Top 15 coastal universities in the UK: best colleges by the sea
When considering where to complete your university education, the surroundings and environment of any potential institution matter just as much as its academic reputation.
For many, studying at a coastal university is appealing, whether that’s in a small seaside town or a vibrant city by the sea. Coastal living can offer a laid-back atmosphere, endless water-based recreational activities, and beautiful backdrops, all of which can enhance your wellbeing and overall happiness.
In this blog post, we look at 15 of the top seaside universities in the UK, including their rankings, location and tuition fees.
Table of Contents
1. University of St. Andrews
Nestled in the scenic landscape of Fife, Scotland, St Andrews stands as a beacon of academic excellence and tradition. Founded in the early 15th century, St Andrews is Scotland’s first university and the third oldest in the English-speaking world. It was ranked the top university in the UK by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide for 2024. According to the Complete University Guide 2023, students at the University of St Andrews are the most satisfied in the UK.
Image source: University of St Andrews
Location
St Andrews, a pretty coastal town 1.5 hours from Edinburgh, has a small population of 17,000 residents, with university staff and students accounting for half. The town features beautiful beaches, including the two-mile West Sands Beach with dunes, overlooking the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for University of St Andrews for 2024-25 are:
- Scotland: £1,820.
- Rest of UK: £9,250.
- International: varies by course (from £30,160)
2. University of Southampton
The University of Southampton, a Top 20 British university and founding member of the Russell Group, is ranked 19th in the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide. Renowned for cutting-edge research, innovative teaching, and specialisation in marine sciences, it's home to the National Oceanography Centre. With close proximity to coastal landscapes, students engage in hands-on learning for deeper marine understanding.
Image source: University of Southampton
Location
The University of Southampton is located in the picturesque county of Hampshire on the south coast of England.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for University of Southampton for 2024-25 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: varies by course
3. University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen is a top UK university for graduate employment, and in the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, the University of Aberdeen is ranked 15th.
Its campuses are a blend old and new. The Old Aberdeen campus hosts a 15th-century chapel and modern library, ideal for arts and humanities studies. Foresterhill campus emphasises life sciences and medicine with cutting-edge facilities for research. Unique research stations like the lighthouse field station and Oceanlab enhance marine ecology studies.
Image source: University of Aberdeen
Location
Aberdeen, a vibrant city in North East Scotland, blends rich history with modern development. Known as the "Granite City" for its grey stone architecture, it's a key player in the UK energy sector due to its coastal location and oil industry hub.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for University of Aberdeen for 2024-25 are:
- Scotland: £1,820.
- Rest of UK: £9,250.
- International: varies by course (from £20,800)
4. University of Portsmouth
The University of Portsmouth, established in 1869 and gaining university status in 1992, is ranked 55th in the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide. The main city campus is undergoing a £250 million development program. Halls of residence are close to Southsea seafront, with the Ravelin Sports Centre offering state-of-the-art facilities such as a ski simulator, squash courts, a fitness centre, a swimming pool, and a climbing wall.
Image source: University of Portsmouth
Location
Portsmouth, a city in Hampshire on England’s south coast, is renowned for attractions like the Mary Rose, the historic dockyard, and the 170-metre high Spinnaker Tower. Despite its prime location, it remains one of England's most affordable cities.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for University of Portsmouth for 2024-25 are:
- UK: £9,250.
- International: varies by course (typically £16,200 – £19,200)
5. Aberystwyth University
Aberystwyth University, situated on the West Coast of Wales, was a founding member of the former University of Wales. The Penglais Campus is near the town center and seafront, while the Llanbadarn campus hosts the equine teaching center. The Gogerddan campus houses the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, focusing on global challenges such as climate change. With a £45 million investment, Aberystwyth is redeveloping its campus, including new accommodations, teaching spaces, and an arts centre.
The university ranks 48th in the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide. In 2024, it was The Times and Sunday Times Welsh University of the Year.
Image source: Aberystwyth University
Location
Located in Aberystwyth, West Wales, this seaside university campus, known as "Aber," provides a safe small-town environment for students.The area boasts natural beauty, granting easy access to Cardigan Bay and the Cambrian Mountains.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Aberystwyth University for 2024-25 are:
- UK: £9,250.
