List of universities in the United Kingdom by enrolment

This article comprises two lists of institutions in the United Kingdom ranked by the number of students enrolled in higher education courses. The first list, based on data from the academic year 2019/20, breaks down student enrollment by level of study, while the second list, from the more recent academic year 2021/22, provides a total student enrollment figure without distinguishing between undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The statistics in both lists are confined to students studying within the United Kingdom and exclude those engaged in distance-learning or transnational education programs conducted overseas. For reference, in the 2018/19 academic year, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) recorded 666,815 overseas students, with the majority (260,155) enrolled at Oxford Brookes University, primarily studying Association of Chartered Certified Accountants courses. Other universities with significant numbers of overseas students in 2018/19 included the University of London Worldwide (40,675), the Open University (29,610), Coventry (16,785), Nottingham (15,740), Liverpool (14,730), Heriot-Watt (11,955), Staffordshire (11,900), and Middlesex (11,890).^[1]

Universities and other higher education providers by size and level of study (2019/20)

The source for the figures is the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) statistics for 2022/23.^[2] The student numbers include full-time and part-time, and are broken down into undergraduate and postgraduate students. Some institutes enrol students in both higher education and further education courses, so student numbers may be higher for such institutes. Numbers are of actual enrollments, not FTEs. The data show that 2.28 million people were enrolled in higher education at the 169 higher education providers reporting statistics to HESA.

