University of Nottingham

Overview

The University of Nottingham is a research-focused campus university which has been described as “the nearest thing Britain has to a truly global university” by the Times, with campuses in Malaysia and China as well as the UK. It is the fifth-largest university in the UK and a member of the Russell Group, Universitas 21, the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the European University Association. It is currently ranked one of the UK’s top 20 universities (QS World University Rankings 2025).

At Nottingham, you’ll be taught by academics who are leaders in their field, while enjoying a student experience in one of the top 10 best UK cities for students (QS Best Student Cities 2025)​ and as a Nottingham graduate, you’ll be highly sought after by leading companies. It is the third most targeted UK university when it comes to top employers (Graduate Market in 2024 report, High Fliers) and has ranked in the top five for three years running.

The University of Nottingham is also Sports University of the Year (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 and Daily Mail University Guide 2024), meaning you’ll be able to pursue your passion in state-of-the-art facilities – whether you’re an elite athlete or a beginner.

Meanwhile, the University of Nottingham’s award-winning campuses – home to students from over 150 countries worldwide – provide the perfect setting for forging lifelong friendships, with the vibrant city of Nottingham right on your doorstep.

Services for International Students

The International Office at the University of Nottingham offers a wide range of services for international students before and during their studies. These services are designed to give international students the best possible preparation and support in the UK. This includes arrival help and orientation for the University and the city, opening a bank account, extending visas, social support and English language support.

As well as trips to famous destinations in the UK like York, Oxford and Scotland, the University also participates in programmes allowing international students to meet and live with English people nearby to improve language skills and learn more about the culture.

What makes the University of Nottingham different?

The University of Nottingham may have been founded in 1881, but it is constantly looking to the future. One of the world’s most sustainable universities (QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2024), its globally recognised research is focused on solving the planet’s biggest challenges. Here are just a few of its achievements and the advantages the university offers: 

Careers and employability 

• 3rd most targeted university in the UK for top employers (The Graduate Market in 2024 report, High Fliers) 
• 66th in the world and 10th in the UK for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022) 
• Top 2 Russell Group universities for work experience (Rate my Placement Best Universities for Work Experience 2024) 
• Connections to hundreds of businesses worldwide including Deloitte, Jaguar Land Rover, PepsiCo, Siemens, Unilever and Walt Disney Company 
• Lifelong careers advice – Nottingham’s expert careers advisors will help give you the edge when it comes to life after university

Student life

•  More than 70 sports clubs and 300 societies – from a cappella to yoga and everything in between 
• Home to elite athletes – University of Nottingham students and alumni have won Olympic, World and Commonwealth medals
• Winner of 22 Green Flag Awards for its beautiful campuses 
• Guaranteed accommodation for your first year, subject to terms and conditions
• 5th in the UK for Student Life (UniCompare 2025)

Ranking

• 30th in the Times University Guide 2025
• 62nd in the Guardian University Guide 2025
• 108th in the QS World University Rankings 2025
• 130th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
• 101st-150th in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2024

On top of this, the University of Nottingham has been named the second-most targeted university in the UK by The Times Top 100 Companies, according to High Fliers’ The Graduate Market report. The Sunday Times Good University Guide named Nottingham its Sports University of the Year for 2021, and it has also won 22 Green Flag Awards for its green spaces.

Following the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), Nottingham is now ranked 7th in the UK for research power, with 100% of the university's research recognized internationally.

Accommodation

The University of Nottingham’s accommodation provides more than 6,000 rooms on or near its three campuses, ranging from modern self-catering flats to traditional catered halls of residence. The university owns and manages 15 halls across the campuses, housing about 4,000 students. Three meals a day are provided as part of the catered accommodation with a varied menu.

Nottingham’s accommodation features rooms on each campus that are accessible to students with disabilities, including larger rooms for extra storage or workspace, adapted bathrooms and facilities for those with hearing impairments.

Location

University Park Campus, to the west of the city centre, is the largest campus of the University of Nottingham, known for its scenic views and expert facilities. Students can also enjoy the unique architecture on the Jubilee Campus or travel to Sutton Bonington Campus for the monthly farmer’s market.

Nottingham is rich in history, being known as the home of Robin Hood and Nottingham Castle. The city is also steeped with fantastic culture, sports, nightlife and shopping attractions to keep students entertained during their studies. Nottingham is located in the middle of England, with connections to major cities across the UK, like London which is just 90 minutes away via train. It’s also close to East Midlands Airport and Birmingham Airport, which both have flights to a wide range of countries around the world.

Globally, the university’s Malaysia campus is based in Semenyih, Selangor – an hour from Kuala Lumpur. Its China campus is in Ningbo, a historic city on China’s eastern coast close to Shanghai. The 140-acre campus includes a lake and its version of Nottingham’s famous Trent Building.

Alumni

• D. H. Lawrence (Author)
• Sir Peter Mansfield (Nobel Laureate, inventor of MRI scanning)
• Sir John Sawers (Head of MI6)
• Deng Yaping (Table tennis player)