Written by 
Are you dreaming of a prestigious UK university experience, but the acceptance rates are too high? Don’t worry. This list dives deep into the top 10 universities with low acceptance rates in UK. These institutions are highly selective – but with the right preparation and a standout application, you could be joining their elite ranks. So, are you ready to see if you have what it takes? Let’s explore the top UK universities with lowest acceptance rates.
10 UK Universities With Lowest Acceptance Rates
Worried about figuring out the lowest acceptance rate university UK? Here are the 10 best universities with low acceptance rate in UK along with their acceptance rate, top courses and employment rate.
1. University of St Andrews
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Employment Rate: 92%
Top Courses: Art History, Neuroscience, Chemistry, Economics, English, History, and International Relations.
Average Annual Fees: £28,190 – £35,920
The University of St. Andrews was established in 1413 and is situated in St Andrews, Scotland. After Oxford and Cambridge, it is one of the oldest universities in the United Kingdom. The renowned St. Andrews comprises several colleges and institutions that are meant to provide a range of programs. It has steadily grown over the past six centuries into a top-tier university that accepts students worldwide, which makes it one of the universities with low acceptance rate in UK.
Why Choose the University of St Andrews?
1. Reputation: St Andrews is a well-respected university, consistently ranked among the top 100 universities in the world.
2. Location: This lowest acceptance rate university UK is located in the small coastal town of St Andrews in Scotland. This makes for a unique and picturesque study abroad experience.
3. Academic offerings: St Andrews offers a wide range of academic programs, including traditional disciplines such as arts and sciences and specialized programs.
2. University of Cambridge
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Employment Rate: 92%
Top Courses: Art History, Neuroscience, Chemistry, Economics, English, History, and International Relations.
Average Annual Fees: £28,190 – £35,920
The University of Cambridge is the next top lowest acceptance rate university UK. It is the fourth-oldest university in the world and the second-oldest in the United Kingdom. There are several notable alumni from the University of Cambridge, such as Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking, and Tom Hiddleston, which makes it the lowest acceptance rate university UK.
Why Choose the University of Cambridge?
1. Reputation: Cambridge is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, consistently ranked among the top 5 universities globally.
2. Academic opportunities: The university has 31 colleges, each with its unique character and facilities, allowing students to find a college that fits their interests and needs.
3. Extracurricular activities: From sports teams to music groups, there are plenty of opportunities for students to pursue their passions outside the classroom.
3. London School of Economics
Acceptance Rate: 8.9%
Employment Rate: 93%
Top Courses: Government, International Relations, Sociology and Economics
Average Annual Fees: £9,350 – £18,408
The London School of Economics is one of the universities with the lowest acceptance rate in the UK. Over 11,000 students are enrolled in various programs at this Westminster-based university, most of which are international. IIt has the largest ethnic diversity, having accepted students from more than 155 different nations. With such a low acceptance rate, it is also one of the hardest universities to get into in the UK.
Why Choose the London School of Economics?
1. Reputation: It is a top-ranked university known for its expertise in the social sciences, particularly economics, politics, and law, making it one of the lowest acceptance rate university UK.
2. Location: LSE is located in London, one of the world’s most vibrant and diverse cities. It provides students with access to a wealth of cultural and professional opportunities and the ability to study in a truly global city.
3. Career prospects: LSE has a strong reputation for producing graduates who go on to successful careers in various fields.
4. University of Edinburgh
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Employment Rate: 96.5%
Top Courses: Mechanical Engineering, medicine, physics and sports science
Average Annual Fees: £1,820 – £9,250
The University of Edinburgh is Scotland’s oldest and the sixth-oldest university in the entire UK. The city includes five campuses and some of the most venerable structures. Known as one of the top universities with low acceptance rate in UK, if you get an opportunity to study at the University Of Edinburgh, it’s a win-win! There are now more than 36,000 students enrolled in various programs at this public university. Of these students, 23,000 are undergraduates, and the remaining are graduate students.
Why Choose the University of Edinburgh?
1. Reputation: It is a highly respected institution, consistently ranked among the top 50 universities in the world, making it one of lowest acceptance rate university UK.
2. Academic offerings: It offers a wide range of academic programs across various disciplines, including medicine, law, engineering, business, and the humanities.
3. Location: The University of Edinburgh is located in the historic city of Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital. The city is known for its rich cultural heritage, lively festivals, and beautiful scenery. An interesting fact about Edinburgh is that it was recently ranked as the 2nd best student city in the UK and 17th in Europe by The Campus Advisor
5. University of Warwick
Acceptance Rate: 14%
Employment Rate: 93%
Top Courses: Theatre Studies, Accounting and Finance, and American Studies.
Average Annual Fees: £21,220 – £27,060
One of the universities with low acceptance rate in UK is the University of Warwick. It is ranked 10th among UK universities and 62nd overall. Warwick University, which is based in Coventry, was established in 1965, making it one of the country’s newest universities. In 2017, it was ranked as the university in the area with the second-highest graduate employment rate.
Why Choose the University of Warwick?
1. Reputation: The University of Warwick is a highly respected institution, consistently ranked among the top 100 universities in the world. This reputation makes it the lowest acceptance rate university UK.
2. Academic offerings: The University of Warwick offers undergraduate and graduate programs in various disciplines, including business, economics, engineering, and the arts and humanities.
