Full List of Russell Group Universities in the UK 2024 – Updated Rankings, Eligibility, Acceptance Rates

The Russell Group is a prestigious group of 24 research-intensive universities in the UK that believe that ‘people and ideas are the key to meeting global challenges’. Known for their excellent academics, world-class facilities, and world-leading research, the Russell Group is eyed by the top study abroad applicants from all around the world. To better understand what the Russell Group means, these can easily be termed the Ivy League Universities of the UK. In this blog, we will take a look at the complete list of Russell Group Universities while also understanding their history, significance, how you can get admission into one and whether they have any impact on your career.

Name of the Association/Group	Russell Group
Formation	1994
Type of Association	Association of the top United Kingdom-based universities
Region Served	UK
Headquarters	50/60 Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JH, United Kingdom
Members	24
Key people	Tim Bradshaw (Chief Executive), Anton Muscatelli (chair 2017–2020) and Nancy Rothwell (chair 2020–2023)
Website	https://russellgroup.ac.uk/

Also read: Top 5 Reasons to Study at Ivy League

List of Russell Group Universities

As stated above, the Russel Group includes 24 universities spread around the United Kingdom. Here is the complete list along with their location

1. Imperial College London – London
2. University of Oxford – Oxford
3. University of Cambridge – Cambridge
4. University College London (UCL) – London
5. The University of Edinburgh – Edinburgh
6. University of Manchester – Manchester
7. King’s College London – London
8. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) – London
9. University of Bristol – Bristol
10. University of Warwick – Coventry
11. University of Glasgow – Glasgow
12. University of Birmingham – Birmingham
13. University of Southampton – Southampton
14. University of Leeds – Leeds
15. Durham University – Durham
16. University of Sheffield – Sheffield
17. University of Nottingham – Nottingham
18. Queen Mary University of London – London
19. Newcastle University – Newcastle upon Tyne
20. University of Liverpool – Liverpool
21. University of Exeter – Exeter
22. University of York – York
23. Cardiff University – Cardiff
24. Queen’s University Belfast – Belfast

Russell Group Universities Rankings 2025

Here is the complete list of Russell Group Universities along with their QS and THE Rankings.

SN	University	QS WUR 2025	THE WUR 2024
1	Imperial College London	2	8
2	University of Oxford	3	1
3	University of Cambridge	5	5
4	University College London (UCL)	9	22
5	The University of Edinburgh	27	30
6	University of Manchester	34	51
7	King’s College London	40	38
8	London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	50	46
9	University of Bristol	54	81
10	University of Warwick	69	106
11	University of Glasgow	78	87
12	University of Birmingham	80	101
13	University of Southampton	80	97
14	University of Leeds	82	129
15	Durham University	89	174
16	University of Sheffield	105	105
17	University of Nottingham	108	130
18	Queen Mary University of London	120	135
19	Newcastle University	129	168
20	University of Liverpool	165	168
21	University of Exeter	169	177
22	University of York	184	147
23	Cardiff University	186	190
24	Queen’s University Belfast	206	201-250

Here is a great map provided on the Russel Group’s official website that shows the exact location of each university in the UK.

Russel Group Universities Acceptance Rate

University	Acceptance Rate (%)
Imperial College London	11-15
University of Oxford	17
University of Cambridge	21
University College London (UCL)	12-15
The University of Edinburgh	17-20
University of Manchester	20-25
King’s College London	15-20
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	10-15
University of Bristol	20-25
University of Warwick	20-25
University of Glasgow	20-25
University of Birmingham	20-25
University of Southampton	20-25
University of Leeds	20-25
Durham University	15-20
University of Sheffield	20-25
University of Nottingham	20-25
Queen Mary University of London	20-25
Newcastle University	20-25
University of Liverpool	20-25
University of Exeter	20-25
University of York	20-25
Cardiff University	20-25
Queen’s University Belfast	20-25

History of Russell Group 

Russell Group was founded in 1997. An informal group of 17 universities held meetings at the Hotel Russell, which is the place from which the group derives its name. 7 other universities were added to the group in the years that followed.

Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Imperial College London, Liverpool, Leeds, London School of Economics, Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle, Oxford, Southampton, Sheffield, University College London, and Warwick were the first 17 institutions to join the Russell Group.

King’s College London and Cardiff Universities joined in 1998. Queen’s University Belfast joined the association as the 20th member in November 2006. The announcement that Durham, Exeter, Queen Mary University of London, and York will join the Russell Group came in 2012.

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Russel Group University Admission Criteria

There is no specific admission or eligibility criteria for admission to the Russel Group. Each university has sets its own requirements and processes for admission.

• The criteria might be prior accomplishments, academic standing, results on eligibility exams, employment history, etc.
• All colleges will demand that you have a strong command of the English language. You’ll also need to meet some requirements according to your visa in order to enter the nation. On the university’s website, you may find out all you need to know about the required English language exam scores. Additionally, look up any criteria for student visas on the UK government website.

Financial Support

The majority of Russell Group universities provide their students with bursaries, scholarships, and scholarship options. These may be given based on academic achievement, extracurricular pursuits, volunteer work, geographic location, academic field, etc.

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What’s Special About Russell Group Universities?

