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The UK’s most entrepreneurial universities
The UK’s entrepreneurial landscape is forever evolving - driving innovation, economic growth and job opportunities. With one in three UK adults now either running their own business or planning to start one within the next three years, there’s no denying that the UK has developed an entrepreneurial ecosystem. But knowledge and resources need to start somewhere, and many turn to university to develop their skills and open the door to new opportunities.
Choosing the right university can unlock entrepreneurial opportunities by cultivating an environment of learning, collaboration and innovation. With over a quarter of students currently running or planning to run a business while at university, it looks like further education can significantly improve your chances of turning your business dream into a reality.
Below, we’ll uncover the most entrepreneurial universities in the UK, looking at which institutions provide the right environment, mentorship and support for budding entrepreneurs to thrive.
What makes a university great for entrepreneurs?
For aspiring entrepreneurs, choosing the right university isn’t just about how it performs in academic league tables. Instead, you’ll be looking for an academic environment that also provides business opportunities and encourages innovation. Here are just some of the key factors that set apart entrepreneurial universities from other institutions.
Access to funding: One of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face is securing the resources needed to launch their business. Choosing a university that offers startup grants or accelerator programmes can supply you with the resources you need to get your business off the ground.
Industry connections: The right university can offer invaluable networking opportunities. It’s likely your chosen institution will have strong connections to businesses, investors and industry leaders who can offer mentorship and internship opportunities.
Alumni success stories: A university’s reputation is often reflected by the success of its graduates. It’s worth researching the direction graduates’ careers have taken as a strong alumni network can provide invaluable connections. Chances are, successful entrepreneurs may even offer to mentor or invest in the next generation of student-led businesses.
Entrepreneurship courses and competitions: Many universities offer traditional business degrees, but the most entrepreneurial institutions offer more innovative opportunities. Look for universities that provide dedicated entrepreneurship modules and work experience options. Some institutions even run startup competitions, giving you the chance to pitch your business idea to investors, with funding as a reward.
Student-led startup culture: Research different universities’ student initiatives to gauge their entrepreneurial spirit. For example, you may be looking for a university that supports student-led business societies, co-working spaces and peer-to-peer networking to help you develop your business ideas.
The UK’s best universities for aspiring founders
To determine the universities with the most business founders, we used the Complete University Guide’s University League table for 2025 and their alumni’s LinkedIn profiles to see how many graduates were listed as company founders. By combining these figures with each institution’s total number of alumni, we were able to rank each university by the percentage of alumni that went on to become business owners, to find the UK’s best universities for budding entrepreneurs. We’ll also uncover the most popular subjects studied by entrepreneurs to help you decide which subject area to pursue.
By looking at university rankings and how many graduates became business founders, we’ve curated a list of the best universities that stand out in nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
University of the Arts, London
Overall founder alumni - 11%
With a strong emphasis on creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in the arts, design, fashion and media industries, it’s no surprise that University of the Arts London leads the way in producing the highest number of business founders among its alumni.
During their studies, students are likely to gain exposure to real-world projects, collaborate with major brands in their field and have the opportunity to showcase their work to build their business skills. The university also offers a Creative Enterprise Programme, where students learn and develop their entrepreneurial skills to help build and launch their own startups.
London School of Economics and Politics (LSE)
Overall founder alumni - 9.11%
With 9.11% of LSE’s alumni becoming business founders, it’s a top choice university for budding entrepreneurs. LSE is known for its deep understanding of global markets, economic trends and financial management - all essential skills for startup founders. Offering courses in Entrepreneurial Finance and Business Strategy, students are given the skills and knowledge needed to launch and scale businesses. LSE Generate is the school’s entrepreneurial hub, supporting students and alumni to develop their entrepreneurial skills and build businesses. Generate’s Entrepreneurship Mentoring Programme also connects students with experienced startup founders, CEOs and business mentors.
Imperial College London
Overall founder alumni - 8.14%
With 8.14% of its alumni becoming business founders, Imperial College London stands out as an excellent choice for those looking to develop their entrepreneurial skills and build successful ventures. The university specialises in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), which require various key skills such as problem solving, adaptability and creativity, which can help you build a solid foundation for entrepreneurship.
The Imperial Enterprise Lab opens the door to funding, mentorship and co-working spaces, to help you develop your startup. LSE also offers various startup competitions such as the WE Innovate Programme and Venture Catalyst Challenge to give you access to early-stage funding and business exposure.
University of Oxford
Overall founder alumni - 7.72%
As one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, it’s not surprising that the University of Oxford made it on our list of top universities for entrepreneurship.
Oxford is known to attract top-tier students, faculty and investors, as well as offering partnerships with venture capital firms and government-backed innovation funds. The university’s entrepreneurial hub, EnSpire Oxford, is home to a range of events throughout the academic year, innovation programmes and online resources. The Oxford University Innovation (OUI) also helps students and researchers commercialise ideas and launch businesses.
University of Cambridge
Overall founder alumni = 7.65%
One of the world’s leading universities, The University of Cambridge is another top choice for entrepreneurship due to its world-class research, stellar reputation, strong industry connections and thriving startup opportunities.
The university provides endless entrepreneurial opportunities, such as its Accelerate Cambridge scheme - an 11-week programme that includes talks, workshops, weekly coaching, mentoring and pitching for budding business founders. With impressive funding opportunities, mentorship programmes and partnerships with leading startup investors, Cambridge offers a thriving entrepreneurial environment to help you achieve your business goals.
The most popular subjects studied by founders
While you aren’t required to study a particular subject to achieve entrepreneurial success, there are certain fields that can equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to take the business world by storm.
Below, we’ll uncover the top subjects studied by business founders and how these academic fields equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools needed for business success.
Economics
According to our findings, Economics is the most popular degree for budding entrepreneurs, with over 26,000 business founders having graduated with an Economics degree. Considering the course’s subject matter, such as understanding markets, financial systems and consumer behaviour, it’s not surprising that those looking to start their own business would choose to study Economics. It equips entrepreneurs with analytic and problem-solving skills, helping them to identify growth opportunities, assess risks and manage resources - all key skills for business success.
Business administration
From financial management and strategic planning, to leadership, marketing and entrepreneurial thinking, Business Administration is a popular degree for business owners, with almost 14,000 entrepreneurs having studied it at university. This subject equips entrepreneurs with practical skills in strategic planning, leadership and decision-making, helping them to run and scale a successful business.
Management
The third most popular subject studied by entrepreneurs is Management, with over 7,000 business owners having Management degrees. Management is a top choice for those looking to start a business, allowing you to broaden your skillset in leadership, strategic planning and organisation efficiency. A degree in Management can help aspiring business owners develop the expertise needed to build and grow a successful enterprise.
Key takeaways for aspiring founders
It’s clear from our findings that the UK has a thriving university ecosystem that actively encourages and supports entrepreneurship.
Universities with extensive research specialisms, funding opportunities and industry networks produce the most successful entrepreneurs. Additionally, strong alumni networks and partnerships with industry leaders further enhance the entrepreneurial experience, offering invaluable support once you’ve graduated.
Ultimately, choosing a university that supports your entrepreneurial dreams can significantly improve your chances of building and sustaining a successful business.
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