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True University League Tables

The Complete University Guide and The Guardian University league table are often places that we look to to gather information of which are the best Universities. However, the current and previous tables have been somewhat weighted to form bias towards certain Universities that wouldn't necessarily make it as high as they've been placed. At this point I'd like to say that pretty much all of the institutes in this country are brilliant and low placing does not mean they are bad, it merely means they haven't been placed as high as others that are better, to put it bluntly.

The following league table is one I have formed based on the following:
Quality of Degree
Teaching Standards
Entry Standards
Student Prospects

You will note that I have not used student satisfaction. This is not a quantitate measure and so can't be used. I'd also like to say that these are not manipulated results either or 'relative'. It is to the point, as it were.

The top 10 are as follows-
1- University of Cambridge
2- University of Oxford
3- Imperial College London
4- University College London
5- King's College London
6- London School of Economics and Political Science's
7- University of St. Andrews
8- Durham University
9- University of Bristol
10- University of Manchester

There are negligible differences is the latter 3. In fact depending on weight they could have included:
Lancaster University
University of Warwick
University of Nottingham

The table from 11-20 is
11- Lancaster University
12- University of Warwick
13- University of Nottingham
14- University of Bath
15- University of Surrey
16- University of Exeter
17- University of York
18- University of Sheffield
19- School of Oriental and African Studies
20- University of Leicester

21-30
21- University of Birmingham
22- University of East Anglia
23- St George's London
24- University of Southampton
25- University of Glasgow
26- Queen's University Belfast
27- Royal Holloway
28- Aston University
29- University of Leeds
30- Cardiff University

31-40
31- University of Sussex
32- University of Liverpool
33- University of Reading
34- University of Kent
35- Queen Mary University, London
36- Edinburgh Heriot Watt University
37- Strathclyde University
38- University of Aberdeen
39- City University, London
40- University of Essex

41-50
41- Goldsmith's, London
42- Keele University
43- Coventry University
44- Brunel University
45- Swansea University
46- Oxford Brookes University
47- Newcastle University
48- University of Dundee
49- University of Stirling
50- Bangor University

51-60
51- The Robert Gordon University
52- University of Chester
53- Arts University, Bournemouth
54- University of Portsmouth
55- University of Winchester
56- University of Lincoln
57- University of Northampton
58- Nottingham Trent University
59- University of West England
60- University of Hull

61-70
61- Harper Adams University
62- York St. John University
63- Northumbria University
64- University of Huddersfield
65- Bournemouth University
66- Edge Hill University
67- Bath Spa University
68- University of St. Mark and St. John, Plymouth
69- Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
70- Newman University, Birmingham

71-80
71- Plymouth University
72- University of Brighton
73- University of Ulster
74- Roehampton University
75- University of the Arts, London
76- Sheffield Hallam University
77- Glasgow Caledonian University
78- Liverpool John Moores University
79- Aberystwyth University
80- University of Bradford

81-90
81- Falmouth University
82- University of Derby
83- De Montfort University
84- University of Teesside
85- Cardiff Metropolitan University
86- University of Central Lancashire
87- Manchester Metropolitan University
88- Birmingham City University
89- Canterbury Christ Church University
90- University of Gloucestershire

91-100
91- Middlesex University
92- University of Cumbria
93- University of Sunderland
94- Edinburgh Napier University
95- University of Greenwich
96- University of Hertfordshire
97- University of Salford
98- University for Creative Arts
99- Leeds Metropolitan University
100- University of Westminster

They are the top 100. The others did not have enough available information.

(edited 10 years ago)

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1

Joinedup

How are you quantifying 'quality of degree' and 'teaching standards'?

Reply 2

dada55

This is gonna be fun. *Gets popcorn* :biggrin:

Reply 3

SirVeillance

Got to disagree with Leeds, Newcastle, Swansea, Liverpo etc. being lower than Aston..
Just my opinion!