- International: varies by course (from £18,170)
6. Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University on England's South Coast offers a wide range of degrees - 150 undergrad and 100+ master’s and doctoral options. The main campuses are Talbot and Lansdowne, housing various faculties. The university emphasises professional orientation, academic excellence, and graduate employability. It excels in media courses and is the sole Centre for Excellence in Media Practice in the UK.
It is ranked 82nd in the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.
Image source: Bournemouth University
Location
Bournemouth University (BU) is located in the picturesque town of Bournemouth on the stunning Jurassic Coast in Dorset. With seven miles of sandy shoreline, blue flag-certified clean water, and proximity to the New Forest National Park, BU offers a unique setting. The university is conveniently accessible via its international airport and is less than a 2-hour train ride from London.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Bournemouth University for 2024-25 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: varies by course (between £17,800 and £18,800)
7. Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, and its 26 academic schools are organised into three colleges: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences and Engineering. The university is made up of two large campuses, both close to the centre of Cardiff.
Once a bustling port city, Cardiff's old dock area underwent a massive regeneration into a vibrant entertainment hub. Key attractions now include the Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre and the renowned Wales Millennium Centre for live music and theatre.
In the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, Cardiff University is ranked 32nd. It was ranked the 12th best UK university for employability in the 2023/24 Times Higher Education Global University Employability Ranking.
Image source: Cardiff University
Location
Cardiff, the Welsh capital, is located near the English border in southern Wales. It has an international airport and excellent rail connections to other UK cities.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Cardiff University for 2024-25 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: varies by course
8. Falmouth University
Located in Cornwall, Falmouth University has expanded from its origins as Falmouth School of Art and now offers diverse courses that include film, fashion design, theatre and performance, and music, business and entrepreneurship, marketing, photography, journalism, game development, and architecture. It received £7.2 million for its Centre for Blended Realities, which aims to blend cutting-edge computer science with innovation in the arts. It is ranked 73rd in the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.
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Image source: Falmouth University
Location
Falmouth is situated in the beautiful county of Cornwall, at the very south west of the British Isles. Located near the town centre and a short walk from Gyllyngvase beach, the campus is distinguished by its creative spaces designed to capture the natural light and subtropical gardens.The purpose-built Penryn campus nearby is shared with the University of Exeter.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Falmouth University for 2025 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: varies by course (from £17,950)
9. Swansea University
Swansea University is the Welsh university of the year in the Times and Sunday Times UK University Guide 2025. It has two campuses at either end of the city’s waterfront in south Wales, and at the £450 million Bay campus, which opened in 2015, the lecture halls are right on the beach.
In the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, Swansea University is ranked 37th in the UK.
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Image source: Swansea University
Location
Located in South Wales, close to the beautiful Gower Peninsula, Swansea is a vibrant centre for culture, yet also has some of the UK’s most stunning coastline on its doorstep. It is also one of the UK's most affordable student cities.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Swansea University for 2025-26 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: varies by course
10. University of Sussex
The University of Sussex, near Brighton, in the south of England, was the first of the new wave of UK universities founded in the 1960s. Considered to have one of the most beautiful campuses in Britain, its Falmer campus near Brighton, backs on to the South Downs National Park.The university prides itself on being among the most diverse and multicultural in Britain, with around a third of its staff drawn from outside the UK.
In the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, the University of Sussex is ranked 38th in the UK.
Image source: University of Sussex
Location
The University of Sussex is located on the outskirts of the vibrant city of Brighton, yet with the green and peaceful backdrop of the South Downs National Park. Brighton city centre is just a few minutes away by train from Falmer station, or 30 minutes by bus.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for the University of Sussex for 2025-26 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: varies by course
11. University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool, a founding member of the prestigious Russell Group, offers a rich student experience in a vibrant cultural hub. With a global reach, students can study abroad at over 100 partner institutions worldwide. Notable alumni include the first female Director General of MI5, the first female judge at the Old Bailey, five Nobel Prize winners, the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and the founder of the Stirling Prize for Architecture.
In the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, the University of Liverpool is ranked 23rd in the UK.
