You’ve already chosen to study in the best city in the world – London has been ranked the number one student city on the planet for the second year running by leading global education network QS. Now it’s time to decide which of the capital’s first-class universities is right for you – the only problem is there are so many to choose from.
The top 5 universities in London
To help you learn more about your options, we’re going to explore the top five highest-ranked universities in London, based on the QS World University Rankings 2020.
1. University College London (UCL) – ranked 8th in the world
UCL specialises in a broad spectrum of subjects, including science, engineering, management and medicine, and business. It has a particularly large postgraduate population (around 53%) who enjoy its faculties and teaching hospitals central locations – the main Gower Street campus is just a short walk from Soho and Oxford Street.
2. Imperial College London – rank 9th in the world
This world leader in engineering and natural sciences also has a prestigious business school and one of the UK’s largest medical faculties. The main campuses’ salubrious South Kensington surroundings is another huge draw for international students, who make up around 37% of its population.
3. King’s College London – ranked joint 33rd in the world
This impressive research-led university is one of the largest and oldest colleges of the University of London collegiate. It claims to be “the most central university in London”, making it a particularly popular choice with international students, who make up around 43% of its population. People travel from across the globe to take advantage of its reputation for delivering first-class courses in the humanities, law and the sciences.
4. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) – ranked 44th in the world
Located close to the heart of the city in the Chancery Lane area, LSE is the UK’s only university that specialises in the social sciences. Its impressive overall world ranking (44th) is even bettered by the global status of many of the individual subjects it offers, such as anthropology, politics, sociology, law and accounting.
5. Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL) – ranked 126th in the world
QMUL has gained a reputation for offering excellent medicine and dentistry courses at St. Barts Hospital and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry; together with a wide range of other subjects. And the university’s main Mile End campus provides unbeatable access to the trendy streets of East London.
For more information on our London university search services: