Universities In The UK For Master's: Admission Guide For 2025-26

Planning to go abroad to study a master's degree? Looking for an opportunity in the UK? This page is all about the top universities in UK for masters. The UK is the land full of immense career opportunities. A masters' degree certificate from a university in the UK is recognized globally, and can help you secure a stable and a promising career wherever life takes you.

In this blog we will explore the top universities in the UK for masters', the affordable universities in UK for masters, universities that are easier to get-into and much more.

So, let's get started with best study abroad consultant with right away!

List Of Top 10 Universities In The UK For Master's

The top universities in the UK for master's are also included amongst the top 10% universities in the world. These high-ranking universities are very competitive and recognized all around the world for high academic reputation, emploopyer reputation, employment opportunities and outcomes and overall international research network.

Now, let's take a look at some of these high-ranking universities in the UK for 2025-26 academic term.

List of top 10 universities in UK for Master's Updated 2025

1. Imperial College London
2. University of Oxford
3. University of Cambridge
4. University College London
5. University of Edinburgh
6. University of Manchester
7. King's College London
8. London School of Economics and Political Science
9. University of Bristol
10. University of Warwick

Now, let us one-by-one discuss the merits of these top universities in UK for master's in detail in the sections below.

1.Imperial College London

Imperial College London is the highest-ranking UK university which is especially known for offering top-notch Engineering and STEM courses. This university is one of the most competitive universities in the world, accepting applications from more than 150+ nations. A highly recommended university for students who wish to make it big in their career.

*(#=) sign resembles that 2 or more courses or universities have similar rankings or are tied-up for a particular ranking position

Table 1: Imperial College London Overview Table (Source: Quacquarelli Symonds, Times Higher Education and Official university website)

2. University of Oxford

The University of Oxford welcomes students from more than 160+ countries and study abroad territories. With more than 450 postgraduate courses available, the university receives 35,000+ applications every year, making this university one of the hardest to get admissions into.

*(#=) sign resembles that 2 or more courses or universities have similar rankings or are tied-up for a particular ranking position

Table 2: Oxford University Overview Table (Source: Quacquarelli Symonds, Times Higher Education and Official university website)

3. University of Cambridge

With 6 schools, 31 colleges and students coming from 140+ countries, the University of Cambridge is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 1209. Known for its global participation, the University of Cambridge has top-class international research network, making it a paradise for research scholars from all over the world.

*(#=) sign resembles that 2 or more courses or universities have similar rankings or are tied-up for a particular ranking position

Table 3: University of Cambridge Overview Table (Source: Quacquarelli Symonds, Times Higher Education and Official university website)

4. University College London

For students who wish to engage more into multidisciplinary courses and field of study, the University College London can prove to be an ideal study abroad university. Ranked 5^th in the entire Europe region, UCL stands at the second position when it comes to research power and engagement in the UK.

Table 4: University College London Overview Table (Source: Quacquarelli Symonds, Times Higher Education and Official university website)

Suggested: Study in UK Without IELTS

5. University Of Edinburgh

Founded around in 1583, the University of Edinburgh is widely known for hosting and educating a long list of Noble laureates, Olympic champions, space explorers, government officials and many more. With more than 300 Masters taught courses, the University of Edinburgh is one of the leading Russell Group university having high employer reputation.

Table 5: University of Edinburgh Overview Table (Source: Quacquarelli Symonds, Times Higher Education and Official university website)

6. University Of Manchester

Founded in 1824, the university of Manchester is one of the biggest universities in UK for masters, nearly hosting 44,000+ students from more than 190 countries. For students who wish to get employed by the top employers of the world, the University of Manchester is the second most preferred university, targeted by top-tier employers of the world (according to a report by Graduate Market 2024).

*(#=) sign resembles that 2 or more courses or universities have similar rankings or are tied-up for a particular ranking position

Table 6: University of Manchester Overview Table (Source: Quacquarelli Symonds, Times Higher Education and Official university website)

Suggested: MBBS in UK

7. King's College London

Founded in 1829, the King's College London has around 250,000 globally renowned alumni all over the world, making significant impacts and stride in their field of study. From Arts and Humanities to Social sciences and public policy, the King's College London has 8 schools that offer wide range of masters taught courses to incoming international students.