3. Location: The University of Warwick is located in Coventry, a city in the West Midlands of England, which is one of the best areas to live in Coventry. It is a short distance from the major cities of Birmingham and London, making it an ideal location for study abroad and travel opportunities.
6. University of Oxford
Acceptance Rate: 17.5%
Top Courses: Linguistics, History, Medicine, Natural Sciences
Employment Rate: 80%
Average Annual Fees: £9,250 – £10,000
The University of Oxford is one of the universities with the lowest university acceptance rate UK. It is also most likely the most prestigious in the area, and different factors influence Oxford University’s acceptance rate. The application procedure is impacted by the fact that Oxford and Cambridge are frequently referred to as one institution (Oxbridge), as was previously mentioned. Being a top-tier university and one of the universities with low acceptance rate in UK creates a band of students of top-notch batches for years.
Why Choose the University of Oxford?
1. Reputation: The University of Oxford is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, consistently ranked among the top 5 universities globally.
2. Academic opportunities: Oxford offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and has a diverse student population.
3. Extracurricular activities: From sports teams to music groups, there are plenty of opportunities for students to pursue their passions outside the classroom.
7. Durham University
Acceptance Rate: 41%
Employment Rate: 91.7%
Top Courses: Physics, economics, law, psychology, and geography.
Average Annual Fees: £9,250 – £10,000
Durham University, sometimes known as the University of Durham, is a public research university established in 1832. After Oxbridge, no other reputable institution was founded for more than 600 years, and Durham was the first, making it one of those universities with the lowest acceptance rate university in the UK. The acceptance rate of Durham University is quite low, making it difficult for the students to get in. It is popular for several courses; in fact, it is also known for being one of the best law schools in the UK.
Why Choose Durham University?
1. Reputation: Durham University is known for its academic excellence, world-class research. It has a strong emphasis on providing students with a unique and well-rounded educational experience, making it the lowest acceptance rate university UK.
2. Academic opportunities: Durham University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including natural sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, and business and law.
3. Location: Durham University is located in the historic city of Durham, in the North East of England. The city is known for its beautiful architecture, including the famous Durham Cathedral and its picturesque setting on a peninsula surrounded by the River Wear.
8. University of Strathclyde
Acceptance Rate: 42%
Employment Rate: 74%
Top Courses: Biomedical Sciences, Business & Management Studies, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry.
Average Annual Fees: £1,820 – £9,000
The University of Strathclyde, which is ranked 32nd globally, is famous for being the lowest acceptance rate university UK. It is a public research university that was established in Glasgow in 1796. It received a Royal Charter in 1964 and became the UK’s first technology institution. In fact, it is one of the top 3 universities in Glasgow that has the lowest acceptance rate university UK.
Why Choose the University of Strathclyde?
1. Reputation: The University of Strathclyde is a highly respected institution with the lowest university acceptance rate in the UK, about 9.2%. It is consistently ranked among the top 150 universities worldwide.
2. Academic opportunities: The University of Strathclyde offers various undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including engineering, business, law, and the sciences.
3. Location: The University of Strathclyde is located in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. Glasgow is known for its rich cultural heritage, lively music and arts scene, and friendly people.
9. University College London (UCL)
Acceptance Rate: 12%
Employment Rate: 92%
Top Courses: Architecture, Built Environment, Archaeology
Average Annual Fees: £9,250 – £10,000
Jeremy Bentham’s radical ideals inspired the founding of University College London, which is one of the top colleges in London to study. Notably, UCL stands out for fostering innovation and is renowned for its commitment to interdisciplinary studies. Due to this, it is also known as one of the UK universities with lowest acceptance rates. UCL has a unique edge towards its teaching and training opportunities for students.
Why Choose The University of University College London?
1. Reputation: University College London (UCL) is a highly respected institution, consistently ranked among the top 25 universities in the world.
2. Academic opportunities: UCL offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including engineering, medicine, arts, and social sciences.
3. Location: UCL is located in London, one of the world’s most vibrant and diverse cities. It gives students access to a wealth of cultural and professional opportunities and the ability to study in a truly global city.
10. Imperial College London
Acceptance Rate: 14.3%
Employment Rate: 90%
Top Courses: Science, Engineering, Medicine and Business
Average Annual Fees: £40,940- £53,700
Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine (or simply Imperial College London) was founded in 1907 by royal license. Being one of the UK universities with lowest acceptance rates, only 18,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate programs. In fact, it is one of the top 10 best universities in the world.
Why Choose Imperial College London?
1. Reputation: Imperial College London is a highly respected institution, consistently ranked for science, technology, engineering and medicine.
2. Academic opportunities: Imperial College London offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including engineering, medicine, business, and natural sciences.
3. Location: Imperial College London is located in London, one of the most vibrant and diverse cities in the world, providing students with access to a wealth of cultural and professional opportunities, as well as the ability to study in a truly global city.
Attending the lowest acceptance rate of universities in UK can be challenging. Still, it is a rewarding experience to get into any of these institutions. By understanding these universities’ characteristics and admission process, students can increase their chances of getting accepted. So, there you have it- the top 10 UK universities with lowest acceptance rates. So, don’t waste your time and apply to these top universities with low acceptance rate in UK as soon as possible!