If you are considering pursuing your education in the UK at the top Russell Group universities, then you are at the right place.
This blog will tell you about the top eight Russell Group universities, the popular programs they offer, tuition fees for undergraduate and postgraduate programs, and their entry requirements.
Before discussing the universities, let us tell you about this Russell group in the UK and their reputation.
The Russell Group, with its headquarters in London, was formed in 1994. It is an elite association of 24 leading public research universities in the UK. Many universities are considered among the top universities in the UK and the world.
Universities in this group are known for their top-tier education, world-class research, and prestigious reputation. This group is also known as the British Ivy League, similar to the Ivy League of universities in the USA, which includes top universities like Harvard and Yale.
Top Russell Group universities in the UK
Now you have understood about the Russell Group, we are going to tell you about the top eight Russell Group universities in the UK. Here is the list:
Imperial College London
It is a world-renowned public research university established in 1907 in London, England, ranked 2nd in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2025.
This university offers over 67 undergraduate and 155 postgraduate courses specialising in business, engineering, medicine, and science. The average annual tuition fee is 35,000 GBP.
Your experience at this university will be diverse, as it has over 350 different clubs, societies, and projects you can participate in, covering a wide range of interests, from sports and the arts to entrepreneurship and volunteering.
The average tuition fee is between INR 34 and 42 lakh, and the average cost of living is INR 16 lakh annually.
Now let’s talk about the popular courses along with their tuition fees:
- BSc Biotechnology, with an average tuition fee of 34 lakh to 44 lakh for the first year and a course duration of 3-4 years.
- MBA, with an average tuition fee of 65 lakhs for the full course and a course duration of 12 months to 2 years.
- MBBS, with an average tuition fee of 57 lakh for the first year and a course duration of 6 years.
- MSc Financing and Technology, with an average tuition fee of 50 lakh for the full course and a course duration of 12 months to 2 years.
An undergraduate degree at this university lasts three years for a bachelor’s degree and four years for an integrated master’s. To apply for this degree, you must have a TOEFL score of 92 or higher and an IELTS band score of 6.5 or higher.
A master’s degree lasts one year, and you can also take a part-time option that lasts over two years.
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge, established in 1209, is one of the top Russell Group public research universities in Cambridge, England.
It is the world’s third-oldest surviving university and the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world.
Ranks 5th in the QS World University Rankings 2025. It offers over 32 undergraduate and 299 postgraduate programs, with over 7,000+ international students.
This university has over 31 colleges and over 150 faculties, comprising six schools: Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Technology.
Popular courses include Mathematics, Mathematical Physics, Natural Sciences, Economics and History.
The average tuition fee is around INR 41 lakh annually, and the average cost of living is INR 15 lakh.
Now let’s talk about the popular courses along with their tuition fees:
- BA, with an average tuition fee of INR 21 lakh to INR 40 lakh for the first year and a course duration of 3-4 years.
- MA, with an average tuition fee of INR 28 lakhs to INR 35 lakhs for the full course and a course duration of 12 months to 2 years.
- Mphil, with an average tuition fee of INR 29 lakh to INR 45 Lakhs for the full course and a course duration of 9-12 months
- PhD, with an average tuition fee of INR 20 lakh to 60 lakh for the first year and a course duration of 4 years.
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford, established in 1096, is one of the oldest Russell group universities in the English-speaking world.
This university is located in Oxford, England. It ranks 3rd in the QS World University Rankings 2025, with over 62 undergraduate and 347 postgraduate programs.
The average tuition fee is between INR 34 and 51 lakh, and the average cost of living is INR 17 lakh annually.
Now let’s talk about the popular courses and their tuition fees:
- BA, with an average tuition fee of INR 28 lakh to INR 48 lakh for the first year and a course duration of 21 months to 5 years.
- MPhil, with an average tuition fee of INR 27 lakhs to INR 34 lakhs for the entire course and a course duration of 21 months to 2 years.
- MBA, with an average tuition fee of INR 61 lakh for the entire course and a course duration of 12-21 months
- MSc, with an average tuition fee of INR 28 lakh to 58 lakh for the full course and a course duration of 9-12 months.
University College London (UCL)
UCL is one of the top Russell Group universities in the UK, ranked 9th in the QS World University Rankings 2025, with over 403 undergraduate and 624 postgraduate programs.
This university is situated in the heart of London. It offers various benefits and facilities like libraries, cafes, bars, a gym, a theatre, and even a contemplation room, catering to your needs.
The average tuition fee for studying at this university is between INR 19 lakhs and INR 51 lakhs, and the cost of living is INR 16 lakhs annually.
The average tuition fee for an undergraduate degree is between 26,200 euros and 47,000 euros annually. On the other hand, the average tuition fee for a graduate degree is between 26,200 euros to 57,700 euros.
Now let’s talk about the popular courses and their tuition fees:
- BSc, with an average tuition fee of INR 27 lakh to INR 54 lakh for the first year and a course duration of 3 years to 6 years.
- BBA, with an average tuition fee of INR 24 lahks to INR 42 lahks for the first year and a course duration of 3 to 4 years.
- MBA, with an average tuition fee of INR 23 lakh to INR 49 lakh for the entire course and a course duration of 12 months and two years.
- MSc, with an average tuition fee of INR 23 lakh to 48 lakh for the entire course and a course duration of 12 months and two years.
