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 139 universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Lectern discussion meeting

Who we are

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

Our members

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

Working for Universities UK

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

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

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

Universities Scotland

Universities Scotland is the national council in Scotland of Universities UK.
Tavistock square in the snow

​​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

The grades u-turn caused a ripple effect throughout education – it could be catastrophic for unis

25 August 2020
From over-stretched finances to lack of space and facilities, universities are facing a perfect storm of problems.

A ‘whole university approach’ to wellbeing: meeting the challenges of Covid-19

22 July 2020
Dr Hannah Friend and Dr Diana Beech explain how having a recently-developed wellbeing strategy in place helped the University of Warwick respond to the challenges of Covid-19.

News

UUK response to prime minister’s speech on adult learning and skills

29 September 2020
Commenting on the Prime Minister's speech on adult learning and skills, Professor Julia Buckingham, the President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University London, said it could benefit millions of adults

UUK response to updated DfE guidance for universities

10 September 2020
Responding to updated government guidance for universities ahead of students starting the new term, Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said:

Events

COVID-19 higher education-public health webinar series

1 Oct - 13 Oct 2020, 13:00 - 14:00

Improving student retention 2020

4 Nov - 5 Nov 2020, 09:30 - 16:30