List of universities in the United Kingdom by enrolment explained

This article comprises two lists of institutions in the United Kingdom ranked by the number of students enrolled in higher education courses. The first list, based on data from the academic year 2019/20, breaks down student enrollment by level of study, while the second list, from the more recent academic year 2021/22, provides a total student enrollment figure without distinguishing between undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The statistics in both lists are confined to students studying within the United Kingdom and exclude those engaged in distance-learning or transnational education programs conducted overseas. For reference, in the 2018/19 academic year, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) recorded 666,815 overseas students, with the majority (260,155) enrolled at Oxford Brookes University, primarily studying Association of Chartered Certified Accountants courses. Other universities with significant numbers of overseas students in 2018/19 included the University of London Worldwide (40,675), the Open University (29,610), Coventry (16,785), Nottingham (15,740), Liverpool (14,730), Heriot-Watt (11,955), Staffordshire (11,900), and Middlesex (11,890).^[1]

Universities and other higher education providers by size and level of study (2019/20)

The source for the figures is the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) statistics for . The student numbers include full-time and part-time, and are broken down into undergraduate and postgraduate students. Some institutes enrol students in both higher education and further education courses, so student numbers may be higher for such institutes. Numbers are of actual enrollments, not FTEs. The data show that 2.28 million people were enrolled in higher education at the higher education providers reporting statistics to HESA.

data-sort-type="number"	Rank	Institution	data-sort-type="number"	Undergraduates	data-sort-type="number"	Postgraduates	data-sort-type="number"	Total students
–	University of London			^[2]
1	The Open University
2	University College London
3	University of Manchester
4	Coventry University
5	University of Leeds
6	Nottingham Trent University
7	University of Birmingham
8	University of Edinburgh
9	University of Nottingham
10	Manchester Metropolitan University
11	Cardiff University
12	King's College London
13	University of Glasgow
14	Sheffield Hallam University
15	University of the West of England
16	University of Sheffield
17	University of Liverpool
18	De Montfort University
19	Northumbria University
20	Newcastle University
21	Ulster University
22	University of Bristol
23	University of Exeter
24	Birmingham City University
25	University of Warwick
26	University of Portsmouth
27	Anglia Ruskin University
28	University of Oxford
29	University of Hertfordshire
30	Liverpool John Moores University
31	Queen's University Belfast
32	University of Central Lancashire
33	University of Strathclyde
34	Leeds Beckett University
35	University of South Wales
36	University of Southampton
37	Queen Mary, University of London
38	University of Salford
39	University of Cambridge
40	Swansea University
41	Middlesex University
42	University of Brighton
43	City, University of London
44	University of Plymouth
45	University of York
46	University of Kent
47	University of Sussex
48	University of Derby
49	Imperial College London
50	University of the Arts London
51	University of Wolverhampton
52	Durham University
53	University of Greenwich
54	University of Westminster
55	Teesside University
56	University of Bath
57	Loughborough University
58	University of East Anglia
59	Bournemouth University
60	University of Reading
61	University of Huddersfield
62	London South Bank University
63	University of the West of Scotland
64	Glasgow Caledonian University
65	University of Leicester
66	Kingston University
67	University of Surrey
68	Oxford Brookes University
69	University of Hull
70	University of Dundee
71	University of Lincoln
72	University of Essex
73	Aston University
74	Staffordshire University
75	Brunel University London
76	University of Aberdeen
77	University of Sunderland
78	University of Chester
79	Lancaster University
80	Canterbury Christ Church University
81	University of Bedfordshire
82	Edge Hill University
83	Edinburgh Napier University
84	University of East London
85	Roehampton University
86	University of Stirling
87	Robert Gordon University
88	University of Northampton
89	London School of Economics
90	Birkbeck, University of London
91	University of Wales Trinity Saint David
92	University of West London
93	Royal Holloway, University of London
94	Buckinghamshire New University
95	Heriot-Watt University
96	Keele University
97	Cardiff Metropolitan University
98	University of St Andrews
99	Goldsmiths, University of London
100	Bangor University
101	University of Worcester
102	Solent University
103	University of Bradford
104	University of the Highlands and Islands
105	London Metropolitan University
106	University of Gloucestershire
107	Aberystwyth University
108	Bath Spa University
109	University of Winchester
110	University of Suffolk
111	University of Cumbria
112	University of Bolton
113	York St John University
114	University for the Creative Arts
115	Falmouth University
116	Wrexham Glyndŵr University
117	School of Oriental and African Studies
118	St Mary's University, Twickenham
119	University of Chichester
120	Queen Margaret University
121	Leeds Trinity University
121	Liverpool Hope University
123	University College Birmingham
124	Cranfield University
125	Harper Adams University
126	St George's, University of London
127	Abertay University
128	Arts University Bournemouth
128	University of Buckingham
130	Newman University
131	University of St Mark and St John
132	Ravensbourne
133	Royal Veterinary College
134	Royal College of Art
135	Norwich University of the Arts
136	Glasgow School of Art
137	Bishop Grosseteste University
138	London Business School
139	Leeds Arts University
140	Hartpury University
141	SRUC
142	Stranmillis University College
143	Conservatoire for Dance and Drama
144	Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
145	Arts University Plymouth
146	Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
147	Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
148	Leeds College of Music
149	London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
150	Royal Agricultural University
151	Guildhall School of Music and Drama
152	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
153	St Mary's University College, Belfast
154	Royal Northern College of Music
155	Royal Academy of Music
156	Royal College of Music
157	The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
158	Writtle University College
159	Rose Bruford College
160	AECC University College
161	Courtauld Institute of Art
162	University College of Osteopathy
163	Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
164	National Film and Television School
165	Institute of Cancer Research
166	University of London (Institutes and activities)
167
168
169	University of Wales (central functions)

