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]
The source for the figures is the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) statistics for 2019/20. [2] 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 169 higher education providers reporting statistics to HESA.
The data source for these statistics is also the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) for the academic year 2021/22. [2] 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.
Rank | HE Provider | 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 |
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SOAS University of London is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the federal University of London. Founded in 1916, SOAS is located in the Bloomsbury area of central London.
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