The Best Universities for Education in the UK (2024)

There are many reasons why someone might want to study Education at a university in the UK. Here are just a few:

• The UK is home to some of the world's most prestigious universities, renowned for their tradition of academic excellence. Master's degrees in Education from these institutions are recognised globally and highly valued across educational sectors.
• UK universities are at the forefront of incorporating innovative teaching methods and pedagogical research. This ensures that graduates are equipped with the latest techniques and knowledge to influence educational practices positively.
• With a wide range of specialisations available, from Educational Leadership and Management to Special Needs Education and Educational Technology, students can tailor their studies to match their career aspirations precisely.
• Studying in the UK exposes students to diverse cultures and global perspectives on education. This international outlook is invaluable for educators looking to understand and address educational challenges within a global context.

The following tables gives the 10 top universities in the UK for Education, according to global and local university rankings. It can show you which British universities are amongst the best in the world - and help you compare institutions on an international level.

This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Times Higher Education, QS and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

Each ranking system uses its own methodology, with different factors having more or less influence on a university's result.

For more information on using international rankings as a postgraduate, see our guide.

The Times Higher Education rankings are strong in academic focus and diverse teaching metrics, but do not include employer-specific metrics. Additionally, the rankings may not include all specialist institutions.

The QS World University Rankings are designed to meet the needs of prospective students, with more weight given to student-centric metrics such as staff/student ratio, international recruitment and employer opinion. The rankings are balanced between qualitative and quantitative data, but give less weight to research than some other rankings.

The ARWU rankings reflect the presence of elite academics and the future academic success of graduates. However, they do not directly assess the quality of education at a university or take into account other aspects of university performance.