There are more than 6 million students choose UK universities for further education every year. So, getting to know the lowest acceptance rate university UK becomes pretty crucial. Do you have aspirations of attending one of the best UK universities but are worried about the acceptance rates? Don’t worry; you’ve started at the right place. We entail the top 10 universities with lowest acceptance rates UK. These institutions are extremely selective, but if you are prepared and submit a good application, you may be able to get into their exclusive ranks. The following is a list of the universities with lowest acceptance rates UK to gain admission to, along with the features of each institution for your reference.
Top 10 universities with lowest acceptance rates UK
University of St Andrews (8%)
- QS World University Rankings 2025: 104
- Acceptance Rate: 8%
- Employment Rate: 92%
- Average Annual Fees: £28,190 – £35,920
Situated in St Andrews, Scotland, University of St Andrews was established in 1413. It is one of the oldest universities in the United Kingdom, even older than the famous Oxford and Cambridge. As one of the universities with lowest acceptance rates UK, it has continuously expanded over the previous 600 years to become a prestigious institution that admits students from all over the world. The acceptance rate indicates that for every 100 applications, merely eight candidates are granted admission to the university.
Why choose University of St Andrews?
- Academy: University of St Andrews gains high reputation in these subjects, including Science, Arts, Divinity and Medicine. Studying here, you will receive strict and quality education.
- Accommodation: The university provides several kinds of accommodation for undergraduates. You can select one of whether your dorm is catered or self-catered, shared or single room, and shared or en-suite bathroom. While postgraduates have wider choices. You can choose off-campus accommodation, which cooperate with the university and have more freedom. Please check uhomes.com if you want to know more.
- Scholarships: University of St Andrews provides many scholarships, especially for international students. You can visit the school website to know more details.
University of Cambridge (8%)
- QS World University Rankings 2025: 5
- Acceptance Rate: 8%
- Employment Rate: 92%
- Average Annual Fees: £28,190 – £35,920
The next UK university with lowest admission rate is University of Cambridge. It’s the second-oldest university in the UK and the fourth-oldest in the globe. In 1209, University of Cambridge is one of producing future leaders. Every year, a number of students are drawn to it because of its many programs. Due to the massive applicants for each session, the Cambridge evaluation committee considers a number of factors before making the final selection. It is, therefore, one of the universities with lowest acceptance rates UK. University of Cambridge has graduated a number of well-known people in the world, including Tom Hiddleston, Stephen Hawking, and Isaac Newton.
Why choose University of Cambridge?
- Academy: University of Cambridge is one of the most famous top universities in the world. There is no doubt that you will receive quality education here.
- Accommodation: Cambridge guarantees that almost all students can get at least 3-year accommodation. If you want to live in off-campus accommodation, please ask uhomes.com.
- Prospects: University of Cambridge has always been one of the most welcomed schools among employers for many years. So, if you can graduate from here, there is no need to worry about your job and future.
London School of Economics (8.9%)
- QS World University Rankings 2025: 50
- Acceptance Rate: 8.9%
- Employment Rate: 93%
- Average Annual Fees: £9,350 – £18,408
London School of Economics (LSE) was founded in 1895 and is located in Westminster. LSE originally provided its programs through University of London before gaining the authority to grant degrees in 2008. With approximately 11,000 students enrolled in various programs at this university, most of them are international students. LSE has the largest students’ ethnic diversity, with students from over 155 different nations. LSE is well regarded for its excellence in the social sciences, particularly economics, politics, and law. Only 1,700 of the 26,000 applications received by LSE in 2021 were accepted, making it a UK university with lowest acceptance rate.
Why choose London School of Economics?
- Location: London School of Economics is located in the centre of London, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. London is also the economic and political centre of Europe, so it is good for you to study economy and politics here.
- Academy: Many subjects in LSE play a leading role in the UK and even the world, such as economics, anthropology, social policy, health policy and media and dommunications.
