Universities · checked 21 October 2026
Red Brick Universities for Nepali Students: The Six, Their Rankings and Fees
“Red brick” describes six civic universities founded in England’s industrial cities around 1900. They are large research universities today, all in the Russell Group, and popular with Nepali master’s students.
What Are the Red Brick Universities?
The six red brick universities are Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield, civic universities that received royal charters between 1900 and 1909. All six are in the Russell Group. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 they range from Manchester at 40th equal to Liverpool at 139th. For the visa you show £1,203 a month of living costs.
They are the original civic universities of Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield. The name comes from the brick buildings of the time and was popularised in the 1940s. Some people use it more loosely for later civic universities, but the six above are the usual list.
Key facts
Checked against the sources cited on 21 October 2026.
- The six
- Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and SheffieldUniversity histories
- Founded
- Royal charters between 1900 (Birmingham) and 1909 (Bristol)University histories
- Russell Group
- All six are membersRussell Group
- QS 2027
- Manchester =40, Bristol 57, Birmingham =68, Leeds =77, Sheffield =82, Liverpool 139The Tab and NCUK, QS 2027
- Living costs to show
- £1,203 a month (£10,827 for 9 months) from 30 November 2026; all six are outside LondonUKVI; HC 584
The Six Red Brick Universities Compared
| University | City | QS 2027 | Published fee example |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Birmingham | Birmingham | =68 | By course (see profile) |
| University of Bristol | Bristol | 57 | £32,600 for MSc Economics and Finance (2027/28) |
| University of Leeds | Leeds | =77 | By course (see profile) |
| University of Liverpool | Liverpool | 139 | £31,000 for MPH (Global Health Pathway) (2027/28) |
| University of Manchester | Manchester | =40 | £34,800 for MSc Management (2027 entry) |
| University of Sheffield | Sheffield | =82 | By course (see profile) |
Where the table says “by course”, the university lists fees course by course; its HOA profile links to the official page.
Entry Requirements from Nepal
Each university publishes its own requirement for Nepali qualifications. For a master’s, most ask for a bachelor’s equivalent to a UK upper second-class degree, with a higher mark for competitive courses, and IELTS 6.5 overall or an equivalent test. MOI letters are generally not accepted at these universities. For a bachelor’s, expect strong NEB results, or an international foundation year for direct entry later.
Check the country page for Nepal on each university’s website, and see Russell Group universities.
Red Brick and the Russell Group
“Red brick” is a historical term; the Russell Group is a present-day association of 24 research-intensive universities. Every red brick university is in the Russell Group, but most Russell Group universities are not red brick, including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Edinburgh and Warwick.
HOA has placed students across all 24 Russell Group universities. Oxford, Cambridge and LSE do not work through agents, so you apply to them directly.
How Much Money You Show for the Visa
You show the tuition you still owe for the first year plus living costs for up to nine months. For a university outside London: £1,203 a month (£10,827, about NPR 21.1 lakhs) for applications from 30 November 2026, or £1,171 a month (£10,539) before then. The money must stay in the account for 28 days in a row, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
Worked example. A one-year master’s with £17,000 tuition and a £3,000 deposit paid: £14,000 still owed + £10,827 living costs = £24,827 (about NPR 48.4 lakhs) held for 28 days. Add the £558 visa fee and about £1,164 health surcharge, paid when you apply.
All 20 of Nepal’s Class A commercial banks meet UKVI’s rules for the account. See bank balance for the UK visa and banks in Nepal.
How to Apply to a Red Brick University from Nepal
Check the Nepal entry page
Each university lists the marks it expects from Nepali degrees.
Prepare an English test
Most courses ask for IELTS 6.5 or an equivalent.
Apply early
Popular master’s courses can close when full.
Plan the visa money
Unpaid tuition plus £10,827 of living costs, held for 28 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield.
Yes, all six are Russell Group members.
In the QS World University Rankings 2027: Manchester 40th equal, Bristol 57th, Birmingham 68th equal, Leeds 77th equal, Sheffield 82nd equal and Liverpool 139th.
Generally not. Most ask for IELTS or another accepted test.
Usually the equivalent of a UK upper second-class degree for a master’s, higher for competitive courses. Each university publishes its Nepal requirement.
All six are outside London: from 30 November 2026 you show £1,203 a month of living costs, up to £10,827, plus any first-year tuition you still owe.
No. Red brick is a historical group of six civic universities; the Russell Group is an association of 24 universities that includes all six.
Most offer international merit awards. Check each university’s scholarships page; GREAT Scholarships are not open to Nepal in 2026/27.
No. HOA’s admissions guidance is free to students. Partner universities pay HOA when a student enrols; you pay only official costs such as the visa fee, health surcharge, TB test and NOC.
Key Terms
- Red brick
- The six civic universities chartered in English industrial cities between 1900 and 1909.
- Russell Group
- An association of 24 research-intensive UK universities.
- 28-day rule
- Visa money must stay in the account for 28 days in a row, ending no more than 31 days before you apply.
Sources
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources on 21 October 2026. If an official page and this page disagree, the official page is right.
- The Tab, All 24 Russell Group universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027
- NCUK, NCUK university partners in the QS World University Rankings 2027
- Russell Group, Our universities
- Home Office, Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 584
- UK Visas and Immigration, Financial evidence for Student and Child Student route applicants
- University of Birmingham, University of Birmingham international fees
- University of Bristol, University of Bristol international fees
- University of Leeds, University of Leeds international fees
- University of Liverpool, University of Liverpool international fees
- University of Manchester, University of Manchester international fees
- University of Sheffield, University of Sheffield international fees
About This Guide
Written by House of Admissions (HOA), a UK-only education consultancy founded in 2016 with offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. All 20+ HOA counsellors hold the British Council’s UK counsellor certification. HOA’s guidance is free to students. Reviewed by Rahul Chhetri, Director. This is admissions guidance, not immigration advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Related Guides
Aiming for a Red Brick University?
A counsellor can check your marks against each university’s Nepal requirement. HOA’s guidance is free.