This West Midlands powerhouse was established in 1965 with only 450 undergraduates. Today both its research reputation and competition for places have revved up. More than 47,000 students selected the University of Warwick on their Ucas form and 5,800 of them were successful. Warwick’s attractions are hard to ignore. Based on a 750-acre campus near Coventry (it is closer than the town from which it takes its name), the university has been a fixture in our top ten since our first edition, in 1998, and it is shortlisted for our University of the Year 2025.

To make the most of its huge site, the university has announced a ten-year campus masterplan with new and repurposed facilities on the way. A £100 million investment in arts and humanities has already resulted in world-class facilities in the £60 million Faculty of Arts Building — known as Fab — and a new site in Venice. The university has had a base in the Italian city since 1967 — where art history students relocate for the popular “Venice term” — and its new premises are in a 17th-century palazzo overlooking the Grand Canal.

Warwick opened the Marsh Observatory in 2023, which has a 40cm telescope and digital imaging technology to train the astronomers of tomorrow. 

Students at Warwick benefit from a research-intensive environment and undergraduates enjoy their studies. Our latest analysis of the National Student Survey shows high levels of satisfaction with teaching quality (33=) and the wider undergraduate experience (13th) — outdoing most of Britain’s research heavyweights. The social scene tends to be lively enough for most students — on campus and in nearby Leamington Spa, where many live after their first year. 

What is the University of Warwick’s reputation? 

Top honours went to Warwick in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023). It was one of 26 universities (out of 228) to achieve triple gold for its overall grade, student experience and student outcomes. The TEF panel said its “use of research, innovation, scholarship, and professional practice contribute to an outstanding academic experience” and noted “outstanding rates of continuation and completion” among Warwick’s students. 

The TEF panel noted that Warwick’s biggest subject areas are business (Warwick Business School occupies two floors of the Shard in London, as well as a base on the main campus), economics, maths, engineering and politics.

Research-led since its foundation, Warwick achieved impressive results in the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) too: 92 per cent of its work was rated world-leading or internationally excellent. Economics; classics; computer science; and business and management produced some of its best results. Warwick is also 69= in the 2025 QS World University Rankings. Stuart Croft, the vice-chancellor, has declared: “The future isn't Stem rather than the arts — it's very clearly both.”

Warwick has partnerships with universities across Europe, North America, South America, Australasia and east Asia to offer opportunities to study abroad. Students taking courses in global sustainable development can spend part of their second year at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, or its site in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; or Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona.

What courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?

A degree in physics and business studies has been withdrawn. New degrees from September 2024 include English and classical civilisation; child and family; philosophy and politics; global politics with integrated year abroad in Brussels; modern languages with translation and transnational studies; design and global sustainable development. 

From September 2025 Warwick will offer economics and management; and international management with a foundation year.

What are the University of Warwick’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?

Standard entry requirements range from ABB to A*A*A* at A-level. Contextual offers (known as differential offers at Warwick) of one or two A-level grades below standard may be made to eligible applicants. Just 4 per cent gained a place through clearing.

What are the graduate prospects?

Warwick ranks just outside the top ten for graduate prospects with 86.4 per cent of leavers in highly skilled jobs or further study 15 months after finishing their degree (11th). It is also a regular among the ten most targeted universities by leading graduate employers, coming sixth in 2023-24, according to the High Fliers Research Graduate Market report. 

What is the University of Warwick campus like?

Three miles southwest of Coventry, and about seven miles from the market town of Warwick, the sprawling campus has a forest and ancient woodland as well as a sculpture trail with new installations by the Turner prizewinner Veronica Ryan (Breadfruit) and the Danish artist Tine Bech (Colour Connection). Fab’s specialist resources include an antiquities room for classics and ancient history, screening rooms for creative writing and film events, drama studios, rehearsal rooms, a media lab and an edit suite. The £25.5 million expansion and refurbishment of the Warwick Arts Centre was completed in 2021. 

The Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building, also completed in 2021, has top-notch facilities for life sciences and medical students. 

For nearly 50 years, Warwick has become known for its business collaborations. The £150 million National Automotive Innovation Centre is a prime example, established by Warwick Manufacturing Group in partnership with the government and the local carmakers Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors. Researchers there have worked on projects such as driverless cars and the reduction of carbon emissions.

Everything you need to know about the University of Warwick’s student life and wellbeing support

Campus life has been described as a “mini city” with a strong sense of community. There are more than 300 societies and the students’ union is the centre of social life. Off campus, students tend to inhabit Leamington Spa and the Coventry suburbs of Earlsdon and Canley. 

The Sports and Wellness Hub has better facilities as a result of a £49 million project and for students, joining a yoga class between lectures is achievable. The gym has more than 200 stations as well as, a 25m swimming pool, fitness studios, bouldering and climbing walls, a sports hall, squash courts and synthetic turf outdoor pitches. Warwick’s teams finished 13th in the latest British Universities and Colleges Sport (Bucs) overall points table. Students are encouraged to try a new activity for free in “rock up and play” sessions.  

Culture vultures are well catered for at the Warwick Arts Centre’s three-screen cinema, concert hall, two theatres and contemporary gallery. There are performance spaces for rehearsals, recitals and intimate gigs too.

Before starting their course, all students must complete the Warwick Values Programme, which covers behaviour relating to alcohol, drugs and sexual consent, and racial, LGBTQ+ and social tolerance.

A wellbeing support team oversees disability services, student funding and mental health. An initial consultation with a wellbeing professional provides a gateway to further support if needed. Students have a one-to-one session with their personal tutor every term and a community safety team is available 24/7.

What do the students say?

“You’ll find people from different walks of life and backgrounds, and there are countless opportunities to make a difference. One of the best things about Warwick is campus life. Since it's not based in a city, the pace is completely different. With lakes and quiet forestry on one end of campus and a busy grid of lecture theatres minutes away, you can find a place for yourself wherever you look.” 
Enaya Nihal, president of Warwick students' union, and economics, politics and international studies graduate

What about student accommodation at the University of Warwick?

The university has more than 7,000 rooms in halls, the newest at the £62 million Cryfield Village. First-years who make Warwick their firm choice, or hold an unconditional offer, are guaranteed accommodation if they apply by the end of August. Students list their hall preferences when they apply online in the spring and are allocated a room through a computerised ballot after A-level results are published.

How diverse and inclusive is the University of Warwick?

In the top 100 of our social inclusion index overall (92nd), the university admits relatively low numbers from non-selective state schools (62 per cent, 105th). Less than one third of students are the first in their family to go to university (also 105th). The Warwick Scholars programme supports students from the region to apply for a place in one of the university’s initiatives to widen participation. Foundation years are offered on Warwick Business School courses, open to eligible applicants who lack the grades to enter a three-year undergraduate degree.

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Warwick

The Warwick Bursary — paid to about 900 UK first-years in 2024 — is awarded on a sliding scale from £1,000 to £2,000 a year to students with household incomes under £35,000. Students who meet further criteria can receive an extra £1,000 a year. Merit-based music and sport scholarships are also offered.