University of Edinburgh (10%)
- QS World University Rankings 2025: 27
- Acceptance Rate: 10%
- Employment Rate: 96.5%
- Average Annual Fees: £1,820 – £9,250
University of Edinburgh is the oldest university in Scotland and the sixth-oldest in the United Kingdom. This institution is home to some of the most illustrious buildings and five campuses, with over 36,000 students studying here. The university has a distinguished history of academic success and has established itself as a global leader in research and education. If you’re considering furthering your education at this prestigious college, you’ll need to choose the most suitable student accommodation in Edinburgh.
Why choose University of Edinburgh?
- Academy: University of Edinburgh has an international reputation for innovative research across a wide range of disciplines.
- Facilities: Students will have access to one of the largest and most important libraries in the world, housing over 1.8 million printed volumes. There are also 30 open-access computer labs with 24-hour access across key locations, as well as free laptop loans. In addition, University of Edinburgh offers a free Student Counselling Service and a University Health Centre, and Student Disability Service also provides a range of support for students with disabilities.
University College London (12%)
- QS World University Rankings 2025: 9
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Employment Rate: 92%
- Average Annual Fees: £9,250 – £10,000
University College London (UCL) was established in 1826. Did you know that Jeremy Bentham’s radical ideas served as inspiration for UCL? It is worth to note that UCL is famous for its dedication to multidisciplinary studies and for encouraging innovation. It is also regarded as one of the lowest acceptance rate university UK. When it comes to student teaching and training possibilities, UCL has a distinct advantage as well.
Why choose University College London?
- Reputation: UCL has always been a dream school for many students, including international students. In recent QS world university rankings 2025, UCL was ranked No.9.
- Diversity: Studying here, you can feel the diversity. UCL is the first school in England to welcome students of any religious or social background, and also the first school in England to welcome women to university education.
King's College London (13%)
- QS World University Rankings 2025: 40
- Acceptance Rate: 13%
- Employment Rate: 92%
- Average Annual Fees: £9,250 – £10,000
Established in 1829, King’s College London has garnered recognition for its outstanding academic programs and research endeavors. The university provides a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various subject areas. The institution, which has a long history, is proud of its outstanding academic program, global perspective, and dedication to knowledge advancement and social impact. Newly enrolled students of King’s need to research alternatives to student accommodation in London to start their further education journey.
Why choose King's College London?
- Reputation: As one of the top universities, King’s is ranked sixth in the UK according to The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024, and 40th in QS world university rankings 2025.
- Location: King’s College London is London’s most central university, and is ranked 1st for the best student city in the world (QS Best Student Cities 2025).
Imperial College London (14.3%)
- QS World University Rankings 2025: 2
- Acceptance Rate: 14.3%
- Employment Rate: 90%
- Average Annual Fees: £40,940 – £53,700
Medical, science, and technological programs at Imperial College London are highly popular. With only 18,000 students enrolled in undergraduate programs, it has one of the lowest university acceptance rate UK, at a mere 14%. Since its founding in 1907, Imperial College London has continuously maintained a reputation for outstanding academics, innovative technology, and ground-breaking research. Located in the centre of London, Imperial College London fosters a lively and intellectually stimulating environment by drawing diverse and extraordinarily ambitious students from all over the world.
Why choose Imperial College London?
- Academy: Imperial College London is the only school in the UK that focuses on STEM and commercial. Many subjects in ICL are leading the world.
- Reputation: Recently, Imperial College London has remained as one of the top 3 universities in the world.
University of Warwick (14%)
- QS World University Rankings 2025: 69
- Acceptance Rate: 14%
- Employment Rate: 93%
- Average Annual Fees: £21,220 – £27,060
The next one in the UK universities lowest acceptance rates is University of Warwick. It is ranked 69th overall and 10th among UK universities. This university was founded in 1965, making it one of the nation’s newest academic institutions. Located in the vibrant city of Coventry, students prefer it for its outstanding courses and professional prospects. It was titled the university in the region with the second-highest employment rate for graduates in 2017. The University of Warwick provides graduate and undergraduate courses in numerous subjects, including economics, business, engineering, and the arts and humanities.
