Institution Types
State/Public Uni
Most Common
Private Uni
Very Few
Undergraduate Only
Very Few
Junior College
Not Available
Arts Schools
Yes, mostly public
Business Schools
A few private
American Schools
3 - in London
Research Focused
Some, the best known are the Russel Group Universities
Teaching Focused
Yes - look at the TEF Rankings
Good to Know
St. Clare's is a UCAS Centre and around 50-60% of St. Clare's students choose to stay in the UK for their Undergraduate degree.
The majority of Universities in the UK are Public, State Funded Institutions, these include Art Schools. There are also a few private institutions including some business and hospitality schools.
There are a large range of Universities in the UK from large to small and from modern to traditional. They all operate their own teaching models and all have their unique selling points and strengths as an institution.
Degree Length
• Standard degrees are 3 years in England and Wales
• Adding a placement or study abroad year will add 1 year to your degree
• In Scotland, the standard degree is 4 years but with very high IB grades, you may be able to enter in year 2 and study for just 3 years.
• There are also 5-year degrees during which you gain both your bachelors and masters degree.
Education Model
Single and Joint Honours are the most common degree models
• There are some institutions that offer degrees where you can combine multiple subjects in a major/minor style
• In Scotland, most degrees follow a flexible model enabling you to take subjects outside of your primary interest in year 1 and 2
Gap Years
Gap Years are widely accepted in the UK. You can apply whilst in IB 2 for deferred entry on your UCAS form, or apply during a Gap Year. If you are applying for a math's or science subject, it is wise to plan how to keep up with your academic skills in those areas during your Gap Year.
Placements
Many courses offer the opportunity to take a year long placement or internship as part of your degree. Different universities have different names for these and you might see them called: Professional Experience; Industry Experience; Year in Industry or Placement and you might also hear them being referred to as a Sandwich Year.
You will typically have a lower tuition fee for the year whilst maintaining access to the university library and a tutor who supports you. These placements are often paid, but not always.
Something to check when researching, is how much support the university gives you with securing a placement for the year as this can vary greatly.
Application Process
The majority of applications are made via UCAS where you can apply for up to 5 courses on your 1 application form
1 UCAS Personal Statement
10-20 Hours for up to 5 applications (excluding research time)
IB students start working towards their Personal Statement in Easter of IB 1 and register on UCAS at the end of the summer term in IB 1. The internal college deadline to apply by is 30 November except for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, Oxford and Cambridge applications which have a 15 October deadline
UFP students will start working on their Personal Statement and Application form in October. The application deadline is the last Wednesday in January
All public universities require undergraduate applications via UCAS. Most private universities give this as an option although some also allow direction application.
Students can apply for up to 5 courses on UCAS. They submit one application form, with one personal statement and that application and statement is sent to all 5 courses.
Foundation year applications are direct for all universities, unless it is integrated into a full degree.
Grade Conversion
24 points plus gives you lots of courses at research universities and UAS. 30 points plus gives you access to some university colleges, while most will be looking for 32-34 overall points excluding EE and TOK. Admission can be competitive at these colleges though, and application review is holistic.
Costs
The cost of University tuition in the UK is dependent on your citizenship and residency. Universities are also free to set their own fee rate within certain guidelines
If you are classed as a home student, live in England or Wales and have British Citizenship or settled/pre-settled status your maximum tuition fee is £9,250 a year for universities in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and £9,000 a year for universities in Ireland
If you are classified as a home student, live in Scotland and have British Citizenship or settled/pre-settled status you will not pay any tuition fee in Scotland, but will pay up to £9,000 a year for universities in Wales and £9,250 for universities in England and Ireland
If you are a British Citizen who is not currently living in the UK or a British Overseas territory, you may still be able to be classed as a home student if you have spent more than 7 years of your life living in the UK.
If you are an international student, fees are set at individual course level and vary from £9,250-£65,000 a year. Generally, Medicine and Engineering are the most expensive, with humanities degrees being the least expensive,
Alongside tuition, you need to factor in the cost of living which can vary greatly across the UK with London being the most expensive. A budget of between £190 and £350 per/week would be realistic dependent on your accommodation choices and geographic location.
Funding
The UK Governments provide financial support in the form of loans and in some situations bursaries, to help students afford the cost of university. There are some quite complex eligibility requirements you can check at https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies.
If you are classed as a home student and live in England or Wales you are eligible for
A tuition fee loan for the cost of your course up to the fee cap (Private universities can choose to charge more than this fee rate)
A maintenance loan to help with living costs. How much your are eligible for depends on a number of factors including family income.
See more details at https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/new-fulltime-students
There are some bursaries and scholarships available for home students. These tend to be for students with financial need or difficult circumstances.
There are some scholarships for International students, although very few of them will cover the full cost of tuition and living.
You can find information about what universities offer on the finance pages of their websites. We have also included websites where you can search for scholarships in the research resources.
