Russell Group Universities in UK: Full List 2026, Rankings & Fees

What are the Russell Group of Universities?

Russell Group Universities Eligibility 2026

Every university registered under the Russell Group of Universities in the UK would have its own admission eligibility criteria. Candidates can click on each university to find the required eligibility guidelines for that particular university. However, some general admission requirements for the Russell Group of Universities in the UK include the following. 

For UG Courses:

• English Language Requirements: Candidates would need to have a good hold of the English language to be able to study and survive in the UK. Most universities would require you to take one of the English proficiency tests to evaluate your English language skills. 
• UK Student Visa: Upon receiving your admission letter, candidates would be required to successfully apply for a UK Student Visa to be allowed to enter the country for study. More information on the UK student visa and English language requirements can be found from the UK Council for International Student Affairs. 
• Financial Support: There are two main costs of studying in the UK - tuition costs and living expenses. Candidates can check the popular UK Scholarships for Indian students provided by the individual universities under the group or simply find a suitable scholarship.
• Other Qualifications-based Requirements: For more specific qualifications and educational requirements, students must visit the website of the university and read the course requirements of their desired course.

For PG Courses:

• A relevant bachelor's degree in the same or related field. However some universities also accept other bachelor's degrees to give students the opportunity to learn a different course.
• The bachelor's degree must be a higher or 2:1 or another equivalent degree.

For admission to a PhD, some Russell Group universities may allow a direct entry after a bachelor's degree. In contrast, other universities may still require a master's degree before applying for a PhD. Students must check the same with the university before proceeding. 

For more information, students must connect with UK NARIC (the UK’s national agency for recognition and comparison of international qualifications).  

Russell Group Universities List UK

Here is the list of 24 top universities in the UK that belong to the Russell Group of Universities in the UK. Detailed information about each university, along with the general eligibility requirements for studying abroad, popular courses and fee structure, is mentioned below. Candidates can also click on the college name to be directed to the particular college. 

Russell Group Universities Rankings 2027

The Russell Group Universities UK QS rankings and Times Higher Education rankings for the year 2027 are given in the table below.. 

Details on the Russell Group Universities UK - Popular Courses

In this section, we are going to be discussing the Russell Group Universities UK (also known as the Tier 1 universities in the UK), their popular courses, and candidates can also get to know about the admission requirements by simply visiting our university page. Candidates looking for assistance with university admissions should feel free to contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors on our website. 

Imperial College London

Imperial College London is one of the world’s leading public research universities and the only university in the UK to focus exclusively on science, engineering, medicine, and business. Established in 1907, Imperial is home to students and staff from over 140 countries - making it one of the most international universities in the world. More than 50% of the students come from outside the UK and more than 32% are non-EU students of other nationalities. Imperial offers more than 100 courses at the undergraduate level and more than 150 courses at the postgraduate level. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - Imperial College London Courses

University of Oxford (OU)

The University of Oxford, established in 1096 and situated in Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. In less than a century, Oxford had achieved an important set of learning and won the praises of popes, kings, and sages by virtue of its antiquity, curriculum, a philosophical system, and privileges. Throughout the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, Oxford has added a serious new analytical capability within the natural and applied sciences, together with medicine. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - University of Oxford (OU) Courses

University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham is situated in Edgbaston, Birmingham, in the United Kingdom. It houses some of the famous institutes like the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, which includes artworks by Van Gogh and Monet, the Cadbury Research Library, and the Shakespeare Institute. Also, the campus provides accommodation for its students. Birmingham City has beautiful architecture and is a modern and lively city. Moreover, there are a lot of parks, cafes and delicious street food in the city. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - University of Birmingham Courses

University of Bristol

Established in 1876, the University of Bristol is an open research university. The university began its classes with only 99 students and later on, after receiving the Royal Charter, the number of enrolments increased to around 288 undergraduate students. In 1893, the university got associated with the Bristol Medical School and in 1909, it collaborated with the Merchant Venturers Technical College. This association led to the opening of well-known degree programs in the field of Engineering and Health Sciences. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - University of Bristol Courses

