Top 10 Largest Universities in the UK by Total Enrollment (Online + On-Campus)
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| Biggest UK Universities |
When people discuss the “largest universities” in the UK, the definition differs sharply from the United States. Britain has far fewer mega-campuses, but it pioneered large-scale distance and online learning decades earlier than most countries. As a result, total enrollment in the UK is shaped by a mix of research universities, modern urban institutions, and one extraordinary online giant.
This ranking looks at the largest UK universities by total student numbers (online + on-campus), using the most recent institutionally published figures and widely accepted sector data. It reflects the landscape as it stands entering 2026.
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Top 10 Biggest UK Universities by Enrollment (Online + On-Campus) in 2026
1. The Open University
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| The Open University |
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Total students: ~200,000+
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Founded: 1969
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Address: Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA
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Website: open.ac.uk
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Tuition (UK): ~£6,900/year (part-time equivalent)
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Tuition (international): varies by program
Why it ranks #1:
The Open University is an outlier. Its scale comes almost entirely from distance and online learning, serving working adults nationwide and internationally. No other UK institution comes close in total enrollment.
Student experience:
Highly flexible and self-directed. Students value accessibility and affordability, but there is minimal traditional campus life.
Expert assessment:
Outstanding for access and lifelong learning; not comparable to campus universities in social experience.
2. University College London
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| University College London |
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Total students: ~51,000
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Founded: 1826
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Address: Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT
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Website: ucl.ac.uk
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Tuition (UK): ~£9,250 | International: £26,000–£38,000
Why it ranks here:
UCL is the largest campus-based university in the UK, driven by postgraduate growth and international demand.
Student experience:
Highly international, academically intense, and urban. Less “campus bubble,” more integration with London.
Expert assessment:
Elite research at scale, but can feel impersonal for undergraduates.
3. Coventry University
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| Coventry University |
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Total students: ~50,000
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Founded: 1843
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Address: Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB
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Website: coventry.ac.uk
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Tuition (UK): ~£9,250/year
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Tuition (international): ~£16,000–£20,000/year
Why it ranks here:
Coventry’s growth reflects the rise of modern, career-oriented universities with broad recruitment and strong international pipelines.
Student experience:
Structured, practical, and employability-focused. Campus life is active but less traditional than older universities.
Expert assessment:
Strong value proposition, less research prestige than Russell Group peers.
4. University of Manchester
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| The University of Manchester |
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Total students: ~47,000
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Founded: 1824 (current form 2004)
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Address: Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL
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Website: manchester.ac.uk
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Tuition (UK): ~£9,250/year
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Tuition (international): ~£20,000–£30,000/year
Why it ranks here:
Often considered the UK’s largest traditional research campus, balancing size and academic credibility.
Student experience:
Diverse, energetic, and research-driven, with a strong sense of city-campus identity.
Expert assessment:
One of the best examples of scale without sacrificing academic depth.
5. University of Edinburgh
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| University of Edinburgh, UK |
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Total students: ~45,000
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Founded: 1582
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Address: Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL
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Website: ed.ac.uk
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Tuition (Scotland/UK): ~£9,250/year
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Tuition (international): ~£23,000–£37,000/year
Why it ranks here:
Postgraduate expansion and global reputation drive its large enrollment.
Student experience:
Historic environment paired with cutting-edge research, especially strong at graduate level.
Expert assessment:
Prestigious and global, but large cohorts can limit individual attention.
6. King’s College London
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| King’s College London, UK |
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Total students: ~42,000+
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Founded: 1829
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Address: Strand, London WC2R 2LS
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Website: kcl.ac.uk
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Tuition (UK): ~£9,250/year
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Tuition (international): ~£22,000–£35,000/year
Why it ranks here:
Multiple central-London campuses and strong postgraduate enrollment.
Student experience:
Urban, professional, and fast-paced, especially attractive to healthcare, law, and policy students.
Expert assessment:
Excellent academic reputation; campus fragmentation can affect cohesion.
7. Nottingham Trent University
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Total students: ~40,000+
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Founded: 1843
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Address: 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham NG1 4FQ
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Website: ntu.ac.uk
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Tuition (UK): ~£9,250/year
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Tuition (international): ~£16,000–£18,000/year
Why it ranks here:
Large undergraduate population and strong recruitment across disciplines.
Student experience:
Highly structured student life with strong support services.
Expert assessment:
Teaching-focused scale; less research-intensive than Russell Group universities.
8. University of Birmingham
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Total students: ~40,000
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Founded: 1900
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Address: Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT
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Website: birmingham.ac.uk
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Tuition (UK): ~£9,250/year
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Tuition (international): ~£21,000–£28,000/year
Why it ranks here:
Large, self-contained campus with strong research and postgraduate enrollment.
Student experience:
Traditional campus atmosphere, strong sense of community.
Expert assessment:
Balanced option for students seeking scale with structure.
9. University of Leeds
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| The University of Leeds |
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Total students: ~38,000+
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Founded: 1904
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Address: Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT
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Website: leeds.ac.uk
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Tuition (UK): ~£9,250/year
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Tuition (international): ~£20,000–£29,000/year
Why it ranks here:
Large enrollment across medicine, engineering, and social sciences.
Student experience:
Active campus life with strong academic breadth.
Expert assessment:
Strong all-rounder at scale, particularly attractive to international students.
10. University of Nottingham
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| The University of Nottingham first began as a civic college in the city of Nottingham, UK, in 1881 |
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Total students: ~37,000+
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Founded: 1881
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Address: University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD
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Website: nottingham.ac.uk
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Tuition (UK): ~£9,250/year
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Tuition (international): ~£20,000–£28,000/year
Why it ranks here:
UK enrollment reinforced by strong international reputation and overseas campuses.
Student experience:
Large but cohesive, with a notably international student body.
Expert assessment:
Global outlook with a traditional campus feel.
UK vs. USA: Why “Largest” Means Something Different
Compared with the United States, the UK has:
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Fewer mega-campuses above 50,000 on-campus students
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A much stronger tradition of distance learning, led by The Open University
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Higher concentrations of postgraduate and international students in large universities
In the U.S., size often reflects sprawling physical campuses. In the UK, it more often reflects academic concentration, urban density, and online reach.
Bottom Line
The UK’s largest universities show that scale does not always come from land or stadiums. Instead, it comes from access, international demand, and flexible learning models. From The Open University’s unmatched online reach to UCL’s dense global campus, these institutions define what “big” means in British higher education.