*(#=) sign resembles that 2 or more courses or universities have similar rankings or are tied-up for a particular ranking position

Table 7: King's College London Overview Table (Source: Quacquarelli Symonds, Times Higher Education and Official university website)

8. London School Of Economics And Political Science

LSE has 29 academic departments, 19 research centers and around 20 Nobel laureates. In the year 2023-24 the LSE was home to 5,498 masters taught students, out of which 66% were international students belonging to 146 diverse nationalities. According to the Time and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025, the LSE was awarded the university of the year title, for its academic excellence.

*(#=) sign resembles that 2 or more courses or universities have similar rankings or are tied-up for a particular ranking position

Table 8: London School of Economics and Political Science Overview Table (Source: Quacquarelli Symonds, Times Higher Education and Official university website)

9. University Of Bristol

Ranked 10^th in Northern Europe, the University of Bristol offers a wide-range of masters-taught programmes. The university of Bristol host nearly 10,000+ international students every year, and could prove to be a beneficial study abroad experience for students who wish to engage more into the research front in the future post-completion of their masters.

*(#=) sign resembles that 2 or more courses or universities have similar rankings or are tied-up for a particular ranking position

Table 9: University of Bristol Overview Table (Source: Quacquarelli Symonds, Times Higher Education and Official university website)

10. University Of Warwick

Since 2018, there has been a 64% increase in the number of applications that the university has received from international students. Receiving a gold status from the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in 2023, the university of Warwick is one of the top three ranking UK universities that are part of the Russell Group.

*(#=) sign resembles that 2 or more courses or universities have similar rankings or are tied-up for a particular ranking position

Table 10: University of Warwick Overview Table (Source: Quacquarelli Symonds, Times Higher Education and Official university website)

Eligibility Criteria To Pursue Master's In The UK

Every university has its own way of dealing with applicants applying for a masters' course from all over the world, and so each university sets its own eligibility criteria in order to prioritize the talented and outstanding students and the others.

Now that you've seen for yourself in the sections above that each university has its own admission qualification and English language requirements and minimum qualifying scores respectively, let's take a look at the other important eligibility requirements

1. A bachelor's degree in a relatable field is not always necessary. However, you must explain your sudden change of fields in your academic SOPs that you submit.
2. Minimum of 2 LORs, sometimes 3 from your Professors and Employer.
3. A Well-structured CV.
4. A minimum 2 years of work experience, though not every course demands it.
5. Certain universities might also ask for your GMAT/GRE test scores

Cost Of Pursuing Master's In The UK Universities

It is true that the UK is a very expensive country to live in, however, only certain universities, courses and regions are expensive and not all. The ideal cost of study in UK can easily range between INR 8.29 L to INR 48.15 L per annum. However certain short-duration courses and courses like advanced nursing, dentistry and other might fall outside this range.

Also, the fact that the tuition fees of the universities in UK for masters change every year due to inflation, and so it is not static and is subject to increase as we speak. From 1-year masters' program to a 2-year masters' program, the universities in UK for masters offer a wide range of courses to students. In the sub-section below, you can see the 1-year and 2-year September 2025 universities in UK for masters.

List Of 1-Year And 2-Years Master's Programs Offered By UK Universities

Take a look at the top-universities in the UK for master's (Full-time 1-year & 2-years) for September 2025 intake

Table 13: Universities in UK for 1-year and 2-year Full-time Master's program for September 2025 intake (Source: Britishcouncil.org)

*Please note that certain courses like MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner and others are 3 years course that have specific requirements and might have different tuition fees

Affordable Universities In The UK For Master's Degree

There are a significant number of universities in the UK for Master's that have lower tuition fees and are very much affordable as compared to other universities in the Country.

List of 15 affordable universities in UK for Masters –

1. Buckinghamshire New University
2. University of Sunderland
3. Canterbury Christchurch University
4. York St John University
5. University of Staffordshire
6. University of Derby
7. Edge Hill University
8. University of Winchester
9. Glasgow Caledonian University
10. University of Hertfordshire
11. University of Plymouth
12. University of Chester
13. Manchester Metropolitan University
14. Teesside University
15. University of Greater Manchester

Post-Study Work Opportunities In The UK For Master's Graduates

Medicine and dentistry, Veterinary sciences and Computing are the high salary-paying professions in the UK with the greatest number of highly-skilled and medium-skilled workers. The never-ending demand for the job roles in the sectors like Healthcare and IT can prove to be beneficial for a masters' graduate student since, these sectors are always improving and innovating.