University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge, founded in 1209, is a public research university in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world's fourth-oldest. This university is formed from a variety of institutions - which include 31 constituent Colleges and over 100 academic departments organised into six schools - Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Technology. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - University of Cambridge Courses

Cardiff University

Cardiff University was established as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire in the year 1883. In the year 1893, it was among the developing colleges of the University of Wales. From the year 1997, it started granting degrees to students. It merged in 1988 with the renowned university, the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology. Being the third among the other oldest universities in Wales, it comprises 26 academic schools that are categorised into three colleges, including the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - Cardiff University Courses

Durham University

The University of Durham is a public research university located in Durham in North East England. In 1832, it was founded by an Act of Parliament and was later incorporated in the year 1837 by the Royal Charter. It was among the earliest universities in the country to begin tuition for over 600 years. Additionally, it was bestowed with the Queen's Anniversary Prize in the year 2018. The university is well-known for its history - which spans over 180 years. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - Durham University Courses

The University of Edinburgh (ED)

Established in 1582, the University of Edinburgh is known to be the sixth-oldest university in Scotland. It is an open institution. Earlier, it was known as the Tounis College and later on, it was named as the University of Edinburgh in 1583. And, in the same year, the university commenced its first classes. The university is the fourth Scottish university that was developed as an institution by the Royal Charter. By the 18th century, it became the best open institute in Scotland. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - University of Edinburgh (ED) Courses

University of Exeter (Exeter)

The University of Exeter is a public university that focuses on research. It was established in the year 1955. In 1851, it was first formed as the Schools of Science and Art. In 1900, its name was then changed to the Royal Albert Memorial College, which later became a university college of the southwest in the year 1922. And finally, it received its authorisation in 1955 as the University of Exeter. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - University of Exeter Courses

University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow was established in the year 1451 by a papal bull. It is among the 4th ancient universities in Scotland and the fourth-oldest university in the USA. It was a part of the Scottish Enlightenment along with Edinburgh, St. Andrews, and Aberdeen during the 18th century. The university comprises four colleges that include the College of Science & Engineering, College of Arts, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, and College of Social Sciences. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - University of Glasgow Courses

King's College London (KCL)

Also known as KLC or King's, King's College London is a public research institution of higher education which was founded by Arthur Wellesley and King George IV in 1829. It is known as the 4th oldest university in England. It has a total of five campuses - including Strand Campus (the founding campus of King's), Guy's Campus, Waterloo Campus, St Thomas’ Campus, and Denmark Hill Campus. The Strand is built near Somerset House on land provided for the college's property. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - King's College London (KCL) Courses

University of Leeds

Established in 1904, the University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK with more than 39,000 students including 9,000 international students from over 170 different countries. Leeds is one of the top 40 most international universities in the world and has been welcoming international students for over 100 years - with a global network of nearly 270,000 alumni from over 190 countries - including 6 Nobel laureates. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at University of Leeds Courses

The University of Liverpool (UoL)

Established in 1881, the University of Liverpool is amongst the best universities in the U.K. The University of Liverpool offers a variety of undergraduate, postgraduate and research programs in popular disciplines including humanities and social sciences, science and engineering, health and life sciences and management studies. The University of Liverpool has remained a global centre for advanced learning and innovation since its establishment. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at University of Liverpool (UoL) Courses

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is an open research university founded by members of the Fabian Society, namely Graham Wallas, Beatrice Webb, and Sydney Webb. Established in 1895, the university collaborated with the London University and introduced its first-degree course in 1901. Later, in 2008, LSE awarded its own degree to the students. The main focus is on developing innovative ideas and research theories. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - LSE Courses

University of Manchester

Located in Manchester on Oxford Road, England, the University of Manchester was established in the year 2004 when the Victoria University of Manchester and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology were merged. It is a public research red brick university, established after the civic university movement that took place at the end of the 19th century. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - University of Manchester Courses

