1. Cranfield University
2. Leeds College of Music
3. London Business School
When we’re asked to imagine the word “business”, 90% of us think “Wolf of Wall Street”. This is what business is portrayed as—a bunch of men walking around in 3-piece suits, briefcases and shiny shoes. It is extremely difficult for a woman to be successful if she choses to pursue business. The world of business was, and will remain, for the foreseeable future, a man’s world. So, this isn’t a popular choice among women, as is shown through the stats: only 36% of the students are female.4. Heriot-Watt University
5. Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
The name of the university should be the biggest clue itself. This uni is completely STEM oriented, much like Cranfield University. It doesn’t have as big of a gap as the highest-ranked uni on this list, but it’s still pretty bad, with a 40% female population.6. Loughborough University
7. Solent University
It’s a little unclear as to why this uni has a gender gap since it offers a wide range of courses. In fact, it offers courses that are predominantly popular among females (Psychology and Design, to name a few). The gap here isn’t too drastic though: 44% of the students are female. The university has implemented some measures to combat this since the release of this data. For instance, they’ve launched a Transgender Equality and Inclusion policy.So, that’s the wind-up on the UK unis with the biggest gender gap. To look at the other end of the spectrum, why not check out our post on the UK unis with the most female students?
FAQs on Gender Gaps at UK Universities
Cranfield University currently has the largest gender gap, with about 74% of students being male. Other universities with notable gaps include Leeds Conservatoire (around 70% male), London Business School (around 64% male), Heriot-Watt University (about 60% male), and Imperial College London (close to 60% male).
Gender imbalances often reflect a university’s academic focus. STEM fields such as engineering, technology, and computing attract more male applicants, while creative arts, nursing, and education degrees are more popular with female students. Campus culture and recruitment strategies also play a role.
Some institutions have improved gender balance, but certain gaps have grown since 2020, especially in tech and engineering courses. Many universities are addressing this through scholarships, outreach programmes, and campaigns to encourage underrepresented genders in specific fields.
Yes. Many universities with strong health, social care, or education courses have female-majority populations. Examples include Edge Hill University, St Mary’s University, and some Oxford and Cambridge colleges with high female enrolment in the arts and humanities.
The UK performs better than many countries, ranking among the top 10 globally for gender equality in higher education. However, gender divides remain clear in some areas, with men dominating engineering and tech while women continue to lead in nursing, social sciences, and education.
Gender imbalances can influence career trends. For example, male-dominated fields like engineering often have higher starting salaries, while female-dominated sectors such as health and education may offer lower pay but strong job security. Universities are working to close pay and opportunity gaps after graduation.
Initiatives include STEM outreach programmes for girls, mentoring schemes, targeted scholarships, and gender equality charters such as Athena Swan. Many universities run workshops and campaigns to inspire more diverse applications to underrepresented courses.
Yes. Students in heavily gender-skewed courses sometimes report feelings of isolation or pressure to fit in. Universities with large imbalances often create support networks, societies, and mentoring to build a more inclusive community.
Often yes. MBA programmes and engineering-related masters courses are still male dominated, while health, social work, and education postgraduates remain mostly female. Some fields have started closing the gap thanks to targeted recruitment campaigns.
League tables rarely rank by gender balance, but diversity metrics are becoming more important. Prospective students and employers increasingly value inclusive environments, which can influence a university’s reputation and recruitment success.