Top Design Universities & Colleges in UK in 2025 - Fees, Courses & Eligibility
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Design Colleges in UK offer courses in a range of specialized fields such as fashion design, interior design, graphic design, web design, textile design, apparel design, jewelry design, industrial design, product design, furniture design etc. According to the QS Ranking 2023, around 30 UK universities rank in the top 230 design colleges in the world. Design in UK is a fast-growing sector and a popular course to study in UK, that encompasses diverse careers such as fashion, film, advertising, etc. There are approximately 44,685 students studying creative arts and design in London alone, 34% of which were international students.

  • A slow yet continuous 2% increase in the salary of the design employees is seen in the future years.
  • Creative organizations involved in advertising, fashion, film, and graphic design contributed 115 billion to the UK economy.
  • The average salary for a Fashion Designer in the United Kingdom is 28600 GBP (28.48 L INR).
  • The creative arts and design industry employ more than two million people across UK.

Design Colleges in UK Fees

Best Design Colleges in UK

University Name QS Global Rankings 2023 Tuition Fees (GBP)
Royal College of Art 1 33,600
University of the Arts London 2 27,585
The Glasgow School of Art 11 22,277
Goldsmiths, University of London 18 23,060
Loughborough University 27 22,500
Oxford University 35 30,300
University of College London 48 27,778
Brunel University 51-100 20,450
Edinburgh College of Art 51-100 15,000
Imperial College London 51-100 35,100

Other Design Colleges in UK

University Name QS Global Rankings 2023 Tuition Fees (GBP)
Kingston University 51-100 15,800
Nottingham Trent University 51-100 15,850
University of Edinburgh 51-100 26,300
University of Brighton 51-100 14,300
University of Dundee 51-100 20,900
University of Leeds 101-150 30,140
University of Glasgow 101-150 23,950
Newcastle University 151-200 26,400
University of the Creative Arts 151-200 17,500
University of Westminster 151-200 13,000
University of Sheffield 201-230 26,200

Design Colleges in UK for Undergraduate Programs

University Name Tuition Fees (GBP) Tuition Fees (INR)
Royal College of Art 33,600 33.46 L
University of the Arts London 27,585 27.46 L
The Glasgow School of Art 22,277 22.18 L
Goldsmiths, University of London 23,060 22.96 L
Loughborough University 22,500 22.4 L

Design Colleges in UK for Doctorate Programs

University Name Tuition Fees (GBP) Tuition Fees (INR)
Oxford University 30,300 30.16 L
University of College London 26,897 26.7 L
Brunel University 20,450 20.35 L
Kingston University 15,800 15.72 L
Imperial College London 35,100 34.9 L

Design Colleges in UK: Admission Requirements

Oxford University

  • A first class degree or upper second class degree with honors in cognate subjects such as history of art, visual and material culture, modern and social economic history, modern languages, literature, studio practice etc., as well as design-related forms of social sciences like cultural theory and film studies, and engineering.
  • The minimum GPA requirement normally sought is 3.7 out of 4.0
  • No GRE or GMAT scores are required.
  • Professional experience in the design, heritage and museum sectors, cultural media, etc. may also be an advantage.
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Resume

University of College London

  • UCL considers the UAL Level 3 and Level 4 Extended Diploma in Art and Design, with the final overall mark of Distinction, to meet the entry requirements for the Fine Art (BA and BFA) and Architecture programmes only.
  • Portfolio of work designs
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Resume
  • Letter of Recommendation

University of the Arts London

  • High School Graduate, A-level or equivalent foundation course qualification which includes art and design
  • English Proficiency Test Scores: IELTS 4.5
  • Portfolio of work samples for design.
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Resume

The Glasgow School of Art

  • Digital portfolio and portfolio statement is required.
  • Submit 6-10 Graphic Design projects that demonstrate your ability to combine image, typography, and layout to communicate your ideas
  • English Proficiency Test Scores: IELTS 6.0 | TOEFL: 79 or above
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Updated Resume

Royal College of Art

  • Applicants with a strong degree in other undergraduate fields will also be considered if the applicant can demonstrate their suitability to the study of history of design at application and interview.
  • Prior knowledge and experience indicating the potential to achieve the independence necessary for advanced study in a specialist discipline
  • Entry is based on a high standard of final-year undergraduate work (as reflected in portfolio or degree classification), or an advanced work of an equivalent level. Applicants’ work must also demonstrate a maturity and readiness to undertake Master's-preparatory studies.
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Resume

How to choose Universities?

