What are the best universities in London?
What are the best universities in London?
Do you want to study in one of the best universities in London? You are not alone: with a student population of 410,000, London is ranked the best student city in the world in the QS Best Student Cities.
London is a huge city, how many universities are there?
There are 48 higher education institutions in London between colleges and universities which makes difficult to decide which one is the best for you. Luckily, we have 10 best universities in London to help you decide.
The ranking of the 10 best universities in London
1) Imperial College London
2) King’s College London
3) University College London
4) London Metropolitan University
5) Queen Mary University of London
6) University of West London
7) City, University of London
8) London South Bank University
9) University of East London
10) University of London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is in 10th place in the world university rankings.
It is the only university in the UK focused exclusively on science, medicine, engineering and business. It also has a high focus on research to improve society and tackle our environmental problems.
The university has multiple campuses throughout London which are all really easily linked by underground or bus. This map of the campuses includes the closest underground stops to help you find your way around.
King's College London
King's College London is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the UK and it is ranked in the top 10 universities in the world.
The university's School of Nursing and Midwifery is placed in the top 10 universities in the UK for four years running, which makes it the best university to study nursing in London. The nursing faculty of this university is named Florence Nightingale, as one of their most noteworthy student.
KCL has five campuses and several student residences spread out throughout London. However, there are excellent public transport links to all of them. Here are the university's campuses on a map to help you locate the right one.
Take a look at this experience at KCL.
University College London
University College London is ranked 8th in the world university rankings but it was also rated the top university in the UK for research in the most recent Research Excellence Framework.
It offers a wide range of subjects including 261 different degrees in language and cultural studies.
The university is located in the centre of London with good transportation links to other areas of the city making easy to get around. This map of the university campus shows the underground stops to make things easier for you.
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. They also have the option to choose a course that includes a foundation year or take top-up courses.
The university is made up of 6 schools for each subject area and they are all located in central London. The website has information on how to find each campus so you won’t get lost!
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London is one of the largest universities in London. There are 23,000 students attending courses of humanities and social sciences, science and engineering, and medicine and dentistry.
The Queen Mary University of London ranking places in the top 100 universities in the world and it is highly recognised for the quality of the research carried out there, and it was ranked 9th in the latest Research Excellence Framework.
There are 5 campuses in London and they are all very well connected to center of the city by the tube. (Click here to see how the tube works).
The university website includes a list of maps and other travel information to help you get to the campuses.
University of West London
The University of West London is considered a career university with a wide variety of career focused courses to choose. What’s more, the courses are taught by experts in the industry which explains why 98% of students are employed within 6 months from their graduation.
UWL has two campuses: the Ealing site and the Brentford site. They are connected by a free shuttle bus which takes 10 minutes and they are located just a few stops with the underground from the centre of London.
City, University of London
City, University of London is an independent member institution of the University of London. It is made up of 5 specializing schools in the following subject areas:
- Arts and Social Sciences
- Health Sciences
- Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering
- The City Law School
- Cass Business School
There are also 70 research centres and the research carried out by Cass Business School has been ranked 2nd in Europe for its impact on the real world of business.
The universities campuses are located throughout north London and they are well connected by the Northern line of the underground. You can also get around easily by bus, car or bike. There is a great interactive map provided by the university’s website to help you plan your journey!
London South Bank University
London South Bank University is the only university which has received the University of the Year award for Graduate Employment two years in a row. The career focused courses offer to all students a work placement, internships or the opportunity to study abroad during their degree to ensure that they graduate with the necessary skills for the workplace.
The University offers a range of courses and it hosts the National Bakery School which is the oldest Bakery School in the World.
The main campus is located in the centre of London, just a short walk away from Southbank Centre which is one of London’s best districts for nightlife, arts and culture.
University of East London
The University of East London is a public university. Their main focus is career based courses that prepare their students for the future.
The university consists of 3 colleges which allows students to study alongside people on similar courses. The colleges are:
- College of Applied Health and Communities
- College of Arts, Technology and Innovation
- College of Professional Services
University of London
The University of London is one of the biggest and most diverse universities in the UK. It is made up of 17 member institutions which include the previously mentioned universities:
- King’s College London
- City, University of London
- Queen Mary, University of London
- University College London
These universities, among many University of London colleges, make up the world-class institution that is the University of London.
The university offers a number of courses and there is even the chance to study independently with their Centre for Distance Education. This allows students to fit their studies with their personal life, working online and at their own pace.
How to apply to study at university in London? This is our advice.
Before applying for any degree, take a look at the university website and the entry requirements for your course.
Then, you need to register to UCAS. This stands for The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service which allows students to apply for any degree in the UK. This service consists of an application form with your personal details, top three course choices and a personal statement describing your achievements and goals and why you should have a place at the university of your choice. Once you have applied for your chosen course, you can view your application and see if the universities have offered you a place.
If you haven’t found the right course for you in the list of the top 10 universities in London, here are the top 3 places to study some popular subjects:
What are the best universities in London to study law? This is what we recommend.
- London School of Economics & Political Science
- University College London
- King’s College London
LSE is ranked 2nd in the world and 1st in Europe in social science and management subjects, for the 7th year in a row!
Studying medicine in London. These universities are the best option.
- Imperial College London
- King’s College London
- University College London
Imperial College London is known for being one of the UK leading institutions and they have had 14 Nobel Prize winners, including Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin.
Are there universities where I can study nursing in London?
Yes and here are the top 3 places to study nursing in London:
- King’s College London
- City, University of London
- Greenwich
King’s College London is known for its cutting-edge research including the discovery of the structure of DNA!
The best universities in London to study art.
- Royal College of Art
- Royal Academy of Arts Schools
- Central Saint Martins
Royal College of Art is ranked as the number one Art and Design University in the World in the University Subject Rankings, for the 5th consecutive year!
Are big companies your thing? Here are the best universities to study business in London.
- London Business School
- Imperial College London
- City, University of London
Graduates from London Business School are among the most employed in the world with an average starting salary of £42,000!
Talking about business, is London Business School a real university?
London Business School is part of the University of London which offers masters degrees and PHD courses.
It is ranked 1st in Europe and 2nd in the world for Business and Management studies.
Why not to take a look at some other student's experience of life in London for some tips, to know the best things to do in London or even just help using the underground, to help you get a feel for the city before moving there!
I hope that this article has been useful for you in your research for the right university for you. But if you haven’t found anything of interest in the best universities in London, why don't you broaden your search and check out the best universities in the UK?
Don't forget!
If you are looking for an accommodation, Erasmusu has hundreds of advertisements to help you find the right place for you. There are rooms in shared flats, studios, student halls, and appartments. There are even job offers to help you find something to help you living in London while you study!
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