United Kingdom

📍Cardiff

Size of University (by Student Population): Large

Percentage of International Students: 25%

Popular Programmes: Architecture, Business, Bioscience, Computer Science, Dentistry, Engineering, Geography and Planning, Law, Media and Communications, Medicine, Music, Optometry, Pharmacy, Psychology and Social Sciences

Fun Facts: Cardiff University is part of the prestigious Russell Group and the only one based in Wales! Our students study in a city recently voted the UK’s best and friendliest by readers of Condé Nast Traveller, where a 2,000-year-old castle is just a short walk from the heart of our campus and the bustling retail and commercial centre.

Founded in 1883, Cardiff has a proud academic tradition and a modern, global outlook. Our students learn from world-leading researchers across a wide range of disciplines. We’ve contributed to breakthrough cancer treatments, collaborated with NASA, helped shape UN policy, and are addressing global challenges like climate change, clean energy, and mental health.

We’re ranked in the UK’s top 20 for research power, and 11th for the impact our research has on the world (REF 2021). Whether it’s robotics, journalism, genetics, or law, our students learn from experts making a real difference.

On campus, you’ll find historic heritage buildings alongside state-of-the-art research labs. Our iconic main building looks like something from a film set and has been used as one on more than one occasion. Our Students’ Union is one of the biggest and best (currently voted No 2 in the UK), offering everything from societies and support to trips around the UK and volunteering.

And yes, we really do have a dragon as our official mascot!

🌐  http://www.cardiff.ac.uk 

📍 Durham

Size of University (by Student Population): Medium

Percentage of International Students: 32%

Popular Programmes: Law, Computer Science, Economics, Politics, Business and Management

Fun Facts: We are one of only 5 collegiate universities in the UK. Harry Potter was filmed on our campus! 

🌐  https://www.durham.ac.uk/ 

📍 AU - Perth; UK - London, Exeter, Norwich, Manchester, Lancaster, Newcastle, Stirling, Belfast; USA - various cities; Dubai

Size of University (by Student Population): Large

Percentage of International Students: 8-15%

Popular Programmes: Accounting, Architecture, Biomedical Science, Business, Civil Engineering, Dentistry, Electronic Engineering, Finance, Food Sciences, Law, Media Studies, Medicine, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Radiography, Speech & Language Therapy.

Fun Facts: High successful progression rate, Guaranteed progression.  

🌐 https://www.intostudy.com

📍 Staffordshire

Size of University (by Student Population): Medium

Percentage of International Students: 8%

Popular Programmes: Physiotherapy, Radiography

Fun Facts: Times Higher Education (THE) Student named us as one of the top 10 ‘most beautiful universities in the UK’ (2025)

🌐 https://www.keele.ac.uk/ 

📍 Lancaster

Size of University (by Student Population): Medium

Percentage of International Students: 30%

Popular Programmes: Biomedical Science, Business and Management, Law

Fun Facts: UK top 10 collegiate campus-based university

🌐 https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/ 

📍 Leeds

Size of University (by Student Population): Small

Percentage of International Students: 7%

Popular Programmes: Music, Drama

Fun Facts: We were the first institution in Europe to offer a Jazz degree and the first in the UK to offer Pop and Production Bachelors courses. We have spotlight accreditation for our acting and musical theatre students. Students are taught by industry professionals on practical-based programmes.

🌐 https://www.leedsconservatoire.ac.uk/ 

📍 Manchester

Size of University (by Student Population): Large

Percentage of International Students: 12%

Popular Programmes: Architecture, Design, Digital Arts, Fashion, Physiotherapy, Sport Science, Sport Coaching, Business, Computing, AI, Electrical Engineering. 

Fun Facts: 

• Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester Met) is home to a diverse community of international students from over 120 different countries.  

• Located in the centre of Manchester, our campus is conveniently located close to the city’s world-renowned music, sports and cultural venues, as well as the second-largest Chinatown in Britain.  

• We are one of the largest universities in the UK, with over 5,000 international students. Manchester has one of the largest student populations in Europe: 100,000 students including 27,000 international students *. 

• The University has invested over £400m to enhance its teaching and research facilities, buildings and public spaces. This includes the Grosvenor East building for the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the School of Digital Arts, the Institute of Sport and our new Dalton building for the Faculty of Science and Engineering. 

