UK Education & Training Universities - PPC Market Share Analysis July 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 43.1783444614
56.8216555386
43%

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 23
77
23%

Search Intent Distribution

Breakdown of search queries by their underlying goal.

Intent Distribution
Investigational 8%
Transactional 0%
Navigational 5%
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
ucl.ac.uk 19.73
lse.ac.uk 7.67
arden.ac.uk 6.47
london.ac.uk 4.97
open.ac.uk 4.65
cardiffmet.ac.uk 4.51
mmu.ac.uk 4.31
london.edu 3.9
law.ac.uk 3.74
qmul.ac.uk 3.42
others 36.63
  • ucl.ac.uk - 19.73%
  • lse.ac.uk - 7.67%
  • arden.ac.uk - 6.47%
  • london.ac.uk - 4.97%
  • open.ac.uk - 4.65%
  • cardiffmet.ac.uk - 4.51%
  • mmu.ac.uk - 4.31%
  • london.edu - 3.9%
  • law.ac.uk - 3.74%
  • qmul.ac.uk - 3.42%
  • others - 36.63%

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

UCL leads with 19.73% click share, followed by LSE at 7.67%. Arden and London University trail behind. Others collectively hold a significant 36.63% share.

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 london.ac.uk arden.ac.uk london.edu open.ac.uk law.ac.uk imperial.ac.uk kcl.ac.uk qmul.ac.uk ucl.ac.uk lse.ac.uk
2026/07/01 7.19% 20.13% 5.44% 3.08% 8.89% 3.83% 3.39% 1.64% 5.86% 1.79%
2026/07/02 4.2% 15.13% 5.61% 6.97% 8.13% 4.29% 3.87% 2.11% 12.41% 2.88%
2026/07/03 5.88% 8.69% 5.46% 7.28% 6.96% 3.87% 3.5% 3.76% 13.78% 3.49%
2026/07/04 5.16% 8.07% 4.45% 6.78% 9.38% 4.74% 3.48% 4.34% 7.77% 3.88%
2026/07/05 5.2% 9.22% 3.43% 7.11% 5.42% 4.11% 3.36% 5.85% 10.69% 2.56%
2026/07/06 7.06% 10.68% 3.72% 5.27% 5.79% 5.03% 3.65% 6.53% 12.04% 1.73%
2026/07/07 5.16% 10.7% 4.08% 7.97% 4.27% 4.44% 2.52% 5.62% 12% 1.46%
2026/07/08 1.84% 15.33% 3.65% 7.19% 4.25% 2.69% 3.49% 4.54% 10.44% 2.76%
2026/07/09 1.15% 12.92% 3.76% 10.03% 4.92% 4.38% 3.7% 6.05% 1.55% 4.85%
2026/07/10 7.37% 10.45% 3.42% 7.08% 4.6% 2.85% 2.88% 4.82% 9.56% 4.77%
2026/07/11 6.51% 10.97% 2.8% 5.65% 4.41% 3% 3.49% 4.93% 14.65% 5.1%
2026/07/12 7.28% 10.61% 2.77% 6.54% 5.84% 3.3% 3.43% 4.04% 9.83% 6.16%
2026/07/13 6.48% 11.1% 5.48% 6.05% 6.53% 2.77% 3.82% 3.91% 4.61% 5.4%
2026/07/14 6.52% 12.42% 4.23% 7.36% 6.62% 3.06% 3.41% 3.47% 6.71% 5.74%
2026/07/15 4.12% 12.23% 3.21% 4.63% 5.89% 3.43% 3.16% 1.93% 16.43% 4.66%
2026/07/16 6.93% 12.03% 3.38% 7.47% 4.8% 3.3% 4.34% 0.68% 11.5% 2.47%
2026/07/17 7.62% 12.25% 4.16% 9.32% 4.79% 1.36% 2.95% 0.63% 6.13% 6.56%
2026/07/18 5.95% 13.03% 4.72% 12.5% 4.99% 2.04% 3.39% 0.63% 0.59% 6.91%
2026/07/19 4.2% 9.78% 2.55% 7.07% 4.72% 2.88% 2.24% 3.5% 12.96% 5.77%
2026/07/20 7.26% 14.34% 3.73% 6.12% 5.77% 1.92% 2.68% 0.86% 0.27% 4.91%
2026/07/21 6.47% 12.34% 4.2% 7.31% 6.58% 3.04% 3.4% 3.45% 6.66% 5.7%
2026/07/22 5.74% 10.96% 2.83% 7.62% 4.06% 2.85% 2.72% 2.94% 12.63% 4.16%
2026/07/23 4.6% 9.72% 2.97% 6.19% 4.28% 2.94% 3.51% 3.07% 12.54% 6.18%
2026/07/24 5.18% 12.52% 2.1% 5.97% 6.87% 2.48% 3.21% 2.88% 8.49% 5.24%
2026/07/25 4.12% 10.07% 1.97% 7.23% 5.64% 2.42% 2.44% 1.88% 18.45% 3.56%
2026/07/26 5.88% 10.63% 3.94% 5.73% 7.21% 3.64% 2.11% 3.73% 3.72% 8.43%
2026/07/27 5.28% 10.01% 2.84% 7.94% 8.14% 2.63% 3.83% 2.86% 0.57% 2.21%
2026/07/28 6.23% 9.5% 4.57% 5.37% 6.14% 2.81% 3.86% 2.3% 6.55% 4.69%
2026/07/29 4.68% 6.11% 5.22% 16.72% 10.35% 2.01% 1.39% 0.83% 0.51% 2.2%
2026/07/30 7.89% 5.84% 6.18% 8.25% 8.97% 0.9% 1.48% 1% 0.23% 2.95%
2026/07/31 10.78% 6.8% 5.52% 5.13% 4.9% 1.21% 1.14% 0.83% 0.41% 0.09%
  • london.ac.uk
  • arden.ac.uk
  • london.edu
  • open.ac.uk
  • law.ac.uk
  • imperial.ac.uk
  • kcl.ac.uk
  • qmul.ac.uk
  • ucl.ac.uk
  • lse.ac.uk