Rank	Institution	Undergraduates	Postgraduates	Total students
–	University of London[lower-alpha 1]			[3]
1	The Open University	120,440	8,975	129,420
2	University College London[lower-alpha 2]	19,715	21,380	41,095
3	University of Manchester	26,630	13,855	40,485
4	Coventry University	31,645	6,785	38,430
5	University of Leeds	25,955	10,370	36,330
6	Nottingham Trent University	28,915	6,870	35,785
7	University of Birmingham	23,155	12,605	35,760
8	University of Edinburgh	23,060	12,310	35,375
9	University of Nottingham	25,980	8,860	34,840
10	Manchester Metropolitan University	26,435	6,985	33,420
11	Cardiff University	23,755	9,505	33,260
12	King's College London[lower-alpha 2]	19,370	13,740	33,110
13	University of Glasgow	21,165	11,300	32,465
14	Sheffield Hallam University	24,215	6,750	30,960
15	University of the West of England	23,110	7,570	30,680
16	University of Sheffield	19,100	10,955	30,055
17	University of Liverpool	22,690	6,910	29,600
18	De Montfort University	23,045	5,955	29,000
19	Northumbria University	20,455	7,875	28,325
20	Newcastle University	21,300	6,775	28,070
21	Ulster University	20,865	6,815	27,680
22	University of Bristol	20,035	7,340	27,375
23	University of Exeter	20,320	6,615	26,935
24	Birmingham City University	20,940	5,990	26,930
25	University of Warwick	17,635	9,190	26,825
26	University of Portsmouth	22,010	4,765	26,775
27	Anglia Ruskin University	21,280	5,435	26,715
28	University of Oxford	15,270	10,640	25,910
29	University of Hertfordshire	17,805	7,715	25,520
30	Liverpool John Moores University	20,105	4,945	25,050
31	Queen's University Belfast	18,310	6,605	24,915
32	University of Central Lancashire	17,835	6,885	24,715
33	University of Strathclyde	16,115	8,215	24,330
34	Leeds Beckett University	17,705	5,590	23,290
35	University of South Wales	17,765	5,325	23,090
36	University of Southampton	14,705	7,960	22,665
37	Queen Mary, University of London[lower-alpha 2]	14,825	6,840	21,665
38	University of Salford	17,325	4,175	21,500
39	University of Cambridge	12,860	8,475	21,340
40	Swansea University	16,315	4,065	20,375
41	Middlesex University	14,880	5,290	20,175
42	University of Brighton	15,530	3,455	18,985
43	City, University of London[lower-alpha 2]	11,020	8,955	19,975
44	University of Plymouth	15,660	2,750	18,410
45	University of York	14,075	5,715	19,790
46	University of Kent	15,020	3,685	18,710
47	University of Sussex	14,780	4,615	19,395
48	University of Derby	15,320	4,365	19,685
49	Imperial College London	10,475	8,925	19,400
50	University of the Arts London	15,735	4,230	19,965
51	University of Wolverhampton	15,205	3,670	18,875
52	Durham University	14,730	4,790	19,520
53	University of Greenwich	14,580	5,245	19,825
54	University of Westminster	15,385	4,085	19,470
55	Teesside University	15,480	3,815	19,290
56	University of Bath	13,605	4,955	18,560
57	Loughborough University	13,885	4,410	18,295
58	University of East Anglia	13,410	4,625	18,035
59	Bournemouth University	13,895	3,495	17,390
60	University of Reading	12,630	6,105	18,735
61	University of Huddersfield	13,600	3,705	17,305
62	London South Bank University	12,725	4,115	16,840
63	University of the West of Scotland	13,465	2,640	16,105
64	Glasgow Caledonian University	14,165	3,375	17,540
65	University of Leicester	11,400	4,780	16,180
66	Kingston University	12,770	5,300	18,070
67	University of Surrey	13,485	3,505	16,990
68	Oxford Brookes University	12,710	4,185	16,900
69	University of Hull	11,930	2,325	14,255
70	University of Dundee	11,670	4,600	16,270
71	University of Lincoln	14,095	2,330	16,425
72	University of Essex	12,910	3,620	16,530
73	Aston University	11,985	3,400	15,385
74	Staffordshire University	13,295	2,380	15,675
75	Brunel University London	11,460	4,060	15,520
76	University of Aberdeen	10,125	5,060	15,185
77	University of Sunderland	12,580	3,160	15,740
78	University of Chester	9,230	4,315	13,545
79	Lancaster University	11,405	4,260	15,665
80	Canterbury Christ Church University	10,795	2,545	13,340
81	University of Bedfordshire	13,155	3,575	16,725
82	Edge Hill University	10,025	3,535	13,560
83	Edinburgh Napier University	10,260	3,675	13,930
84	University of East London	10,270	5,085	15,355
85	Roehampton University	10,365	2,130	12,495
