The UK is one of the most popular study destinations for students from Saudi Arabia. According to the latest data from HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency), there were 9,725 Saudi students enrolled at UK universities in 2024/25, spread across 114 institutions.
This guide uses that official data to show you which UK universities currently have the largest Saudi student communities. This is not a quality ranking. It is a factual picture of where Saudi students have chosen to study, which can be useful context when you are thinking about where you would feel most at home.
Important: The numbers in this guide come directly from HESA and represent all Saudi students enrolled in 2024/25, regardless of subject or level of study. HESA rounds figures to the nearest 5 for data protection purposes. The data tells you where Saudi students are currently studying, not which university is best for your specific course or career goals.
1. UK Universities with the Largest Saudi Student Communities (2024/25)
Here are the top 10 UK universities by number of enrolled Saudi students in 2024/25, based on official HESA data.
|
# |
University |
Saudi students (2024/25) |
City |
|
1 |
580 |
Manchester |
|
|
2 |
420 |
Leeds |
|
|
3 |
410 |
London |
|
|
4 |
395 |
Birmingham |
|
|
5 |
335 |
Nottingham |
|
|
6 |
305 |
London |
|
|
7 |
300 |
Liverpool |
|
|
8 |
295 |
London |
|
|
9 |
290 |
London |
|
|
10 |
285 |
Cardiff |
Source: HESA Table 28, 2024/25. Figures rounded to the nearest 5 by HESA.
2. What This Data Tells You
A few things stand out from this data that are worth understanding before you use it to make any decisions.
The top universities are not necessarily the most prestigious
You will notice that the University of Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham feature prominently, while Oxford (75 students) and Cambridge (20 students) do not appear in the top 10. This does not mean Oxford and Cambridge are less popular with Saudi students by reputation. It reflects the fact that those universities admit far fewer students overall, and that many Saudi students are on government scholarship programmes that tend to favour a wider range of institutions. It also reflects that many Saudi students are studying taught postgraduate programmes and professional courses, not only research degrees.
London universities are well-represented
Four of the top 10 are in London: King's College London, UCL, City St George's, and Queen Mary. London is consistently popular among Saudi students for its size, diversity, cultural familiarity, and the concentration of professional opportunities. If being in a city with a large Arab community matters to you, London, Birmingham, and Manchester all have well-established Saudi and wider Arab communities.
The data covers all subjects and levels
The 9,725 figure includes students at undergraduate level, postgraduate taught level, and postgraduate research level. It covers all subjects. A university that ranks highly overall may not be the best fit for your specific course. When choosing a university, you should always check the quality and ranking of the specific subject you want to study, not just the overall university profile.
3. Beyond the Top 10
The top 10 accounts for roughly 3,300 of the 9,725 Saudi students in the UK. That means the remaining 6,400 are spread across more than 100 other institutions. Some of these are worth knowing about.
Strong mid-tier universities with significant Saudi communities
Several universities outside the top 10 have well-established Saudi student communities and strong international reputations in specific subject areas:
- The University of Sheffield (285 students) — known for engineering and architecture
- Newcastle University (265 students) — strong in medicine and engineering
- The University of Southampton (235 students) — one of the UK's leading universities for engineering and electronics
- The University of Exeter (210 students) — strong for business and law
- The University of Edinburgh (185 students) — one of the UK's oldest and most respected universities
Specialist and London institutions
Imperial College London (140 students) is worth noting for students interested in science, technology, engineering, and medicine. Despite being one of the world's top universities for these subjects, it has a smaller Saudi community than several other institutions simply because of its smaller overall size and highly specialist focus.
London Business School (45 students) and the London School of Economics (40 students) appear in the data for postgraduate-level students looking at business, finance, and economics.
4. How to Use This Information When Choosing a University
The data in this guide is a useful starting point, but it should not be the only thing you look at. Here is how to use it sensibly.
- Use the community data to shortlist. If having a large Saudi student community matters to you, the universities in this guide are a reasonable starting shortlist. A large community often means an active Saudi Students Society, familiarity with Saudi cultural needs, and a support network when you arrive.
- Then research the specific subject. Once you have a shortlist of universities with communities you are comfortable with, check how those universities rank for your chosen subject using the Complete University Guide or the Guardian University Guide.
- Check location and cost of living. A university's city matters for day-to-day life. London is expensive. Cities like Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, and Nottingham offer a lower cost of living with similarly large Saudi communities. Read our cost of living guide for international students for a city-by-city breakdown.
- Check the entry requirements for your specific course and your qualifications. Saudi qualifications are well-recognised by UK universities, but each course has its own requirements. Our detailed guide on studying in the UK from Saudi Arabia covers detailed entry requirements, English language tests, and what documents you will need.
- Consider your scholarship situation. Many Saudi students in the UK are funded through government scholarship programmes. The university you are assigned to or can apply to may depend on your scholarship terms. Always confirm eligibility before applying.
5. Applying to a UK University from Saudi Arabia
Most Saudi students applying for undergraduate courses will apply through UCAS, the central UK university admissions platform. The main equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Applying early is strongly recommended not only to give yourself the best chance of an offer, but to allow enough time for your UK Student visa to be processed before your course starts.
For postgraduate courses, applications are usually made directly to the university. Deadlines vary significantly, so always check with your chosen institution.
Once you have an unconditional offer, your university will issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which you need to apply for your student visa. You can read more about this process in our conditional vs unconditional offer guide.
6. How Atava Can Help
At Atava Education and Training, we have been helping Saudi students apply to UK universities since 2013. We are accredited by the British Council, English UK, and IALC, and all of our staff hold British Council UK Certified Counsellor certification.
We can help you with:
- Choosing the right university and course for your qualifications, budget, and career goals
- Understanding the UCAS application process and preparing a strong application
- Guidance on your student visa documents
- Support if you are applying for a PhD or MRes and need help finding a supervisor
For most applications to our partner universities, our service is free to you. Get in touch and we will give you an honest answer about what support is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Saudi students study in the UK?
According to HESA data for 2024/25, there were 9,725 Saudi students enrolled at UK universities. This figure covers all levels of study and all subjects.
Which UK university has the most Saudi students?
The University of Manchester had the highest number of Saudi students in 2024/25 with 580, followed by the University of Leeds (420) and King's College London (410), according to HESA data.
Do I need an IELTS to study in the UK from Saudi Arabia?
Most UK universities require proof of English language proficiency. The most widely accepted tests are IELTS Academic UKVI and PTE Academic UKVI. The minimum score required varies by university and course. From January 2026, the required English level for most UK visa routes is B2 (CEFR). Check with your chosen university for their specific requirements. For a full overview of what Saudi students need to apply, visit our guide to studying in the UK from Saudi Arabia.
Can I bring my family with me as a Saudi student in the UK?
Under current rules, most students on taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses cannot bring dependants. The exception is students on postgraduate research programmes (PhD or research-based higher degrees) and government-sponsored students. Read our MRes vs PhD guide for more detail on how the research degree classification affects this.
Is it worth studying in the UK as a Saudi student in 2026?
Read our guide: Is studying in the UK still worth it in 2026? for an honest answer to this question, covering what has changed, what has not, and how to decide based on your personal goals.
Data source: HESA Table 28 — Non-UK permanent address students by HE provider and country of permanent address, 2024/25. Figures rounded to the nearest 5. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0