UK Universities and Higher Education Providers

Search every site in this cohort

uk-universities

Every registered higher education provider in England, and the universities and colleges of higher education in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Index 12.1 · scanned 2026-11-02 · up to 32 URLs per site · 460 organizations · 368 scanned (80.0% coverage) · scored as higher-ed

Median score 59 across 368 sites
Middle half 53–65 spread around the median
Full range 29–76 lowest to highest
Gated 123 of 368 block AI crawlers outright

Middle of 31 cohorts. All cohorts 54 · best cohort 63.

Where this list came from

The source, and how we filtered it

Source UK higher education provider registers, Office for Students (England); Medr (Wales); Scottish Funding Council (Scotland); NI Direct, Northern Ireland Executive (Northern Ireland) (OfS Register as downloaded 2026-11-02; Medr Register 2026-07-31; SFC university indicative funding allocations 2026-27 (March 2026); nidirect 'Universities and colleges in Northern Ireland' read 2026-11-02)
LicenseOpen Government Licence v3.0 (OfS, SFC, nidirect); Medr publishes under the Open Government Licence for Wales/OGL v3.0
Cite asContains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
How we filtered itEngland: every provider on the 'Register' sheet of the OfS Register download, keyed on UKPRN. The name shown is the first trading name, else the legal name. The website is the register's own column. kind is 'university' when the register says the provider may use 'university' in its title; 'fe-college' when GIAS types its UKPRN as a further education college or a 16-19 academy named 'College'; 'college' otherwise. Wales: every provider on Medr's Register of Higher Education Providers, with the register's website column. Scotland: every institution in Table 2 (Main Teaching Grant) of the SFC 2026-27 indicative university allocations, except 'Open University in Scotland' (the Open University is already on the OfS register) and the Total line. The SFC gives no websites, so each name was matched exactly to a Wikidata English label or alias on a UK item; the website was taken only when exactly one item and one host answered. Northern Ireland: the four university and university-college headings on the nidirect page, with the first website link nidirect gives under each. Paths are cut to the site root except where several rows share a host.
Instead ofHESA's provider list sits behind a Cloudflare challenge, which was not bypassed. The UKRLP web service answered 502. Discover Uni's open dataset download could not be found at any current address.
Built2026-11-02

The filtering is ours and is disclosed as ours. The source published a list; the decision about which rows of it belong in a cohort was a judgment call, and it is written down so somebody can disagree with it.

Distribution

Where the 368 sites land

GradeShare of the cohort SitesShare
Weak
165 44.8%
Not ready
20 5.4%
Adequate
179 48.6%
Strong
4 1.1%
By dimension

What the cohort earns, dimension by dimension

The mean share of each dimension’s available points that this cohort earned. Low here means the whole sector is weak on it, not that one site dragged an average down. The per-site spread is in the dataset.

DimensionMean share earned Mean
#1 · Reach
These parameters determine the fundamental ease of access that AI has to your site information.
78%
#2 · Read
AI generally turns off JavaScript. Does your site information survive without it?
56%
#3 · Understand
Does a machine know who and what you are?
31%
#4 · Act
Sitemaps, redirects, 404s, licensing terms, and not wasting the crawl budget.
70%
How much of each site we read

The cap is 32 URLs and it is a ceiling, not a promise. A portal whose every link points at a different host yields one page; a university yields the full sample. The median here is 32, the range 1–32, published so that "we sampled 32 URLs per site" cannot become a claim the data does not support.

8 sites in this cohort served a certificate we could not verify. They were read anyway and scored normally, because reporting no response for a site every browser loads would describe our TLS stack rather than the site, and each one carries the finding in its row.

Where this cohort fails

5 tests almost nobody in this cohort passes

Universal — nobody passes these 5 checks
TestWhat it asks FailingOf Points
EXT-12 Do you tell search engines the moment a page changes?
100.0% 		368 0
EXT-16 Do you publish a card or a skills list for the agents you run?
100.0% 		368 0
EXT-17 Do you list your agents in your domain's DNS records?
100.0% 		359 0
EXT-18 Do you tell AI shoppers how they can pay?
100.0% 		16 0
EXT-2 Do you list your APIs and agent tools where agents look for them?
100.0% 		23 0
Near-universal — 95% and above 7 checks · 3 of them worth 2 points or more
TestWhat it asks FailingOf Points
EXT-14 Does your site offer its actions to AI browsers as tools?
99.7% 		358 0
EXT-11 Have you marked the part of a page that answers a spoken question?
99.5% 		368 0
RED-10 Do you offer a plain-text (Markdown) copy of your pages?
99.4% 		325 2
RED-12 If a machine asks for Markdown, does your site give it?
97.5% 		367 2
PST-2 Have you posted a Content Signals statement about what AI may do with your content?
96.7% 		368 0
UND-2 Does your site use the page labels that search engines still read for what you publish?
96.5% 		368 3
UND-5 Does the author label in your page code point to that person?
96.0% 		324 1
Common — 90 to 95% 6 checks · 1 of them worth 2 points or more
TestWhat it asks FailingOf Points
EXT-13 Can an assistant ask your site a question directly?
94.8% 		368 0
EXT-1 Do you publish an llms.txt file for coding assistants?
94.6% 		368 0
PST-4 Have you reserved your text and data mining rights in a form machines can read?
94.6% 		368 0
EXT-4 Can an AI assistant connect to your site as a tool?
93.8% 		368 0
EXT-7 If you run real question-and-answer pages, are they marked as such?
93.3% 		15 0
UND-1 Does your site say clearly who you are?
91.3% 		368 2

Coral bars mark tests worth 2 points or more, the failures that actually move a score.

