StudentCrowd-RGB-LongCreated with Sketch. Helping students make decisions SEARCH SIGN IN Write a Review

Choosing what university to go to is often the biggest decision that you have had to face so far in life.

It’s important that you choose a university with a campus that is right for you and one that will help you settle in to your new surroundings.

There’s a lot to consider:

  - What facilities are available on campus?

  - How spacious is the campus? Is there a lot of green areas?

  - Is there a lot of events and societies to attend?

Well, we’ve helped make your decision a lot easier…

How did we choose the top 20?

Put simply, we didn’t!

In fact, we invited students from every university in the UK to rate their own campus and the results were astonishing – 7,849 students filled out this university review form.

After some serious number crunching, we can now bring you the full Top 20 UK University Campuses for 2018:

#1

Loughborough University

The facilities are of extremely high quality and the overall campus atmosphere is friendly and welcoming.

Overall rating
Campus/Facilities

Famed for its sporting prowess, Loughborough University’s 440 acre campus has a number of wide open spaces and gardens meaning you’ll never struggle to find a place to exercise or somewhere to simply relax. Aside from the largest sports facilities of any university in the UK, the Loughborough campus also has a number of state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, as well as a wide range of cafes and bars. There’s plenty to see and do on campus, and if you did want to venture into town, it’s easily accessible by foot or by any number of shuttle buses running throughout the day.

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

 

#2
 

Image Credit

University of Exeter

I could not imagine going to another University. Exeter has everything, beautiful campus, nice city, near the seaside. Very organised and well run. 

 

Overall rating
Campus/Facilities

With over 20,000 students, 15,000 of which are Undergraduates, the University of Exeter stretches over three separate campuses.

Streatham and St Luke’s are located in Exeter with Penryn in Cornwall and all three being notable for their beauty.

Streatham Campus is set within 300 acres of botanical gardens and all three campuses regularly win awards for beauty.

Asides from looking great, they also boast a number of clubs, societies, cafés, shops, advice centres, print facilities, bars, clubs and a new £6.5 million Fitness Centre!

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#3
 

Image Credit

Lancaster University

I really enjoyed my time at Lancaster. I loved that everything you needed was on campus and that it felt like a proper little community.

Overall rating
Campus/Facilities

The Lancaster University campus occupies a stunning 560-acre parkland site just three miles away from the city centre.

It is home to more than 12,000 students and contains two banks, a Post Office, general stores, a bakery, hairdressers, ice cream parlour, cafes, restaurants, bars, theatre and an art gallery. It’s like a small town itself!

Not only that, but its Library is rated joint first in the UK by students (Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2018) and the £20 million Sports Centre features facilities including a swimming pool, climbing wall, sauna, steam room, tennis courts, netball courts and 3G pitch.

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#4
 

Image Credit

University of Dundee

They have everything you could ever ask for on campus and there’s always someone you can talk to if you’re struggling.

Overall rating
Campus/Facilities

The University of Dundee City Campus is delightfully green, with lawns and secret gardens, plus great views over the River Tay and its bridges, and the Fife countryside.

Whilst being a quiet and relaxed campus, perfect for that all important revision, it's very close to Dundee city centre (5 minute walk), so you're never too far away from the shops, and public transport hubs.

The city campus itself is also host to a number events including: student receptions, freshers and sports fairs, graduation garden parties and the Grad Ball, and car park raves!

It doesn't stop there: Dundee's city campus hosts the main library with a great range of learning spaces, the student union (DUSA) with clubs, bars and a shop, the swimming pool, gym and sports centre, plus several coffee shops.
 

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#5
 

Image Credit

Edge Hill University

Such a beautiful and safe campus, there's a broad range of societies to join and the library is great.

Overall rating
Campus/Facilities

Edge Hill boasts an award-winning 160 acre campus in Ormskirk, Lancashire close to cities such as Liverpool, Preston and Manchester.

The institution has been providing higher education for more than 130 years, with a mission to create opportunity from knowledge.

In recent years, Edge Hill has been commended for its dedication to sustainability, winning a host of Green awards, and its campus has been named the safest in the North West for the last six years. It has almost 2,500 rooms on campus, in a mixture of traditional halls of residence, apartments and townhouses, which have won numerous awards for their quality and facilities.

