Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
UWL is a career-focused university in Ealing, west London, with a second site at Brentford and a nursing and midwifery base in Reading. Ealing is a leafy, well-connected suburb, and the Elizabeth line gets you to Oxford Street in about 15 minutes. Lots of students commute from home, and the student body is diverse, with many mature students.
The big thing to know is that UWL doesn't own its own halls. It books rooms in private residences at Brentford and East Acton, and for 2026/27 those start at about £263 a week. That's London pricing, so budget carefully. If you want a practical degree with London on your doorstep, it's worth a look.
Known for
The University of West London is 85th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 44.4, below the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 83 | Heriot-Watt University | 44.6 |
| 84 | University of Manchester | 44.5 |
| 85 | University of West London | 44.4 |
| 86 | Queen Mary University of London | 44.3 |
| 87 | University of Sunderland | 44.2 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
5th of 124 · Sustainability Score 74.3
35th of 124 · Innovation Score 61.5
69th of 124 · Inclusion Score 55.3
81st of 124 · Nightlife Score 44.8
92nd of 124 · Social Score 42.5
93rd of 124 · Safety Score 30.4
96th of 123 · Happiness Score 39.1
99th of 124 · Employability Score 22.6
98th of 122 · Careers Score 23.1
102nd of 124 · Freshers Score 43.3
112th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 26.7
113th of 124 · Societies Score 35.6
116th of 124 · Affordability Score 10.3
117th of 124 · Value Score 23.5
120th of 124 · Balance Score 25.3
London as a student city
Ranked 72nd of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 32.
The University of West London appears in 38 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health | 1st | of 14 | 61 |
| Human Resource Management | 5th | of 58 | 142 |
| Information Technology | 2nd | of 21 | 71 |
| Law | 11th | of 97 | 180 |
| Psychology | 16th | of 108 | 186 |
| Quantity Surveying | 6th | of 35 | 95 |
| Business and Management | 20th | of 114 | 195 |
| Journalism | 11th | of 59 | 127 |
| Marketing | 17th | of 88 | 167 |
| Teaching | 16th | of 79 | 161 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biomedical Science | 20th | of 93 | 159 |
| Software Engineering | 13th | of 58 | 131 |
| Computer Science | 23rd | of 102 | 174 |
| Politics | 18th | of 78 | 142 |
| Criminology | 23rd | of 94 | 168 |
| International Relations | 18th | of 71 | 133 |
| Cyber Security | 15th | of 58 | 130 |
| Nursing | 26th | of 85 | 151 |
| Electrical Engineering | 21st | of 67 | 127 |
| Data Science | 17th | of 50 | 105 |
| Animation (2D/3D) | 18th | of 52 | 113 |
| Economics | 30th | of 85 | 138 |
| Drama, Theatre and Performance | 22nd | of 60 | 115 |
| Performing Arts | 15th | of 37 | 89 |
| Graphic Design | 28th | of 68 | 123 |
| Film Production | 36th | of 87 | 150 |
| Midwifery | 24th | of 54 | 88 |
| Surveying | 11th | of 24 | 70 |
| Media and Communication | 38th | of 79 | 126 |
| Architecture | 27th | of 55 | 100 |
| Music | 28th | of 56 | 99 |
| Civil Engineering | 30th | of 58 | 96 |
| Accounting and Finance | 16th | of 30 | 163 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 36th | of 66 | 82 |
| Fashion Design | 28th | of 49 | 92 |
| Pharmacology | 23rd | of 37 | 58 |
| Photography | 31st | of 44 | 63 |
| Forensic Science | 22nd | of 31 | 67 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
UWLSU is based at the Ealing site, which was redeveloped with a new students' union, gym, library, auditorium and cafés. The SU runs 30+ student-led groups plus sports clubs, a gym and student radio. Because so many students commute, campus life is busiest in the daytime. Ealing has plenty of pubs and restaurants, and central London is about 15 minutes away on the Elizabeth line.
University halls cost £263–£370 per week (2026/27, partner residences, 41–51-week contracts, bills included) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
UWL doesn't own halls of residence. It works with private providers and books rooms for its students at Chapter White City (East Acton) and The Paragon (Brentford). Its accommodation page carries an 'accommodation guarantee at White City' banner, but the terms aren't spelled out on the page, so check with the accommodation team (020 8231 2335) before relying on it. Booking through UWL means no deposit, no guarantor, no agency fees and bills included.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Paragon | Brentford (next to UWL's Brentford site) | en-suite (classic or premium) | £263/wk | Fully refurbished and opening in September 2026. Classic en-suites from £263 a week on a 51-week contract, or £290 on a 41-week contract. Premium en-suites (11th floor) are £295 for 41 weeks. Free 10-minute shuttle to Ealing. |
| Chapter White City | East Acton | studio (Bronze) | £320/wk | Built in 2018, five minutes' walk from East Acton Tube (Central line). UWL students get a discount on Bronze Studios (about 13–14 m²): £320–£325 a week, 51-week contract. Gym, courtyard and 24/7 study room. |
| The Paragon (studios) | Brentford | studio | £370/wk | Studio with its own kitchenette and bathroom, 51-week contract. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Leafy, well-off west London suburb around the main campus. Convenient but pricey.
Next to UWL's Paragon site by the Thames, with a lot of new-build flats.
A bit cheaper than Ealing, with Central and Elizabeth line links.
Top tip
Bookings for 2026/27 open via UWL's accommodation application form, where you list your preferred room types. Some room types are limited, so give a second and third choice. Most contracts run 51 weeks, so compare the total cost, not just the weekly price, and look at the 41-week option at The Paragon if you'll go home for summer.
London is expensive. UWL's money advice page quotes a NatWest estimate of £1,243–£1,643 a month for a London student, with rent at £800–£1,200 of that. UWL's partner rooms cost £263–£370 a week for 2026/27, including bills. A Student Oyster photocard and the free UWL shuttle help keep travel costs down.
Getting around
UWL's two West London sites, Ealing (St Mary's Road) and Brentford (Paragon), are linked by a free 10-minute shuttle bus from Ealing Broadway. From Ealing, the Elizabeth line reaches Oxford Street in about 15 minutes. London buses cost £1.75 a ride with the Hopper fare, and an 18+ Student Oyster photocard gives 30% off bus passes (£17.30 for 7 days).
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of West London is 85th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 44.4. Its strongest results are for sustainability (5th), innovation (35th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of West London places highest for Public Health (1st of 14), Information Technology (2nd of 21). Across our awards, it also stands out for sustainability.
No. UWL works with private providers and books rooms at Chapter White City in East Acton and The Paragon in Brentford. Booking through UWL means no deposit, no guarantor and bills included.
For 2026/27, rooms start at £263 a week for a classic en-suite at The Paragon on a 51-week contract. Studios cost £320–£325 a week at Chapter White City and £370 at The Paragon. That's typical for London, so budget carefully.
UWL's accommodation page mentions an accommodation guarantee at White City, but doesn't publish the terms. Contact the accommodation team on 020 8231 2335 to check eligibility before you rely on it.
There's a free shuttle bus between Ealing Broadway and the Brentford (Paragon) site. It takes about 10 minutes. The two sites are about 1.5 miles apart.
At UWL's Reading site, Fountain House in Reading town centre, in partnership with the NHS. Reading is about 25 minutes from London Paddington by train and is also on the Elizabeth line.
HESA data for 2024/25 puts UWL at 17,690 higher education students, including 12,980 undergraduates. Many are mature students, and lots commute from home.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