Every site

Every 460, named, with a report for each

Whether or not it has been scanned. Rows with no website on record, sites that were unreachable and sites that turned us away stay in the table with the reason on them, and none of them enters an average: dropping them would shrink the population to the part that was easy to measure. A few points between two neighbors is noise. The box filters every row in the cohort, not only the page you are on; click a header to sort the rows on this page by name or by score.

Showing 301–400 of 460 · page 4 of 5

SiteScore GatedPages read Report
The ICMT: International College of Musical Theatre theicmt.comregister id 10027603; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 60 No 32
The Inns of Court College of Advocacy icca.ac.ukregister id 10081618; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 58 No 32
The Institute of Cancer Research icr.ac.ukblockedregister id 10003324; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare) — No —
The Institute of Ismaili Studies iis.ac.ukblockedregister id 10067388; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 — No —
The Islamic College islamic-college.ac.ukregister id 10029682; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 64 No 32
The King's Foundation kings-foundation.orgregister id 10083476; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; the published address is https://www.kings-foundation.org/school-of-traditional-arts; cut to the site root 65 No 32
The London College lcuck.ac.ukregister id 10015506; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 59 Gated 32
The London Institute of Banking & Finance, Walbrook Institute London, LIBF walbrook.ac.ukregister id 10089591; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 65 No 32
The London Interdisciplinary School londoninterdisciplinaryschool.orgregister id 10067623; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 47 No 1
The London School of Economics and Political Science lse.ac.ukregister id 10004063; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 60 No 32
The Manchester College ucenmcr.tmc.ac.ukregister id 10023139; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 59 No 1
The Markfield Institute of Higher Education mihe.ac.ukregister id 10023452; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 61 No 32
The McTimoney College of Chiropractic collegeofhealth.ukregister id 10066502; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 52 Gated 8
The Metanoia Institute metanoia.ac.ukregister id 10004320; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 67 No 32
The Minster Centre minstercentre.ac.ukregister id 10032277; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 51 Gated 9
The National Film and Television School nfts.co.ukregister id 10004511; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 56 No 32
The National Institute of Teaching niot.org.ukregister id 10090839; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 51 No 32
The Northern School of Art northernart.ac.ukregister id 10001503; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 69 No 32
The Oldham College uco.oldham.ac.ukregister id 10006770; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 76 No 1
The Open University open.ac.ukblockedregister id 10007773; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare) — No —
The Place theplace.org.ukregister id 10004028; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 59 No 32
The Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education queens.ac.ukregister id 10032282; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 53 No 32
The Royal Academy of Music ram.ac.ukregister id 10007835; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 65 No 32
The Royal Agricultural University rau.ac.ukregister id 10005545; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 65 No 32
The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama cssd.ac.ukblockedregister id 10007816; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare) — No —
The Royal College of Art rca.ac.ukregister id 10007777; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 57 No 32
The Royal Veterinary College rvc.ac.ukblockedregister id 10007779; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 — No —
The Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute spti.netregister id 10023458; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 58 No 1
The University of Bradford brad.ac.ukregister id 10007785; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 67 No 1
The University of Cambridge cam.ac.ukregister id 10007788; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 58 Gated 32
The University of Cumbria cumbria.ac.ukregister id 10007842; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 63 No 32
The University of East London uel.ac.ukregister id 10007144; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 52 Gated 32
The University of Essex essex.ac.ukregister id 10007791; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 54 Gated 32
The University of Law law.ac.ukregister id 10039956; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 69 No 32
The University of Liverpool liverpool.ac.ukregister id 10006842; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 66 No 32
The University of Northampton northampton.ac.ukregister id 10007138; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 56 No 32
The University of Salford salford.ac.ukregister id 10007156; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 70 No 32
The University of Surrey surrey.ac.ukregister id 10007160; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 70 No 32
The University of West London uwl.ac.ukregister id 10006566; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 60 Gated 32
The University of Westminster westminster.ac.ukregister id 10007165; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 63 No 32
The Windsor Forest Colleges Group windsor-forest.ac.ukblockedregister id 10002107; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 — No —
ThinkSpace Education thinkspaceeducation.comregister id 10082743; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 51 Gated 2
Trinity College Bristol trinitycollegebristol.ac.ukregister id 10023464; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 57 Gated 32
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance trinitylaban.ac.ukregister id 10008017; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 68 No 32
Truro and Penwith College truro-penwith.ac.ukblockedregister id 10007063; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare) — No —
UA92 ua92.ac.ukregister id 10067648; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 59 Gated 32
UCL ucl.ac.ukblockedregister id 10007784; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare) — No —
UCQ ucq.ac.ukregister id 10025197; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 42 No 32
