Here we look at higher education in the UK, including the best degrees for job prospects and salary potential, statistics on how the top UK universities rank globally, tuition fees and more.
The UK has one of the world’s largest and most internationally recognised higher education systems. It offers academic, technical and vocational qualifications at universities, specialist institutions, further education colleges and through degree apprenticeships.
This guide explains how UK higher education works and examines the degrees associated with the strongest employment prospects and earning potential. It also compares the UK with other highly educated countries and identifies the UK’s leading universities.
What is higher education?
Higher education is study undertaken after secondary or further education, normally at qualification level 4 or above.
Although higher education is often associated with university degrees, it also includes:
- Higher National Certificates and Diplomas
- Certificates and Diplomas of Higher Education
- Foundation degrees
- Higher and degree apprenticeships
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Master’s degrees
- Postgraduate certificates and diplomas
- Doctorates
Higher education can be delivered by universities, specialist institutions and further education colleges. More than 240 UK colleges offer at least one higher education course, so studying at a university is not the only route available. UCAS guidance on higher education colleges
UK qualification levels
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, higher education qualifications generally occupy levels 4 to 8:
| Level | Examples |
|---|---|
| 4 | HNC, CertHE, level 4 higher apprenticeship |
| 5 | HND, DipHE, foundation degree |
| 6 | Bachelor’s degree, degree apprenticeship |
| 7 | Master’s degree, postgraduate diploma, integrated master’s |
| 8 | Doctorate or PhD |
Scotland uses a separate 12-level framework. A Scottish honours degree is normally at SCQF level 10, a master’s degree at level 11 and a doctorate at level 12. UK government qualification-level guidance
How long does higher education take?
A standard bachelor’s degree usually takes three years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scottish undergraduate degrees commonly take four years.
Other typical durations include:
- HNC: one year full-time
- HND or foundation degree: two years full-time
- Integrated master’s degree: four years, or five in Scotland
- Postgraduate master’s degree: one year full-time
- PhD: usually three to four years full-time
- Degree apprenticeship: normally three to six years while working
Part-time and distance-learning routes take longer but enable students to combine higher education with employment or other responsibilities.
UK higher education in numbers
There were 2,863,180 students enrolled with UK higher education providers in 2024/25, 1% fewer than in the previous year. HESA higher education statistics
Other significant figures include:
- 685,565 international students studied at UK providers in 2024/25.
- International students represented approximately 24% of the student population.
- Around 622,000 international students came from outside the EU.
- India and China together accounted for a substantial proportion of non-EU enrolments.
- The UK also had approximately 669,950 students studying for UK qualifications overseas through transnational education.
International enrolments fell by 6% in 2024/25 and were 10% below their 2022/23 peak. House of Commons Library international student statistics
The latest Graduate Outcomes survey found that 87% of the 2023/24 graduating class were working, undertaking further study or combining the two approximately 15 months after graduation. Fifty-seven per cent were in full-time employment and 7% were unemployed. Graduate Outcomes results
Ten degrees with some of the best job prospects
The following selection uses the Department for Education’s Longitudinal Education Outcomes data. It shows the percentage of UK-domiciled first-degree graduates from English higher education providers who were in sustained employment, further study or both five years after graduating.
Related nursing specialisms have been combined to prevent them from occupying several separate positions. These figures measure a sustained positive destination rather than guaranteed employment in a particular profession.
