About us

Universities UK is the voice of universities, helping to maintain the world-leading strength of the UK university sector and supporting our members to achieve their aims and objectives.

What we do

Universities UK is the collective voice of 137 universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Who we are

Who we represent, our senior team, and our policymaking and governance structures.

Our members

Our members are the vice-chancellors or principals (executive heads) of universities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Working for Universities UK

We offer great opportunities for people interested in working in a membership organisation for the higher education sector.

Universities UK International

Universities UK International promotes and represents UK universities abroad.

Woburn House Conference Centre

Universities UK is based at Woburn House, Tavistock Square which is also the home of Woburn House Conference Centre, a suite of eight spaces suitable for a range of events from meetings to conferences and dinners.

Partnerships and associated organisations

We work with many other organisations to support and promote the UK higher education sector.

Universities Wales

Universities Wales represents the interests of higher education institutions in Wales and is a National Council of Universities UK.

Universities Scotland

Universities Scotland is the national council in Scotland of Universities UK.

Our history

Universities UK’s roots lie in the 19th century when meetings took place with vice-chancellors of universities and principals of university colleges.

Blog

Hosting a hospital – how an NHS Nightingale hospital was created in three weeks at UWE Bristol

6 May 2020

UWE Bristol Vice-Chancellor Professor Steve West explains how the university found itself as one of the hosts for an NHS Nightingale Hospital.

Tackling racial harassment on campus: we must do better

12 March 2020

Universities must do everything they can to set clear cultural expectations, and take action to eradicate hate, writes Professor David Richardson.

News

abstrated illustration of student walking with a university campus in the background

New guidance on mental health and wellbeing – supporting staff and students more important now than ever

18 May 2020

UUK has published a refreshed version of its strategic framework, Stepchange: mentally healthy universities, calling on universities to prioritise the mental health of their students and staff