In the table below, you can see the high-paying job roles in the UK -

Table 14: High-paying job roles for Master graduates in the UK (Source: HESA)

Internships And Work Placements For Master's Graduates In The UK

The universities in UK for masters do support internships and offer work placements drives for students, allowing them to experience real-world working exposure. While majority of the Medicine, dentistry and veterinary science programmes are affiliated with NHS trust that offers internships to graduates by the end of their studies, other programmes offer a wide range of shorter summer internships that might last two to three weeks to professional 1 year on-campus/off-campus internships.

As an intern you might also earn a fixed salary, the amount shall vary based on your age and level of experience/qualifications. Talking about work placements, the graduates from the UK universities are highly desirable for top-recruiters.

List of top 15 recruiters that offer work placements and internships to master's graduates in the UK

1. PwC (Price Waterhouse Coopers)
2. Deloitte
3. KPMG
4. NHS Trust
5. Google
6. Amazon
7. Microsoft
8. Boots
9. Apple
10. British Airways
11. Morgan Stanley
12. Goldman Sachs
13. Accenture
14. TATA
15. BMW

Universities In The UK For Master's - The Student Helpline's Final Take

It is important to understand that the universities in the UK for masters are the most competitive universities in the world, and so applying for these universities by yourself can be a little hard. For students looking for assistance and guidance related to the top-universities in UK for masters, The Student Helpline study abroad consultants are always available.

With the help of our overseas education counsellors, you can shortlist the best university, course and scholarships that aligns well with your academic needs and career ambitions. From careers counselling to fast-track visa-assistance, we can help you secure a spot in the world's most competitive universities in UK for masters. So, what are you waiting for, reach out to The Student Helpline now!

FAQs Related To Universities In The UK For Masters

What is the validity of the English Language Test scores in UK universities for masters?

2 years for IELTS and TOEFL and 3.5 years for C1 advanced/C2 proficiency tests is the overall validity that is mostly followed by the majority of the master's university in the UK.

Can I get an IELTS waiver to study in UK universities for masters?

Yes, you can get an IELTS waiver to study in the master's universities in UK. Certain universities like University of Edinburgh accept Indian standard 12^th English score of minimum 85% or above.

What if my IELTS score is below the minimum requirements?

If your IELTS score or any other English language score is below the minimum academic requirements, then in that case you can either re-take the test or apply for a pre-sessional English course at the university of your desire as an alternative option.

Do universities in UK for master's accept gap years?

Yes, the universities in UK for masters do accept gap years for up to 3-5 years. However, students are required to submit a valid reason behind their gap years. Generally, work experiences is considered as a valid reason.

Which universities in UK for masters are hard to get into?

University of Oxford, LSE, UCL, University of St Andrews and University of Cambridge are hard to get into universities in UK for masters that have lower acceptance rates as compared to other universities in the country.

Which universities in UK for masters are easier to get admissions?

University for the Creative Arts, Aberystwyth university, University of Sussex, Bishop Grosseteste university, University of Kent and university of Reading are some of the easier to get into universities in UK for masters.

What are the documents required to study in universities in UK for masters?

A valid passport, CAS letter, Previous year academic transcripts, English language proficiency test scores, standardized test scores, proof of sufficient funds, CV, Resume, Portfolio (if asked), SOPs, LORs, TB results and health insurance are some of the documents required to study in universities in UK for masters.

For how many years can I stay in UK after completing my masters?

2 years. The Graduate Route visa in the UK allows students to stay for a maximum period of two years in case students wish to work in the UK post completion of their masters degree.

Which is the best intake for the universities in UK for masters?

The September intake, also known as the Fall intake is the major intake in the UK. Majority of the top-ranking universities like University of Oxford, UCL, LSE, Imperial College London and many more offer a wide-range of masters-taught programmes during this intake.

Can I study Past-time online masters' courses in the UK universities?

Yes, the universities in the UK offer a wide range of distance learning/online masters-taught courses. Unlike 1-year and 2-year masters programmes, these online courses are shorter in duration typically 5 months to 9 months in duration.