But greenery, and a safe and beautiful campus isn’t the only thing you can expect when you enroll at Edge Hill, the uni is also home to a brand new £27m centre called Catalyst which houses the University’s library, careers team and student services, a new sports centre catering for a host of indoor and outdoor sports, and from 2019 a Medical School.

The list doesn’t stop there, as every aspect of your social needs are met with the Arts Centre, cafes, coffee bars, diners, restaurants and the Student Union building, home to a bar, nightclub, pool tables, theme nights and much more!

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#6

The University of Sheffield

Amazing university, amazing place to be, Sheffield is incredible! The SU is the best, the city campus is easy to navigate around and the city is incredible

Overall rating
Campus/Facilities

The University of Sheffield is not completely campus based like some universities, it instead has a collection of buildings situated relatively close to each other throughout the city.

Facilities include the state-of-the-art Diamond building, which offers over 1,000 study spaces available 24/7, media editing booths, a recording studio and world-class laboratories and virtual reality suites, to offer students more practical learning opportunities.

As the university grows in popularity, plans for further potential development sites have been announced to cope with the demand.

Despite being spread out, the University of Sheffield campus is incredibly social and more than 350 clubs and societies operate here - from sport, poetry and religious groups to war games, knitting societies and much more, with Sheffield's Students' Union consistently ranked number 1 in the UK. 
Just a flavour of the past events that have taken place here include: a treasure hunt, bungee jump and night hike. Get involved

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#7
 

Image Credit

University of Leeds

Huge campus with lots of facilities and places to eat/drink/study and socialise.

Overall rating
Campus/Facilities

Although the University of Leeds is based on a single-site campus, it’s one of the biggest in the UK so there’s plenty to see and do.

Perfectly located, the University of Leeds campus is just a short walk from the centre of Leeds and only ten minutes from the beautiful countryside.

It also has a prominent creative community with a rich cultural life perfect for anyone interested in or studying any of the arts.

With a radio station, student newspaper, one of the largest research libraries in the country and 300 other clubs and societies, it’s easy to see why the University of Leeds has been chosen as one of the best Campuses in the UK.

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#8

University of Nottingham

Nottingham is a beautiful campus and attracts great students. Great city with good transport links too.

Overall rating
 

The University of Nottingham is home to a number of award-winning campuses both at home and abroad.

From the 300 acre University Park campus, one of the largest in the UK, in the centre of Nottingham, to their China & Malaysia Campuses, The University of Nottingham has a lot to offer!

There’s also the Jubilee Campus, famed for its innovative architecture and commitment to sustainability as well as the Suttington Bonington Campus, 10 miles south of Nottingham - a perfect countryside location for Vet School and Biosciences students.

With the wide variety of campus options available unlike many other universities, it’s the flexibility of the University of Nottingham which makes it very appealing to so many students.

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#9
 

Image Credit

University of Bath

Love love love the campus, it's so pretty, and small so only takes 10-15 minutes to walk from one side to the other

Overall rating
Campus/Facilities

Situated just two kilometres from Bath city centre and having undergone serious building and refurbishment over the past few years, the University of Bath campus features cutting edge research facilities, teaching rooms, halls of residence and The SU.

The SU offers a wide range of services and activities to help students make the most of their time at Bath. From the award winning bar and night club – The Plug & The Tub, to providing development opportunities, home to more than 160 student groups, offering support at the Advice & Support Centre and more. 

Student media are also part of The SU; made up of three groups – radio, television and magazine – who cover all of the latest goings-on.

The Parade is the hub of campus where you will find cafés, bars, banks, shops, supermarkets and restaurants.

Not only is The University of Bath’s campus is held in such high regard because of its outstanding teaching but also all of the opportunities to get involved by playing sport, joining a society, volunteering and more.

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#10
 

Image Credit

Newcastle University

Such a fantastic uni with a beautiful campus and loads of activities

Overall rating
Campus/Facilities

Based in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle University’s 50-acre campus offers excellent facilities with students consistently ranking their experience at the University among the highest in the UK.