Universities and other higher education providers by size (2021/22)

The data source for these statistics is also the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) for the academic year 2021/22. The student figures encompass both full-time and part-time students, without distinction between undergraduate and postgraduate levels of study. Some institutions enroll students in both higher education and further education programs, potentially leading to higher student numbers in such cases. It's important to note that these statistics reflect actual student enrollments and not full-time equivalent (FTE) counts. According to the latest available data from HESA, a total of 2.86 million individuals were enrolled in higher education at the various institutions reporting data to HESA for the academic year 2021/22.

data-sort-type="number"	Rank	HE Provider	data-sort-type="number"	Total
1	The Open University	151,840
2	University College London	46,830
3	The University of Manchester	46,410
4	The University of Glasgow	42,980
5	King's College London	41,490
6	The Nottingham Trent University	41,465
7	The University of Edinburgh	41,250
8	Coventry University	38,190
9	The University of Birmingham	37,990
10	University of Nottingham	37,260
11	The University of Leeds	37,190
12	University of the West of England, Bristol	37,170
13	The Manchester Metropolitan University	36,980
14	Anglia Ruskin University	35,195
15	Ulster University	34,550
16	Sheffield Hallam University	34,535
17	Cardiff University	33,985
18	University of Northumbria at Newcastle	32,570
19	The University of Exeter	32,465
20	University of Hertfordshire	31,940
21	The University of Bristol	31,485
22	The University of Sheffield	30,860
23	Birmingham City University	30,285
24	The University of Warwick	28,825
25	The University of Liverpool	28,680
26	De Montfort University	28,335
27	The University of Central Lancashire	28,325
28	Liverpool John Moores University	28,100
29	The University of Oxford	27,290
30	Newcastle University	27,280
31	The University of Greenwich	26,610
32	The University of Portsmouth	26,500
33	Queen Mary University of London	26,045
34	The University of Strathclyde	25,715
35	The University of Salford	25,415
36	Queen's University Belfast	25,295
37	Canterbury Christ Church University	24,660
38	The University of Southampton	23,795
39	The University of York	23,420
40	Leeds Beckett University	23,365
41	University of South Wales	23,270
42	Teesside University	22,695
43	The University of Cambridge	22,610
44	University of the Arts, London	22,455
45	Swansea University	22,290
46	University of Durham	22,230
47	Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine	21,470
48	University of Derby	20,955
49	The University of Westminster	20,915
50	The University of Huddersfield	20,885
51	City, University of London	20,685
52	Buckinghamshire New University	20,570
53	The University of Wolverhampton	20,250
54	The University of the West of Scotland	20,070
55	Glasgow Caledonian University	20,050
56	The University of Sunderland	19,975
57	Kingston University	19,920
58	The University of Sussex	19,865
59	The University of East London	19,550
60	The University of Reading	19,390
61	Middlesex University	19,225
62	London South Bank University	19,185
63	The University of East Anglia	19,130
64	University of Plymouth	19,095
65	The University of Bath	18,890
66	Loughborough University	18,760
67	The University of West London	18,695
68	Brunel University London	18,655
69	Staffordshire University	18,460
70	The University of Kent	18,155
71	The University of Essex	18,110
72	The University of Dundee	18,100
73	The University of Lincoln	17,975
74	Bournemouth University	17,960
75	The University of Brighton	17,835
76	The University of Lancaster	17,770
77	Aston University	17,595
78	Oxford Brookes University	17,470
79	The University of Leicester	16,670
80	The University of Aberdeen	16,565
81	University of Bedfordshire	16,430
82	The University of Northampton	16,100
83	BPP University	15,910
84	The University of Surrey	15,575
85	Edinburgh Napier University	15,530
86	The University of Law	15,235
87	Arden University	15,120
88	The University of Hull	15,075
