Top 10 Universities in the UK for Masters in 2024



Many of the universities in the UK for masters feature in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2024: Top global universities list. The country is a popular global education destination, with over 390,000 Asian students studying at various institutions of higher education. Of this, there are over 126,000 Indian students.

This number keeps increasing every year – a reflection of the fact that the UK is one of the best countries in the world to pursue higher education. As such, pursuing an MS or a master’s degree in the UK can be one of the best decisions you could make as a student. you can pursue a master’s in the subject that interests you, anything form a master’s in marketing, which can set you on a great career track (we look at different fields below), to fashion, psychology, law or a pg in biotechnology in the UK.

In fact, more international applicants apply to study in the United Kingdom compared to those who want to move to other academic hubs including the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, or Germany. The UK is home to some great universities.

However, careful research about the various universities in the country needs to be carried out before making the decision of moving.

Here’s a super easy list of the best postgraduate universities in the UK.



Why study master's in the UK as an international student?


The UK is one of the most sought-after global destinations for education, thanks to its top-ranking global universities and world-class quality of education. The UK has many advantages over the US when it comes to studying abroad.

Here are some reasons why studying in the top universities for masters in the UK as an international candidate is worthwhile:

Student-friendly cities: The UK has some of the best student-friendly cities in the world. Some of the top cities where students can choose to live include London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Coventry.

Economic hub: Commercial hubs where business organizations are aplenty. Such an environment could act as a breeding ground for nurturing young entrepreneurs or provide ways for students to gain more hands-on experience from industry leaders.

Top universities: The UK, without a doubt, has some of the oldest and the best universities in the world. They offer a wide range of world-class courses, have the best facilities, and offer opportunities that are far-reaching.

One-year masters degrees:

One of the important reasons why international students choose the UK over the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or other nations for postgraduate degrees is that the UK has a system of one-year master’s degrees. Most postgraduate degrees in the UK can be completed in one year, as opposed to the two or more years taken in the rest of the world. This allows you to save one year’s worth of tuition and begin your career sooner.

High-quality education: Research activities are pursued with vigor across the universities. The institutions also boast of having world-class academicians and industry experts.

Job opportunities: The UK offers plenty of opportunities for fresh graduates. Students who are currently studying at one of the universities in the UK can also find part-time employment opportunities (students are permitted to work for up to 20 hours a week).

Graduates of MS in the UK can earn upwards of £35,000 on average, making it one of the best countries to work in post your graduation.

Scholarships: Universities in the UK offer several types of financial aid including scholarships, grants, and awards that students can apply to and avail to support their education. More on this can be found in the upcoming section

What are the career opportunities after doing MS in the UK?


Pursuing a program from one of the top UK universities for masters is a really good option for those looking to begin their careers in the country. This is because the UK has one of the best post-graduation employment rates in the world and is one of the largest economies in the world.

“But am I eligible to work in the UK post studies?” Yes.

In fact, students can apply for a work visa just like how they apply for a student visa. Moreover, the graduate visa allows students to stay back in the country for up to 2 years post successfully completing a course!

The graduate employment rate in the UK hovered around 86% in 2021 with a median salary of approximately £36,000.

That said, a few of the most popular career tracks for people who pursue master’s from universities in the UK are listed below.

Career Track Average Salary (per year)
Finance £75,000
Business Management £72,000
Architecture £65,000
Engineering  £58,000
Computer Science £80,000
Healthcare £125,000
Human Resources £70,000
Marketing £75,000
Data Scientist £45,000
Education £73,000
Law £82,000

What are the scholarship options for doing masters in the UK for international students?


Studying in the UK is not a relatively cheap affair due to the quality of education offered and the opportunities that are available to the students.