- MS, with an average tuition fee of INR 19 lakh to 66 lakh for the entire course and a course duration of 12 months and two years.
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh was established in 1583 as a leading public research university in Scotland.
It ranks 27th in the QS World University Rankings 2025, with over 381 undergraduate and 523 postgraduate programs. It also ranks as the seventh most prominent university in the UK, receiving over 69,000 undergraduate applications annually.
It is also one of the top sports universities in the UK, with over 60 sports clubs in the sports union.
Its central campus is in the United Kingdom, and other campuses such as Easter Bush Campus, Lauriston Campus, Holyrood Campus, and King’s Building Campus are also in the UK only.
The average tuition fee to pursue your education at this top Russell group university is INR 20 lakhs to INR 42 lakhs. The average cost of living is roughly 15 lakhs annually.
Now let’s talk about the popular courses along with their tuition fees:
- BSc, with an average tuition fee of INR 22 lakh to INR 35 lakh for the first year and a course duration of 4 to 6 years.
- MBA, with an average tuition fee of INR 24 lakh to INR 42 lakh for the entire course and a course duration of 12 months and one year.
- MSc, with an average tuition fee of INR 25 lakh to 40 lakh for the entire course and a course duration of 12 months and one year.
- MS, with an average tuition fee of INR 21 lakh to 42 lakh for the entire course and a course duration of 12 months and two years.
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is also on the Russell Group universities list because of its top-tier education and vibrant student life.
Established in 1824 in Manchester, UK, this university ranks 34th in the QS World University Rankings 2025. It offers over 392 undergraduate and 560 postgraduate programs.
Its campus includes more than 10,500 students from 180 countries outside the UK. This university has a long history of welcoming Indian students; approximately 1300 students from India are studying there.
It offers over 1000 degree programs across humanities, business, science and engineering subject areas. These programs include foundation courses, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, PhDs and MBAs.
The average tuition fee is 30000 GBP/year for international students.
This university specialises in courses such as Arts and Humanities, Business and Management, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and Management.
King’s College London
King’s College London is one of the top Russell Group Universities in the UK. It ranks 40th in the QS World University Rankings 2025 and is one of the oldest universities in England. It offers over 155 undergraduate programs and 344 postgraduate programs.
It has more than 23,000 international students from 185 countries worldwide and has over 8,500 working staff.
This university specialises in courses such as Arts and Humanities, Business and Management, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and Management.
The approximate tuition fee for postgraduate courses is around 25,284/year pounds for the academic year 2025, and the approximate tuition fee for undergraduate courses is around 35,244/year pounds for the academic year 2025.
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
LSE was established in 1895 and has a worldwide reputation for the quality of its research. It is a member of the University of London.
It consistently ranks among the top universities in the world for its world-class education and cutting-edge research, particularly in social sciences.
It ranks 50th in the QS World University Rankings 2025, with over 42 undergraduate and 186 postgraduate programs.
It specialises exclusively in Social Sciences and includes subjects such as Politics, Economics, sociology, Law, Anthropology, Accounting, and Finance.
This university specialises in courses such as Arts and Humanities, Business and Management, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and Management. It also offers executive MBA and PhD in the same programs.
Entry requirements for top Russell Group universities
Each of the eight universities in the Russell Group has specific entry or eligibility requirements, which may vary based on the program you opt for. So, we advise you to check the entry requirements of the university you are applying for.
However, here are some of the general entry requirements that are common for most of the top Russell Group universities in the UK:
- Academic requirements: As we all know, these top Russell Group universities are very competitive, and it is challenging to get in; you typically require strong grades in your previous studies. The specific grades will vary depending on the university you are applying for. If you are applying for undergraduate degrees, you must score high grades in your 12th (e.g. A levels).
- Depending on the field of study, you must submit your entrance exam scores for many programs, such as the SAT for undergraduate degrees or the GMAT/GRE for postgraduate programs.
- You also have to submit proof of your proficiency in the English language through standardised tests like IELTS or TOEFL. However, the minimum score will vary depending on the university and program you opt for.
- After receiving your offer letter from any of these top Russell Group universities, you must apply for a UK Student Visa to study in the country.
- If you are studying in the UK, you will have to bear expenses like living costs and tuition fees. To support you financially, the Russell Group Universities provide many scholarships.
- There are some additional requirements as well:
- A well-written personal statement that highlights your academic achievements, skills, and your purpose for pursuing the program at these Russell Group universities.
- Letter of Recommendation from teachers and advisors that can make your application strong in front of other applications.
Minimum requirements for Undergraduate program
- It would help to have a minimum IELTS band score between 6.0 and 7.0 (or an equivalent TOEFL).
- It would be best if you had scored high grades in your 12th grade or have had strong academic performance in your high school diploma program, such as A levels or IB diplomas.
Minimum requirements for Postgraduate program
- Having a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from your undergraduate studies would be best.
- It would be best to have a minimum IELTS band score between 6.5 and 7.0 (or an equivalent TOEFL).
Conclusion
The Russell Group has some of the top universities in the UK. These universities offer high-quality education and a vibrant atmosphere for international students. Suppose you get admitted to any of these top Russell Group universities. In that case, you can work with some of the best employers in the world, as these universities have strong industry connections with top companies worldwide.
If you are considering applying to any of the top Russell Group universities, we have helped many students fulfil their dream of studying there. Connect with our experts today.