• We are proud to deliver an outstanding student experience – we have been rated gold overall under the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023, and are in the top 15 in England in the National Student Survey.** 

• Manchester Met is engaged in research that is actively shaping the world today and will continue to do so in the future. Ninety percent of the University’s research impact is rated as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'***, reflecting the quality of our research. The University has four subject areas ranked in the top ten for research power: Art and Design, Education, English and Sport. 

• The University provides a range of scholarships to support international students, up to the value of £3,500¶. 

• Welcoming international students is important to us, and we have dedicated staff available to help. International students are supported throughout their journey to Manchester Met by the University’s knowledgeable and friendly International Office. The team are there to help with queries that students have prior to leaving their home countries.   

• The University provides support to students once they are here, with extra help available with careers, finances, wellbeing and learning, such as free English language classes and help from the Academic and Study Skills team.  

• The University’s Student Hub offers a comprehensive information service on all student-related matters. It can refer students for specialist support on student living, studying and finance, as well as immigration and welfare.  

• The University’s Counselling, Mental Health and Wellbeing Service provides guidance through one-to-one sessions or group workshops on relaxation, stress management and confidence building. 

• Our degree programmes are designed with your employability in mind. We will help you develop a mix of skills, experience and confidence needed to reach your potential. The University provides students with regular employability events, including workshops, networking opportunities, guest speakers and career fairs. Our Rise programme offers learning opportunities to boost your employability.  

• Support continues after graduation, with students benefitting from lifelong access to our digital careers service.  

*Complete University Guide 2024 

**Overall positivity measure based on average score across all 24 NSS core questions. Compared to OfS approved higher fee cap providers with the right to use “University” in their title 

*** REF 2021 

¶The scholarship amount quoted relates to the 2025/26 academic year 

🌐 https://www.mmu.ac.uk/ 

📍 London

Size of University (by Student Population): Medium

Percentage of International Students: 25%

Popular Programmes: Art & Design, Sports, Nursing

Fun Facts: 

• This summer, a company made a film on our campus, and our students worked on the set.

• We have a robot called Pepper who went with our students to speak to MPs in the House of Commons - the first robot ever Pepper becomes the first robot to give evidence at the House of Commons.  

• We have beehives on our roof and hedgehog shelters around campus to help with biodiversity.

• Making MDX a 'Hedgehog friendly Campus' Campaign 

• How Middlesex University is working towards a greener future 

• Middlesex bee project sparks international interest

• We have Canine Teaching Assistants - dogs! - who visit campus to help students de-stress: Stress-busting dogs on university staff

• Middlesex University London: Canine teaching assistants

• Our West Stand campus is at the home of Saracens, a professional rugby club: Major step forward for Barnet-MDX state-of-the-art sports and community hub

• StoneX Stadium

🌐 https://www.mdx.ac.uk/ 

📍 Norwich

Size of University (by Student Population): Small

Percentage of International Students: 8%

Popular Programmes: Graphic Design, Graphic Communications, Games Art and Design, Animation, Animation and VFX, Film and Moving Images, User Experience Design, Creative Computing, Creative Technology and Robotics

Fun Facts: 

Norwich University of the Arts is a leading creative arts university in the UK, with a distinguished history spanning over 180 years.  We are proud to be ranked second among UK creative arts universities and to have received the exclusive “Triple Gold” rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023.

Offering a range of practice-based undergraduate courses in fields such as Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation, Visual Effects, Film, Games Art & Design, and Creative Computing. Our curriculum is closely aligned with industry needs, ensuring students are well-prepared for careers in the creative sector.

The University has been recognised as one of the top creative arts universities in the UK, with the following recognitions:

1. Awarded TEF Triple Gold in 2023, in teaching excellence, student experience and overall assessment (A distinction earned by the top 15% of 175 UK Universities) and the only creative arts university with such award;

2. 27th in the World for Best Design Education Institution of the Year - WBDS Global Design Education Ranking 2024/25

3. Top 30 Creative Media & Entertainment Schools – Rookies 2023;

4. Top 6 in 2D Animation, top 7 in 3D animation, top 13 in VFX and top 20 in the world for concept art and illustration – The Rookies 2023;

5. Arts University of the Year – Daily Mail University Guide 2025;

6. Top 2 Creative Arts University in the UK – The Complete University Guide 2025;

7. Awarded as the Best Educational Institution – TIGA Games Award 2023

🌐 https://norwichuni.ac.uk 

📍 London 

Size of University (by Student Population): Medium

Percentage of International Students: 46%

Popular Programmes: Law, Business Management, Computer Science, Medicine, Engineering, Economics and Finance

Fun Facts: The only campus-based Russell Group University of London, also has sites in China, Malta and Paris. 

