As more and more students from across the world visit the United Kingdom for higher studies, the scope of a degree in education studies in the UK is also increasing. Pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate courses in education from any one of the famous UK universities provides the most significant career opportunities.
Education courses are designed for those interested in education across various contexts to utilize cutting-edge research, theory, and practice to build a fairer education system for a globalized world.
Education Studies courses in the UK offer a lot of variety, and students can choose to specialize in leadership, teaching and learning, early years, inclusive practice, international education, physical education and English language teaching, among many others.
The average salary of a graduate with an education degree in the UK is £31,000 per year.
The list of top education universities in the UK is given below:
Rank 2023 |
University |
Overall Score |
1 |
UCL (University College London) |
96.8 |
4 |
University of Cambridge |
92.3 |
5 |
University of Oxford |
91.9 |
13 |
The University of Edinburgh |
83.6 |
22 |
King's College London |
81.5 |
31 |
University of Bristol |
79.8 |
43 |
University of Glasgow |
77.6 |
45 |
The University of Manchester |
76.9 |
47 |
University of York |
76.8 |
48 |
University of Nottingham |
76.6 |
62 |
University of Birmingham |
75.6 |
69 |
Durham University |
74.9 |
UK Education System
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Top Education University in the UK: Bachelor of Education
Most of the top universities in the UK offer an undergraduate degree in education. The tuition fee for a bachelor of education degree year ranges from £20,000 to £30,000.
The Bachelor in Education course's modules examines how people, mainly children develop and learn within the social and cultural contexts in which they live. They are regularly updated to reflect new research, which satisfies industry demands and considers the UK's changing educational practices and policies.
University |
Program |
Course duration |
University of Cambridge |
Education BA(Hons) |
3 years |
University College London |
Education Studies BA |
3 years |
University of Edinburgh |
Physical Education (MA Hons) |
4 years |
University of Manchester |
BSc Education |
3 years |
University of Warwick |
Education Studies BA |
3 years |
University of Birmingham |
BA (Hons) Education |
3 years |
University of Sheffield |
Education, Culture and Childhood BA |
3 years |
University of York |
BA (Hons) Education |
3 years |
Entry Requirement:
Academic Requirement:
- Completion of higher secondary education
- A minimum score of 60-70%
Alternative pathway
For applicants who do not meet the entry requirement or whose certificate is considered not suitable for entry into an undergraduate program, the following alternatives are available:
- Complete IB program
- Complete a year of university-level courses in a country other than the UK
- Apply for the foundation year program in the UK
English Language Requirement:
- An IELTS score of 6.0 to 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 in speaking and listening.
- A TOEFL score of 75 overall, with 18 in listening and speaking.
- A PTE score of 58 overall
Top Education University in the UK: Bachelor of Education (Tuition Fee)
University |
Tuition fee |
University of Cambridge |
£23,340 |
University College London |
£24,000 |
University of Edinburgh |
£30,400 |
University of Manchester |
£21,500 |
University of Warwick |
£22,280 |
University of Birmingham |
£19,980 |
University of Sheffield |
£20,000 |
University of York |
£19,600 |
Top Education University in the UK: Masters of Education
A master's degree in education is a 10 12- months course depending on the university. The tuition fee for a master's program ranges from £20,000 to £31,000 per year.
The program is offered at several prominent universities in the UK under Master of Education, Master of Science, and Master of Arts.
Training and development specialists, school and career counsellors, instructional coordinators, postsecondary education administrators, etc., are some famous titles a student may obtain after earning a Masters's in Education in the UK.
University |
Program |
Course duration |
University of Cambridge |
Master in Education |
10 months |
University College London |
Education MA |
1 year |
University of Edinburgh |
Education (MSc) |
1 year |
King's College London |
Education MA |
1 year |
Lancaster University |
Master in Education and Social Justice |
12 months |
University of Manchester |
MA Education for a Sustainable Environment |
1 year |
University of Warwick |
Education (MA) |
1 year |
University of Birmingham |
MA Education |
12 months |
University of Sheffield |
MA Education |
1 year |
University of York |
MA Education |
1 year |
Entry Requirement:
- A 4 years bachelor's degree in a relevant field
- The minimum score requirement is 60 - 70% or higher or its equivalent of 50 – 59% with at least one year of relevant work experience.