Newcastle University

Newcastle University dates back to the establishment of the School of Medicine and Surgery in 1834 and Armstrong College in 1871. In 1937, these two were combined to form King's College. King's College was renamed the University of Newcastle in 1963. Currently, the university has three faculties: the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, the Faculty of Science, Agriculture, and Engineering, and the Faculty of Medical Sciences. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - Newcastle University Courses

University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham was first started off as a Civic College, which was the first of its kind in Nottingham and later it moved to, now, its current main campus, University Park. The college was inaugurated by King George V in 1928. The college eventually became Nottingham University through the Royal Charter in the year 1948. Even in its earlier days, it attracted many famous personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Einstein and HG Wells as guest lecturers. It has continued to develop and grow since then and has many campuses, even in other countries like Malaysia and China. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - University of Nottingham Courses

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) is a public research institution that is located in London, England. It is also recognised as a constituent college of the University of London. It was founded in the year 1785 as the London Medical College. In 1887, it was officially granted the status of a university. It is a global university that boasts a unique student, research, and public engagement profile, delivering teaching and research internationally. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) Courses

Queen's University Belfast (QUB)

Founded in 1845, Queen's University Belfast is on a mission to shape the world with innovative minds. One of the oldest universities in the UK, the university offers a plethora of courses across disciplines at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. With world-class infrastructure and highly qualified faculty members, Queen's University Belfast has remained a centre of excellence since its inception. The team of faculty members includes eminent professors across continents. The alumni of this prestigious university include Nobel Laureates such as Seamus Heaney and David Trimble. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines, and fee structure here: Queen's University Belfast (QUB) Courses

The University of Sheffield

Established in 1897, the University of Sheffield is an open research university and part of the Sheffield Medical School, Firth College, and Sheffield Technical School. The university mainly focuses on technical fields and science. Also, the university is amongst the six red brick universities that were founded and constructed in the industrial area of England. The classes began with a batch of 114 students, and later on, the number of enrolments increased up to 1,000 students. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - University of Sheffield Courses

University of Southampton

One of the top research universities in the UK, the University of Southampton is best known for its innovative learning system. Originating from Hartley Institution in 1862, Southampton got university status in 1952. The University of Southampton offers undergraduate, postgraduate and foundation-year courses in various disciplines. The different departments of the university include the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Social Sciences. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - University of Southampton Courses

University College London (UCL)

The University of College London (UCL) is regarded as the third-largest university by the total number of students enrolled in the university. It was established in the year 1826. It was among the first institutions in London that gives admissions to students irrespective of their religion and the first university to admit women. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - UCL Courses

University of Warwick

The University of Warwick started operating in 1964 with a few graduate students. In October 1965, the university admitted its first batch of 450 undergraduates. In the same year, the university also gained its Royal Charter of Incorporation. Eventually, it has made its place among the top academic institutions in the world. Warwick is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, AACSB, and the Midlands Innovation group, AMBA, the European University Association, EQUIS, Universities UK, and the Russell Group. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at - University of Warwick Courses 

University of York

The University of York was established in 1963 when the University Grants Commission permitted a university in 1960. The university started operating with its first batch of 230 students on Oct. 9, 1963, under the leadership of Lord James as its chancellor. Originally the university only had 28 staff members and six departments: economics, English, education, history, politics, and mathematics. At present, the university includes nine colleges and more than 30 research centres and academic departments. Learn about the courses, eligibility guidelines and fee structure at University of York Courses 

This was all about the Russell Group Universities UK for Indian students. If you still cannot come to a decision, you can learn more about the Russell Group vs Non-Russell Group Universities here.

If you have more queries regarding the Russell Group of Universities in UK, drop them in the comments below and we will be happy to help. If you seek assistance for studying in the UK, you may get in touch with Shiksha's Counselling Services for free.