Why choose University of Warwick?
- Academy: You can receive quality education at University of Warwick. And many achievements have been made here. According to REF, 92% of Warwick’s research is world-leading or internationally excellent.
- Facilities: You can enjoy a variety of well-equipped study and teaching spaces. The learning hub — the Oculus houses innovative technology and learning areas, including lecture theatres, seminar rooms, and collaborative learning spaces.
University of Oxford (17.5%)
- QS World University Rankings 2025: 3
- Acceptance Rate: 17.5%
- Employment Rate: 80%
- Average Annual Fees: £9,250 – £10,000
University of Oxford is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, having been founded almost a thousand years ago, in 1096. This university, which is located in the picturesque British city — Oxford, has a long and distinguished history as well as a steadfast dedication to academic quality that dates back more than nine centuries. University of Oxford manages to continue drawing ambitious students from all over the world with its magnificent ancient architecture and dynamic collegiate structure. The campus provides a life-changing studying experience as well as a doorway to excellent opportunities in a variety of subject areas.
Why choose University of Oxford?
- Reputation: University of Oxford is one of the world-class universities in the world. Many big names were graduated from here. Most employers also welcome graduates from Oxford.
- Facilities: Both undergraduates and postgraduates have access to outstanding resources and facilities, including over 100 libraries, cutting-edge experimental labs and world-famous museums and collections.
Durham University (41%)
- QS World University Rankings 2025: 3
- Acceptance Rate: 41%
- Employment Rate: 91.7%
- Average Annual Fees: £9,250 – £10,000
Durham University is a prestigious public research university located in Durham, North East England. It was formally established by an Act of Parliament in 1832. It is the first university in England to be recognized after University of Cambridge and University of Oxford were founded more than 600 years ago, and is generally considered to be the third oldest university in England. Durham University is a collegiate university, and University of Cambridge and University of Oxford are the only three medieval collegiate universities in the United Kingdom. Thus, the three universities are often called “Doxbridge” in the United Kingdom.
Why choose Durham University?
- Acceptance Rate: Compared to the above schools, the acceptance rate of Durham University is relatively high. You have more opportunities to get into this school.
- Characteristic Courses: At Durham, academic success is only half the story. Durham’s transformative and wider student experience will also help you develop as a person. 85% of its students are involved in sports, music, theatre, volunteering or student enterprise.
Conclusion
The above are the top 10 lowest acceptance rate university UK, and it can be overwhelming to enroll in the universities with lowest acceptance rates UK. Nevertheless, getting accepted into any of these schools is a satisfying experience. Students might improve their chances of acceptance by learning about the features and admissions rates of these universities. Furthermore, discovering your future house will eventually need to coincide with the challenging journey of finding the best institute. Check out uhomes.com and let us remove the load off your hands. Thus, don’t wait and submit an application as soon as you can to these prestigious universities with lowest acceptance rates UK!
FAQ about lowest acceptance rate university UK
According to the proportion of applicants to each school who get an offer, the top five universities that are easiest to get into are University for the Creative Arts with a 97% acceptance rate, Aberystwyth University with a 93.5% rate, University of Sussex with a 93% rate, Solent University, Southampton with a 92.4% rate, and Bishop Grosseteste University with a 91.9% rate.
A variety of factors affect admission rates, including the volume of applications received, the number of spots available, the popularity of the course, the renown of the university, the prerequisites for admission, and the caliber of the applicants.
The exemplary requirements are A-levels or its equivalent, such as Scottish Highers or International Baccalaureate. University and course specific requirements differ in terms of grades. Some UK universities may consider Access to Higher Education Diplomas or BTECs.
University of Bedfordshire is the easiest univeristy to get into in the UK. It is founded in 1908, and currently has five campuses: Luton, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, and Putteridge Bury.
University of Oxford and University of Cambridge are recognized as two the most selective universities in the UK. A lot of students, even international students try their best to apply to these two universities. The competition is really fierce.