| Degree subject | Sustained employment or further study | Why prospects are strong |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinary medicine | 95.4% | Provides a direct route into a regulated profession, with opportunities in clinical practice, public health, research and animal health. |
| Healthcare science | 95.2% | Supports careers in diagnostic, physiological, laboratory and medical technology services. |
| Midwifery | 94.5% | Graduates complete professionally focused training aligned with a specific healthcare occupation. |
| Nursing | 92.3% to 94.2% | Adult, children’s, community, mental health and learning disability nursing all have strong sustained-outcome rates. |
| Dentistry | 94.2% | Offers a defined professional route into NHS, community or private dental practice. |
| Medical technology | 93.7% | Supports roles involving diagnostic equipment, clinical technology and healthcare systems. |
| Physiotherapy | 93.2% | Leads towards professional registration and employment in healthcare, rehabilitation, sport and private practice. |
| Medicine | 92.2% | Graduates typically progress into structured postgraduate medical training and clinical employment. |
| Teacher training | 91.7% | Provides a direct route into education, with additional demand in subjects such as mathematics, physics and computing. |
| Chemistry | 91.7% | Develops transferable analytical skills relevant to pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, energy, research and education. |
Social work, pharmacy and statistics also performed strongly, with 91.4% of graduates in sustained employment, further study or both.
The figures relate to the 2023/24 tax year and graduates who completed their first degree in 2017/18. Department for Education subject-level outcomes table
What else affects graduate employability?
The subject studied is only one factor. Employment prospects can also be affected by:
- The university and individual course
- Professional accreditation
- Relevant work experience
- Placements or a year in industry
- Degree classification
- Technical and interpersonal skills
- Location and willingness to relocate
- Economic conditions at the time of graduation
- Postgraduate qualifications or professional examinations
Students should therefore examine course-level outcomes on Discover Uni rather than relying only on broad subject averages.
Ten degrees with the highest salary potential
The following table uses median annualised earnings five years after graduation. It includes specific subjects with at least 100 graduates represented in the earnings data and excludes residual categories such as “other engineering”.
| Rank | Degree subject | Median earnings after five years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dentistry | £59,900 |
| 2 | Medicine | £56,400 |
| 3 | General engineering | £52,300 |
| 4 | Economics | £51,200 |
| 5 | Building and construction | £49,000 |
| 6 | Statistics | £48,300 |
| 7 | Chemical, process and energy engineering | £47,600 |
| 8 | Materials technology | £45,400 |
| 9 | Veterinary medicine | £45,400 |
| 10 | Software engineering | £44,700 |
Electrical and electronic engineering followed closely at £44,600, while pharmacy and physics both recorded median earnings of £43,900.
Across all first-degree subjects, median earnings five years after graduation were £33,300. Medicine and dentistry was the highest-earning broad subject group, while performing arts was the lowest. Department for Education graduate labour-market outcomes
Important: These are median earnings, not starting salaries or guaranteed outcomes. They cover UK-domiciled graduates of English providers who were in sustained employment in the 2023/24 tax year. They do not fully control for differences in working hours, prior academic attainment, location, background or occupation.
Salary should also be considered alongside:
- Course length and training requirements
- Tuition fees and living costs
- Working hours
- Professional examinations
- Job security
- Opportunities for progression
- Personal interests and abilities
UK higher education compared with leading countries
There is no single objective ranking of national higher education systems. A transparent comparison is the percentage of adults aged 25 to 64 who have completed a tertiary qualification.
The table below shows the ten countries with the highest current tertiary-attainment rates among OECD countries and partner economies with comparable 2024 data.
| Rank | Country | Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 64.7% |
| 2 | Ireland | 57.5% |
| 3 | South Korea | 56.2% |
| 4 | Luxembourg | 54.4% |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 53.8% |
| 6 | Australia | 53.1% |
| 7 | Sweden | 51.8% |
| 8 | Israel | 50.5% |
| 9 | Norway | 50.4% |
| 10 | Lithuania | 47.7% |
| OECD average | 41.2% |
Tertiary education includes short-cycle qualifications as well as bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. The table measures educational attainment, not the quality of individual universities. Countries without sufficiently current comparable data are not included. OECD Education at a Glance 2025 and OECD education-attainment data
How the UK compares
Several additional indicators demonstrate the scale and international reach of UK higher education:
- Approximately 60% of UK adults aged 25 to 34 had completed tertiary education in 2024.
- Seventeen per cent of UK 25 to 34-year-olds held a master’s or equivalent qualification, close to the OECD average of 16%.