UEA uea.ac.ukregister id 10007789; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 29 Gated 1
UK Business College Ltd ukbusinesscollege.orgregister id 10042737; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 57 Gated 32
University Centre Askham Bryan askham-bryan.ac.ukregister id 10000415; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 74 No 32
University Centre Calderdale College calderdale.ac.ukregister id 10001093; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 50 Gated 32
University Centre Hastings escg.org.ukregister id 10002923; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 33 Gated 1
University Centre Newbury newbury-college.ac.ukregister id 10004596; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 33 Gated 1
University Centre Peterborough ucp.ac.ukblockedregister id 10068157; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 — No —
University Centre Reaseheath reaseheath.ac.ukregister id 10005404; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 68 No 32
University Centre South Devon ucsd.ac.ukblockedregister id 10005977; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare) — No —
University Centre South Essex southessex.ac.ukregister id 10005981; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 63 No 32
University Centre Weston ucw.ac.ukregister id 10007459; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 68 No 32
University Centre, Croydon croydon.ac.ukregister id 10001778; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 62 Gated 32
University Centre, Leeds leedscitycollege.ac.ukregister id 10024962; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 59 No 32
University College Birmingham ucb.ac.ukregister id 10000712; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 75 No 32
University for the Creative Arts uca.ac.ukregister id 10006427; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 67 No 32
University of Bath bath.ac.ukregister id 10007850; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 53 No 32
University of Bedfordshire beds.ac.ukregister id 10007152; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 41 Gated 32
University of Birmingham birmingham.ac.ukregister id 10006840; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 65 No 32
University of Brighton brighton.ac.ukregister id 10000886; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 58 No 32
University of Bristol bristol.ac.ukregister id 10007786; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 64 No 28
University of Buckingham buckingham.ac.ukregister id 10007787; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 62 No 32
University of Chester chester.ac.ukregister id 10007848; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 73 No 32
University of Chichester chi.ac.ukregister id 10007137; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 50 Gated 32
University of Derby derby.ac.ukregister id 10007851; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 63 No 32
University of Essex Online kaplan.ac.ukregister id 10021682; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 62 No 1
University of Exeter exeter.ac.ukregister id 10007792; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 74 No 32
University of Gloucestershire glos.ac.ukblockedregister id 10007145; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 — No —
University of Greater Manchester bolton.ac.ukregister id 10006841; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 68 No 1
University of Hertfordshire herts.ac.ukblockedregister id 10007147; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare) — No —
University of Huddersfield hud.ac.ukregister id 10007148; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 61 No 13
University of Hull hull.ac.ukregister id 10007149; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 45 No 2
University of Lancashire lancashire.ac.ukregister id 10007141; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 54 Gated 32
University of Leeds leeds.ac.ukblockedregister id 10007795; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 — No —
University of Leicester le.ac.ukblockedregister id 10007796; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare) — No —
University of Lincoln lincoln.ac.ukregister id 10007151; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 70 No 32
University of London london.ac.ukblockedregister id 10007797; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare) — No —
University of Manchester manchester.ac.ukregister id 10007798; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 65 No 32
University of Nottingham, the nottingham.ac.ukregister id 10007154; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 42 Gated 32
University of Plymouth plymouth.ac.ukregister id 10007801; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 52 No 32
University of Portsmouth port.ac.ukregister id 10007155; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 73 No 32
University of Reading reading.ac.ukregister id 10007802; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 59 No 16
University of Roehampton roehampton.ac.ukregister id 10007776; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 68 No 32
University of Sheffield sheffield.ac.ukunreachableregister id 10007157; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it — No —
University of Southampton southampton.ac.ukregister id 10007158; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 70 No 32
University of Staffordshire staffs.ac.ukregister id 10006299; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 58 Gated 32
University of Suffolk uos.ac.ukregister id 10014001; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 67 No 32
University of Sunderland sunderland.ac.ukregister id 10007159; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 65 No 32
University of Sussex sussex.ac.ukregister id 10007806; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 62 No 32
University of the Arts, London arts.ac.ukblockedregister id 10007162; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it; not measured: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare) — No —
University of the Built Environment ube.ac.ukregister id 10008173; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 61 No 32
University of Warwick warwick.ac.ukregister id 10007163; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 55 Gated 32
University of Winchester winchester.ac.ukregister id 10003614; address from OfS Register (high confidence), not checked by loading it 64 No 32

Scores are for the population, not for ranking two named sites against each other. A few points between neighbors is noise. See what these numbers can and cannot support. Headline figures: summary.json (CC BY 4.0). The site-by-site data on this page is licensed; a bulk copy is from TEN7 for a fee.