The work visa, the vibrant culture and world-class degrees in the UK attract international students from across the world. The country is known for its quality, research, welcoming environment and affordability. Knowledge of English proficiency is a must for admission requirements. Once you have decided which university you want to study in, start searching for the best universities offering that course. After the shortlisted universities, try to analyze how much is the return of investment, including, rankings, job opportunities, fees, course structure, research opportunities, etc. After that, use tools like University Comparer, to have comparison between universities shortlisted. Before finalizing, look at your budget, and the location of the university, and the student profiles of students who graduated to give an idea on how the career of the students who graduated from the university of your choice were.

After that, fill the application form, pay the application fees, wait for the university's decision, and if you have received an offer, you can proceed with the application for a student visa.

FAQs

Ques. Is UK good for design students?

Ans. UK has some of the best and most internationally renowned creative schools in the world, but each one has unique courses that help you grow and develop as an artist. Creative organizations involved in advertising, fashion, film, and graphic design contributed 115 billion to the UK economy. According to the QS Ranking 2023, around 30 UK universities rank in the top 230 design colleges in the world


Ques.How much does it cost to study design in UK?

Ans.The average study cost in the UK is estimated at roughly 22,200 GBP (22 L INR) for design courses.


Ques.Which design course is in demand?

Ans.UX Design is one of the most desirable degrees and graphic designers are highly sought professionals in UK . There is a considerably higher pay for the UX designers in UK.


Ques.What is the average salary for designers in UK?

Ans.The average salary for a Fashion Designer in the United Kingdom is 28600 GBP (28.48 L INR).


Ques.Are Scholarships available for international students?

Ans.Yes, each university offers financial assistance for the need- based students. You must check the portal of the university to verify your eligibility.

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Found 92 universities

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RankCollege InfoTuition Fees & living Cost(Avg.)Top CoursesRanking & Reviews
#1University of Cambridge logo

University of Cambridge, Cambridge

England, Uk21%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $66.8K/Yr (£50,202/Yr)Living$2.9K/Yr (£2,200/Yr)Admission M.Phil Architecture an Urban Des...TOEFL110$66.8K/Yr
Course duration: 9 months
Programs
9.7/10(6 Users)
#2Imperial College London logo

Imperial College London, London

England, Uk18%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $52.3K/Yr (£39,325/Yr)Living$16.7K/Yr (£12,552/Yr)Admission M.Res Medical Device Design and ...Duolingo115TOEFL92PTE62$57.1K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
3+ More Programs
9.7/10(22 Users)Ranked 9 by THE in 2025Ranked 2 by QS in 2026
#3University College London logo

University College London, London

England, Uk48%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $45.9K/Yr (£34,533/Yr)Living$23.9K/Yr (£17,981/Yr)Admission M.Arch Bio-Integrated DesignIELTS6.5PTE75$48.5K/Yr
Course duration: 2 years
11+ More Programs
9.0/10(11 Users)
#4University of Edinburgh logo

University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

Scotland, Uk30%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $39.8K/Yr (£29,900/Yr)Living$15.7K/Yr (£11,808/Yr)Admission M.Sc Design and Digital MediaGRE298IELTS6.0PTE56$39.8K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
Programs
9.0/10(29 Users)Ranked 29 by THE in 2025Ranked 34 by QS in 2026
#5London School of Economics and Political Science logo

London School of Economics and Political Science, London

England, Uk9%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $41.1K/Yr (£30,900/Yr)Living$17.8K/Yr (£13,416/Yr)Admission M.Sc City Design and Social Scie...IELTS7PTE70$41.1K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
Programs
8.0/10(4 Users)Ranked 50 by THE in 2025Ranked 56 by QS in 2026
#6The University of Manchester logo

The University of Manchester, Manchester

England, Uk39%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $47.9K/Yr (£36,000/Yr)Living$11.4K/Yr (£8,580/Yr)Admission M.Sc Advanced Process Integratio...GRE298IELTS6.5PTE60$47.9K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
Programs
8.7/10(38 Users)Ranked 53 by THE in 2025Ranked 35 by QS in 2026
#7University of Bristol logo

University of Bristol, Bristol

England, Uk12%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $39K/Yr (£29,300/Yr)Living$6.8K/Yr (£5,114/Yr)Admission M.Eng Engineering Design with St...IELTS6.0PTE59$39K/Yr
Course duration: 5 years
Programs
7.7/10(12 Users)Ranked 78 by THE in 2025Ranked 51 by QS in 2026
#8University of Glasgow logo

