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.[1] 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[2] 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.

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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;[1] 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.
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Arms University Established University college status Total students Notes
-AECC University College[14]196520171,220renamed as Health Sciences University in 2024
-University College of Estate Management191920134,000Reading
-University College of Osteopathy191720171,000London
-Writtle University College189320167,645merged with Anglia Ruskin University in 2024
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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.[15] 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".[16]

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Arms University Established Joined University of London Total students Notes
Birkbeck, University of London1823192011,425Since 2023 a university in its own right.
Brunel University of London1798202418,370University from 1966
City St George's, University of London2024202426,065Formed 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 1966m surrendered university status in 2016 to join the University of London,[17] 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,[16] and became a university in its own right in 2022.[18]
NoneRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama190620051,100
NoneThe Courtauld Institute of Art19322002545
Goldsmiths, University of London1891190510,090Became an institution owned by the university in 1905[16] and a school of the university in 1988.[19]
NoneInstitute of Cancer Research19092003280
King's College London1829190010,090Along 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.[16] Since 2023 a university in its own right.
London Business School196419642,390
London School of Economics1895190012,975Original school of the university in 1900.[16] Since 2023 a university in its own right.
-London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine1899190012,975Original school of the university in 1900.[16]
Queen Mary University of London1785190726,045
Royal Academy of Music18221999860
Royal Holloway, University of London1879190011,530Original school of the university in 1900.[16] Since 2022 a university in its own right.[20]
-Royal Veterinary College179119492,510
-SOAS University of London191619166,295Since 2023 a university in its own right.
NoneUniversity College London1826190046,830Along 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.[16] Since 2023 a university in its own right.
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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.[1]

Recognised bodies that can only award foundation degrees

These institutions are recognised bodies with foundation degree awarding powers only.[1]

Defunct university institutions

This section lists defunct universities, university colleges, polytechnics and colleges of federal universities.

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Former University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) main building, now used by The University of Manchester

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".[25][26] 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".[27] The following are approved overseas higher education institutions and foreign universities that are listed bodies in the UK, with their UK locations:

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.[33]

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University of the West Indies in Mona

Anguilla

Bermuda

Cayman Islands

Gibraltar

Montserrat

Turks and Caicos Islands

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[35][36] 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.[37]

See also

References

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