Across the UK, women now make up the majority of university students, and at some institutions this representation is particularly strong. Using the latest HE provider enrolment data, the universities below have the highest proportion of female students, often reflecting success in attracting women into higher education, professional careers, and specialist subject areas.
In many cases, these universities excel in disciplines where women are thriving nationally, including health sciences, education, law, and the creative industries. Rather than signalling a problem, these figures often highlight where universities are supporting women into stable, impactful, and rewarding career paths.
For a wider view, see how this compares to our breakdown of UK unis with the biggest gender gaps.
How we came up with the list
We took the most recent available enrolment data from HESA (2023/2024) to find out the number of females and males enrolled at each higher education institution. We then calculated the number of females as a percentage of the total number of enrolments to find the unis with the biggest proportion of female students.
Finally, we removed universities, colleges or other higher education institutions that had fewer than 5,000 total enrolments to focus on the major unis.
1. Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
Female students: 77.76% | Male students: 21.95%
Queen Margaret University leads the UK for female representation, with almost four in five students identifying as women. This reflects the university’s strong reputation in health sciences, nursing, speech and language therapy, psychology, and social care.
These degrees prepare students for careers that are both in high demand and socially impactful. Queen Margaret also attracts a large number of mature students and career changers, highlighting its role in supporting women returning to education or advancing professionally later in life.
2. University of the Arts London
Female students: 76.36% | Male students: 23.22%
The University of the Arts London has one of the most female-represented student bodies in the UK, with women making up over three quarters of enrolments.
UAL’s success reflects the strong presence of women in creative education, particularly in fashion, design, illustration, textiles, and fine art. As a global leader in arts education, the university plays an important role in supporting women to develop creative careers, entrepreneurial skills, and international networks within competitive industries.
3. University of Worcester
Female students: 70.85% | Male students: 28.71%
At the University of Worcester, women make up just over 70% of the student population. This reflects the university’s long-standing strengths in education, nursing, midwifery, psychology, and allied health professions.
Worcester’s close links with local employers and public services mean many students move directly into stable, meaningful careers after graduation. The strong female presence highlights how the university supports women into professions that underpin communities and public wellbeing.
4. Edge Hill University
Female students: 70.25% | Male students: 29.71%
Edge Hill University also has a predominantly female student body, with women accounting for just over 70% of enrolments.
As one of the UK’s largest providers of teacher training and health-related degrees, Edge Hill plays a key role in educating future teachers, nurses, and healthcare professionals. Its strong widening participation mission has been particularly successful in supporting women into higher education through vocational and access routes.
5. Goldsmiths, University of London
Female students: 68.61% | Male students: 30.01%
Goldsmiths has a clear female majority, with women making up just under 69% of students. Known for its strengths in arts, humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences, the university attracts students interested in creative expression, critical thinking, and social change.
Goldsmiths’ environment supports women pursuing careers in culture, media, education, and the creative industries, while its growing digital and interdisciplinary courses continue to broaden opportunities across its student body.
6. University of Chichester
Female students: 66.89% | Male students: 33.11%
At the University of Chichester, women make up just under two thirds of the student population. The university is particularly strong in education, psychology, performing arts, and sport-related teaching degrees.
Its emphasis on education-linked and professional pathways has helped attract women into areas such as physical education, teaching, and creative performance, where representation has historically been more uneven elsewhere.
7. University of Winchester
Female students: 66.80% | Male students: 31.80%
The University of Winchester also demonstrates strong female participation, with women making up nearly 67% of students.
Winchester’s focus on humanities, education, theology, and professional studies aligns with careers in public service, education, and community leadership. A sizeable postgraduate and mature student population further reflects the university’s appeal to women seeking progression or career development.
8. University of Law
Female students: 66.56% | Male students: 33.28%
At the University of Law, women form roughly two thirds of the student body. This highlights the growing presence of women within the legal profession, particularly through postgraduate training, conversion courses, and part-time study.
The university’s flexible pathways are especially popular with women returning to education or changing careers, supporting progression into legal roles across both the public and private sectors.
9. University of Wolverhampton
Female students: 65.89% | Male students: 34.01%
Women make up just under 66% of students at the University of Wolverhampton. Strong enrolment in health, education, social care, and psychology reflects the university’s success in preparing students for practical, in-demand professions.
Wolverhampton’s commitment to widening participation has helped open higher education to students from diverse backgrounds, with women particularly benefiting from these inclusive pathways.
10. University of Dundee
Female students: 65.71% | Male students: 34.12%
Rounding out the list is the University of Dundee, where women account for nearly two thirds of the student population.
Dundee’s strengths in life sciences, medicine, education, and social sciences continue to attract high numbers of female students. As a broad-based research university, it demonstrates how strong female participation can coexist with academic diversity and global research impact.
So, those are the UK unis with the most female students and therefore, the biggest gender gap. Check out our list of the degrees with the most female students for more information and the unis that have awards for promoting gender equality.
FAQs on UK Universities with the Most Female Students
Based on the most recent enrolment data, Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh has the highest proportion of female students, with nearly 78% of its student population identifying as women. It is closely followed by the University of the Arts London, where women make up just over three quarters of students. Other universities with particularly strong female representation include the University of Worcester, Edge Hill University, and Goldsmiths.
Among Russell Group universities, female representation is generally strong but varies year to year and by subject mix. Institutions such as King’s College London, the University of Edinburgh, and University College London all have female-majority student populations, particularly due to large cohorts in arts, humanities, medicine, and social sciences.
Universities with a strong focus on subjects such as healthcare, education, psychology, law, and the creative arts tend to attract more female applicants. Where institutions specialise in these areas, their overall student population often reflects national subject-level trends rather than differences in admissions policy or campus culture.
Women currently make up just under 57% of the UK higher education student population. This female majority has been consistent for several years and reflects higher participation rates among women across a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Yes. Courses such as nursing, midwifery, psychology, social work, education, fashion, design, and many creative arts subjects consistently attract higher numbers of female students. Universities that offer a large proportion of these degrees tend to show stronger female representation overall.
Yes. Female participation in UK higher education has increased steadily since the 1990s and remains higher than male participation today. Women are now enrolling across a broad range of subjects, including law, medicine, business, and some STEM fields, alongside traditionally female-dominated areas.
Yes. Women form the majority of students at most UK universities, particularly those with strong provision in health, education, law, and the arts. However, some specialist or STEM-focused institutions still have a higher proportion of male students.
Gender ratios can vary by level of study. Women tend to outnumber men at undergraduate level across most subjects, while postgraduate taught courses in health, education, and social sciences are also female-led. In contrast, postgraduate research and specialist engineering courses are more likely to have a male majority.
Engineering, computer science, and some physical sciences continue to have more male than female students. That said, participation by women in these areas has increased in recent years, supported by outreach initiatives and targeted recruitment campaigns.
Many universities with strong female representation place a particular emphasis on wellbeing support, flexible study options, and career development. This can include mentoring schemes, leadership programmes, and tailored careers guidance designed to help students progress confidently into graduate employment.