A recent study by Edumentors revealed the ten most overcrowded universities by analysing campus population density, the number of students, faculty, and staff relative to campus size (km²). Unlike traditional rankings that focus on academics or funding, this study raises important questions about how limited space affects access to resources, study areas, and student well-being.
“Overcrowded campuses aren’t just about packed lecture halls; they shape every part of student life. Finding a quiet study spot gets harder, common areas feel cramped, and stress levels rise.
“When space is limited, managing resources well becomes essential. Universities need to adapt, making sure students have the room to learn, connect, and thrive.” Edumentors stated.
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Here are the 10 most overcrowded universities in the world;
Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Sapienza University of Rome ranks first as the most overcrowded university in the world, with over 272,000 people per square kilometre.
The institution stands out with the largest student number among the top 10, hosting over 112,000 students within a compact 0.44 km² campus.
University of Manchester, UK
Coming in second, the University of Manchester has a density of 165,000 people. Unlike Sapienza’s student-heavy distribution, Manchester hosts 46,000 students and 11,000 staff members in its 0.35 km² campus.
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University of Edinburgh, UK
The University of Edinburgh ranks third with 149.7000 people/km², housing over 52,000 people within 0.35 km² of campus space. Students make up approximately 79 percent (41,000), while faculty and staff account for the remaining 21 percent (11,000).
University of Göttingen, Germany
The University of Göttingen ranks fourth with 102K people. While its total population falls below Edinburgh’s, Göttingen employs 8,825 administrative staff—the highest ratio of administrative personnel among European universities in the top 10.
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
With over 80,000 people/km², the University of Copenhagen secures fifth place. Its 0.58 km² campus – larger than Göttingen’s – maintains an even split between academic staff (4,421) and administrative personnel (5,541).
University College London, UK
University College London ranks sixth with a density of 67.9000 population. UCL maintains the highest academic staff count at 9,910 among the ranked institutions.
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Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
Coming in seventh, Harvard University has a density of 50.8000 people per km². The institution has the highest staff-to-student ratio among US universities in the top 10, allocating significant resources to support services while maintaining efficient space utilisation.
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA
UCLA ranks eighth with a population density of 48.5000. The institution manages the largest total campus population among US universities in the study, with over 82,000 people.
It also includes the highest administrative staff count in the dataset at 32,000, which takes up 39 percent of the total campus population.
National University of Singapore, Singapore
The National University of Singapore ranks ninth with a population density of 33.7 people. Its student body exceeds 38,000, comparable to Copenhagen’s, but is distributed over a larger campus area.
Imperial College London, UK
Imperial College London rounds out the top ten, with 30,000 people per square kilometer. Despite the smallest total population on the list, it efficiently balances research and teaching space within its 0.97 km² campus.
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