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 4

SerLorasTyrell

I can't see university of Edinburgh anywhere on that list? Am I just missing it or...?

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Reply 5

Flauta

Original post by SerLorasTyrell

I can't see university of Edinburgh anywhere on that list? Am I just missing it or...?

Posted from TSR Mobile

No it's not there. Perhaps it was one of the universities without enough information?

I guess it's kind of close to how I expected it'd be however you haven't completely eliminated qualitative data.

Reply 6

Folion

Original post by dada55

This is gonna be fun. *Gets popcorn* :biggrin:

Yeah you get the sweet and I'll get the salted and we'll do shares :biggrin:

Reply 7

Origami Bullets

Original post by Joinedup

How are you quantifying 'quality of degree' and 'teaching standards'?

This is what I want to know too.

There's no real quantitative way that you can measure quality of degree or teaching standards. Plus the data is either going to come from (a) the institution, which is biased on a very subjective matter, or (b) the students, who very rarely have anything to compare it to other than what they thought the uni might be like.

It also tells people absolutely nothing about whether or not that uni is right for them personally.

This is a really useful post for anyone trying to understand league tables, what they measure and how to use them http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1096372

Reply 8

ParetoOptimum

Post your detailed methodology and sources OP, or no-one will take you seriously.

Also, you're doing the exact same thing you accuse other rankings of doing (bias in criteria, weightings and so on). Rankings are fine, as long as we can appreciate and acknowledge the flaws and merits of their various methodologies. So it's rather pretentious calling your ranking the 'true' one. And I disagree with your sentiment that all universities are 'brilliant'.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 9

EllieC130

34's a bit low for Kent in my opinion though I'm kind of biased (not current student but hoping to start there in September).

Reply 10

Hazard17

Warwick worse than kings!? on the same level as Nottingham and lancaster? are you alright lol?

Warwick is equal to UCL in my opinion. I reckon the top 10 are without a doubt:

1- University of Cambridge
2- University of Oxford
3- Imperial College London
4- London School of Economics and Political Science's
5- University College London
6- University of Warwick
7- University of St. Andrews
8- Durham University
9- University of Bristol
10- University of Nottingham
11- University of Bath

Reply 11

ainsley94

Firstly, The University of Edinburgh doesn't disclose certain information (it doesn't ahem to either) although we do know how good it is. I'd also like to say that this is all very relative. I've combined both first and upper second class degrees. A good example of this is St. George's University. If technicalities weren't in place this would rank in the top 10.

Reply 12

ainsley94

Also due to Warwick being so weighted towards a brilliant Mathematics programme it would be unfair to rank it based on that. Over all disciplines it actually isn't as good as everyone makes out (or so it seems)

Reply 13

ParetoOptimum

Original post by ainsley94

I'm confused. What are you using degree classification for? Degree quality? Teaching quality?

For either one, that's a terrible proxy given the heterogeneity of degrees across university departments, let alone universities as a whole, in terms of academic rigour and marking standards/practices.

Edit: Post your methodology!

Reply 14

dada55

Original post by Folion

Yeah you get the sweet and I'll get the salted and we'll do shares :biggrin:

Sure, I prefer salted mostly, but if we mix and match, I won't complain. :wink:

These adverts are taking their time though, can't wait for the real action to begin.

Reply 15

DELETED ACCOUNT

Not this thread again.

Although I am surprised to see the positions of King's (top 5) and Newcastle (just above 50th)

Reply 16

Folion

Original post by dada55

Sure, I prefer salted mostly, but if we mix and match, I won't complain. :wink:

These adverts are taking their time though, can't wait for the real action to begin.

Time for a bathroom break. I'll nip to the foyer and get some "Ben and Jerry's". Mix of Cherry Garcia and Caramel Chew Chew I think.

Bet you anything that this gets merged with the stickied league table thread, I'd best hurry up before they move us to a new auditorium. I wonder how soon before the series of sequels, sorry, this years official league tables are released?