UK Education & Training Universities - PPC Market Share Analysis May 2026

Leveraging Adthena’s Whole Market View, this analysis explores recent trends in Google Ads for the UK Universities category from the last month. Our Data Analyst, Ask Arlo provides commentary on key findings.

Universities – UK

Google AI Overview visibility for Education & Training Universities UK

See how often AIOs appear and how search intent is distributed across buying signals.

AIO Frequency

How often a Google AI overview appears on search terms relevant to this category.

Frequency Percentage
Frequency 38.296238314
61.703761686
38%

Complex Query Frequency

A complex query is a longer, more detailed search that often contains multiple keywords, specific conditions, or multi-part questions.

Frequency Percentage
Frequency 26
74
26%

Search Intent Distribution

Breakdown of search queries by their underlying goal.

Intent Distribution
Investigational 8%
Transactional 0%
Navigational 2%
Seasonal 0%
Local 2%
Problem Solving 1%

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Market Exposure

Share of Clicks for top 10 UK Education & Training Universities brands

Here are the Top 10 competitors in the industry by Share of Clicks for the last month.

Share of Clicks - Last month
Share of Clicks - Last month
Domain Share of clicks
open.ac.uk 8.33
law.ac.uk 6.97
lse.ac.uk 6.92
mmu.ac.uk 6.67
arden.ac.uk 5.12
imperial.ac.uk 4.92
london.edu 4.27
roehampton.ac.uk 2.72
whatuni.com 2.7
cardiffmet.ac.uk 2.24
others 49.14
  • open.ac.uk - 8.33%
  • law.ac.uk - 6.97%
  • lse.ac.uk - 6.92%
  • mmu.ac.uk - 6.67%
  • arden.ac.uk - 5.12%
  • imperial.ac.uk - 4.92%
  • london.edu - 4.27%
  • roehampton.ac.uk - 2.72%
  • whatuni.com - 2.7%
  • cardiffmet.ac.uk - 2.24%
  • others - 49.14%

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

In the education sector’s PPC landscape, ‘others’ dominate with 49.14% click share, while open.ac.uk leads individual domains at 8.33%.

Market Exposure

Share of Spend for the top 10 UK Education & Training Universities brands

Curious about your market position? Here you can see the Top 10 competitors in the industry by Share of Spend for the last month. 