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

In July 2026, london.ac.uk’s PPC spend fluctuated, peaking at 10.78% on the 31st. arden.ac.uk started strong at 20.13%, then declined. london.edu saw a steady rise, ending at 5.52%. open.ac.uk’s spend spiked mid-month, reaching 16.72% on the 29th. law.ac.uk maintained a consistent spend, peaking at 10.35% on the 29th. imperial.ac.uk’s spend decreased, closing at 1.21%. kcl.ac.uk’s spend was stable, ending at 1.14%. qmul.ac.uk’s spend varied, peaking early at 6.53%. ucl.ac.uk’s spend was erratic, starting high at 12.41% and dropping to 0.41%. lse.ac.uk’s spend fluctuated, ending at 0.09%.

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
2026/07/01 151
2026/07/02 163
2026/07/03 176
2026/07/04 185
2026/07/05 184
2026/07/06 186
2026/07/07 185
2026/07/08 177
2026/07/09 180
2026/07/10 185
2026/07/11 175
2026/07/12 185
2026/07/13 179
2026/07/14 172
2026/07/15 167
2026/07/16 171
2026/07/17 164
2026/07/18 160
2026/07/19 172
2026/07/20 165
2026/07/21 172
2026/07/22 176
2026/07/23 180
2026/07/24 175
2026/07/25 180
2026/07/26 184
2026/07/27 183
2026/07/28 182
2026/07/29 157
2026/07/30 156
2026/07/31 157

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

July began with 151 advertisers, peaking at 186 by the 6th. Mid-month saw fluctuations, stabilizing around 180. The month concluded with 157 advertisers.

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
uea.ac.uk 1.47%
lse.ac.uk 0.97%
northampton.ac.uk 0.74%
york.ac.uk 0.61%
law.ac.uk 0.59%
arden.ac.uk -0.57%
ljmu.ac.uk -0.62%
imperial.ac.uk -0.73%
qmul.ac.uk -1.58%
ucl.ac.uk -5.78%

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

UCL saw a significant drop of 5.78%, while UEA gained 1.47%. LSE, Northampton, and York also experienced positive shifts.