86	University of Stirling	8,545	3,995	12,540
87	Robert Gordon University	9,085	3,580	12,660
88	University of Northampton	9,145	2,915	12,060
89	London School of Economics[lower-alpha 2]	5,160	6,895	12,050
90	Birkbeck, University of London[lower-alpha 2]	6,680	4,745	11,425
91	University of Wales Trinity Saint David	10,680	2,025	12,700
92	University of West London	9,815	2,170	11,985
93	Royal Holloway, University of London[lower-alpha 2]	8,530	3,005	11,530
94	Buckinghamshire New University	12,895	1,180	14,075
95	Heriot-Watt University	8,150	3,005	11,155
96	Keele University	8,490	2,395	10,880
97	Cardiff Metropolitan University	8,100	2,820	10,920
98	University of St Andrews	8,470	2,065	10,535
99	Goldsmiths, University of London[lower-alpha 2]	6,500	3,590	10,090
100	Bangor University	7,235	2,715	9,945
101	University of Worcester	8,400	1,780	10,180
102	Solent University	9,765	745	10,510
103	University of Bradford	7,480	2,290	9,770
104	University of the Highlands and Islands	8,670	1,235	9,905
105	London Metropolitan University	8,250	2,135	10,390
106	University of Gloucestershire	6,385	1,530	7,915
107	Aberystwyth University	6,605	1,115	7,720
108	Bath Spa University	6,665	1,790	8,450
109	University of Winchester	6,700	1,305	8,000
110	University of Suffolk	8,910	650	9,565
111	University of Cumbria	5,980	1,965	7,945
112	University of Bolton	6,675	1,500	8,175
113	York St John University	5,700	1,300	7,000
114	University for the Creative Arts	5,985	780	6,765
115	Falmouth University	5,500	745	6,245
116	Wrexham Glyndŵr University	4,885	1,160	6,045
117	School of Oriental and African Studies[lower-alpha 2]	2,740	3,050	5,795
118	St Mary's University, Twickenham	3,670	1,855	5,520
119	University of Chichester	4,395	1,150	5,545
120	Queen Margaret University	3,510	1,615	5,130
121	Leeds Trinity University	4,220	760	4,985
121	Liverpool Hope University	3,895	1,090	4,985
123	University College Birmingham	4,435	495	4,930
124	Cranfield University		4,825	4,825
125	Harper Adams University	4,125	555	4,680
126	St George's, University of London[lower-alpha 2]	3,520	810	4,330
127	Abertay University	3,835	445	4,280
128	Arts University Bournemouth	3,270	175	3,445
128	University of Buckingham	1,645	1,460	3,100
130	Newman University	2,170	620	2,795
131	University of St Mark and St John	2,215	535	2,750
132	Ravensbourne	2,485	45	2,535
133	Royal Veterinary College[lower-alpha 2]	2,025	490	2,510
134	Royal College of Art	85	2,565	2,645
135	Norwich University of the Arts	2,265	95	2,360
136	Glasgow School of Art	1,665	710	2,380
137	Bishop Grosseteste University	1,665	615	2,280
138	London Business School[lower-alpha 2]		2,305	2,305
139	Leeds Arts University	2,075	70	2,145
140	Hartpury University
141	SRUC	1,485	85	1,570
142	Stranmillis University College	1,070	140	1,210
143	Conservatoire for Dance and Drama	815	185	1,000
144	Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
145	Arts University Plymouth	1,210	95	1,305
146	Royal Conservatoire of Scotland	900	320	1,220
147	Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance	950	300	1,250
148	Leeds College of Music
149	London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine[lower-alpha 2]		1,090	1,090
150	Royal Agricultural University	1,015	110	1,125
151	Guildhall School of Music and Drama	685	370	1,060
152	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama[lower-alpha 2]	690	410	1,100
153	St Mary's University College, Belfast	845	200	1,045
154	Royal Northern College of Music	595	295	890
155	Royal Academy of Music[lower-alpha 2]	420	435	860
156	Royal College of Music	440	450	890
157	The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts	865	15	885
158	Writtle University College	670	95	765
159	Rose Bruford College	670	65	735
160	AECC University College
161	Courtauld Institute of Art[lower-alpha 2]	230	315	545
162	University College of Osteopathy
163	Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine		345	345
164	National Film and Television School		495	495
165	Institute of Cancer Research[lower-alpha 2]		280	280
166	University of London (Institutes and activities)		330	330
167	Grŵp NPTC Group
168	Gower College Swansea
169	University of Wales (central functions)

