Best Universities for Campus and Facilities 2021
Best Universities for Campus and Facilities
Looking for the most recent results? Check out the 2022 winners here
Your university campus is the place you are going to learn and live for potentially three to four years of your life, so doing your research here can make a big difference.
Each university campus looks and feels very different. They range from being spread across a bustling city like the University of Glasgow (#7) to small towns like St Andrews (#3). They can also be a campus based in the city like the University of Birmingham (#12) or a campus in the countryside like Lancaster University (#20).
But of course it's not just what the town or city is like that counts. What about how the campus is looked after and the facilities on offer? From sports pitches to science labs, access to world class facilities can really enhance your university experience. Investment in high quality study spaces as well as social spaces can make all the difference. University rankings based on university reviews give you that all-important insight.
How are the Top 20 worked out?
We’ve run the numbers on 19,323 student reviews to find the best universities for campus and facilities. We can now reveal our top 20 league table of the best universities for campus and facilities in the UK, as decided by students!
This top 20 highlights those universities that are committed to investing in infrastructure and learning facilities as well as learning support. With universities spending nearly £6.2 billion on improvements to university campuses and facilities in 2014/15 alone, knowing which universities students think have the best campus with the best university facilities is important.
Make sure your university choice has everything you need to thrive.
Find out about the rest of StudentCrowd’s Best University Awards 2021 here.
Published: 29th July 2021
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University of Cambridge
"It's one of the top universities in the world, so the facilities and social experiences including talks, seminars and etc. by experts in different areas are really good."
Not only is the University of Cambridge set in some of the most beautiful surroundings, it also boasts more than 100 libraries and an impressive range of museums with unique collections and an outstanding Language Support Centre. It is one of the riches universities in the UK; it even has its own farm! No wonder they scored an impressive 4.9 out of 5 in student reviews!
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Loughborough University
"Just finished first year and it's great! Lecturers and all staff in general are very helpful. Accommodation is great too. Brilliant facilities all over the uni, especially powerbase gym!"
With £350 million invested into campus facilities over the last 10 years, it's no wonder Loughborough University has developed a reputation for its excellent student lifestyle, academic facilities and sports centres. The campus boasts a £17 million high-tech STEMlab and excellent science, technology, engineering and mathematics centres. In addition to the academic provisions, Loughborough also offers two fully equipped gyms, an olympic-sized swimming pool, and high-performance athletic centres.
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University of St Andrews
"The university is incredible, the buildings are wonderful. A lot of spaces are open to study (some of them 24h/24, 7 days/7)."
In addition to being the oldest university in Scotland, the University of St Andrews offers its students world class facilities resulting in an excellent student experience. Among some of its notable features include well equipped libraries, dynamic sports facilities, cafes, shops, and grand performing arts venues.
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Harper Adams University
"Harper is the best place to study any of the courses they offer. They have the best facilities and educated staff who want the best for you. I love Harper!"
With investments totalling more than £50 million in the campus over the last decade, Harper Adams University has a strong reputation for having modern and attractive features for students. Among its many amenities are high-tech laboratories, food and engineering innovation centres, a food academy, a 635 hectare farm, veterinary education facilities, and a companion animal house, plus health and lifestyle facilities. With all these benefits, it's no surprise the facilities have been so highly rated by UK students and that the university was voted the best in the UK by StudentCrowd users.
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The University of Sheffield
"The university of sheffield is great and campus has diverse shops and facilities. The environment is also quiet and clean, three libraries provide abundant academic resources."
The University of Sheffield offers world class academic facilities, which have received excellent reviews by StudentCrowd users, with one student commenting “the university has the greatest facilities”. One of its top features is The Diamond, a beautifully kept and fully-equipped library, digital hub and study space for students.
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Bangor University
"Bangor university has provided a really safe...Campus facilities are definitely adequate with 3 separate libraries and plenty of space to study in quiet areas."
Bangor University boasts one of the most beautiful locations in the UK with excellent facilities to match! Placing an emphasis on research, the university offers its own language centre, environmental centre and research vessel, as well as its own natural history museum and botanical gardens.
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University of Glasgow
"You can enjoy almost every kind of facility in this university including one of the biggest library among all UK universities."
Through its Campus Development initiative, the University of Glasgow is investing £1 billion in the next ten years into developing a world class campus and facilities. The campus features modern learning, research and social spaces including a fully equipped library, state-of-art sporting facilities, a language centre and excellent IT services.
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University of Exeter
"The uni is great. The staff is so supportive, the campus is amazing, the facilities are well equipped, everyone is very supportive and the societies are really fun."
The University of Exeter has invested over £350 million into its facilities across its three campuses, offering its students purposefully designed learning spaces, lively social hubs, excellent sporting facilities and a vibrant campus-based community. Its Streatham Campus offers tranquil grounds, scenic lakes, leafy woodlands and beautifully architected buildings.