🌐 https://www.qmul.ac.uk/ 

📍 London

Size of University (by Student Population): Small

Percentage of International Students: over 40%

Popular Programmes: BA Global Development, BA Social Anthropology, BA International Relations and Politics, LLB Law, BA East Asian Studies, BA Korean, BA Japanese, BA History of Art and..., BSc PPE, BSc Economics, BA Creative Arts and Cultural Industries, BA Global Liberal Arts, BA World Philosophies and..., BA Global Media, Culture and..., BSc Management, BSc Accounting and Finance, BA History and...

Fun Facts: A bronze statue of the classical Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar stands at the main entrance of SOAS.

🌐 https://www.soas.ac.uk/ 

📍 Manchester

Size of University (by Student Population): Large

Percentage of International Students: 40%

Popular Programmes: Business, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Medicine

Fun Facts: Manchester is the largest single-site university in the UK with more than 48,000 students from 170+ different countries. 

🌐 http://www.manchester.ac.uk 

📍 London

Size of University (by Student Population): Large

Percentage of International Students: 50%

Popular Programmes: Architecture, Arts and Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine, Neuroscience, Pharmacy and Psychology 

Fun Facts: 2026 will mark UCL's 200th anniversary. To learn more: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/about/who-we-are 

🌐 http://www.ucl.ac.uk 

📍 Birmingham

Size of University (by Student Population): Large

Percentage of International Students: 20%-25%

Popular Programmes: Medicine, Physiotherapy, Computer Science, Business, Law

Fun Facts: The University of Birmingham, founded in 1900, was the first civic university in England that accepted students from all backgrounds on an equal basis.

🌐 https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/ 

📍 Essex

Size of University (by Student Population):

Percentage of International Students: 35-40%

Popular Programmes: Psychology, AI, Data Science, International Relations, Occupational Therapy, Biomedical Science (with NHS placement)

Fun Facts: 

• Top 25 in the UK (The Guardian University Guide 2025)

• 14th for Social Sciences in the UK (THE World University rankings by subject 2025) 

• Specialist facilities in Colchester, including high-tech labs, a virtual trading floor, and creative spaces such as a cinema, a theatre and a TV/radio studio

• New £14m STEM building

• Placement and Study Abroad options

• Opportunities for students to set up their own business with the help of the ‘Essex Startups’ team 

🌐 https://www.essex.ac.uk/ 

📍 Glasgow

Size of University (by Student Population): Large

Percentage of International Students: 30%+

Popular Programmes: Life Sciences ( including Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry), Engineering, Computing Science, Business, Finance, Law, International Relations.

Fun Facts: Recognised as a Top 100 University in the World (THE and QS Rankings), the University of Glasgow is home to ~40,000 students from over 140 countries.  Founded in 1451, the University is part of the Russell Group of research-led UK universities and has an excellent reputation throughout the world.  

By joining us you will be following in the footsteps of some of our famous alumni such as the renowned physicist Lord Kelvin, the Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer James Watt as well as the father of modern economics Adam Smith.  

Our students benefit from our close industry connections and choice as well as over 300 clubs and societies. We want our students to have the best student experience we can offer, with a fantastic range of subjects to choose from, delivered by world-renowned researchers, in state-of-the-art lecture theatres and study spaces, and with access to world-class collections and resources.

At Glasgow, we are proud of our diverse, vibrant, and talented students and their ambitions to change the world.        

For students looking for an affordable cost of living when they come to university, Glasgow is a great option. With a huge student population, many local businesses, services and nightlife venues offer student discounts and promotions.

An official UNESCO city of music, Glasgow offers a renowned music scene, excellent sports facilities and shopping, and a wealth of arts and cultural venues all on your doorstep. Voted the world’s friendliest city, it is also one of Europe’s most diverse. 