Universities and other higher education providers by size (2021/22)

The data source for these statistics is also the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) for the academic year 2021/22.^[2] The student figures encompass both full-time and part-time students, without distinction between undergraduate and postgraduate levels of study. Some institutions enroll students in both higher education and further education programs, potentially leading to higher student numbers in such cases. It's important to note that these statistics reflect actual student enrollments and not full-time equivalent (FTE) counts. According to the latest available data from HESA, a total of 2.86 million individuals were enrolled in higher education at the various institutions reporting data to HESA for the academic year 2021/22.

Rank	HE Provider	Total
1	The Open University	151,840
2	University College London	46,830
3	The University of Manchester	46,410
4	The University of Glasgow	42,980
5	King's College London	41,490
6	The Nottingham Trent University	41,465
7	The University of Edinburgh	41,250
8	Coventry University	38,190
9	The University of Birmingham	37,990
10	University of Nottingham	37,260
11	The University of Leeds	37,190
12	University of the West of England, Bristol	37,170
13	The Manchester Metropolitan University	36,980
14	Anglia Ruskin University	35,195
15	Ulster University	34,550
16	Sheffield Hallam University	34,535
17	Cardiff University	33,985
18	University of Northumbria at Newcastle	32,570
19	The University of Exeter	32,465
20	University of Hertfordshire	31,940
21	The University of Bristol	31,485
22	The University of Sheffield	30,860
23	Birmingham City University	30,285
24	The University of Warwick	28,825
25	The University of Liverpool	28,680
26	De Montfort University	28,335
27	The University of Central Lancashire	28,325
28	Liverpool John Moores University	28,100
29	The University of Oxford	27,290
30	Newcastle University	27,280
31	The University of Greenwich	26,610
32	The University of Portsmouth	26,500
33	Queen Mary University of London	26,045
34	The University of Strathclyde	25,715
35	The University of Salford	25,415
36	Queen's University Belfast	25,295
37	Canterbury Christ Church University	24,660
38	The University of Southampton	23,795
39	The University of York	23,420
40	Leeds Beckett University	23,365
41	University of South Wales	23,270
42	Teesside University	22,695
43	The University of Cambridge	22,610
44	University of the Arts, London	22,455
45	Swansea University	22,290
46	University of Durham	22,230
47	Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine	21,470
48	University of Derby	20,955
49	The University of Westminster	20,915
50	The University of Huddersfield	20,885
51	City, University of London	20,685
52	Buckinghamshire New University	20,570
53	The University of Wolverhampton	20,250
54	The University of the West of Scotland	20,070
55	Glasgow Caledonian University	20,050
56	The University of Sunderland	19,975
57	Kingston University	19,920
58	The University of Sussex	19,865
59	The University of East London	19,550
60	The University of Reading	19,390
61	Middlesex University	19,225
62	London South Bank University	19,185
63	The University of East Anglia	19,130
64	University of Plymouth	19,095
65	The University of Bath	18,890
66	Loughborough University	18,760
67	The University of West London	18,695
68	Brunel University London	18,655
69	Staffordshire University	18,460
70	The University of Kent	18,155
71	The University of Essex	18,110
72	The University of Dundee	18,100
73	The University of Lincoln	17,975
74	Bournemouth University	17,960
75	The University of Brighton	17,835
76	The University of Lancaster	17,770
77	Aston University	17,595
78	Oxford Brookes University	17,470
79	The University of Leicester	16,670
80	The University of Aberdeen	16,565
81	University of Bedfordshire	16,430
82	The University of Northampton	16,100
83	BPP University	15,910
84	The University of Surrey	15,575
85	Edinburgh Napier University	15,530
86	The University of Law	15,235
87	Arden University	15,120
88	The University of Hull	15,075
89	University of Wales Trinity Saint David	15,045
90	Robert Gordon University	14,970
91	The University of Stirling	14,895
92	Edge Hill University	14,700
93	University of Suffolk	14,555
94	University of Chester	14,325
95	London Metropolitan University	13,435
96	Bath Spa University	13,240
97	London School of Economics and Political Science	12,975
98	Cardiff Metropolitan University	12,620
99	Royal Holloway and Bedford New College	12,480
100	Roehampton University	12,335
101	Keele University	12,235
102	The University of Bradford	11,885
103	The University of St. Andrews	11,820
104	Heriot-Watt University	11,680
105	Leeds Trinity University	11,640
106	The University of Bolton	10,995
107	Birkbeck College	10,660
108	Bangor University	10,505
109	Solent University	10,070
110	University of the Highlands and Islands	10,005
111	University of Worcester	9,900
112	Goldsmiths College	9,880
113	University of Cumbria	9,705
114	University for the Creative Arts	9,430
115	The University of Winchester	8,280
116	University of Gloucestershire	8,210
117	York St John University	7,935
118	Aberystwyth University	7,845
119	Glyndŵr University	7,490
120	BIMM University	7,045
121	Falmouth University	6,635
122	SOAS University of London	6,295
123	Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh	6,250
124	The University of Chichester	5,985
125	St Mary's University, Twickenham	5,895
126	Liverpool Hope University	5,640
127	Cranfield University	5,400
128	Harper Adams University	5,275
129	University College Birmingham	5,170
130	St George's, University of London	4,825
131	Abertay University	4,790
132	University of London (Institutes and activities)	4,290
133	The Arts University Bournemouth	3,725
134	The University of Buckingham	3,430
135	Regent College	3,160
136	Study Group	3,040
137	University College of Estate Management	3,010
138	University of St Mark and St John	2,890
139	Newman University	2,760
140	Norwich University of the Arts	2,760
141	The Royal Veterinary College	2,590
142	Ravensbourne University London	2,585
143	Royal College of Art	2,575
144	Glasgow School of Art	2,440
145	London Business School	2,390
146	Bishop Grosseteste University	2,370
147	Hartpury University	2,355
148	Leeds Arts University	2,340
149	Global Banking School Limited	1,895
150	Regent's University London Limited	1,865
151	Kaplan Open Learning	1,835