Share of Spend - Last Month
Share of Spend - Last Month
Date open.ac.uk law.ac.uk imperial.ac.uk northumbria.ac.uk roehampton.ac.uk birmingham.ac.uk arden.ac.uk whatuni.com london.edu lse.ac.uk
2026/05/01 11.9% 6.07% 3.32% 0.9% 5.6% 2.06% 7.09% 0.66% 3.09% 0.22%
2026/05/02 9.01% 3.66% 2.85% 3.18% 5.02% 1.77% 8.18% 0.49% 5.68% 8.9%
2026/05/03 7.07% 4.05% 4.55% 1.93% 5.59% 6.59% 8.89% 1.15% 5.44% 2.64%
2026/05/04 8.13% 5.25% 3.19% 1.61% 7.01% 3.21% 8.28% 2.82% 4.5% 2.83%
2026/05/05 7.25% 5.43% 4.72% 0.64% 5.14% 1.24% 9.91% 2.28% 6.95% 0.59%
2026/05/06 5.42% 4.47% 4.57% 1.1% 7.07% 1.06% 9.7% 2.61% 7.16% 0.64%
2026/05/07 1.44% 4.77% 3.29% 0.91% 5.64% 5.87% 7.82% 1.73% 5.56% 4.34%
2026/05/08 7.82% 4.88% 2.62% 0.37% 5.01% 4.31% 7.51% 0.91% 3.78% 6.57%
2026/05/09 2.85% 8.21% 3.87% 0.71% 5.42% 3.6% 5.71% 1.22% 3.53% 2.31%
2026/05/10 5.17% 10.02% 2.85% 0.54% 3.2% 7.45% 5.66% 0.64% 2.52% 4.78%
2026/05/11 9.37% 11.46% 2.48% 1.56% 4.44% 3.47% 4.34% 2.4% 2.77% 8.02%
2026/05/12 13.37% 14.85% 2.33% 1.31% 6.29% 2.37% 6.51% 2.39% 1.31% 6.14%
2026/05/13 9.4% 13.71% 3.05% 0.52% 4.75% 2.68% 6.37% 2.53% 1.16% 6.15%
2026/05/14 10.03% 11.3% 3.38% 1.07% 4.3% 2.52% 5.93% 2.7% 1.58% 3.92%
2026/05/15 7.81% 4.87% 2.63% 0.37% 5% 4.29% 7.49% 0.91% 3.77% 6.55%
2026/05/16 12.37% 13.74% 3.87% 1.08% 4.05% 5.72% 3.66% 4.23% 3.02% 0.41%
2026/05/17 9.24% 13.95% 4.56% 1.13% 3.41% 2.56% 3.2% 2.97% 2.38% 0.5%
2026/05/18 12.17% 10.24% 3.23% 2.92% 3.89% 3.2% 5.68% 4.21% 1.71% 2.49%
2026/05/19 10.17% 8.52% 5.14% 3.42% 3.82% 2.32% 5.15% 4.04% 1.36% 0.17%
2026/05/20 12.86% 8.62% 4.7% 1.11% 4.27% 3.49% 5.37% 5.05% 2.7% 0.29%
2026/05/21 13.43% 9.06% 5.76% 0.67% 6.54% 3.81% 7.6% 3.68% 1.57% 1.61%
2026/05/22 11.67% 8.71% 6.61% 0.42% 5.63% 3.48% 8.37% 3.13% 2.33% 0.55%
2026/05/23 7.3% 5.89% 6.17% 15.45% 3.52% 2.58% 4.73% 2.89% 2.4% 0.29%
2026/05/24 11.25% 9.28% 5.5% 0.54% 2.78% 3.94% 3.43% 2.54% 1.86% 1.55%
2026/05/25 12.21% 10.02% 5.56% 0.61% 3.06% 1.45% 4.72% 2.17% 1.52% 3.19%
2026/05/26 9.45% 4.14% 5.73% 9.34% 3.25% 3.4% 6% 2.32% 2.76% 5.19%
2026/05/27 10.02% 6.77% 12.39% 0.56% 3.5% 2.04% 4.81% 1.76% 1.29% 1.5%
2026/05/28 14.26% 7.95% 5.52% 9.41% 3.94% 2.88% 3.77% 3.29% 2.59% 2.2%
2026/05/29 17.76% 11.02% 8.84% 0.73% 4.28% 1.04% 2.91% 2.16% 2.55% 2.01%
2026/05/30 16.69% 16.47% 12.05% 1.66% 3.23% 2.03% 3.31% 1.64% 1.84% 1.66%
2026/05/31 16.03% 14.94% 10.2% 7.66% 3.77% 2.32% 2.25% 2.01% 1.87% 1.61%
  • open.ac.uk
  • law.ac.uk
  • imperial.ac.uk
  • northumbria.ac.uk
  • roehampton.ac.uk
  • birmingham.ac.uk
  • arden.ac.uk
  • whatuni.com
  • london.edu
  • lse.ac.uk

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

In May 2026, open.ac.uk led with a fluctuating spend share, peaking at 17.76% on the 29th. law.ac.uk followed, showing a steady rise, ending at 14.94%. Meanwhile, imperial.ac.uk and northumbria.ac.uk had modest shares, with northumbria.ac.uk spiking to 15.45% on the 23rd. roehampton.ac.uk, birmingham.ac.uk, and arden.ac.uk maintained moderate shares, while whatuni.com, london.edu, and lse.ac.uk had lower, yet varied, shares throughout the month.

Market Exposure

Competitor Count for UK Education & Training Universities

Ever wondered how many competitors you’re up against in your industry? Well look no further, here we can see the number of advertisers bidding over the last month. 