Image source: University of Liverpool
Location
The university is located in the west coast city of Liverpool, arguably most famous for its premier league football clubs, and of course, as the hometown of the Beatles. The city — one of Britain’s friendliest — has nightlife, culture and sport for all tastes.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for the University of Liverpool for 2025-26 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: varies by course
12. Queen’s University Belfast
With a heritage dating back over 175 years, Queen's University Belfast is a member of the Russell Group, combining excellence in research and education with a student-centred ethos. One of the UK's biggest campus universities, and the 9th oldest, Queen's blends heritage with cutting-edge facilities.
The university has a rich heritage and a renowned history of producing Nobel Laureates, leading global academics and national and international figures. Notable alumni include former first minister David Trimble (Nobel Peace Prize winner), actor Liam Neeson and poet Seamas Heaney. who has a creative writing centre at the university named in his honour.
Queen’s University Belfast ranks 26th in the UK according to the 2025 Times Good University Guide, with recent graduates achieving high employment rates.
Image source: Queen's University Belfast
Location
Queen's is based in Belfast, the modern capital city of Northern Ireland that is known for its history, welcome and affordability. It is undergoing significant redevelopment in its defunct docklands where the Titanic was built. The city boasts elegant Victorian architecture alongside a bustling urban centre near Ireland's top beaches. The Giant’s Causeway, just 60 miles away, is a must-visit location reachable within an hour's drive from Belfast.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Queen’s University Belfast for 2024-25 are:
- GB £9,250
- Ireland/Northern Ireland: £4,750
- International: varies by course (from £20,800)
13. University of Plymouth
Established in 1862 as the School of Navigation, Plymouth University has been driving economic innovation since becoming a university in 1992. Situated in Britain’s ‘ocean city’, Plymouth offers top marine-related courses in a coastal setting. The university is enhancing its campus with £100 million in new facilities, including design and engineering buildings, a moot court, and a cold case unit for criminology students. The Plymouth Business School will benefit from an updated Bloomberg suite in 2025. It is ranked 70th in the UK in the 2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.
Image source: University of Plymouth
Location
Plymouth is located in South West England. where Devon meets Cornwall. Students have their pick of seaside pursuits and adventures to discover on Dartmoor National Park.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for the University of Plymouth for 2025-26 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: varies by course
14. Brighton University
The University of Brighton, located on the south coast, has undergone an ambitious makeover and seen its research profile grow, leading to a significant rise in academic rankings to 71st place (2025 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide). It comprises three main campuses: City (Grand Parade), Moulsecoomb, and Falmer (South Downs National Park).
Image source: University of Brighton
Location
The university is situated in Brighton, on England’s South East coast. It is a vibrant and diverse seaside city that is renowned for its liberal values and welcoming atmosphere.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for the University of Brighton for 2025-26 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: varies by course
15. University of Bristol
Established in 1876, the University of Bristol is renowned globally for its top-tier education and research, embodying academic excellence and forward-thinking principles. It is consistently ranked in the UK's top ten and is 55th worldwide (QS World University Rankings 2024).
Whilst Bristol is not directly on the coast, it is just a few miles away. Its nearest beach, Weston-super-Mare, is just a half-hour drive from the city centre.
Image source: University of Bristol
Location
The university sits in the heart of Bristol, a vibrant and creative city, which is consistently recognised as one of the UK's best places to live. With a strong commitment to environmental preservation as a former European Green Capital, Bristol offers an exceptional living experience.
It also benefits from a well-connected public transport network, with frequent trains to major hubs such as London and Birmingham, and its own international airport.
Tuition and fees
Annual tuition and fees for University of Bristol for 2024-25 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: varies by degree course
We have chosen the 15 universities above to explore in more detail in this article, but there are other excellent universities that are on - or very near to - the coast that are also a great choice. They include:
- Newcastle University
- Northumbria University
- University of Dundee
- University of the West of England
- University of Hull
- Bangor University
- Arts University Bournemouth
- Solent University
- University of Essex (Southend campus)
- University of the Highlands and Islands
Learn More About Studying in the UK
We hope that this article has given you more information about some of the best coastal universities in the UK.
At Kings, our four UK colleges - in Brighton, Bournemouth, Oxford and London - offer a range of university preparation programmes.
They include GCSEs and A-levels, as well as specialist foundations for international students, such as the Advanced Level Foundation. There are also a range of Art and Design courses, offered through the Kings School of Art and Design, whose flagship school is based in the centre of Oxford.
If you would like receive more detailed information about the Kings and our programmes, please get in touch with us at enquiries@kingseducation.com.
