how many universities in uk

There are roughly 160–170 universities in the UK , depending on how you count and which list or year you use.

Quick Scoop

• A recent guide for international students puts the number at 166 universities in the UK.

• Another widely used directory lists around 164 accredited universities and colleges in the UK for 2025.

• Some advisory sites quote lower figures like 117 universities , usually because they only count certain types of institutions or exclude specialist/very small providers.

So, if you just want a practical answer to “how many universities in UK?”, the current realistic range is about 165 , with 166 being a commonly cited figure in late‑2025 data.

Why the numbers differ

• Different sources use different definitions (e.g., only long‑established universities vs. all accredited degree‑granting institutions).

• Some counts are UK‑wide , while others really mean “universities in England” or focus mainly on public universities.

• The landscape changes over time : institutions merge, gain or lose university status, or get reclassified, so lists from a few years ago may show different totals.

In everyday conversation and most forum or news discussions right now, saying the UK has “around 165 universities” is accurate enough.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.