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University of Reading
"The university has great facilities for students, especially for business, law and pharmacy students. The University of Reading are very proactive regarding the careers service that they provide for students."
The University of Reading offers three campuses for students to choose from, each with excellent and beautiful features. The Whiteknights campus boasts 130 hectares of lush parklands, the historic London Road campus recently underwent a £30-million campus transformation, while the Greenlands campus is known for its fantastic location and its fully equipped fitness centre.
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University of Nottingham
"Definitely the best University I chose. What stood out mostly is how genuinely friendly the people were. Just as important to me are their excellent facilities which allowed me to achieve the top grades."
With £300 million invested in the last five years into its facilities, it’s no wonder the University of Nottingham has received raving reviews from students about its excellent campus amenities. The campuses feature technologically innovative libraries, sports and fitness facilities, student health services and childcare facilities, as well as various food and drink venues.
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Nottingham Trent University (NTU)
"Facilities are unlike anything I have ever seen, and am extremely pleased with the quality of service and tutoring provided by the staff and personnel on campus."
Over the past 15 years, Nottingham Trent University has invested an impressive £450 million into creating innovative and modern learning and lifestyle facilities, in order to ensure the best possible experience for their students. Across its four campuses, NTU offers state-of-the-art learning facilities, beautiful outdoor spaces, buzzing social venues, fully equipped sports centres and high-tech labs.
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University of Birmingham
"The campus at the uni is the nicest campus of any uni i have visited and the new facilities are great."
The University of Birmingham offers excellent facilities aimed to create a welcoming environment for a well balanced student experience. The university offers an extensive library, media centre, sports and wellness facilities, student accommodation, and even on-campus childcare.
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University of Liverpool
"The university itself has invested alot of money into refurbishment over the past few years. including both libraries, the student union, hall of residents and new teaching facilities."
Students at the University of Liverpool are spoiled for choice when it comes to the university’s excellent amenities. The campus offers a host of spacious green areas to enjoy, lots of buzzing cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as state-of-the-art sporting facilities.
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University of East Anglia
'The uni campus is so beautiful and a lovely environment. Everything is accessible and it is clear where everything is ... facilities are fab there’s everything you need.'
With an emphasis on student lifestyle, UEA offers a host of exciting amenities, beautiful architecture, and over 50 acres of beautiful parklands. The campus boasts over 15 eating spots, a well-stocked library, childcare, medical and dental practices, shops and more. One StudentCrowd user commented: “The UEA campus is INCREDIBLE! So much choice for lecture buildings, then you have the street and the square which is like the uni’s own town centre!”
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Manchester Metropolitan University
"The campus is large and the facilities which are constantly being upgraded, are outstanding, offering students an excellent environment to study and advance their skills."
Students at Manchester Metropolitan University benefit from a wide range of excellent facilities aimed to ensure they get the most out of their studies. Among its many amenities are the university's high tech five-storey library and several sports facilities, as well as health and well being spaces.
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Northumbria University
"Great University filled with all the support and facilities you need!"
With student experience as a top priority, Northumbria University has invested more than £250 million in creating a buzzing, safe and supportive environment for its students. Some of the top features include its impressive library (among the best in the UK), study spaces, digital hubs, food and drink venues, and a well-equipped sports centre with a swimming pool, arena, squash courts, fitness studios and gym.
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University of Brighton
"Great facilities within the university, lectures are great with help, always offering for 1:1 or contact via email."
The University of Brighton is situated across four campuses, each with their own culture, student lifestyle and specialised industry-standard student facilities. The various locations offer state-of-the-art sports and health centres, libraries, conference rooms, galleries and theatres.
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Newcastle University
"It's a great experience studying there. The campus and the facilities are very easy to access and more advanced."
Newcastle University offers a large range of high-end education, recreation and lifestyle facilities for its students to enjoy. Some of the notable amenities are its cutting-edge science and research labs, libraries, study spaces, shops and sports centre. It also boasts on-campus museums, galleries and theatres.
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University of Warwick
"Plenty of facilities on campus - convenience store, restaurants, coffee shops etc. Library well equipped. Regular food truck events organised (pre-COVID, at least)..."
The University of Warwick offers 750 acres of scenic lakes, peaceful woodlands and world class academic facilities. Among its many amenities, the university also features shops, social venues, a fully equipped sports and wellness hub, theatres, art galleries and a concert hall.
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Lancaster University
"Couldn’t have enjoyed university more. Amazing facilities, great campus and great staff"
Lancaster University offers a host of amenities for its students and has received great reviews for their excellent campus facilities. On campus, they offer a variety of well equipped learning centres, shops, social venues, sports facilities, study spaces and an impressive 560 acres of beautifully lush woodlands for students to enjoy.
Think your university deserves to be in the StudentCrowd top 20? Leave a review now for our 2022 University Awards!