89	University of Wales Trinity Saint David	15,045
90	Robert Gordon University	14,970
91	The University of Stirling	14,895
92	Edge Hill University	14,700
93	University of Suffolk	14,555
94	University of Chester	14,325
95	London Metropolitan University	13,435
96	Bath Spa University	13,240
97	London School of Economics and Political Science	12,975
98	Cardiff Metropolitan University	12,620
99	Royal Holloway and Bedford New College	12,480
100	Roehampton University	12,335
101	Keele University	12,235
102	The University of Bradford	11,885
103	The University of St. Andrews	11,820
104	Heriot-Watt University	11,680
105	Leeds Trinity University	11,640
106	The University of Bolton	10,995
107	Birkbeck College	10,660
108	Bangor University	10,505
109	Solent University	10,070
110	University of the Highlands and Islands	10,005
111	University of Worcester	9,900
112	Goldsmiths College	9,880
113	University of Cumbria	9,705
114	University for the Creative Arts	9,430
115	The University of Winchester	8,280
116	University of Gloucestershire	8,210
117	York St John University	7,935
118	Aberystwyth University	7,845
119	Glyndŵr University	7,490
120	BIMM University	7,045
121	Falmouth University	6,635
122	SOAS University of London	6,295
123	Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh	6,250
124	The University of Chichester	5,985
125	St Mary's University, Twickenham	5,895
126	Liverpool Hope University	5,640
127	Cranfield University	5,400
128	Harper Adams University	5,275
129	University College Birmingham	5,170
130	St George's, University of London	4,825
131	Abertay University	4,790
132	University of London (Institutes and activities)	4,290
133	The Arts University Bournemouth	3,725
134	The University of Buckingham	3,430
135	Regent College	3,160
136	Study Group	3,040
137	University College of Estate Management	3,010
138	University of St Mark and St John	2,890
139	Newman University	2,760
140	Norwich University of the Arts	2,760
141	The Royal Veterinary College	2,590
142	Ravensbourne University London	2,585
143	Royal College of Art	2,575
144	Glasgow School of Art	2,440
145	London Business School	2,390
146	Bishop Grosseteste University	2,370
147	Hartpury University	2,355
148	Leeds Arts University	2,340
149	Global Banking School Limited	1,895
150	Regent's University London Limited	1,865
151	Kaplan Open Learning	1,835
152	SRUC	1,700
153	Hult International Business School Ltd	1,660
154	Nelson College London Ltd	1,630
155	Leeds Conservatoire	1,540
156	ICON College of Technology and Management	1,365
157	Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance	1,340
158	Stranmillis University College	1,325
159	Royal Conservatoire of Scotland	1,245
160	Royal Agricultural University	1,240
161	The London College UCK	1,190
162	London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine	1,125
163	Istituto Marangoni Limited	1,125
164	Conservatoire for Dance and Drama	1,105
165	Guildhall School of Music and Drama	1,105
166	Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance	1,105
167	Bloomsbury Institute	1,095
168	The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama	1,085
169	Institute of Contemporary Music Performance	1,080
170	Arts University Plymouth	1,060
171	St Mary's University College	1,040
172	AECC University College	1,035
173	AA School of Architecture	1,010
174	The Ashridge (Bonar Law Memorial) Trust	995
175	Royal College of Music	995
176	The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts	990
177	ACM Guildford Limited	960
178	Pearson College	940
179	Applied Business Academy Limited	920
180	Grŵp Llandrillo Menai	910
181	Royal Northern College of Music	870
182	Writtle University College	830
183	CEG UFP Limited	805
184	Kaplan International Colleges U.K. Limited	805
185	Royal Academy of Music	790
186	Point Blank Music School	775
187	University Centre Peterborough	750
188	Mont Rose College of Management and Sciences	745
189	SAE Education Limited	745
190	London School of Management Education	725
191	Richmond, The American International University in London	695
192	ESCP Europe Business School	605
193	Courtauld Institute of Art	600
194	The National Film and Television School	555
195	Le Cordon Bleu Limited	555