- If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you can apply for a pre-master programme in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities.
English Language Requirement:
- An IELTS score of 7.0 overall with a minimum score of 6.5 in each band
- A TOEFL score of 100 overall, with no less than 23 in reading, listening, and speaking and 21 to 25 in writing.
- A PTE score of 60 to 65 overall, with at least 58 in each section
Top Education University in the UK: Masters of Education (Tuition Fee)
University |
Tuition fee |
University of Cambridge |
£ 31,293 |
University College London |
£26,600 |
University of Edinburgh |
£25,300 |
King's College London |
£19,740 |
Lancaster University |
£21,000 |
University of Manchester |
£22,000 |
University of Warwick |
£ 23,460 |
University of Birmingham |
£20,430 to £22,140 |
University of Sheffield |
£20,400 |
University of York |
£19,950 |
Top Education University in the UK: PhD in Education
A PhD in education is generally available as a research degree or a professional program such as a doctor of education. The course duration may be anywhere between 3 to 4 years. The tuition fee ranges from £18,000 to £27,000 per year.
University |
Program |
Course duration |
University of Cambridge |
PhD in Education |
3-4 years |
University College London |
Education, Practice and Society MPhil/PhD |
3 years |
University of Edinburgh |
Education PhD |
3 years |
King's College London |
Education Research MPhil / PhD |
2-4 years |
Lancaster University |
Educational Research (Independent Study) MPhil/PhD |
36 months |
University of Manchester |
PhD Education |
3 years |
University of Warwick |
MPhil/PhD in Education |
3 years |
University of Birmingham |
Education PhD |
3 years |
University of Sheffield |
PHD in Education |
4 years |
University of York |
PhD in Education |
3 years |
Entry Requirement:
- A bachelor's degree in a relevant field
- A master's degree in research or master’s degree by coursework with at least 80% overall
English Language Requirement:
- An IELTS score of 7.0 to 7.5 overall, with a minimum score of 7.0 in each band
- A TOEFL score of 100 to 110 overall, with no less than 23 in reading, listening, and speaking and 21 to 25 in writing.
- A PTE score of 60 to 65 overall, with at least 58 in each section
Top Education University in the UK: PhD in Education (Tuition Fee)
University |
Tuition fee |
University of Cambridge |
£ 27,048 |
University College London |
£18,660 |
University of Edinburgh |
£23,350 |
King's College London |
£22,980 |
Lancaster University |
£18,590 |
University of Manchester |
£20,000 |
University of Warwick |
£26,470 |
University of Birmingham |
£19,380 to £20,460 |
University of Sheffield |
£20,030 |
University of York |
£18,900 |
Top Education University in the UK: Scholarship
The following table shows some of the scholarships available to international students in universities in the UK.
University |
Scholarships |
Amount |
University College London |
UPC PROGRESSION SCHOLARSHIPS |
£5,000 per year |
University of Edinburgh |
Robertson International Scholarships |
£1,000 |
Lancaster University |
Lancaster Global Scholarship |
£5,000 |
University of Manchester |
The Carbon Reduction Scholarship |
10% reduction in fees. |
University of Warwick |
Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship |
£13,000 |
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Top Education University in the UK: Job Scope
Graduates with a degree in education can choose careers as early-year teachers, education consultants, trainers, etc. Experienced individuals may have a career as policymakers, planners, researchers, etc., in government offices. There also are education consultancies that recruit graduates of an education program.
Several employment options are available after studying for education in the United Kingdom. One of the most apparent paths is teaching as a professor, adult educator, or primary or secondary school teacher.
Employers in fields as diverse as marketing, local councils/support services, and information technology will highly value the diversity of practical skills that this flexible degree will give you.
Role |
Range of Salary |
Average Salary |
Secondary School Teacher |
£21k - £46k |
£31,450 |
Primary School Teacher |
£21k - £39k |
£29,157 |
Learning and Development Specialist |
£22k - £40k |
£29,012 |
High School Teacher |
£18k - £41k |
£27,241 |
Head Teacher |
£47k - £97k |
£67,367 |
Office Manager |
£21k - £42k |
£29,539 |
Preschool Teacher |
£18k - £38k |
£25,950 |