Check upcoming open days and book your place arrow
Research and Prep

Best universities in London

There are hundreds of thousands of uni students in London, and over 20 different unis. Our guide to London's top unis will help you decide where to study.

Eleanor Foulds
by Eleanor Foulds
Last Updated:
21 Jun 2023

With over 400,000 university students from more than 200 different countries, London is a diverse and welcoming city. It’s a centre of excellence for education, full of institutions that provide high-quality learning experiences. Studying in England’s capital will help you gain new perspectives, challenge your preconceptions and ready yourself for a career in our globalised world. As well as providing you with strong business and industry links, London is full of exciting opportunities for entertainment, sport and cultural experiences. 

Using our sister site Complete University Guide's 2024 league tables, we've put together a list of the top unis in London for a range of different criteria. Whatever's most important to you, we've got you covered.

Universities in London


There are 21 unis in London, each offering a variety of subject areas and a different experience of studying in the capital city.

Best uni in London for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2024)


University of West London


The University of West London prides itself on its friendly campus community. They place a high importance on student support and offer a range of different types of support to their students to cater to all academic and pastoral issues that may arise. With campuses in Ealing, Brentford and Reading, students get to benefit from living in a quieter area while still being within easy reach of the bustle of the city of London.

Read what students are saying about the University of West London.

Best uni in London for graduate outcomes (Complete University Guide 2024) 


Imperial College London

Photo © Anthony O'Neil (cc-by-sa/2.0)

If you’re looking for excellent prospects as a graduate, Imperial College London is a university to strongly consider. It’s ranked top in the UK for graduate prospects and is internationally renowned for its teaching quality and research. The uni also provides students with a lot of support in their careers journey, offering advice at all stages of career planning and job hunting to support students no matter where they're at.

Read what students are saying about Imperial College London.

Best uni in London for research quality (Complete University Guide 2024)


Imperial College London

Photo © Anthony O'Neil (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Imperial College is a major research university with an excellent reputation – UK and international employers highly value Imperial degrees. While studying, you can apply for the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP) and gain hands-on experience within a working research team at the university. Students can also access the Enterprise Lab, which offers training programmes and mentoring from industry experts.

Read what students are saying about Imperial College London.

Best uni in London overall (Complete University Guide 2024)


London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

ShadowssettleCC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

LSE has been a world leader in social sciences since 1895, and provides a unique opportunity to study directly in the heart of England’s capital. This central location is close to the Royal Courts of Justice, the financial district and the Houses of Parliament⁠ – especially stimulating for students in law, finance or politics. This is the only social sciences-focused UK university, with over 40 undergraduate degrees available, and a reputation for challenging students intellectually, socially, and personally. LSE offers ample resources and support through the LSE LIFE team in both academic and pastoral care, with an extensive library service and career guidance.

Read what students are saying about the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London.

 

If you're looking to study in London, why not read more about what it's like to be a student in the city?

 

Similar articles