UK University ranking 2026

By Zafor | Updated November 2025

If you're planning to study in the UK, know that not all universities are worth investing money in. Some universities are expensive and definitely worth the money, and some universities are not worth the money. Regardless of whatever your counselor tells you, know this for a fact: there are some good universities and some bad universities. Investing money in a university depends on the university — some universities where you'll be investing more money will be better, and some universities where you'll be investing less money will not be as good.

A practical example

Let me give you a practical example. If you get a chance to study an MBA here in India, you can study at LPU and invest somewhere around ₹3 lakh for an MBA. Or on the other hand, you can study at IIM Ahmedabad and spend ₹21 lakh for an MBA. Which one makes more sense?

Do you think you'll go for LPU (₹3 lakh) or IIM Ahmedabad (₹21 lakh)? If you choose IIM Ahmedabad — you're spending seven times more money on the same degree. That might look ridiculous at first glance, but not everyone would choose LPU because IIM Ahmedabad is a far better program with stronger future outcomes. Similarly, if you end up finding a cheaper degree in the UK that just doesn't mean that it is better.

Return on investment (ROI) is not calculated by the cost of the degree alone — it also includes the returns that you will make from the degree (job outcomes, salaries, network, opportunities).

In this article I'm going to talk about 10 universities in the UK that you should definitely consider applying to. If you get a chance to study at these universities, go for it. If your university is not in this list, write the university name and the course in the comments and I'll tell you whether it's worth going for or not. Alternatively, fill the form in the description — my team will access your application and tell you whether your option is the best for you.

Top 10 UK universities (recommended)

10. University of Glasgow

Fees: ~₹19–29 lakh (depends on course) • Placement rate: ~96%

Although Glasgow sits slightly lower in some rankings (around 13th), it has strong placement outcomes and is a solid value option for many courses.

9. University of Bristol

Fees: ~₹15–16 lakh • Placement claim: 95% placed within 6 months (university data)

Good placements and the university offers the Bristol Scholarship for international students which helps fund studies significantly.

8. University of Manchester

Typical outcome: ~90% placement • Average starting package: ~£40,000 (~₹40 lakh)

Manchester is a common choice among applicants — not a fantasy dream, but a very respectable and employability-focused university.

7. King’s College London

Fees: ~₹35 lakh (varies by program)

King's is expensive, but it's globally recognised and strong in many disciplines — which justifies the cost for many students.

6. University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh offers very good ROI across technology, sciences and humanities — a strong, long-standing research university with broad opportunities.

5. London School of Economics (LSE)

Acceptance rate: ~12.2% • Avg salary after 5 years: ~£50,000 (~₹50 lakh)

LSE graduates often reach high salary brackets within a few years. LSE also provides targeted scholarships such as LSE South Asia, Southeast Asia scholarships and Commonwealth/undergraduate support schemes for international students.

4. University College London (UCL)

Fees: ~₹40 lakh (avg for many programs)

Famous alumni include Christopher Nolan and other notable figures. Scholarships to consider: UCL Global Excellence, Access Opportunity, India Postgraduate scholarships and UCL Bright Futures.

3. Imperial College London

Placement: ~93% find jobs within 3 months • Renowned for engineering, business & medicine.

Imperial’s focus on innovation and industry links translates into fast and high-paying job outcomes for graduates.

2. University of Cambridge

One of the world’s top universities — outstanding academics and research. Scholarships to explore: Gates Cambridge, Cambridge Trust scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships, Churchill and others.

1. University of Oxford

World-leading university with exceptional reputation and outcomes. Major scholarships include Rhodes, Clarendon Fund, Weidenfeld-Hoffmann and various Commonwealth scholarships.

Final thoughts — how to choose

• Don’t choose based on price alone — evaluate ROI (placements, average salaries, industry links, alumni network).
• Check scholarships and funding opportunities — they can drastically improve affordability.
• Compare program-specific strength (e.g., Finance at LSE, Engineering at Imperial) rather than overall ranking only.

If your preferred university or course isn’t on this list, drop the university name and course in the comments and I’ll tell you whether it’s worth it. Or fill the form in the description — my team will assess your application and advise the best option.

© 2025 Zafor | All Rights Reserved