How important is university prestige?

Here's how I would rank them. This is for general reputation and prestige, not for their prestige in specific subjects; that would change the rankings depending on what you're studying. All of the universities within the separate tiers are of equal prestige, I haven't put them in order.

Cambridge
Oxford
-------------------------
LSE
UCL
Imperial
-------------------------
St Andrews
Durham
-------------------------
KCL
Bristol
Leeds
Manchester
Warwick
Newcastle
Nottingham
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Exeter
-------------------------
Birmingham
York
Southampton
Sheffield
QMUL
-------------------------
Cardiff
Liverpool
QUB

I think you forgot Bath - they are high in most lists at the mo.

I would suggest Bristol and Warwick should be in your third group, along with Bath.

Is Bath>Manchester ? Is Bath>Nottingham?

I get that Bath is a good uni but why would you put them above these unis for general prestige?

I think Manchester is probably above Bath and Bath is probably above Nottingham.

I know this, because I read it in my coffee grounds this morning.

that is an reliable source alright

It carries more weight than most threads on TSR on this topic do.

Here's how I would rank them. This is for general reputation and prestige, not for their prestige in specific subjects; that would change the rankings depending on what you're studying. All of the universities within the separate tiers are of equal prestige, I haven't put them in order.

I think Manchester is probably above Bath and Bath is probably above Nottingham.

I know this, because I read it in my coffee grounds this morning.

But if you had drunk Nescafe it would have told you that Sheffield Hallam was best.

http://www.nestlecareers.co.uk/academy/content/school-leavers/

So would prestige matter if you go from a uni that is like 50 in the league tables to a uni that is like in the top 10/20? Because that is exactly my situation right now, I am already studying at university of Hull, but I've got a chance to go to university of Nottingham, but I feel comfortable and at home at Hull and I feel reluctant to move.

But I just feel that I can't waste this "chance" to go to the best university possible?

True, but I think when/if I have children and they reach the age where they should think about aiming to go to a particular university, assuming things are pretty much as are now, I would be pushing much harder for them to aim for Oxbridge than I would for them to aim for Warwick. In fact, I would put everything into pushing for them to aim for Oxbridge.

I know it's been a long time since you made the post, but I was wondering what in particular about Oxbridge makes you want to push your children into going there? What if they would prefer to study at Warwick? There are some courses for which Warwick is very good...

All of the information I have about the way our society is structured, tied in with the international rep of Oxbridge, leads me to conclude that they would have significantly better life prospects (to lead the life they want to) with an Oxbridge education behind them. It's not just about degree quality - but about lots of less tangible things. I'm certainly not dissing Warwick, just reflecting on the way I see it. I wish it wasn't structured in quite such an elitist way.

Here's how I would rank them. This is for general reputation and prestige, not for their prestige in specific subjects; that would change the rankings depending on what you're studying. All of the universities within the separate tiers are of equal prestige, I haven't put them in order.

Cambridge
Oxford
-------------------------
LSE
UCL
Imperial
-------------------------
St Andrews
Durham
-------------------------
KCL
Bristol
Leeds
Manchester
Warwick
Newcastle
Nottingham
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Exeter
-------------------------
Birmingham
York
Southampton
Sheffield
QMUL
-------------------------
Cardiff
Liverpool
QUB

If you feel comfortable and happy there I'd stay, personally. It's only worth considering a transfer if it's a post-1992 uni (unless you haven't started yet, in which case ****ing go for it).

Russell Groups aren't the be all and end all, and it's not really worth going to one if you end up unhappy like I did - I'm glad I went to my uni but I personally found it socially isolating and competetive to the point where it was a bit silly.

Here's how I would rank them. This is for general reputation and prestige, not for their prestige in specific subjects; that would change the rankings depending on what you're studying. All of the universities within the separate tiers are of equal prestige, I haven't put them in order.

Cambridge
Oxford
-------------------------
LSE
UCL
Imperial
-------------------------
St Andrews
Durham
-------------------------
KCL
Bristol
Leeds
Manchester
Warwick
Newcastle
Nottingham
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Exeter
-------------------------
Birmingham
York
Southampton
Sheffield
QMUL
-------------------------
Cardiff
Liverpool
QUB