“Graduate recruiters rank 10 Russell Group universities in the top 30 universities worldwide, and Russell Group graduates typically receive a 10% salary ‘top-up’ over the others.” – Wendy Piatt, Director, Russell Group Universities

Russell Group Universities are global leaders in research and offer high-quality academic programmes in almost every field of study. Studying at Russell Group University, you get to learn from brilliant minds, become a part of a diverse peer group and get access to excellent teaching facilities and research opportunities! We have elucidated the prominent features that will surely convince you to begin your higher studies at one of the world-leading academic institutions of Russell Group:

• Amongst the internationally renowned and celebrated Russell Group universities, the University of Oxford is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the UK and offers more than 250 distinct courses spread across 30 faculties.
• Being the first in the world for English Literature, Anthropology, Geography, Pharmacy and Archaeology, Cambridge University is home to more than 100 departments, faculties, schools and institutes. To provide the best employment opportunities to its graduates, Cambridge University organises over 14 career events every year.
• Ranked 1st in London and 4th in the UK by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, Imperial College London is a top-ranked academic institution in the country for Engineering, Medicine and Business programs.
• Featuring at the 28th position in the University League Tables, the University of Liverpool is globally acclaimed for its top-notch academic programmes, premium faculty and student-friendly environment. The university is internationally renowned for its research in Science & Engineering, Humanities & Social Science and Health & Life Sciences. Further, the institution offers over 250 bachelor’s programmes across 31 disciplines, approximately 150 master’s programmes and varied research-oriented PhD, MPhil, MRes and Professional Doctorates to students across the globe.
• The UK caters to more than 30,000 job opportunities every year across borders
• More than two-thirds of leading world researches are produced in the UK.
• Allured by the relevance, quality, reputation and career opportunities at the universities, more than 34% of the faculty and students at the RG Universities belong to non-UK nationalities.
• RG universities also strive to collaborate with various organisations and institutions at national and international level thus offering copious research and training opportunities for their students and placement prospects for graduates. 

Let’s now check out some of the most famous Russel Group Universities:

Queen Mary University of London

One of the most famous Russel groups universities, Queen mary University of London is built upon the legacy of 4 historic academic institutions of London aimed at enhancing the lives of the less fortunate. Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) is one of the most popular public research-intensive institutions in the UK. It is also amongst the greatest UK universities that form the prestigious Russell Group. QMUL is home to international students from 160 countries, 9 Nobel Laureates and notable alumni members. The university is not just renowned for its research prowess but is also internationally acclaimed for its inclusivity, diversity and LGBTQ friendliness and close proximity to central London. 

Study at Queen Mary University of London

Glasgow University

During the 18th century, the University of Glasgow was a part of the Scottish Enlightenment along with other universities like St. Andrews, Aberdeen, and Edinburg. Among all the British universities, this one also has the power to award undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in its own name. During the year 2015, the university had the 23rd highest entry qualification requirement for undergraduate courses among all British universities. Apart from this, the university has introduced an award which is known as the World Changing Alumni Award. The university’s campus boasts more than 100 listed buildings as well  as modern teaching facilities. It was the first university in the UK to appoint a Professor of Engineering. 

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University of Exeter 

The University of Exeter, founded in 1955, is a public university dedicated to research. The university belongs to the Russell Group, which comprises the leading research-intensive universities of the United Kingdom and consists of three campuses. The university organizes its educational and administrative departments into six schools of higher education. The university has a large base of students and connects actively with over 125,000 students in 183 countries globally. The graduates have worked in different disciplines. The university invests heavily in science, mathematics, engineering, and medical research. In a recent assessment of research quality in UK universities, 29% of Exeter’s research was rated world-leading with a further 53% rated internationally excellent. 

Liverpool University

The University of Liverpool is one of the most prominent universities in the United Kingdom. It is also known to be one of the six original ‘redbrick’ civic universities and has a global outreach in the educational field equivalent to its academic heritage. The university claims to have a campus in every continent and consists of 3 core faculties. The expert faculty provides world-class education and training for students that led to the production of various Nobel Laureates and CEOs in the world. It was teh first university in the UK to establish an autonomous university in China. It is one of the great centres of research, knowledge and innovation. 

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University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham houses more than 20,000 undergraduates and 14,000 postgraduates. For more than a century, the university has been highly purposeful, pragmatic and pioneering. Since its inception, the university has been able to research cavity magnetron, diffusion, the structure of lactose and glycogen, and carbohydrates chemistry. Moreover, it has also created a scheme named Birmingham Heroes‚ where various observations like efficient energy cooling, particles of pollutants, intestine disease, treatment of cancer, life sciences, and mental health issues are emphasized. Geographically, the university is located in Edgbaston, a place that has ranked among the top places in the U.K. 

Impacts of the Russell Group Universities UK

• The UK’s Russell Universities have a significant local, national, and international social, economic, and cultural effect.
• More than 260,000 people are employed by universities across the country, and two-thirds of the world’s top research is produced there.
• Every year, the universities add over £87 billion to the national economy.
• The Russell institutions in the UK attract about 32% of students who are not British citizens due to the calibre, importance, and reputation of their research. This shows that Russell Universities in the UK have greater student-to-staff ratios and better student satisfaction and employability rates.

FAQs

We hope that this blog has familiarized you with the key features of Russell Group Universities. Planning to study abroad at a Russell Group University? Book an online session with our Leverage Edu experts on 1800572000 and we will help you in selecting the right course as well as sorting out the admission process thus ensuring that you land into your dream university abroad!