196	Met Film School Limited	530
197	The University College of Osteopathy	475
198	New College of the Humanities	470
199	St Mellitus College	465
200	The Metanoia Institute	455
201	Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts	450
202	London School of Theology	445
203	Apex College London	430
204	David Game College Ltd	405
205	Futureworks	400
206	LAMDA Limited	380
207	The Institute of Cancer Research	365
208	Arts Educational Schools	345
209	The College of Health Ltd	345
210	The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education	340
211	London Film School Limited	340
212	London Studio Centre	320
213	London School of Commerce & IT Limited	295
214	The London Institute of Banking & Finance	295
215	City and Guilds of London Art School	280
216	Spurgeon's College	280
217	West Dean College	280
218	Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine	270
219	Norland College	270
220	Waverley Abbey College	250
221	London Churchill College Ltd	245
222	Institute of Art - London Limited	240
223	The City College	215
224	London School of Science and Technology Limited	215
225	The Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute Limited	215
226	Christ the Redeemer College	210
227	British Academy of Jewellery Limited	205
228	London Bridge Business Academy	200
229	Moorlands College	200
230	Backstage Academy (Training) Ltd	195
231	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art	195
232	The College of Integrated Chinese Medicine	185
233	Empire College London Limited	180
234	Grŵp NPTC Group	180
235	Paris Dauphine International	180
236	The Minster Centre	175
237	The Council of the Inns of Court	165
238	Northern College of Acupuncture	165
239	Regents Theological College	165
240	Trinity College Bristol	160
241	The Film Education Training Trust Limited	150
242	Nazarene Theological College	150
243	University Centre Quayside Limited	150
244	The Cambridge Theological Federation	145
245	London School of Academics Ltd	140
246	Dartington Hall Trust (The)	130
247	The Markfield Institute of Higher Education	130
248	Matrix College of Counselling and Psychotherapy Ltd	130
249	Central Film School London	125
250	Cliff College	125
251	Royal Academy of Dance	125
252	Cambridge Arts and Sciences Limited	120
253	College of Legal Practice Limited	120
254	The London School of Architecture	115
255	Results Consortium Limited	105
256	INTO University Partnerships Limited	100
257	ThinkSpace Education Limited	90
258	Chicken Shed Theatre Company	85
259	Luther King House Educational Trust	85
260	All Nations Christian College	85
261	The College of Osteopaths	80
262	The Institute of Ismaili Studies	80
263	Missio Dei	80
264	St Patrick's International College	80
265	MLA College	75
266	Bristol Baptist College	70
267	The Islamic College	65
268	The London Interdisciplinary School Ltd	65
269	Newbold College	65
270	Amity Global Education	60
271	Gower College Swansea	50
272	Dyson Technical Training Limited	40
273	ForMission Ltd	40
274	Raindance Educational Services Limited	40
275	The Salvation Army	40
276	Court Theatre Training Company Ltd	35
277	New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE)	35
278	LCCM AU UK Limited	30
279	ICOM	30
280	The Engineering and Design Institute London	25
281	JSA Education Group Ltd.	20
282	The Prince's Foundation	20
283	Brit College	15
284	Waltham International College Limited	10
285	Kensington College of Business	5

See also

• Armorial of UK universities
• List of largest universities by enrollment
• List of universities in the United Kingdom
• List of UK universities by date of foundation
• List of UK universities by endowment

Notes and References

1. Web site: Where do HE students come from?: Transnational education. HESA. 15 August 2020.
2. Combined total from Included institutions are Birkbeck, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, City, University of London, Courtauld Institute of Art, Goldsmiths, Institute of Cancer Research, King's College, London Business School, LSE, LSHTM, Queen Mary, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Holloway, Royal Veterinary College, SOAS, St George's, UCL and the central institutes & activities.