The scholarships offered across the UK can be broadly categorized into three types, including:

  • University offered scholarships
  • Government-funded scholarships
  • Other scholarships

Some of the popular scholarships available across universities in the UK include

  • The Chevening Scholarships for Master’s
  • The Commonwealth Scholarships for Ph.D. and Master’s
  • The Royal Society Grants
  • Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships
  • Saltire Scholarships
  • Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS)

Each scholarship has its own set of requirements that are to be satisfied. However, the general criteria for international applicants to avail of scholarships for masters include,

  • An undergraduate/bachelor’s degree or equivalent
  • Must be an international student who classifies as paying “tuition fees”
  • Must be accepted into a program
  • Must demonstrate proficiency in either academics or other activities that can qualify for financial assistance
  • Meet the language requirements of the course (preferably English proficiency)

You could check out this detailed article on the various scholarships available across universities in the UK for more information.

What are the best universities for MS in the UK?


If one were to access the list of the universities in the UK for pursuing a master’s degree, it would be so long that most applicants would simply fold! However, we have made this easy for candidates by researching the top master’s universities in the UK and listing them here.

Take a look at some of the best postgraduate universities in UK for masters. – Source: QS World University Rankings 2024

Ranking University Average Tuition Fees (per year)
2 University of Cambridge £32,000 – £43,000
3 University of Oxford £30,000 to £42,000
6 Imperial College London (ICL) £27,000 – £42,000
9 University College London (UCL) £28,000 – £37,900
22 The University of Edinburgh £25,000 – £40,500
32 The University of Manchester £26,500 – £39,500
40 KCL £31,080 – £34,920
45 LSE £25,920 – £34,128
55 University of Bristol £16,400 to £47,200
67 The University of Warwick £16,000 – £49,950

1. University of Cambridge


The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209, making it one of the oldest universities in our history. The university has 31 colleges, 6 schools, and over 150 faculties and departments that offer a wide range of programs and courses to students. It has been the highest-ranked UK university for many years.

Why is it good to study here?

The university has more than 24,000 students from across 140 countries, making it one of the most popular choices of international candidates. The employment opportunities that are created by the university are huge with over 94% of graduates finding employment within the first 15 months post-graduation.

Fees & Scholarship options

The average fees for pursuing a master’s degree is approximately £32,000 – £43,000 a year.
The university offers scholarships worth over £100 million every year!
Some of the popular scholarship options available at the university include

  • Cambridge Trust
  • Gates Cambridge Trust
  • Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge

Eligibility and Duration

The criteria for admission include

  • A minimum of a good upper second-class honors degree or equivalent. 3-4 years degree from a recognized institution with an overall grade of 70%
  • Professional Bachelor’s (at least 4 years)
  • Language proficiency or be assessed by the University Language Centre.
  • Two academic references

The general duration of a master’s program is around 1 year.

Courses offered & admission process

Some of the popular master’s degrees offered include,

  • Pure Mathematics
  • Finance
  • Business Administration
  • Theoretical Physics

The admission process includes

  • Selecting a course from the Course Directory
  • Apply through the Applicant Portal
  • Submit necessary documentation
  • Contact academic references
  • Research about the colleges
  • Apply for funding
  • Pay the application fee
  • Review of application by the department
  • Interview
  • Review of application by degree committee
  • The postgraduate admissions office reviews the application
  • Offer of admission

2. University of Oxford


The University of Oxford is one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world with evidence of teaching dating back to 1096! The university offers over 350 graduate courses and has over 11,000 international students pursuing courses on campus.

Why is it good to study here?

Oxford was consistently ranked first for six years between 2017 to 2022 by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, making it one of the best UK schools for masters. The university has been ranked 3rd in the world by the QS world university rankings list of 2024. Over 91% of graduates from the university found employment within the first six months post graduation.

Fees & scholarship options

The average fee for pursuing a master’s degree is approximately £30,000 to £42,000 a year.
​​Some of the popular scholarship options available at the university include,

  • Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

Eligibility and Duration

The criteria for admission include

  • An undergraduate degree or equivalent from a recognized university with an overall grade of 60% for degrees
  • Professional Bachelor’s (at least 4 years)
  • English language proficiency tests
  • Specific requirements for different colleges and schools

The general duration of taught master’s is around 1 year.