Competitor Count - Last month
Competitor Count - Last month
Date Competitor Count
2026/05/01 156
2026/05/02 157
2026/05/03 154
2026/05/04 157
2026/05/05 156
2026/05/06 168
2026/05/07 164
2026/05/08 168
2026/05/09 164
2026/05/10 166
2026/05/11 191
2026/05/12 204
2026/05/13 197
2026/05/14 199
2026/05/15 168
2026/05/16 202
2026/05/17 198
2026/05/18 201
2026/05/19 182
2026/05/20 178
2026/05/21 180
2026/05/22 184
2026/05/23 190
2026/05/24 192
2026/05/25 220
2026/05/26 215
2026/05/27 217
2026/05/28 206
2026/05/29 203
2026/05/30 203
2026/05/31 201

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

May began with 156 advertisers, fluctuating slightly until a surge mid-month, peaking at 220 on May 25. The month concluded with 201 advertisers, reflecting a dynamic landscape.

Campaign Efficiency

Market Loss & Market Gains for UK Education & Training Universities

Here we’re looking at the Top 10 biggest industry movers by market share gains and losses for the last 30 days.

Market Loss & Market Gains - Last month
Market Loss & Market Gains - Last month
Name Market Trend
imperial.ac.uk 4.63%
open.ac.uk 3.31%
northumbria.ac.uk 2.38%
uea.ac.uk 1.8%
whatuni.com 1.11%
arden.ac.uk -0.93%
mmu.ac.uk -1.09%
bcu.ac.uk -1.33%
london.edu -1.55%
lse.ac.uk -5.35%

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Imperial.ac.uk surged with a 4.63% click share increase, while lse.ac.uk dropped by 5.35%. Open.ac.uk and northumbria.ac.uk also saw positive gains, contrasting with declines for london.edu and bcu.ac.uk.

Campaign Efficiency

UK Education & Training Universities Share of Impressions

Take a look at the Top 10 competitors in the industry by Share of Impressions over the last month.

Date law.ac.uk open.ac.uk imperial.ac.uk northumbria.ac.uk arden.ac.uk whatuni.com hull.ac.uk roehampton.ac.uk getsmarter.com lse.ac.uk
2026/05/01 9.97% 12.04% 3.07% 0.74% 8.1% 0.5% 0% 4.95% 0.22% 0.1%
2026/05/02 3.65% 7.02% 2.56% 2.62% 11.32% 0.36% 2.11% 6.01% 3.12% 6.54%
2026/05/03 5.85% 7.88% 5.74% 1.41% 10.57% 0.92% 0.29% 5.54% 0.25% 3.08%
2026/05/04 7.41% 7.65% 3.5% 1.51% 11.18% 2.66% 2.74% 6.54% 0.56% 3.19%
2026/05/05 8.97% 7.87% 4.67% 0.45% 13.36% 1.99% 2.15% 4.5% 0.2% 0.29%
2026/05/06 5.63% 5.91% 4.05% 0.76% 14.45% 2.14% 1.35% 5.47% 0.52% 0.44%
2026/05/07 6.63% 1.26% 3.11% 0.77% 11.61% 1.33% 0.14% 4.72% 3.24% 3.13%
2026/05/08 7.31% 7.95% 3.03% 0.36% 9.79% 0.65% 2.28% 4.2% 2.97% 5.06%
2026/05/09 13.56% 2.44% 3.8% 0.66% 7.46% 0.87% 0.11% 5.05% 0.51% 2.56%
2026/05/10 17.04% 4.76% 3.09% 0.46% 6.35% 0.46% 0.04% 2.96% 6.34% 4.22%
2026/05/11 15.9% 8.91% 2.34% 1.32% 5.39% 2.98% 0.33% 3.95% 4.5% 7.73%
2026/05/12 21.22% 10.88% 2.34% 0.9% 8.35% 3.61% 1.35% 5.06% 2.46% 4.91%
2026/05/13 18.44% 8.01% 3.36% 0.35% 8.25% 3.42% 1.11% 4.27% 3.18% 4.64%
2026/05/14 15.29% 8.15% 3.69% 0.9% 7.2% 3.94% 1.78% 3.18% 6.98% 3.4%
2026/05/15 7.31% 7.97% 3.03% 0.36% 9.79% 0.65% 2.28% 4.2% 2.97% 5.06%
2026/05/16 16.66% 10.91% 3.99% 1.3% 4.79% 6.16% 2.48% 3.03% 0.26% 0.23%
2026/05/17 16.3% 8.04% 4.37% 1.21% 4.08% 4.94% 4.72% 2.34% 0.62% 0.33%
2026/05/18 12.97% 10.68% 3.13% 3.33% 6.48% 6.33% 3.57% 3.6% 3.34% 1.82%
2026/05/19 11.84% 8.79% 5.43% 2.31% 7.56% 6.59% 2.05% 3.6% 4.73% 0.07%
2026/05/20 10.35% 10.66% 4.98% 1.09% 8.2% 8.4% 2.96% 3.56% 2.23% 0.11%
2026/05/21 10.05% 11.13% 5.81% 0.61% 10.38% 6.63% 1.57% 5.93% 2.23% 1.84%
2026/05/22 10.23% 11.33% 6.9% 0.37% 10.49% 4.93% 3.3% 5.13% 0.38% 0.39%
2026/05/23 7.34% 5.82% 6.47% 21.3% 5.66% 5.41% 1.2% 3.12% 1.42% 0.12%
2026/05/24 12.1% 10.01% 5.72% 0.5% 4.45% 3.97% 1.63% 2.61% 3.13% 1.56%
2026/05/25 10.13% 9.3% 6.22% 0.57% 5.29% 3% 3% 2.66% 1.61% 2.91%
2026/05/26 5.24% 7.58% 6% 7.53% 8.89% 4.04% 3.29% 2% 0.14% 4.26%
2026/05/27 8.35% 7.81% 12.13% 0.69% 6.77% 2.87% 2.31% 2.39% 2.18% 1.12%
2026/05/28 9% 10.23% 6.76% 8.16% 5.49% 5.77% 1.03% 2.68% 1.57% 1.66%
2026/05/29 14.73% 12.87% 11.33% 0.65% 4.13% 3.02% 3.17% 3.33% 0.24% 1.51%
2026/05/30 19.98% 12.61% 20.56% 1.07% 4.04% 1.84% 0.88% 1.98% 2.1% 1.13%
2026/05/31 19.6% 12.62% 11.19% 5.99% 2.9% 2.79% 2.7% 2.42% 1.13% 1.09%
  • law.ac.uk
  • open.ac.uk
  • imperial.ac.uk
  • northumbria.ac.uk
  • arden.ac.uk
  • whatuni.com
  • hull.ac.uk
  • roehampton.ac.uk
  • getsmarter.com
  • lse.ac.uk