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 arden.ac.uk law.ac.uk london.ac.uk open.ac.uk london.edu imperial.ac.uk qmul.ac.uk kcl.ac.uk ucl.ac.uk lse.ac.uk
2026/07/01 20.3% 8.72% 2.52% 2.85% 2.95% 9.88% 3.57% 1.94% 3.98% 1.33%
2026/07/02 16.23% 12.22% 1.81% 7.26% 3.64% 5.79% 2.01% 2.48% 8.66% 2.38%
2026/07/03 9.84% 9.96% 2.51% 7.39% 3.37% 7.61% 5.85% 2.53% 10% 2.52%
2026/07/04 10.3% 11.93% 2.07% 6.83% 3.1% 7.5% 5.32% 2.58% 5.75% 2.98%
2026/07/05 10.55% 6.22% 2.05% 8.14% 2.16% 6.14% 8.8% 2.7% 7.41% 1.68%
2026/07/06 10.34% 7.4% 2.72% 5.48% 2.19% 11% 10.79% 2.52% 8.31% 1.38%
2026/07/07 11.5% 5.87% 1.82% 7.61% 2.39% 5.91% 10.22% 4.23% 7.78% 1.79%
2026/07/08 16.35% 3.69% 0.9% 7.44% 2.48% 3.22% 5.47% 3.28% 7.08% 2.99%
2026/07/09 14.26% 4.91% 0.75% 7.91% 2.01% 8.67% 10.19% 1.92% 1.13% 3.68%
2026/07/10 11.79% 4.83% 3.04% 7.77% 2.16% 4.24% 6.16% 1.9% 7.38% 4.28%
2026/07/11 12.15% 4.94% 4.41% 4.98% 1.63% 3.57% 6.85% 3.46% 9.6% 5.82%
2026/07/12 11.1% 7.55% 2.91% 5.96% 1.59% 4.56% 4.69% 2.71% 6.63% 5.13%
2026/07/13 12.16% 7.32% 2.9% 6.61% 3.49% 3.33% 6.84% 2.53% 3.17% 7.14%
2026/07/14 14.38% 7.1% 4.47% 6.82% 2.51% 5.27% 6.92% 2.21% 4.38% 6.17%
2026/07/15 13.5% 6.73% 1.55% 4.92% 2.04% 6.4% 5.35% 1.97% 11.33% 3.75%
2026/07/16 12.81% 5.54% 2.82% 5.85% 2.04% 4.28% 0.76% 3.08% 8.09% 1.87%
2026/07/17 14.76% 5.89% 3.59% 8.33% 2.9% 1.72% 0.83% 2.35% 4.79% 6.38%
2026/07/18 15.55% 6.15% 2.61% 12.43% 3.11% 2.26% 0.72% 2.2% 0.31% 6.29%
2026/07/19 10.59% 6.4% 1.57% 7.45% 1.48% 3.09% 3.93% 1.72% 8.87% 5.25%
2026/07/20 14.41% 7.16% 3.48% 6.36% 2.13% 2.52% 0.81% 2.48% 0.17% 4.59%
2026/07/21 14.38% 7.1% 4.47% 6.82% 2.51% 5.27% 6.92% 2.21% 4.38% 6.17%
2026/07/22 12.99% 4.85% 2.97% 6.36% 1.8% 3.85% 4.87% 1.92% 9.04% 3.15%
2026/07/23 9.49% 4.24% 2.26% 6.97% 1.71% 4.48% 5.44% 2.48% 8.6% 4.78%
2026/07/24 14.44% 8.23% 2.38% 6.4% 1.39% 3.36% 3.34% 2.13% 6.11% 4.1%
2026/07/25 11.24% 6.87% 1.81% 6.73% 1.13% 4.53% 2.24% 2.07% 12.94% 2.84%
2026/07/26 10.23% 8.05% 4.05% 6.78% 2.42% 5.68% 5.79% 1.39% 2.43% 5.99%
2026/07/27 10.29% 9.28% 2.74% 6.58% 1.56% 3.46% 3.35% 2.5% 0.38% 1.63%
2026/07/28 10.71% 7.68% 2.78% 4.37% 2.8% 3.38% 4.6% 3.86% 4.63% 4.83%
2026/07/29 7.56% 13.1% 2.22% 11.81% 3.18% 2.76% 0.58% 0.88% 0.31% 1.4%
2026/07/30 5.4% 11.73% 3.14% 7.4% 3.38% 1.26% 1.33% 1.04% 0.12% 2.47%
2026/07/31 6.26% 5.25% 5.16% 4.5% 3.67% 1.84% 1% 0.77% 0.27% 0.06%
  • arden.ac.uk
  • law.ac.uk
  • london.ac.uk
  • open.ac.uk
  • london.edu
  • imperial.ac.uk
  • qmul.ac.uk
  • kcl.ac.uk
  • ucl.ac.uk
  • lse.ac.uk

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Arden.ac.uk started July strong at 20.3%, but ended at 6.26%. Law.ac.uk fluctuated, peaking at 13.1% before closing at 5.25%. London.ac.uk saw a steady rise, finishing at 5.16%.

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
    Apply now through Clearing | Clearing 2026 places Available https://paris.london.ac.uk › paris › clearing

    Clearing places available at University of London Institute in Paris. Apply today. Study in Paris with University of London Institute in Paris.

  2. 2
    London School of Economics https://www.lse.ac.uk

    Advance Your Career — Understand behavioural science to drive better decisions and outcomes. Learn from world-leading LSE academics and industry experts. View Upcoming Events. Find A Course. Read News. Highlights: We Offer A Range Of Courses, Events Available, Newsletter...

  3. 3
    Join Queen Mary This September - Start This September 2026 https://www.qmul.ac.uk › undergraduate › apply

    Queen Mary Is A Top 20 Uni Targeted By UK Employers (Graduate Market Report 2026). Join A...

  4. 4
    University College London | Art History Master's Degrees https://www.ucl.ac.uk

    Ranked 7th for Arts & Humanities and 14th for Social Sciences globally. Immerse yourself in art and artefacts from every time and place with a History of Art MA. Central London Location.

  5. 5
    Clearing Now Open. Apply Now | University of West London https://www.uwl.ac.uk

    Best Modern London Uni (Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026) A university experience to make you ready for your future career.

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

In the competitive landscape of university PPC ads, the University of London Institute in Paris stands out with its enticing offer of clearing places, inviting students to study in the romantic city of Paris. Meanwhile, the London School of Economics emphasizes career advancement through behavioral science, leveraging its world-renowned faculty. Queen Mary University highlights its top 20 ranking for employability, appealing to career-focused students. University College London showcases its prestigious global rankings in arts and humanities, offering an immersive art history experience. Lastly, the University of West London promotes its modernity and career readiness, backed by accolades from the Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.

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