UK universities: what do all the different groups and categories mean?

The United Kingdom is strongly established as a destination country for international higher education students. Higher Education Statistics Agency data show that in the academic year 2021-22 just under 680,000 international students were studying for UK degrees.

The 10 universities with the most international students are a combination of well-known and established institutions and some that may be less familiar to those outside the UK. This indicates the breadth of what is offered, as well as the breadth of appeal.

The language used to describe the universities and their affiliations is potentially confusing for international students, because some of the terms are unofficial categorisations, whereas others are technical terms. Negotiating the terminology is important when counselling applicants.

So here is a guide to the different terms used to describe UK universities.

1. Categories relating to the age of universities

Ancient universities

Examples include the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England, and the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Many are world-famous, feature highly in global rankings and have high academic entrance criteria.

These universities may have their own traditions, such as how often gowns are worn and a requirement to eat a certain number of meals in formal college settings. This is something to consider when counselling students: some may find that community-building is an important part of the university experience; others may find it overwhelming. 

Redbrick universities

These institutions became universities before the First World War, and are named for the architecture commonplace during that period.

Various sources identify six universities of this type: the Universities of Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield. Many are city-based, rather than campus universities, and their industrial origins mean that some were originally known for vocational disciplines such as engineering, although they now offer a vast array of subjects.

Other universities established slightly after this period are sometimes also referred to as redbricks, including the universities of Nottingham and Newcastle, among others.

Plate-glass universities

The seven plate-glass universities are the Universities of York, Lancaster, East Anglia (UEA), Sussex, Essex, Kent and Warwick.

These universities originate from the early- to mid-1960s and are named for the architectural style of the time. As with the redbrick universities, the term is now often used more broadly to refer to other universities dating from the same period.

They are often campus-based. Redbrick and plate-glass universities are sometimes collectively referred to as “traditional” universities.

The UK university system saw much expansion following the Robbins Report of 1963, which recommended more university access.

New universities

Post-1992 universities are sometimes referred to as “new” or “metropolitan” universities.

Many of these began as non-university educational institutions, such as polytechnics and colleges of higher education, which became universities following the 1992 Further and Higher Education Act. Some, however, are newer.

These universities are commonly found in cities and tend to differentiate themselves from the local “traditional” university by adding an additional reference to their name – for example, Nottingham Trent University, Liverpool John Moores University and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Like other university types, new universities offer a wide range of subjects. But they may have historical strengths in vocational specialisms linked to their previous iterations, or in new and emerging disciplines, such as computer games design.

2. Categories related to the type and purpose of university

Most universities in the UK are registered as charities and are not private or for profit. There are a few exceptions.

Private universities

These include Regent’s University and the University of Buckingham, as well as the University of Law, Arden University and BPP University. The last three are for-profit organisations.

Private universities may have more expensive fee structures than other universities, although the difference may be less for international students. Buckingham allows students to take an undergraduate degree in two years rather than three.

Conservatoires

These are specialist institutions for students looking to study the performing arts of music or drama.

Some may require students to apply via the Ucas Conservatoires system or directly to the institution itself; others accept the standard Ucas application.

An audition is usually required as part of the application process, and a separate performance reference may be required in addition to the standard academic one.

3. Categories relating to the structure of the university

Collegiate universities

These universities are comprised of a number of colleges, and students belong to the college as well as to the overarching university. They are a minority of institutions: Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Lancaster, York and Kent.

At Oxford and Cambridge, teaching as well as residence is linked to colleges, and the colleges award their own degrees. At the newer institutions of Lancaster and York, the colleges are linked to residential, social and sporting facilities only.

Students who have reacted well to close-knit school communities, such as the house system used by some schools, may find this type of environment reassuring. It shouldn’t be confused with the use of “college” to define an academic faculty, or with its use in the American higher-education system.

Campus-based

Campus-based universities have teaching facilities, recreational facilities and residences on one campus, often along with some shops. They may be located outside the nearest city, and will work well for students who are happy to be in a self-contained environment. Examples include Nottingham, Warwick and East Anglia.

City-based

These universities have their facilities on different sites across cities. So, for example, the main library, lecture facilities and halls of residence may be a short walk or bus ride from one another.

City-based universities will suit students who like the bustle of city life, who may not wish to travel slightly further for a night out or a shopping trip, or who might react well to everyday reminders of life outside the university bubble. Examples of these include the Universities of Birmingham, Manchester and most universities located in London such as UCL and King’s College London. 

4. Categorisation according to university groupings

Discussion of UK universities may refer to several groups or affiliations of universities. These groups serve various purposes and a university may be a member of more than one. Students may not need to know about these groups, but it can be useful for counsellors to have a sense of what they represent:

Oxbridge

The term Oxbridge is the collective term for the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Both institutions have a strong global reputation and are often ranked as two of the best universities in the world. 

Many students will be interested in applying to these institutions due to their strong reputations, but they may not be for everyone so thorough research into the student experience at these universities is recommended. Students are only allowed to apply to one of these institutions at a time, not both. 

University of London

The University of London is a federation of 17 higher education institutions. Each institution is independent and operates autonomously with its own set of admissions criteria and degree-awarding powers. Students apply directly to the individual university (e.g, UCL), not the University of London, and will graduate with a degree from their individual university. Some of the universities included in the federation are King’s College London, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Birkbeck.

Russell Group

This is a group of 24 universities. They are large, research-focused institutions that are often highly placed in league tables; as such, this is the group students are most likely to have heard of and ask about.

The group includes ancient, redbrick and plate-glass universities, and is often assumed to be the UK’s group of elite universities. Care should be taken with using “Russell Group” as shorthand for “elite”, however. Although all the universities in the group are academically strong, have competitive entry criteria and good records of graduate employment, there are other elite universities not in the group, either because they are smaller or because they prefer to remain independent.

The Universities of Bath, St Andrews, East Anglia, Lancaster, Leicester and Loughborough are all highly respected institutions not in the Russell Group.

University Alliance

This group promotes a number of universities with a technical or professional focus, and has links to business and applied research. Members include the University of South Wales and Oxford Brookes University.

MillionPlus

This group promotes the interests of newer universities.

Guild HE

Guild HE advocates for smaller and specialist universities. It has many members, including the agricultural specialist Harper Adams University, the University of Law and several arts universities.

Universities UK

Universities UK represents all universities in the UK, advocating for the sector.

What does all this mean for students?

The UK’s focus on choosing a subject and course allows students to play to their strengths and interests. But discussions shouldn’t avoid the concept of best fit associated more overtly with other countries.

Encourage students to think about the environment and ethos that would be most beneficial for them when choosing a university, rather than focusing on the age or which group an institution belongs to.