Universities
Explore the university profiles for this country on the CareersExplore Platform.
ESCP Business School
Top ranked Business School with campuses in 6 big European cities and students from all over the world.
Business Management School
City Campus
Medium Institution 5000-15,000
Areas of Study
Business
Language & Culture
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Society & Social Sciences
University of Edinburgh
Based in the heart of Scotland's vibrant capital, with over 40,000 students, we offer a varied student life. Truly a place where you can be yourself!
Single and joint honours degrees, often with the opportunity to study additional outside modules.
Urban City, City Island Campus
Large Institution 15,000-30,000
Areas of Study
Art & Design
Business
Computing & ICT
Engineering
English & Media
Language & Culture
Mathematics
Medicine & Healthcare
Performing Arts
Sciences
Society & Social Sciences
University of Essex
Essex provides a home for the tenacious, the bold, the inquisitive and those impatient for change.
Single Subject Focus (Joint degrees available), Researched Focused Institution, Teaching Focused Institution
Suburban Campus
Large Institution 15,000-30,000
Areas of Study
Business
Language & Culture
Society & Social Sciences
Computing & ICT
Sciences
English & Media
Medicine & Healthcare
Art & Design
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Mathematics
European School of Economics
A multicultural, diverse, and pragmatic business school that prioritizes your professional, personal, and growth development. Students are able to switch between our five centres in three countries (UK, Italy, and Spain) in the pursuit of their interests, dreams, and passions.
Single Subject Focus (Joint degrees available) - A practical and pragmatic approach to education.
City Campus
Small Institution <5000
Areas of Study
Business
Society & Social Sciences
University of Exeter
A unique university experience located in the South West
Employability-driven and student-focused teaching
City Campus, Suburban Campus
Large Institution 15,000-30,000
Areas of Study
Art & Design
Business
Computing & ICT
Engineering
English & Media
Language & Culture
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Mathematics
Medicine & Healthcare
Performing Arts
Sciences
Society & Social Sciences
University of Glasgow
Founded in 1451, the University of Glasgow is a Russell Group institution with a long history of excellence and a modern outlook. Our beautiful and expanding campus is set in the vibrant West End of Glasgow, the world’s number one city for both friendliness and affordability (TimeOut.com).
Major in 3 subjects in Year 1 in Arts, Sciences & Social Sciences giving exceptional honours choice.
City Island Campus
Very Large Institution >30,000
Areas of Study
Art & Design, Business, Computing & ICT, Engineering, English & Media, Language & Culture, Liberal Arts & Science, Mathematics, Medicine & Healthcare, Performing Arts, Sciences, Society & Social Sciences
Glion Institute of Higher Education
Glion is an icon of excellence in luxury and hospitality business education, helping students to achieve their dreams for more than 60 years.
Glion specialises in luxury & hospitality business education.
Suburban Campus, City Island Campus
Small Institution <5000
Areas of Study
Business
Goldsmiths University
Goldsmiths: a close-knit community, a rich academic heritage, a creative powerhouse, a thought-provoking place.
Single Subject Focus
City Campus
Medium Institution 5000-15,000
Areas of Study
Anthropology
Art & Design
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
Business and Management
Communication and Media Studies
Computer Games and Graphics
Computer Science
Creative Writing
Data Science
Drama & Theatre
Economics
Education
English Literature and/or English Language
Fashion
Film & Media Production
History
History of Art
International Relations
Journalism
Law
Marketing
Music
Politics
Psychology
Sociology
Hult International Business School
With our uniquely global programs, you’ll do more than study business. You'll experience the world, shape the future, and learn about your biggest asset— you.
Single subject focus on Business with Major and Minor options
Urban City
Small Institution <5000
Areas of Study
Business
Computing & ICT
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is the only university in the UK to focus exclusively on science, engineering and medicine at undergraduate level.
We focus on STEM (Science, technology, Engineering and Maths)
City Island Campus
Large Institution 15,000-30,000
Areas of Study
Computing & ICT
Engineering
Mathematics
Medicine & Healthcare
Sciences
University of Kent
Kent offers a diverse, vibrant, supportive and friendly environment with plenty of green space to enjoy, all less than one hour from London by train. Our main campus puts you a 20-minute walk from the historic city centre of Canterbury, right in the heart of the Garden of England.
Our students are encouraged to become global citizens, think independently & develop original ideas
Suburban Campus
Large Institution 15,000-30,000
Areas of Study
Art & Design
Business
Computing & ICT
Engineering
English & Media
Languages & Culture
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Mathematics
Performing Arts
Sciences
Society & Social Sciences
King's College London
A diverse, cosmopolitan institution
Single, Dual courses (and/with). We do offer Liberal Arts
City Campus
Large Institution 15,000-30,000
Areas of Study
Business
Computing & ICT
Engineering
English & Media
Language & Culture
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Mathematics
Medicine & Healthcare
Performing Arts
Sciences
Society & Social Sciences