Courses offered & admission process

Some of the popular graduate courses offered include,

  • Software and Systems Security MSc
  • Advanced Computer Science MSc
  • Archaeology MSc
  • Economics MPhil
  • Medical Anthropology MPhil
  • Economic and Social History MSc

The admission process involves the following steps:


3. Imperial College London (ICL)


Founded in 1907, Imperial College London is a prestigious public university in London. It has been ranked 3rd in the UK and 6th in the world by the QS world university rankings list of 2024. The university is well known for its research output and is unquestionably the best research university amongst the Russell Group Universities.

Why is it good to study here?

ICL is best for those students who are looking to pursue degrees in the sciences, engineering and business. Moreover, the institution was ranked first in the UK by the Research Excellence Framework (2021) for research and innovation.

Fees & Scholarship options

The average fee for pursuing a master’s degree is approximately £27,000 to £ 42,000 a year.
Some of the popular scholarships offered at the university include,

  • MSc Academic Potential Scholarships
  • Civil Engineering Dixon Scholarship
  • Civil Engineering Skempton Scholarship
  • Commonwealth Shared Scholarship
  • The ISST Scholarship
  • Department of Bioengineering Scholarship (MSc)
  • Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering Masters Scholarship

Eligibility and duration

The criteria for admission include

  • Course competency requirements
  • An undergraduate degree or equivalent from a recognized university
  • Professional Bachelor’s (at least 4 years)
  • Language proficiency tests
  • Specific requirements for different colleges and schools (for example, the Imperial College Business School requires GRE/GMAT scores for admission to MBA or other management-related courses, relevant work experience, etc)

The average duration of courses at ICL is one year.

Courses offered & admission process

Some of the popular master’s courses offered at this university include

  • MS in Management
  • Master in Computer Science
  • Advanced Chemical Engineering MSc
  • Advanced Chemical Engineering with Biotechnology MSc
  • Advanced Computing MSc
  • Environmental Data Science and Machine Learning MSc
  • Artificial Intelligence MSc

The admission process involves the following steps.

  • Choosing a course
  • Checking entry requirements
  • Writing personal statement
  • The application process can be begun here
  • One may be offered an in-person interview or a virtual interview

4. University College London (UCL)



UCL was founded in 1826. It has consistently ranked amongst the top global universities and has been ranked 9th in the world by the QS world university rankings list of 2024.

Why is it good to study here?

UCL has over 39,000 students from across 150 countries in the world, making it one of London’s best global universities. The university offers over 500 master’s programs across a wide variety of subjects.

Fees & Scholarship options

The average tuition fees for pursuing a full-time master’s is approximately £19,400 – £52,900 a year. For Indian students, the average cost is around £25,800 – £36,900.
The popular scholarship options available at this university includes,

  • UCL Global Masters Scholarship

Eligibility and Duration

The criteria for admission include

  • 3-5 year Bachelor’s degree with a First Class degree
  • Professional Bachelor’s (at least 4 years)
  • Language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
  • Specific requirements for different colleges and schools (GRE/GMAT etc)
  • International candidates from outside the EEA (European Economic Area) applying to specific programs need to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate from the government of the UK.

The average duration of full-time courses at UCL is one to two years.

Courses offered & admission process

Some of the popular master’s courses offered at this university include

  • Advanced Minimally-Invasive Surgery MS
  • Aesthetics (Aesthetic Surgery) MS
  • Biomedical Sciences MSc
  • Civil Engineering MSc

The admission process to get into this UK school for masters involves,

  • Choosing from over 500 master’s programmes
  • Check requirements
  • Submit the application form (graduatestudentapp2021.pdf)
  • Submit necessary documents
  • Update information requests (links to the online application will be shared once the hard copies are acknowledged)
  • Receiving decisions

5. The University of Edinburgh


Source: University of Edinburgh

Founded in 1583, the University of Edinburgh is a public university that has been creating countless Nobel laureates and Olympic champions. The university is at the forefront of critical thinking and academic research.

