Top 50 Universities in the UK

Which UK University is at the top?

The top 50 universities in the UK represent the very best that British education has to offer. Choosing one of the top 50 UK universities will almost guarantee you a high quality, well funded education, from a college that dedicates itself not only to the highest academic and research standards, but also considers the quality of the student experience.

The Russell Group

While the rankings of the different university guides differ widely in places, regardless of which league you look at, all 24 of the Russell Group universities feature in the top 50 UK universities. In fact, in the applytouni.com average ranking league table, all 24 Russell Group colleges make it into the top 40, with 18 Russell Group universities in the top 25.

This illustrates the Russell Group’s aim to represent the very best UK universities. Only the rival 1994 Group, which represents smaller research led universities, has any other colleges in the top 50 UK universities higher rankings, with St Andrews and Bath the only non-Russell Group colleges in the top ten of the top 50 universities in the UK. At the other end of the scale, the University Alliance just scrapes in with Oxford Brookes and Lincoln in 48th and 49th = on the top 50 UK universities league.

How to read the top 50 UK universities league tables

It is important to remember to look at the top 50 universities in the UK as groups, rather than as individual rankings. Two universities separated by ten places in the top 50 UK universities, may be remarkably similar. It is much more useful to look at groupings, such as top ten UK universities, or the overall position in the top, middle or bottom.

Another way to assess the tables of top 50 universities in the UK is to check colleges on the rise. The London School of Economics, for example, has been rising rapidly up the top 50 UK universities tables for the last couple of years, while Loughborough and York have dropped a few places. This may simply reflect how tight the top 50 UK university leagues are, or it could show a college on the up, or indeed in decline.

Choosing from the top 50 UK universities

Above all, you should remember that the top 50 universities in the UK league tables are only one of the many tools you should use in making your selections. As discussed above, you can rest assured that any college that makes it into the top 50 universities in the UK will be of a good standard overall. However, each student is unique and has his or her own priorities, and the tables of top 50 universities in the UK can’t possible cater for them all.

You should use the league tables, or better still, our own average of all the league tables, to ensure that your choices are amongst the top 50 UK universities, and to see how they compare to each other. However, you should not use these leagues to define your final choice, as there are many more important factors to consider in making sure you enjoy a successful and enjoyable university experience.