Whilst being a smaller campus than some, Newcastle boasts two international campuses in Malaysia and Singapore as well as further one in London.


A very welcoming community, Newcastle University offers many opportunities to enjoy free cultural events, at its museum, gallery and theatre!


The city is known for its vibrant mix of sport, shopping, nightlife and eating out as well as easy access to beautiful beaches and rural beauty.

There is also plenty to get involved in through a wide mix of societies and groups – from musical theatre to martial arts.

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#11

University of St Andrews

The best campus ever, everything within walking distance and it's all old and beautiful. Can't be beaten.

Overall rating
Campus/Facilities

The University of St Andrews boasts a small enough community to be inclusive yet a reputation that attracts the best students and staff across the globe.

Overlooking the stunning North Sea and surrounding idyllic beaches and countryside of Fife, The University of St Andrews Campus is small enough to be considered a tight-knit community, but has a large enough reputation to attract some of the countries most talented students.

It’s also been said that there is in fact no university campus, or at least in the traditional sense, rather a collection of university buildings spread across the town.

This means that the university students and staff get to benefit from the wealth of the facilities the town has to offer.

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#12
 

Image Credit

University of Reading 

Really pretty campus and facilities.

Overall rating
Campus/Facilities

The University of Reading’s main Whiteknights campus is set in 130 hectares of beautiful parkland, complete with several listed buildings and its very own lake.

The campus has won seven consecutive Green Flag awards, recognising it as one of Britain’s top green spaces.

The campus features the Students' Union, library, a vast array of places to eat and drink and one the UK’s best student clubs. A brand new Co-op opened last year in the heart of the campus – offering a wide range of fresh produce, an in-store bakery, healthy foods, meal ideas, hot food and essentials. NUS extra card holders receive a 10% discount on all goods.

Based in the south of England, Reading is just 30 minutes away from London.

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#13

University of Birmingham

The campus is like its own little city! It's got everything you need..

Overall rating
 

Despite the University of Birmingham campus being famed for its historic buildings, today it also manages to blend them in with more modern designs creating an awe inspiring 276 acre layout.

The two main campuses at the Uni of Birmingham are Edgbaston (home to the famous cricket ground) and Selly Oak.

They’re both just a short walk from a multitude of diverse events and amenities in Birmingham city centre

Not only this, but the University has also gone on record as pledging to invest over £1m per week on the estate so you can always trust that the campus will be one of the most fresh and well kept out there!
 

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#14

Nottingham Trent University (NTU)

Perfection! Everything I could have asked for and more. The new facilities on all 3 campuses are amazing

Overall rating
 

Split across four main campuses, Nottingham Trent has invested over £450 million into their study, social and sporting spaces in the past 10 years - no wonder they made the list!

The City Campus is the main campus at Nottingham Trent with 16,000 students making use of the excellent facilities including: learning spaces, bars, gyms and much more.

Around half the size, Clifton Campus is home to just 8,000 students but there’s still plenty to see and do. With bustling social venues, super modern learning spaces and modern accommodation, Clifton offers something exciting and different.

The final two campuses are Brackenhurst Campus and the Creative Quarter Campus. Brackenhurst is set within 500 acres of beautiful Nottinghamshire countryside whereas the Creative Quarter is smack bang in the heart of Nottingham’s hip city centre.

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#15

University of East Anglia

More of a community feel than any other uni I visited. Everything you need is on campus.

Overall rating
 

Placed in 145 hectares of stunning parkland on the edge of historic Norwich and having won more than 20 architectural awards, The University of East Anglia continues to receive multi-million pound investment to improve teaching and research facilities.

It’s also home to one of the largest indoor sports facilities in the UK which has: a swimming pool, badminton, archery, yoga, table tennis, football, hockey, cricket, fencing, athletics track, climbing wall and gym. 

The 24/7 365 university library is home to over 800,000 books, 1,572 study areas, and 362 computers, meaning there are lots of learning spaces for you to choose from, whatever the time of day.

The campus doesn’t just work hard, it plays hard. Films, gigs and fashion shows are just some of the exciting events you can expect from a stay at the University of East Anglia campus.

