP 48,620
Master of Science, Mathematical Modelling and Scientific ComputingGBP 42,026
Master of Philosophy, EconomicsGBP 31,796
Master of Business AdministrationGBP 83,770

University of Cambridge

One of the oldest universities, it is one of the top choices for international and domestic students alike. Here are a few of the top courses offered by one of the top Universities in UK. 

Top Subjects/ CoursesAverage Annual Fees
Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic; Archaeology£25,734
Mathematics£28,704
Chemical Engineering£39,162
BA in Computer ScienceGBP 39,162
MPhil in Economics and Data ScienceGBP 37,296
MBA GBP 69,000

University College London

UCL is one of the top ranking global universities in the UK and the world, as well. The university has multiple campuses in London and nearby areas. With an acceptance rate of 30%, you will definitely find it competitive to gain entry there. The top courses at the institution are Pharmacology, Geography, Architecture, Archaeology, Pharmacy, Anthropology, and Psychology.  

Top Subjects/ CoursesAverage Annual Fees
UG Courses – Engineering, Computer Science, Medicine£38,000 – £46,000
MSc, MA, MEng, MArch programs£28,000 – £42,000
MBA£45,000 – £50,000 

King’s College London

King’s College London also happens to be amongst the Russell Group of Universities. The university is mainly known for courses in business management, arts, science, psychology, and human health. Every year, King’s College London admits nearly 700+ international students. 

Top Subjects/ CoursesAverage Annual Fees
LLB in Politics, Philosophy and LawGBP 24,750
BSc in Adult NursingGBP 31,200
BEng in Electronic EngineeringGBP 28,050
MSc in Engineering with ManagementGBP 27,900
MSc in MathematicsGBP 23,460
MSc in Banking and FinanceGBP 43,000
MSc in Forensic Mental HealthGBP 40,000

This is a list of the courses with fees on an average, offered by the top universities in UK. If you want to know further details of the courses admission criteria specific to the subjects, you must connect with a study abroad consultant. 

Read more: Rhodes Scholarships 2026: Opening and Last Date

Top Up Courses In UK

The UK education system, has top up courses, which are advanced entry courses. These add weightage to your academic achievements. Take for example, you can join one such course and straightaway join a bachelor’s course and complete it in a year. Let us know about the top universities offering such courses in the UK. 

There are 40 universities offering top up courses in UK. But we have shortlisted a few of them for you. 

  • University of Greenwich
  • Middlesex University
  • University of Portsmouth
  • Coventry University
  • University of Hertfordshire

In case you want to pursue one such course and then complete a higher degree in a short time, connect with Admissify, the top educational advisors. 

Admission Process

If you want to be a part of the innovative UK education system, then you must know about the admission process beforehand. Knowing about the deadlines beforehand, always makes planning easy. For undergraduate courses, one has to apply through UCAS. Find out about the timelines here. 

  • Deadlines For Admission To Top UK Colleges
UCAS Application TypeUCAS Application Deadline
Deadline for Dentistry and Medicine coursesOct 15, 2025
UCAS Equal Consideration DeadlineJan 14,  2026
UCAS Final DeadlineSep 24, 2026
  • Entrance Examination Required At The Best Colleges In UK
Entrance TestsNo. of Universities 
GMAT19
GRE11
  • Entrance Examination Required At The Best Universities In UK
Test NameNo. of Universities
IELTS399
PTE161
Duolingo 88
TOEFL 42
  • Application Process At The Top Universities In UK

To apply to the best colleges in uk, one needs to be well-informed about the requirements. It will help in avoiding rejections. Those applying for undergraduate courses, must apply through the UCAS website. On the other hand, you can also apply through the master’s portal, if you are applying for master’s degrees and diplomas. Let us chalk out the steps that you must follow. 

  • Shortlist the top universities in UK, after you have decided on the courses. 
  • Complete the online application, and submit the documents asked for. The most common ones are academic scorecards, certificates, SOPs, LORs, passport copy, updated CV, English language test scores, entry examinations (if any) test scores. 
  • Pay the standard fee as mentioned, for the university. 
  • Wait for the email for an interview. Track the application status, thereafter. 
  • When you receive the offer for admission, accept it and furnish additional documents if asked for. 
  • Apply for your UK student visa. 
  • Apply for scholarships. 

At any stage, if you feel stuck, you can always get in touch with us. Admissify is always there to assist you in your study abroad endeavours. 

Read more: Cheapest Universities in the UK For Indian Students 2026

Work Opportunities After Graduating From Best Universities In UK

After you complete your education from the top universities in UK, you can apply for the post-study work visa. One can stay and work in the UK with this visa from 18 months – 36 months, depending on your qualification. 

The most popular jobs in the UK are in Accountancy, Banking; Business, Consulting and Management, Energy, Healthcare, Law, etc.

Let us take a look at the average salaries offered to various professionals, who graduate from the best universities in uk. 

JobsAverage Salary
Chief Executives and Senior OfficialsGBP 81,832
IT and Telecommunications DirectorsGBP 85,523
Specialist Medical PractitionersGBP 67,460
Public Relations & Communication DirectorsGBP 64,841
Higher Education Teaching ProfessionalsGBP 45,301

How Admissify Can Help

Admissify is your one-stop solution provider for study abroad solutions. From helping students choose the courses to shortlisting the universities, you can rely on us for everything. We have the best experts to advise you on various entrance tests and English language tests, so that you can successfully apply. Additionally, you also stand to get visa assistance, scholarship assistance, and post-arrival support in the UK. Re-check the UK university ranking through us, and aim for the best. You can seamlessly merge with the education system in UK, through our assistance. 

Conclusion

Now, you know the UK university ranking on the QS World list. It is one of the most accurate platforms ranking UK colleges. Shortlist the top universities in UK, and realise your study in UK dreams, today. Navigating the admission process can be a bit tricky, but we ensure to make it happen seamlessly. Avail of the best and up-to-date study abroad counselling and travel to the UK, in a cost-effective manner. The top universities in the UK open up the global platforms for your career and personal enrichment. But, you need to choose wisely. 

FAQs

Q. Is Oxford University cheaper than Harvard University?

Yes, Oxford is cheaper, but overall the expenses may be similar, due to living costs and miscellaneous expenses. 

Q. What scholarships does the University of Oxford offers its international students?

The various scholarships available are Hill Foundation Scholarship, Charles Wallace India Trust, Felix Scholarships, Commonwealth Shared Scholarship and Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme. 

Q. How to join Cambridge University from India?

Students from India have to submit the application through UCAS for undergraduate courses and through the university website for master’s courses. 

Q. Is it hard to get admission to UCL from India?

Admission at UCL is very challenging. You need to have excellent grades and craft the best SOP, along with excellent English language scores, to get admission. 

Q. Which platform ranking UK universities is more reliable – QS or THE?

It is neither of them. It depends on your requirements.

Q. If you are looking for reputation and employability internationally. 

THE – For teaching standards, research quality and income. 

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Abhrajita Mondal, is a Content Writer who has dabbled in numerous genres including education since the last five years, and has a deep interest in Holistic Wellness & Lifestyle practices. She is an Ex-HR with over 10 years of corporate experience. For a voracious reader and consumer of information, which finds a way of expression through writing, she does that with elan. Abhrajita loves to travel and is a complete foodie. She has a thirst for the unknown, and loves to read esoteric books.

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