University of Glasgow, Glasgow

Scotland, Uk60%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $37.9K/Yr (£28,493/Yr)Living$12.8K/Yr (£9,623/Yr)Admission M.Sc International Management an...TOEFL90PTE59$40.2K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
2+ More Programs
5.7/10(41 Users)Ranked 87 by THE in 2025Ranked 79 by QS in 2026
#9University of Sheffield logo

University of Sheffield, Sheffield

England, Uk74%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $36.8K/Yr (£27,670/Yr)Living$10.7K/Yr (£8,012/Yr)Admission M.A Architectural DesignIELTS6.5PTE61$36.8K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
Programs
9.3/10(18 Users)
#10University of Southampton logo

University of Southampton, Southampton

England, Uk75%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $38.6K/Yr (£29,000/Yr)Living$18.8K/Yr (£14,136/Yr)Admission M.Sc Computational Engineering D...Duolingo120IELTS6.5PTE68$41.9K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
1 More Program
8.0/10(15 Users)Ranked 115 by THE in 2025Ranked 87 by QS in 2026
#11University of Leeds logo

University of Leeds, Leeds

England, Uk47%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $37.9K/Yr (£28,469/Yr)Living$10.8K/Yr (£8,151/Yr)Admission M.A DesignIELTS6.5PTE64$42.9K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
7+ More Programs
10.0/10(46 Users)
#12University of Nottingham logo

University of Nottingham, Nottingham

England, Uk11%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $39.6K/Yr (£29,775/Yr)Living$11.3K/Yr (£8,533/Yr)Admission M.Arch Architecture and Sustaina...IELTS6.5PTE71$36.1K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
1 More Program
8.3/10(25 Users)Ranked 136 by THE in 2025Ranked 97 by QS in 2026
#13Queen Mary, University of London logo

Queen Mary, University of London, London

England, Uk43%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $35.4K/Yr (£26,600/Yr)Living$8.9K/Yr (£6,692/Yr)Admission B.Eng Materials and DesignIELTS7.0PTE68$34.9K/Yr
Course duration: 3 years
5+ More Programs
7.3/10(25 Users)Ranked 141 by THE in 2025Ranked 110 by QS in 2026
#14Newcastle University logo

Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne

England, Uk87%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $38.4K/Yr (£28,875/Yr)Living$204.82/Yr (£154/Yr)Admission M.Res Biotechnology and Biodesig...IELTS6.5PTE62$39.6K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
1 More Program
7.3/10(19 Users)Ranked 157 by THE in 2025Ranked 137 by QS in 2026
#15University of Liverpool logo

University of Liverpool, Liverpool

England, Uk14%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $39.8K/Yr (£29,900/Yr)Living$328.51/Yr (£247/Yr)Admission M.Sc Product Design and Manageme...Duolingo120IELTS6.5PTE61$39.8K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
Programs
8.7/10(23 Users)Ranked 160 by THE in 2025Ranked 147 by QS in 2026
#16Lancaster University logo

Lancaster University, Lancaster

England, Uk19%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $31.8K/Yr (£23,875/Yr)Living$16.7K/Yr (£12,542/Yr)Admission M.A Design ManagementTOEFL87PTE58$31.8K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
Programs
8.0/10(17 Users)
#17University of Reading logo

University of Reading, Berkshire

England, Uk58%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $29.7K/Yr (£22,350/Yr)Living$13K/Yr (£9,800/Yr)Admission M.A Communication Design- Inform...Duolingo135IELTS6.5PTE60$29.7K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
Programs
10.0/10(9 Users)Ranked 201 by THE in 2025Ranked 194 by QS in 2026
#18University of Sussex logo

University of Sussex, Brighton

England, Uk61%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $28.6K/Yr (£21,500/Yr)Living$19.7K/Yr (£14,848/Yr)Admission B.S Product DesignDuolingo110IELTS6.0PTE59$28.6K/Yr
Course duration: 3 years
Programs
8.3/10(8 Users)Ranked 201 by THE in 2025Ranked 278 by QS in 2026
#19Cardiff University logo

Cardiff University, Cardiff

Wales, Uk20%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $37.6K/Yr (£28,301/Yr)Living$11.5K/Yr (£8,670/Yr)Admission M.A Architectural DesignIELTS6.5PTE69$39.2K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
6+ More Programs
9.0/10(18 Users)
#20University of Bath logo

University of Bath, Bath

England, Uk20%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $37.6K/Yr (£28,300/Yr)Living$15.7K/Yr (£11,781/Yr)Admission M.Sc Architectural Engineering: ...Duolingo120IELTS6.5PTE62$37.6K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
1 More Program
9.0/10(17 Users)Ranked 251 by THE in 2025Ranked 132 by QS in 2026