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#16

University of Huddersfield

I love the Uni campus it is so beautiful! All of the facilities are just amazing and there are hundreds of societies/clubs to choose from!

Overall rating
 

The University of Huddersfield campus offers fantastic facilities from specialist laboratories, studios and performance spaces to a modern library and computing equipment. There’s even a beautiful canal that runs through the heart of campus, with a tree lined towpath for those downtime moments. 

The Students' Union hosts its own radio show, RadioHUDD and student paper HuddersfieldStudent as well as being the home for student advice for finance, housing, study and wellbeing. Students will find places to eat, cafés and shops within the building and also iZone, an information and resource centre that lets students know what there is to do on campus.

At Huddersfield, you can get involved with volunteering and clubs and societies including anything from Archery, Fencing and Medieval Re-enactment to Salsa and even ultimate frisbee!

As well as sporting clubs and societies there are plenty of facilities that students can take advantage of including a sports hall, gym and squash courts. In Huddersfield itself lies the famous John Smith’s Stadium which hosts Premier League football and Rugby League games.

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#17
 

Image Credit

Durham University

My college now feels like my home-from-home and the friends I’ve made are like family.

Overall rating
 

Durham University is one of the oldest in the UK, based in the beautiful and historic City of Durham. The Cathedral and Castle – together designated a UNESCO World Heritage site – dominate the skyline. Depending on the college you belong to, you could be based right in the centre of the City or just a short walk away, in one of our purpose-built landscaped colleges. There are more than 200 clubs and societies to get involved with at your leisure.

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#18
 

Image Credit

University of Surrey

Brilliant campus, with internet connection all around.

Overall rating
 

The University of Surrey won the Best University for University Facilities’ in 2015 and it’s easy to see why.

The beautiful campus is a safe, self-contained student community yet just 10 minutes’ walk from Guildford’s bustling town centre.

Across the University of Surrey campus there are a number of great places to eat and drink including: Chinese, Japanese & Korean restaurants, three Starbucks coffee houses, a campus pizza delivery service and even a restaurant run by students themselves studying hospitality degrees!

Throw more than 70 societies and 35 sports clubs in to the mix and you’ll soon get an idea as to why so many students have voted for the Uni of Surrey as having one of the best campuses in the UK.

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#19
 

Image Credit

University of Kent

The campus is very beautiful and the facilities are excellent.

Overall rating
 

Head on down to the South East of England if you want to find the University of Kent’s delightful campus, nestled in 300 acres of sprawling parkland.

With space for 4,800 students, The University of Kent is a self-contained campus with high quality, modern facilities, meaning when you study here you can rest assured that you will feel safe and have access to the best possible learning environments in the UK.

Amenities include: bars, cafes, restaurants, a cinema theatre, a sports centre hockey and football pitches, tennis and squash courts, a gymnasium and a dance studio. 

There’s also an on-campus night club which hosts some great nightlife during the week for students meaning you won't have to traipse to the nearest big city!

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

#20
 

Image Credit

University of Glasgow

Absolutely beautiful university, great campus and great location, can't fault the university itself at all

Overall rating
 

The University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest University in the United Kingdom and is located on the west end of Glasgow city on Gilmorehill.

Facilities at the university include: a library, a heated swimming pool, indoor sports courts, rugby and football pitches, the cricket oval and a museum to name but a few!

With a mixture of catered and self-catered facilities, accommodation at the University of Glasgow can be found on campus all within super close walking distance from the university and city centre.

And if it’s the big city environment you love, then look no further than Glasgow. Famed for being the 2nd largest shopping city centre in the UK behind only London, The city also has over 700 bars and clubs as well as museums and galleries for a mix of both day and night entertainment. 

Campus/Facilities
Clubs and Societies
Students Union
Careers Service
Internet/Wifi

 

Keep reading...

Join StudentCrowd for Unlimited Access, to Write Reviews and Help Students.

We'll send you an email so that you can verify your free account.

By joining you agree to our T's and C's. We're committed to protecting your privacy.
Thanks for the feedback!
StudentCrowd is free to use, but in order to report, vote, and leave reviews, you need to create a free account.