10 Best England Universities For International Students

When it comes to finding a place to study, England has always been a popular choice. Lofty Scholars has compiled a list of England universities for international students below.

However, the real challenge lies in choosing the right university for you. With the abundance of information available, making a decision can be tough.

Please note that the universities listed below are not ranked in any particular order. Instead, the intention is to inspire your imagination about the possibilities that await you in the UK. Read on for further advice and to discover the best universities in England for international students.

List of England Universities For International Students

1. University College London

University College London, a member institution of the federal University of London, is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was established in 1826 and has since become the second-largest university in the United Kingdom by total enrolment and the largest by postgraduate enrolment.

With over 13,000 staff and 42,000 students from 150 different countries, UCL is a leading multidisciplinary university in London. It has centers of teaching excellence in various subjects, ranging from medicine and languages to law, engineering, and history, and astrophysics. UCL encourages interdisciplinary study and firmly believes that all areas of study can benefit and enhance each other.

2. University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge, founded in 1209, is a public collegiate research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. As the world’s third-oldest surviving university, it is considered one of the most prestigious universities globally and currently ranked second in the world and first in Europe by QS World University Rankings.

Situated at the heart of the ancient city of Cambridge, which is about 50 miles north of London, the University of Cambridge is a collegiate public research institution that caters to over 18,000 students from different parts of the world. The university has a collection of listed buildings and comprises 31 autonomous colleges, with many of the older ones situated along the renowned river Cam.

The university’s academic schools, namely Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Technology, are distributed among its colleges and house approximately 150 faculties and other institutions.

3. University of Oxford

Located in the South East of England, the University of Oxford is one of the most prestigious universities globally. Evidence of teaching dates back as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating university globally.

The university has a total of 22,000 students, half of whom are undergraduates, while 40% are international students. A quarter of Oxford city’s population comprises students, making it the UK’s youngest population center. The university does not have a main campus; instead, its buildings and facilities are scattered throughout the medieval city center.

Presently, the University of Oxford is ranked first globally according to the Times Higher Education international ranking, and it ranks fourth after MIT, Stanford, and Harvard, according to the QS ranking.

4. University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is a public research university situated in Manchester. The university is responsible for managing and preserving significant cultural assets, including the Manchester Museum, The Whitworth Art Gallery, the John Rylands Library, the Tabley House Collection, and the Jodrell Bank Observatory, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

At the heart of one of the most vibrant and dynamic student cities globally, the University of Manchester offers a learning experience enriched by a legacy of exceptional education, coupled with cutting-edge research and innovation.

With over 38,000 students and more than 4,600 FTE academic and research staff, the University of Manchester is the largest single-site university in the UK. The university boasts an illustrious academic history with more than 25 Nobel Prize laureates among its current and former students and faculty.

5. Imperial College London

Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, established in 1907. In 1988, the Imperial College School of Medicine was established as part of the university.

Imperial College London is dedicated to the fields of science, engineering, medicine, and business. It has been ranked 7th globally in the QS World University Rankings® 2022. The university provides a research-led education that exposes students to real-world challenges that do not have easy solutions, and it teaches them to question everything while providing opportunities to collaborate with multicultural and multinational teams.

One of the most distinctive aspects of an education at Imperial College London is that students become part of a community of world-class researchers. The university is renowned for the cutting-edge and globally influential nature of its research.

6. The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is consistently ranked among the top 50 universities in the world. Its cross-disciplinary and entrepreneurial culture attracts students and staff from across the globe, providing a unique experience in Edinburgh. With over 45,000 students from 156 countries, the University of Edinburgh continues to attract some of the world’s greatest minds.

The academic year at the University of Edinburgh is divided into two semesters. It is considered a large university with over 32,000 concurrent students, and foreign citizens are also eligible to apply.

The ratio of local to international students is fairly evenly split, and the academic staff comprises more than 4,000 specialists, many of whom are from abroad. Additionally, the University of Edinburgh offers international student exchange programs with partner universities.

7. King’s College London

King’s College London is a renowned public research university located in London, England. Founded in 1829, it became one of the founding colleges of the University of London in 1836.

The college is widely recognized for its excellence in training future doctors and is regarded as the most prestigious institution for this purpose globally. However, its reputation today spans across all specialties, from the arts to the exact sciences.

King’s College London has a particularly outstanding reputation in humanities, law, the sciences, and social sciences, including international affairs. The university has made significant contributions to numerous advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of DNA’s structure and research that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones, and radar.

8. University of Warwick

The University of Warwick is a public research university located on the outskirts of Coventry, between the West Midlands and Warwickshire, England. It was established in 1965 as part of a government initiative to expand higher education.

The University of Warwick is a world-renowned institution that upholds the highest academic and research standards. With over 26,500 students from over 150 countries, its campus in Coventry is diverse and welcoming.

The university places great emphasis on investing in student services and campus facilities, providing students with excellent support ranging from accommodation help to career advice, free counseling, and health services.

The Department of Humanities and Arts at the University of Warwick is particularly strong, with areas such as history, philology, English language, and literature highly esteemed by specialists.

9. Bristol University

The University of Bristol, which was established in 1876, is a progressive institution that boasts a rich tradition of academic distinction. It offers over 600 undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, all of which are taught in English.

Students have access to cutting-edge facilities and learn from leading scholars in their respective fields. The academic community at Bristol is diverse, with students and faculty from over 150 countries.

Most taught programs at Bristol last for one year full-time or two years part-time, leading to a master’s qualification (MA, MSc, MRes, LLM). Research programs typically result in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree and take three to four years to complete.

10. University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham, a public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom, was founded in 1900.

It is one of the most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom and receives a high volume of applicants each year, making it a highly competitive institution. The university consistently ranks in the top 5% of the world’s best universities.

The University of Birmingham is one of the largest universities in the UK, with a student population of over 31,000. The university welcomes applications from international students and currently has a quarter of its student population comprising of foreign nationals. With over 3,000 faculty members, a significant number of them are foreign experts.