Want to study abroad in the UK? Use this guide to understand the UK university system and how to apply to a UK university as an international student
UK universities are among the oldest and most prestigious institutions in the world. The University of Oxford in England is almost 1,000 years old and is currently ranked the best university in the world, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023. A further 28 UK universities feature in the top 200.
It’s no wonder that the country is a top destination for international students.
If you’re an international student, applications to UK universities can be a little confusing, but don’t let that put you off. Below is a rundown of everything you need to know if you’re thinking of applying to a UK university as an international student.
How many universities are there in the UK?
According to SI-UK, there are 166 universities in the UK. Scroll to the bottom of this article to see an alphabetised list of all of the universities in the UK. Some 103 UK universities are included in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023. The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge are ranked the top two British universities, while three of the best universities in London complete the top five.
How does the UK university system work?
Undergraduate courses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are generally three years long and require you to study one subject only, which you will specify in your application. However, there are plenty of exceptions to this rule, such as joint honours courses that allow you to study two courses in tandem, longer courses such as medicine (which is typically five years in the UK) and courses that include three years’ teaching and one year abroad or in industry.
The Scottish system is different to the rest of the UK, and follows a model closer to the US college system. In Scotland, undergraduate courses tend to span four years, and cover several subjects in the first two years before students specialise in one subject in the final two years.
At the postgraduate level, courses in the UK are further specialised, but you can choose between taught masters courses with seminars and classes, and research masters courses where you will focus on your own project from the beginning