152	SRUC	1,700
153	Hult International Business School Ltd	1,660
154	Nelson College London Ltd	1,630
155	Leeds Conservatoire	1,540
156	ICON College of Technology and Management	1,365
157	Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance	1,340
158	Stranmillis University College	1,325
159	Royal Conservatoire of Scotland	1,245
160	Royal Agricultural University	1,240
161	The London College UCK	1,190
162	London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine	1,125
163	Istituto Marangoni Limited	1,125
164	Conservatoire for Dance and Drama	1,105
165	Guildhall School of Music and Drama	1,105
166	Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance	1,105
167	Bloomsbury Institute	1,095
168	The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama	1,085
169	Institute of Contemporary Music Performance	1,080
170	Arts University Plymouth	1,060
171	St Mary's University College	1,040
172	AECC University College	1,035
173	AA School of Architecture	1,010
174	The Ashridge (Bonar Law Memorial) Trust	995
175	Royal College of Music	995
176	The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts	990
177	ACM Guildford Limited	960
178	Pearson College	940
179	Applied Business Academy Limited	920
180	Grŵp Llandrillo Menai	910
181	Royal Northern College of Music	870
182	Writtle University College	830
183	CEG UFP Limited	805
184	Kaplan International Colleges U.K. Limited	805
185	Royal Academy of Music	790
186	Point Blank Music School	775
187	University Centre Peterborough	750
188	Mont Rose College of Management and Sciences	745
189	SAE Education Limited	745
190	London School of Management Education	725
191	Richmond, The American International University in London	695
192	ESCP Europe Business School	605
193	Courtauld Institute of Art	600
194	The National Film and Television School	555
195	Le Cordon Bleu Limited	555
196	Met Film School Limited	530
197	The University College of Osteopathy	475
198	New College of the Humanities	470
199	St Mellitus College	465
200	The Metanoia Institute	455
201	Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts	450
202	London School of Theology	445
203	Apex College London	430
204	David Game College Ltd	405
205	Futureworks	400
206	LAMDA Limited	380
207	The Institute of Cancer Research	365
208	Arts Educational Schools	345
209	The College of Health Ltd	345
210	The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education	340
211	London Film School Limited	340
212	London Studio Centre	320
213	London School of Commerce & IT Limited	295
214	The London Institute of Banking & Finance	295
215	City and Guilds of London Art School	280
216	Spurgeon's College	280
217	West Dean College	280
218	Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine	270
219	Norland College	270
220	Waverley Abbey College	250
221	London Churchill College Ltd	245
222	Institute of Art - London Limited	240
223	The City College	215
224	London School of Science and Technology Limited	215
225	The Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute Limited	215
226	Christ the Redeemer College	210
227	British Academy of Jewellery Limited	205
228	London Bridge Business Academy	200
229	Moorlands College	200
230	Backstage Academy (Training) Ltd	195
231	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art	195
232	The College of Integrated Chinese Medicine	185
233	Empire College London Limited	180
234	Grŵp NPTC Group	180
235	Paris Dauphine International	180
236	The Minster Centre	175
237	The Council of the Inns of Court	165
238	Northern College of Acupuncture	165
239	Regents Theological College	165
240	Trinity College Bristol	160
241	The Film Education Training Trust Limited	150
242	Nazarene Theological College	150
243	University Centre Quayside Limited	150
244	The Cambridge Theological Federation	145
245	London School of Academics Ltd	140
246	Dartington Hall Trust (The)	130
247	The Markfield Institute of Higher Education	130
248	Matrix College of Counselling and Psychotherapy Ltd	130
249	Central Film School London	125
250	Cliff College	125
251	Royal Academy of Dance	125
252	Cambridge Arts and Sciences Limited	120
253	College of Legal Practice Limited	120
254	The London School of Architecture	115
255	Results Consortium Limited	105
256	INTO University Partnerships Limited	100
257	ThinkSpace Education Limited	90
258	Chicken Shed Theatre Company	85
259	Luther King House Educational Trust	85
260	All Nations Christian College	85
261	The College of Osteopaths	80
262	The Institute of Ismaili Studies	80
263	Missio Dei	80
264	St Patrick's International College	80
265	MLA College	75
266	Bristol Baptist College	70
267	The Islamic College	65
268	The London Interdisciplinary School Ltd	65
269	Newbold College	65
270	Amity Global Education	60
271	Gower College Swansea	50
272	Dyson Technical Training Limited	40
273	ForMission Ltd	40
274	Raindance Educational Services Limited	40
275	The Salvation Army	40
276	Court Theatre Training Company Ltd	35
277	New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE)	35
278	LCCM AU UK Limited	30
279	ICOM	30
280	The Engineering and Design Institute London	25
281	JSA Education Group Ltd.	20
282	The Prince's Foundation	20
283	Brit College	15
284	Waltham International College Limited	10
285	Kensington College of Business	5

See also

• Armorial of UK universities
• List of largest universities by enrollment
• List of universities in the United Kingdom
• List of UK universities by date of foundation
• List of UK universities by endowment

Notes

1. The University of London is a confederal organisation made up of a number of constituent colleges which, along with the University's central institutions and activities, are listed separately.
2. Constituent college of the University of London.

References

1. "Where do HE students come from?: Transnational education". HESA. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
2. "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
3. Combined total from "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 23 September 2024.Included institutions are Birkbeck, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, City, University of London, Courtauld Institute of Art, Goldsmiths, Institute of Cancer Research, King's College, London Business School, LSE, LSHTM, Queen Mary, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Holloway, Royal Veterinary College, SOAS, St George's, UCL and the central institutes & activities.