The United Kingdom is known for its many prestigious universities and promising careers. For many international students in the UK, safety is their number one priority when applying to these universities, as it should be for all of them. A safe university guarantees that you are in a productive and inclusive environment that respects your boundaries as an international student and provides you with the most fulfilling experience for your studies and career.

The following are the best and safest universities in the UK for 2025, according to Times Higher Education (THE), and the top safety tips you can make use of from UCAS. All of this will ensure your experience is memorable and comfortable enough to give complete focus to your studies and pursue your future career with vigour and interest. 

A Safe Learning Environment

First of all, knowing what constitutes the safest university campus in the UK is essential. A safe university environment provides you with a space to express yourself and your culture at all times. It’s an environment that respects you and treats you like one of its own, like you’ve always been a part of the community. This also means it includes strict laws to protect you from anything you may face. Carefully choosing the safest universities in the UK and ensuring they check all of these conditions will help you make the most out of your university life.

Before we jump into the best universities you can choose from, we’ll go over some of the top safety tips you can use during your stay. Keeping these in mind will help you immensely, no matter which university you choose.

Safety Tips & Tricks

Whether you’re an international student or not, these are essential tips to know when entering university life, according to UCAS. Even in the safest universities in the UK, these are important to know. University life will feel mostly different from your previous school life, considering you’re much more independent now, so it’s important to keep that in mind, as well.

• Emergency Numbers: The most essential thing to memorise is the emergency numbers in the UK, and the best part is that they’re straightforward to remember.
  999 is used for emergencies requiring the police, medical assistance or fire service. 101 is used when you need the police for a non-emergency. 111 is for a medical non-emergency. Once you call, make sure to give a clear description of your exact location and the issue you’re facing so they can help you as quickly as possible. As an extra, you can try memorising the contact details of your university, like their helpline or e-mail. Regardless, even if you never use them, they’re good to know.
  
  

• Secure Environment: Your choice of accommodation will matter significantly for your safety, as it’s where you’ll spend the other half of your day and all of your weekend. On-campus accommodation provides you with an environment as safe as the university itself, which comes with its own benefits. Off-campus accommodation can have a broader range of security facilities such as secure entry that doesn’t allow strangers, secure access cards for your rooms, 24/7 security guards, CCTV footage, etc. You can find the safest off-campus accommodation on our website if you need recommendations.
  
  

• Street Safety: These are general tips for your immediate surroundings when navigating the city or going to your university. Walking with a friend or a family member is the best you can do to maximise your safety. You can also occasionally check in with them through texts to tell them where you are. Using main roads and avoiding alleyways will also keep you safe, especially at night. 

According to UCAS, these are the top safety tips that you should keep in mind for your stay. It also never hurts to ask at your accommodation if they recommend any other common measures. Now that you know the basics of staying safe, we can dive together into the top 10 safest universities in the UK that you can choose from.

Top 10 Safest Universities in the UK

According to Times Higher Education (THE), these universities are ranked accordingly, mainly for their outstanding support systems, safety measures, and academic excellence. Regardless of the university you choose from this list, depending on your preferred courses and the career you want to pursue in the future, you can’t go wrong with any of these.

1. University of Surrey:

The University of Surrey is a public research university founded in 1966 in Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom. Regarded as the No.1 on Times Higher Education’s survey, it has several of the safest college campuses in the UK. The university is notably known for engineering, computer science, business, health sciences, and social sciences.

It consistently ranks in the top ten charts in the UK for many courses and helps students reach new heights with their studies by providing them with the best environment to study.

According to the University of Surrey’s website, the university provides 24/7 security on campus, all of which patrol the area to ensure the safest environment possible for all. It also features its own emergency helpline, allowing all students a quick way to get help whenever needed.

2. University of Bath:

The University of Bath was founded in 1966 in Bath, England. According to THE, it is a well-regarded public search university with one of the safest campuses in the UK, helping to elevate its status as one of the best universities in the country. The university is best known for its teaching excellence and specialising in subjects such as engineering, humanities, management, science, and social science.