- Unemployment among tertiary-educated UK adults aged 25 to 34 was 2.9%, compared with an OECD average of 4.9%.
- International students represented around 24% of UK higher education enrolments in 2024/25.
- The QS World University Rankings 2027 placed four UK universities in the global top ten and 17 in the top 100.
The UK therefore combines high domestic participation with an unusually international student population and a strong concentration of globally ranked research universities. However, high qualification rates do not automatically translate into better skills, salaries or employment for every graduate. OECD UK country profile
The ten top UK universities
University rankings produce different results because they measure different things. Domestic league tables tend to place greater emphasis on teaching, student satisfaction, entry standards and graduate prospects. Global tables generally give more weight to research, citations and international reputation.
The following list uses the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026.
| UK position | University | World ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Imperial College London | =2 |
| 2 | University of Oxford | 4 |
| 3 | University of Cambridge | 6 |
| 4 | UCL | 8 |
| 5 | University of Edinburgh | 35 |
| 6 | King’s College London | 37 |
| 7 | University of Manchester | =40 |
| 8 | University of Bristol | 57 |
| 9 | London School of Economics and Political Science | 62 |
| =10 | University of Warwick | =68 |
| =10 | University of Birmingham | =68 |
Warwick and Birmingham share the same global position, so 11 universities occupy the first ten UK ranking positions. QS World University Rankings 2027
Choosing a university
An overall ranking should be treated as one source of information rather than a definitive answer. The highest-ranked university overall may not offer the best course, environment or value for a particular student.
Important considerations include:
- Subject-specific rankings and departmental expertise
- Course modules and assessment methods
- Professional accreditation
- Graduate employment and earnings
- Placement and study-abroad opportunities
- Entry requirements
- Teaching quality and contact time
- Student support
- Accommodation and living costs
- Campus, city and social environment
- Accessibility and travel
- Clubs, societies and sporting opportunities
Prospective students should attend open days, compare detailed course content and speak to current students wherever possible.
Applying for higher education
Most full-time undergraduate applications are made through UCAS, the UK’s shared higher education admissions service. Applicants research courses, submit their qualifications and other required information, and may receive conditional or unconditional offers.
Entry requirements can include:
- A levels
- Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers
- BTECs
- T Levels
- Access to Higher Education Diplomas
- International qualifications
- Portfolios, auditions or admissions tests
- Relevant professional experience
Universities can consider contextual information alongside grades. Foundation years and Access courses also provide alternative routes for students who do not meet conventional entry requirements.
Postgraduate applications are usually made directly to individual universities, although some professional courses use centralised application services.
Tuition fees and student finance
Fees and financial support differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Eligibility depends on where the student normally lives, where they study and the type of course.
For eligible students ordinarily resident in England, the maximum standard full-time undergraduate Tuition Fee Loan for 2026/27 is £9,790. Maintenance Loans are also available, with the amount depending on household income and living arrangements. UK government student-finance guidance
Students should also investigate:
- University bursaries and scholarships
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
- Support for dependants
- NHS learning support
- Employer sponsorship
- Degree apprenticeships
- Charitable grants
- Hardship funds
Student finance works differently in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so applicants should use the funding body for the part of the UK where they normally live.
Is higher education worth it?
Higher education can improve career opportunities, earning potential, specialist knowledge and personal development. It can also provide access to professions that require a degree or professional registration.
However, a degree is not a guarantee of a highly paid graduate job. Its value depends on the subject, course quality, institution, work experience, cost and the student’s longer-term objectives.
Higher education is most likely to represent good value when a student:
- Has a clear reason for taking the course
- Understands the likely career routes
- Chooses a reputable and appropriately accredited programme
- Develops practical experience alongside academic knowledge
- Considers costs and funding before enrolling
- Selects a learning environment in which they are likely to succeed
University is only one higher education route. Foundation degrees, HNCs, HNDs, higher apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships and flexible modular study may offer a better combination of employment experience, cost and academic progression for some learners.