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

In May 2026, law.ac.uk’s impression share surged, peaking at 21.22% mid-month. Meanwhile, open.ac.uk maintained steady growth, closing at 12.62%. Imperial.ac.uk saw a late spike, reaching 20.56%. Northumbria.ac.uk experienced fluctuations, ending at 5.99%.

Campaign Efficiency

Google Text Ad Copy Insights & Creative Trends for UK Education & Training Universities

Ever wondered how your rivals’ ads are doing? Here we can see the top-performing ads in the industry over the last month.

Google Text Ad Copy Insights & Creative Trends for UK Education & Training Universities - Last month
  1. 1
    World-leading university | Learn With Imperial College https://www.imperial.ac.uk

    Build Emotional Intelligence & Strategic skills for a future-ready organisation. Master AI, Digital Transformation & Climate Challenges in just 5 days.

  2. 2
    BSc (Hons) Psychology Online https://www.law.ac.uk › psychology › degrees

    Start Your Psychology Career — Explore Our Undergraduate Psychology Courses Designed For Your Future Career Success. Flexible...

  3. 3
    Study Psychology At The OU® - Open To Anyone, Anywhere https://www.open.ac.uk › psychology › courses

    Many Of Our BSc Psychology Degrees Are Accredited By The British Psychological Society. Transform Your Future With A Psychology Degree...

  4. 4
    Master of Business Admin (MBA) - Graduate in 12 months https://onlinestudy.roehampton.ac.uk › online-msc

    100% online degree you can complete in 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time. Master of Business Administration (MBA), lead like a boss with a CMI-accredited degree.

  5. 5
    Find Your Perfect Uni https://www.whatuni.com

    Your Uni Search Made Easy — Calculate Your UCAS Points & Find The Right University For You! Browse Courses & Get Ready For Your Uni Application.

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Imperial College’s ad highlights future-ready skills in AI and climate challenges, while The University of Law and Open University focus on flexible, career-oriented psychology degrees. Roehampton offers a fast-track MBA, and Whatuni simplifies university searches, emphasizing personalized education paths.

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