According to the University of Bath, the university provides a safe environment through a 24/7 uniformed and friendly security team, over 500 security cameras throughout the campus, and an emergency line for immediate assistance.

3. University of Chichester:

The University of Chichester is the third safest university. It was founded in 2005 and has steadily grown ever since, as it consistently ranks among the top universities in the country, according to THE. Located in West Sussex, England, it’s a beloved destination for international students. The university is notably known among its peers for excelling in courses such as humanities, sports, musical theatre, acting, and education.

According to its website, the university provides an equal and diverse environment for all by working closely with the University of Chichester Students' Union (UCSU) to ensure all students feel included and safe.

4. Lancaster University:

Lancaster University is the fourth safest university on the list. Established in 1964 in Lancaster, England, it is a beloved university of many around the country. It also has one of the safest campuses in the UK. The National Student Survey (NSS) highly rated the university for teaching excellence, academic support, and learning resources. It also specialises in research, teaching, career support, community engagement, and sustainability actions.

According to Lancaster University’s website, it conducts many health and risk assessments for the sake of student safety and encourages students to report any and all issues directly to ensure they feel safe and included on campus.

5. University of St. Andrews:

The University of St. Andrews, established in 1413 in St. Andrews, Scotland, is one of Scotland's four oldest universities. According to THE, the university is renowned for its history and prestige in the educational world. It is notably known for its studies in the fields of classics, international relations, history of art, geography, economics, and physics.

The university is known to be home to many diverse cultures and nationalities; thus, it has strict laws to ensure everyone is treated equally and fairly. According to its website, the university offers professional safety advice to all students and provides them with a special Report and Safety tool that allows them to report any issues or concerns they may have and ensures that all of their voices are heard.

6. University of East Anglia:

The University of East Anglia was established in 1963 in Norwich, England. It is located near the city centre, making it an accessible and popular choice for international students. The university specialises in genomics, agriculture, health, and environmental studies.

According to the university website, it has one of the safest university campuses in the UK, and is safe and secure for international students due to the 24/7 presence of a friendly, first-aid-trained security team, even during holidays.

7. University of York:

The University of York is a public collegiate research university established in 1963 in York, England. It is highly regarded in the educational community for its excellence in management, artificial intelligence technology, law, and business analytics.

According to its website, the university provides an on-campus support team that monitors and helps all students with anything they may need. The team is trained in physical and mental first aid and is always active throughout campus to ensure that students who need help will find it immediately.

8. University of Reading:

The University of Reading is a public research university established in 1892 in York, England, as an extension of the University of Oxford, originally known as University College, Reading. The university is well known for being a leader in the UK's climate science and environmental studies, making it an excellent choice for those interested in these fields.

According to its website, the university provides an effective system of incident reporting and risk assessment to ensure the safety of all students and that any possible events are reported and overseen by the university’s security team.

9. University of Cambridge:

The University of Cambridge is a public research university established in Cambridge, England, in 1209. According to THE, it is considered one of the best and most ancient universities in the world, and it still operates today. The university is a leader in the educational world for many courses, most notably the arts and humanities, social sciences, and engineering fields.

According to the University of Cambridge’s website, it provides a safe environment to all students by offering several safety courses that teach and empower them alongside their daily studies.

10. Durham University:

Last but not least, Durham University. Established in 1832 in Durham, England, this public research university has an extensive history and ranks among students as one of the top universities in the UK, according to THE. It specialises in physics, law, economics, psychology, and geography.

According to Durham University’s website, the university campus features many CCTV cameras and a trained security team that is available 24/7. The university also has its own app, SafeZone, which allows students to reach the security team instantly.

That concludes our list! Now that you have a good idea of the best universities and safety tricks, you are ready to tackle your new student life. It’s worth noting that most universities in the UK are safe and will help you have a fulfilling student experience; however, these are the best of the best you can choose. Remember to always reach out for help when you need it and that you are always respected and beloved as a peer among other students.