🌐 http://gla.ac.uk

📍 Huddersfield

Size of University (by Student Population): Medium

Percentage of International Students: 27%

Popular Programmes: Physiotherapy, Radiography, Music and Music production, film production and performing arts, business management, education, TESOL.

Fun Facts: University of Huddersfield is ranked 1st in the world for reducing inequalities, 20th for music performance and 30th for performing arts. University of Huddersfield maintains a 95% employability and further study rate, one of the highest in the UK. Huddersfield has achieved the gold standard for teaching quality in the latest teaching excellence framework, making it a top university in the UK known for excellence in teaching and supportive environment. Our undergraduate courses have work experience integrated, helping students secure their future employability. 

🌐  https://www.hud.ac.uk/

📍 Preston

Size of University (by Student Population): Large

Percentage of International Students: 20%

Popular Programmes: MBBS, Physiotherapy, Architecture, Bioveterinary Science, Engineering

Fun Facts: Best value for money in the UK

🌐  http://www.uclan.ac.uk 

📍 Liverpool

Size of University (by Student Population): Large

Percentage of International Students: 1 in 3 students is international 

Popular Programmes: We are a comprehensive Russell Group university offering a wide range of high-quality programmes.  Popular programmes with Hong Kong-based students include Law, Engineering, Medicine, Veterinary Science, Health Sciences, Computer Science and Architecture. 

Fun Facts: The University of Liverpool is one of a kind. Our story began in 1881; we are the original ‘redbrick’ university and a founding member of the prestigious Russell Group. Over 140 years later, we’re as original as ever, with a worldwide reputation for pioneering research and teaching by leading academics that addresses some of the planet’s toughest challenges. We develop culturally rich graduates who stand out in a competitive world. Our first-class facilities and outstanding support ensure we are consistently ranked in the top 25 universities in the UK and top 150 universities in the world (The Times 2025 and QS World University Rankings 2026). We’re proud to be named ‘University of the Year’ at the Educate North Awards 2025 and to be shortlisted for ‘University of the Year’ in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.

🌐 http://www.liverpool.ac.uk 

📍 Southampton

Size of University (by Student Population): Large

Percentage of International Students: 30%

Popular Programmes: Engineering, Health Science, Business, Computer Science, Ocean and Earth Science

Fun Facts: The sunniest city in the UK.

🌐 https://www.southampton.ac.uk/ 

📍Guildford, Surrey

Size of University (by Student Population): medium

Percentage of International Students: 30%

Popular Programmes: Computer Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, hospitality management, Nutrition and food Science, Veterinary medicine, Nursing, Sociology, Music, Acting, Musical Theatre

Fun Facts: Most of our undergraduate programmes offer the option of a Professional Training Year, with partnerships spanning 2,300 UK and global employers to provide students wi try real-world experience. 80% of placements are paid, with 57% of them being paid between £18,000 and £30,000.

🌐 https://www.surrey.ac.uk/

✉️ international@surrey.ac.uk 

📍 Bristol

Size of University (by Student Population): Large

Percentage of International Students: 15%-20%

Popular Programmes: Allied Health, Architecture 

Fun Facts: There is a Shaun the Sheep sculpture located at our campus. Approximately 25% of the world’s nature programmes are made in Bristol. 

🌐 https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses 

📍 York

Size of University (by Student Population): Medium

Percentage of International Students: 27%

Popular Programmes: Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, Law, Business and Management, Marketing, Economics, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Politics and International Relations, Architecture, History of Art, Liberal Arts

Fun Facts: A member of the prestigious Russell Group, York is ranked #12 in the UK (Complete University Guide 2026). We’re 169th out of 1501 institutions in the QS World University Rankings 2026. York is one of only four UK universities to be rated both Gold for the quality of its teaching and top ten for its academic research in the latest national assessment exercises. Our green parkland campus is a short ride from the city centre and offers a wide range of student accommodation (dormitories) to suit all budgets. York is one of only a handful of UK universities offering the college system. All new students will join one of our colleges, which provides social activities and also support for you. Hong Kong students are the fourth largest international group at the University of York. Regularly named one of the best places to live and visit in the UK, York is a city where our students make up 10% of the city's population. We have a wide range of generous scholarships available for students from Hong Kong.  

🌐 http://www.york.ac.uk