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Students always contemplate the ‘best’ or the ‘top’ universities not only to get a quality education but also so that they can also add it to their CVs to attract employers upon instant completion of their university studies. However, it is a very rare sight to see students debate about the hardest university to get into in the UK. Have you ever been curious about why these universities are difficult to get into? Why is the application process of some universities more competitive than others?
Before we proceed, I’d like you to take a look at the number of international students in the UK despite the competitive application procedure of quite many universities. This number has only witnessed an upward trend since the early 2000s.
Source: Studying-in-UK.org
Although students may find it a hard time getting into some of the top universities such as the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, that is where the challenge lies. Every year, more than 40,000 students fly from all corners of the world to study at these universities. The country is home to more than 1000 HEIs, 30 of which rank globally amongst the top 100 universities in the world. We’ve put across a list of some of the hardest universities to get into in the UK along with details such as their acceptance rates and other admission details.
University Of Oxford: 21.8%
Getting into the University Of Oxford is indeed a tough competition. However, studying at this university, as we all know, has its own set of benefits. The University of Oxford offers a wide range of 48 undergraduate courses to international students. The degrees are such as law, humanities, language, theology, and philosophy.
If you’re lucky enough to get into this university, you’ll be among 24,000 students; 11,930 of which are UG students and the rest go on to pursue their PG studies. While it may be one of the hardest UK unis to get into, it has also been ranked in the top 6 globally in the following fields:
- Engineering
- Life Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Arts
- Humanities
The University of Oxford has some key requirements apart from having high scores. The admission committee also assesses each student wholly taking into consideration their character and contribution to the community at large. To join this exclusive lot, you will need:
- GPA – 3.75 out of 4.0
- Fees – £9,250 per course
University Of Cambridge: 28.5%
The University of Cambridge stands among the most prestigious universities in the world. Due to the large number of applications that it gets every year, the acceptance rate of the university is also quite low, which lands it on the list of the hardest university to get into in the UK. The university accepts about 20,000 students every year 9,000 of which are international students coming from over 140 countries. Your chances of getting into this university are high if your academic scores are a plus for you. The university is famous for its 6 major schools namely:
- Arts and Humanities
- Biological Sciences
- Clinical Medicine
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Technology
Getting accepted to this university is no walk in the park. Your chances of getting into the University of Cambridge are high if your academic scores are a plus for you. Therefore, getting into this university will need the following:
- GPA – 3.7
- Fees – £9,250 per course
London School Of Economics And Political Science: 35.2%
When compared to prestigious universities such as Oxford University or the University of Cambridge, getting into LSE is slightly on the upper hand with an acceptance rate of 35.2%. However, it still stands on the list of the hardest university to get into in the UK. With its main focus on developing innovative ideas and research theories, the university ranks amongst the best in the UK. As the name suggests, the university is famous for the following departments:
- Economics
- Accounting
- Methodology
- Sociology
- Statistics
- Philosophy
- Law
- Geography
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While the statistics surrounding applications and acceptance at the London School of Economics can be daunting, it is crucial to begin planning and preparing well in advance if you have set your sights on this prestigious institution. To be considered for admission to this esteemed university, you will need:
- GPA – 3.5
- Fees – £4,625
St George’s University Of London: 39%
If you bifurcate the name of the university, you’ll automatically understand that this university is associated with the University of London and St George’s hospital. A medical science-based open-research institute, it was the first in the UK to introduce a four-year programme in medical sciences. Why this university is among the most difficult universities to get into the UK, is because the university accepts a total of about 5,500 students every year with cut-throat competition. While you may think of it as the hardest university to get into in the UK, you’ll largely benefit from the many services offered to international students, a few of which include:
- Practices based on real-life situations including medical emergencies
- Clinical Skill laboratories
- Trauma Centers
Being the specialized health university in the UK, their admission process focuses on identifying applicants with the potential to excel in their desired course and, if applicable, their chosen profession. To apply at St George’s University of London, you will need the following:
- GPA – 3.0-3.2
- Fees – £13,000-31,690
University Of The Arts London: 41.9%
If you’re in the world of art and design, and you’re considering the UK for your higher studies, the University of the Arts London is the perfect place for you. Although it also belongs on the list of the hardest university to get into in the UK, you can apply to the university for your pre-degree, undergraduate, as well as postgraduate studies. The university offers some popular overseas courses in the UK including:
- Art
- Design
- Screen
- Communication
- Fashion
- Media
- Performing Arts
University of Arts London completely admits students on merit and character. Getting into this university is no easy feat thanks to the high benchmark they’ve set in the creative field. It is good to keep in mind that you will first need the following before applying to programmes here:
- GPA – 3.0
- Fees – £9,250 per course
You can alternatively look up even short courses offered by the university in case you feel like your chances of getting selected are low. The university comprises 6 specialist colleges namely:
- Camberwell College of Arts
- Central St Martins
- Chelsea College of Arts
- London College of Communication
- London College of Fashion
- Wimbledon College of Arts.
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