Why is it good to study here?

The university was one of the first universities to have a global network of industry leaders. Placed 22nd in the 2024 QS World University Rankings, the university has been producing graduates that are consistently ranked among the top candidates by global employers.

Fees & Scholarship options

The average tuition fee for pursuing a master’s is approximately £25,000 – £40,500 a year.
Some of the popular scholarships available at this university include,

  • Sheila Cannell Postgraduate Scholarship
  • GREAT Scholarships
  • School of Engineering International Masters Scholarship

Eligibility and Duration

The general criteria at the university include

  • A degree from a highly ranked university (60% or more/GPA of 8 on 10)
  • Language competency (IELTS/TOEFL)
  • Admissions requirements specific to schools/colleges of the university

The average duration of the full-time master’s courses at the university is one year.

Courses offered & admission process

The most popular courses offered include,

  • Sensor and Imaging systems MSc
  • Management MSc
  • Marketing MSc

The admission process includes,

  • Exploring courses
  • Click on the “Apply” button once you select a course
  • Checking application status
  • Receiving decision
  • Submitting supporting documents

6. The University of Manchester


There are some great universities in Manchester. The University of Manchester, for instance, has consistently ranked among the top global institutions to pursue higher education. It has been ranked 32nd by the QS World University Rankings of 2024.

Why is it good to study here?

Manchester graduates are some of the most sought-after candidates in the job market. According to The Graduate Market 2022, High Fliers Research, graduates from the university are in high demand across various industries.

Fees & Scholarship options

The average fee for pursuing a master’s can range between £26,500 and £39,500 a year. A few of the popular scholarships offered here include,

  • British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM
  • Merit-based master’s scholarships
  • Global Futures Scholarship

Eligibility and duration

The general criteria for admission to the university include

  • A bachelor’s or a minimum three-year degree with first class from a reputable university
  • Specific programme requirements
  • Language proficiency tests (eg IELTS, TOEFL iBT)

The average duration of master’s courses is one year.

Courses offered & admission process

Some of the most popular courses offered at the university include

  • Accounting and Finance MSc
  • Advanced Chemical Engineering MSc
  • Chemistry MSc
  • Data Science (Computer Science Data Informatics) MSc

The admission process includes,


7. King’s College London (KCL)


KCL was founded in 1829. It is a public research university that has consistently ranked among the top institutions in the UK as well as the world. It has been ranked 40th by the QS World University Rankings of 2024, making it one of the best postgraduate universities in UK.

Why is it good to study here?

The university has been ranked 7th in the UK for the employability of its graduates. Moreover, the strong network of over 190,000 alumni around the world ensures that graduates have more opportunities to enhance their chances of advancing their careers.

Fees & scholarship options

The average fee for pursuing a master’s is approximately £31,080 – £34,920 per year
International students may have to contact the British Council in their country to know more about scholarship opportunities.

Eligibility and duration

The general criteria for admission to the university include

  • A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honors) degree
  • Specific programme requirements
  • English language band: D (eg IELTS/TOEFL)

The average duration of master’s courses is one year.

Courses offered & admission process

Some of the most popular courses offered at the university include,

  • Clinical Neuroscience MSc
  • Neuroscience MSc
  • Pharmacology MSc

The admission process includes,


8. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)


Source: lse.ac.uk
Founded in 1895, LSE has been at the forefront of social science research. LSE has 29 different academic departments and has over 11,000 students from more than 100 countries enrolled in different programs.

Why is it good to study here?

LSE is ranked 5th in the world for social sciences by QS World and Subject Rankings 2023 and 45th by QS World University Rankings of 2024. Over 92% of graduates found employment within the first 15 months post-graduation.

