Top 10 Hardest UK Universities To Get Into 2024 [Updated] (2024)

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It’s crucial to have all the information you need before starting the application process while moving to the UK for further studies. There are British universities that are quite selective and others that are rather easy to get into. You can better prepare if you are aware of these universities’ acceptance rates. In this blog, we’ve identified the hardest UK universities to get into along with the qualifications you’ll need to be one of the select few students accepted for the upcoming academic year.

Which Are The Hardest Universities To Get Into In The UK?

The University of St. Andrews, with an acceptance rate of just 8.35% is one of the hardest UK universities to get into. This proportion demonstrates how selective the university is when considering applicants, so you must truly put your best foot forward and make your application stand out from the crowd to be taken into consideration. The University of Cambridge is second on the list and students work very hard to get accepted into this university. There are many elite universities in the UK that are more well-known abroad other than the University of St. Andrews and the University of Cambridge. To increase your chances of being chosen, be sure to complete your information regarding the admissions process as you continue to investigate these universities.

List Of Most Difficult Universities To Get Into In The UK

1. The University Of St. Andrews

Acceptance Rate: 8.35%

The University of St. Andrews was established in 1413 and is situated in St Andrews, Scotland. After Oxford and Cambridge, this public university is the third-oldest in the United Kingdom. The renowned St. Andrews is made up of a number of colleges and institutions that are meant to provide a range of programmes. It has steadily grown over the past six centuries into a top-tier university that now accepts students from all over the world. With more than 145 different nationalities represented, it boasts one of the most varied student bodies in the UK.

The university only admits 8.35% of all applicants in a given academic year, this makes it one of the hardest UK universities to get into. Eight applicants are given an opportunity to study at the university for every 100 applications, according to the acceptance rate. As a result, the University of St. Andrews has the lowest admission rate among UK universities. To have a better chance of being chosen, one must receive at least 240 UCAS points, which are taken into account by the university when determining admission requirements.

2. The University Of Cambridge

Acceptance Rate: 20.8%

The University of Cambridge is the next institution on the list of hardest UK universities to get into. It is the fourth-oldest university in the world and the second-oldest in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1209. Oxbridge is a term used to describe the Oxford and Cambridge universities because of their many similarities.

The Cambridge review committee takes a number of variables into account before determining the final list because there are so many applications received for each session. All applicants are evaluated on a range of criteria and those who do well are admitted to the programme. As a result, with a 20.8% acceptance rate, it has the second-lowest rate in the United Kingdom. In other words, out of a group of 22,000 applications, only 4,200 pupils get accepted.