10 Best Universities in UK for MS in 2026 - By Rankings

The UK is famous for its world-renowned universities and valuable degrees that are recognised globally. The UK is a popular destination among students for getting an MS degree because most master's degrees provided in the UK are completed within 1 year of the date of enrolment, which makes it convenient for students to stead fast their careers as the same degrees are provided after 1.5 - 2 years in the USA, Canada, and elsewhere. This also means that the MS graduates in the UK need to pay less tuition fees (only for 1 year) and can enter the job market earlier than others, giving them an edge over their competitors. Read this article to learn about the top 10 universities for MS in the UK in 2026.

After the US, the UK is the top choice of international students for pursuing higher education abroad. An MS/MSc or Master of Science is the most popular choice of study for pursuing higher education abroad. MS in engineering, General Sciences, and Computer Science are a few of the highly demanded MS courses students look to pursue overseas. For all those who completed their bachelor's degree and are thinking about the next step, in this article, we will inform you about the top 10 universities in the UK for MS. Studying next level education will not only enhance your skills and give you the desired knowledge, but it will also open a door of opportunities in your career path. Along with this, students pursuing a master's degree in the UK benefit from a 2-year post-study work visa. This makes the UK an ideal and popular study abroad destination for international students. Below is the list of the top 10 universities for an MS in the UK.  

Top 10 Universities in the UK for MS 2026

While there is no single "official" ranking for the top universities in the UK for MS, below we have listed some best universities in the UK that provide good master's courses. The criteria for listing these universities are their QS World University Rankings 2026, academic excellence and reputation. The popular courses are shortlisted from the top-ranking courses streams offered at respective universities (as per the QS Subject rankings). 

Details on the Top 10 Universities in UK for MS 2026

Below, we will study the top MS colleges in the UK and the courses offered in detail.

1. University of Cambridge

Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge has the honour of being the second oldest university in the English-speaking world. Over the years. The University of Cambridge has also been consistently ranked among the top 5 universities in the world. The master's degrees at the University of Cambridge are taught by the world-renowned faculty, each expert in their own fields. Many master's programs are research-oriented and provide a strong foundation for pursuing research in future, while some other programs make the graduates industry-ready by providing them with the relevant information for tomorrow.

University of Cambridge’s Department of Engineering offers a one-year full-time MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development. The programme is specially designed for graduates who want to tackle these problems by developing practical engineering solutions. While students can also choose to do an MPhil in Computer Science, which deepens their knowledge in various computer science areas, from theoretical foundations to advanced applications. An MPhil in History of Art and Architecture at the University of Cambridge helps students to explore art and architecture across cultures and historical periods, while an MSt in Social Innovation helps them to learn and implement creative solutions to social and environmental problems.

The University is ranked first in the UK and fourth in the world for employer reputation and has scored high across all parameters in the QS World University Rankings, making it the #1 university in the UK and #2 in the world. 

2. University of Oxford

Established in 1096, the University of Oxford is one of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world. Oxford is not just the topmost university in the UK but is also counted as one of the best educational institutions in the world. The Oxford University provides a diverse and prestigious portfolio of master's programs. Master's programs at Oxford University span a broad spectrum of disciplines, encompassing humanities, social sciences, sciences, engineering, and medicine. Whether you are passionate about literary studies, pursuing a career in healthcare, or aiming to become a future leader in business or technology, Oxford likely has a program tailored to your specific aspirations.

It offers a one-year MSc in Computer Science that is designed to teach a range of advanced topics and a carefully selected core of foundational subjects to graduates of Computer Science.

3. Imperial College London

The Imperial College London is one of the leading research universities in the UK and is renowned for its strong focus on innovation and pushing the boundaries of knowledge. The master's programs at Imperial College London are delivered by the world-class faculty, and have a strong industry connection, which makes the graduates of Imperial College industry-ready and take on any challenge easily. The strong focus of the master's programs remains in science, engineering, medicine and business courses. In addition, Imperial College London also holds the Silver Athena Swan Award for working to enhance the careers of women in science & technology, mathematics, engineering and medicine. 

4. University College London

Established in 1826, the University College London is the third-largest university by the total number of students enrolled. The university has produced 29 Nobel laureates for the world. Recently, the University College London (UCL) has laid the foundation of the Research Innovation and Global Engagement office within its premises, paving the way for how the research conducted within the university reaches the public in a bid to bring a substantial change to people's lives. UCL offers a 1-year post-graduate MSc in Mechanical Engineering degree programme that is designed to offer an advanced level of study that is demanded by the industry.

5. University of Edinburgh

Founded in 1852, the University of Edinburgh is ranked number 5th in the UK and 22nd in the world. One of the finest universities in the UK, the University of Edinburgh is also the only Scottish institution to enter the top 10 universities in the UK list. The University of Edinburgh offers over 300 master's programs and 135 research areas. The main areas of interest that one may find in the master's programs at the University of Edinburgh are social sciences, humanities, business & management and science & engineering. Edinburgh offers a 1-year MSc in Computer Science, which is an advanced degree that aims to develop knowledge in CS engineering that is not covered at the undergraduate level.

6. University of Manchester

Established in 2004, the University of Manchester is a relatively new university; however, with its quality of education, it has marked a niche for itself. It has been ranked amongst the best educational institutions in the world, offering higher education. The University of Manchester offers over 500 master's programs in diverse fields such as science, engineering, technology, humanities, social sciences, and business. This allows students to pursue specialised programs aligned with their specific interests and career goals. The university offers various MS programmes, and the one-year postgraduate programme MSc Aerospace Engineering is one of the best courses for candidates looking to pursue an MS abroad.

7. King's College London

The King’s College London is ranked at number 7 in the top universities in the UK list again this year. The university hosts the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research award in order to foster a sense of community in the international research field. The King's College London, being the first of four London-based universities in the UK, offers over 700 master's degrees in diverse fields such as humanities, social sciences, science, medicine and engineering. These master's degrees offered at King's College London are research-intensive and recognised globally.  Some of the top master's programs offered at King's College London include MSc in Artificial Intelligence, MA in International Relations, MSc in Finance, MSc Global Health and MSc Environmental Engineering. 

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

The London School of Economics and Political Science is a world-renowned institution specialising in the field of social sciences. While not offering the traditional "MS" programs, LSE offers a variety of MSc (Master of Science) degrees and MRes (Master of Research) programs across a range of disciplines. The disciplines covered include: finance, economics, management, political science, public policy, law and other social science courses. The programs are delivered by expert-in-field faculty with an emphasis on real-world applications of the concept taught. The school also boasts its impressive international students' numbers as 60% of the total 11,000 students at LSE are from overseas locations.  

9. University of Bristol

Founded in 1876, the University of Bristol is one of the best UK universities for pursuing higher education. Prominent ranking providers rank this 100-year-old university among the best educational institutions globally. Although it offers various MS programmes but its 1-year post-graduate programme, MSc Wireless Communications and Signal Processing, is highly popular amongst students. The programme provides students with advanced topics related to wireless communications and signal processing.

10. University of Warwick

The University of Warwick is ranked at number 17 in the UK for its international research network. The university seeks to strengthen its international work by placing all its students with study abroad placements in over 200 partnered institutions located in over 40 countries globally. 

This was all about the best universities in the UK for MS. If you wish to study abroad, then you can get assistance from Shiksha Counselling Services for free. You can also drop your queries in the comments section below.