Fees & Scholarship options

The average fee in this UK school for masters is approximately £25,920 – £34,128 a year Some of the popular scholarship options include,

  • J N Tata Endowment Scholarships
  • Lady Meherbai Tata Education Trust
  • Margaret Basu Scholarship
  • Graduate Support Scheme (GSS)

Eligibility and Duration

The general criteria for admission to the university include

  • A bachelor’s or a minimum three-year degree with first class from a reputable university
  • Specific programme requirements
  • English proficiency tests (eg IELTS/ TOEFL/PTE)

The average duration of master’s courses is one year.

Courses offered & admission process

The most popular courses offered include,

  • MSc Accounting and Finance
  • MSc Economics
  • MSc Media and Communications
  • MSc Statistics

The admission process includes,

  • Choosing a program
  • Create an account using online application system
  • Complete and submit the online application form
  • Submitting necessary documents
  • Track application
  • Receive decision

9. University of Bristol


The red brick Russell Group research university was founded in 1876. Bristol is well-known for its global research and innovations. They have also managed to make sustainability a part of everything they do, making them one of the top UK universities for masters.

Why is it good to study here?

Source: bristol.ac.uk

Bristol boasts of having world-class faculties, a global network of experts, and cutting-edge facilities that can prove useful when it comes to research and development. The university is ranked 55th by the QS World University Rankings of 2024.

Fees & scholarship options

The average fee for pursuing a master’s degree is approximately £16,400 to £47,200 a year.
Popular scholarship options at the university include,

  • Chevening Scholarships
  • Zutshi-Smith Scholarship

Eligibility and duration

The general criteria for admission at the university include

  • A bachelor’s or a minimum three-year degree with first class from a reputable university (master’s programmes require a first class degree)
  • Specific programme requirements
  • English proficiency tests

The average duration of master’s courses is one year.

Courses offered & admission process

Some of the popular courses offered include,

  • MA Anthropology
  • MSc Management
  • MSc Robotics
  • MSc Molecular Neuroscience

The admission process includes,


10. The University of Warwick


Source: warwick.ac.uk
The University of Warwick was established in 1965 and has since remained one of the top universities for masters in the UK. It is well known for its research and development. In fact, Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 has stated that over 90% of the research work carried out at the university is internationally excellent.

Why is it good to study here?

Warwick graduates are generally known for being industry-ready thanks to the hands-on training and research-intensive courses that the university provides to its students.

Fees & scholarship options

The average fee for pursuing a master’s degree is approximately £16,000 – £49,950 a year.
Scholarships available at the university include

  • Albukhary Undergraduate Scholarships
  • Commonwealth Scholarships
  • Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship

Eligibility and duration

The general criteria for admission to the university include

  • A bachelor’s or a minimum three-year degree with first class from a reputable university (first class or upper Second only, with a minimum 60-80% depending on the institution)
  • Specific programme requirements
  • English proficiency tests

The average duration of master’s courses is one year.

Courses offered & admission process

Some of the popular courses offered include,

  • MBA Business Administration
  • MSc Computer Science
  • MSc Data Analytics
  • MSc Finance and Economics
  • MSc Mathematics

The admission process includes,

  • Browse A-Z list of taught courses
  • Check requirements
  • Prepare application
  • Submit the application from the course page
  • Submit references and documents
  • Track applications through the application portal
  • Wait for decision

While the above is a great list, to begin with, it’s not a complete list, since the country has a large number of top universities.

Some of the other top UK universities for masters include:

  • University of Southampton
  • University of Glasgow
  • Cardiff University
  • Lancaster University
  • University of Leeds
  • Coventry University
  • The Federal University of London
  • University of Bath
  • Durham University
  • University of Birmingham
  • University of Nottingham
  • University of Sheffield

How to apply to study master's in the UK with TC Global?


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Date added
20.11.2023

Filed under:

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