UCL reputation in uk

Hi guys,

I am an international student and I am curious about UCL’s reputation worldwide and especially in uk.

Yesterday I saw some posts arguing that UCL is around the 10th best uni in UK, which is so much different from what the rankings say.

Could anyone give me some comments in regards to study experiences and employability please?

Many thanks.

Reply 1

callphd

8

Its got great reputation worldwide - i think its currently 8th in the world according to QS

its not that difficult to get into though. Depends what subject you do whether its easy to get a job.

QS is the best guide to look at when determining rankings - as uk based rankings often have silly criteria

Reply 2

Scotland Yard

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

20

UCL is very respected worldwide. It's probably just below Oxford and Cambridge in terms of prestige. Having a UCL degree will definitely look good in your job application but as usual, the degree classification you achieve matters.

Reply 3

callphd

8

Original post by Scotland Yard

UCL is very respected worldwide. It's probably just below Oxford and Cambridge in terms of prestige. Having a UCL degree will definitely look good in your job application but as usual, the degree classification you achieve matters.

It's definitely way below Oxbridge and Imperial but higher than all other russell groups

Reply 4

BubblesBB

13

Irrespective of what you have read what others have argued, what made you apply to Cambridge, LSE and UCL? Were the league tables a source of inspiration for you? What course have you applied to study?

Reply 5

fec1864

13

Original post by callphd

Its got great reputation worldwide - i think its currently 8th in the world according to QS

its not that difficult to get into though. Depends what subject you do whether its easy to get a job.

QS is the best guide to look at when determining rankings - as uk based rankings often have silly criteria

It's not that difficult to get into?

Varies by subject but some courses have acceptance rates of ~10%.

Reply 6

FortitudeBank

16

I think that the only universities that truly have a global brand globally are Oxford, Cambridge, and in the STEM fields Imperial. LSE in economics.
UCL comes just below that, so yes it is very reputable! Definitely one of the biggest university brands in the UK. In terms of prestige within the UK, I would say it is in the top tier (with St Andrews, Warwick, Edinburgh, some others?), just below the elite tier (Oxbridge, LSE and Imperial in their respective focus subjects).

Reply 7

Anonymous #1

Prestige is a subjective word here. If you mean prestige in terms of rankings, then generally speaking UCL is consistently one of the best in the UK and varies in its position in the global rankings inside the top 20. In the UK there's only really Oxbridge that are "difficult" to get into in terms of undergraduate programmes across the board. That is notwithstanding a programme like Medicine which is tough to get into at any UK university, and UCL is especially renowned and popular for its medical programme.

But here's the thing with 'prestige', it really also depends on the programme you are studying and what you want to get out of it. Even at the postgraduate level at PhD level yes going to a "prestigious" university helps in the strength of resources and networking available, but you also want to look at the reputation of the academic or academics you will be collaborating with.

But the long and short answer is that UCL is a prestigious and highly regarded university both within and outside of the UK and particularly in the circles that matter.

People tend to consider prestige being what the average person on the street thinks, but they're not the one making hiring or postgraduate admissions decisions.

Reply 8

Anonymous #1

Original post by callphd

It's definitely way below Oxbridge and Imperial but higher than all other russell groups

Way below is an exaggeration. It really depends on the subject area. Nobody would consider doing a Medicine related PhD at UCL as being way below many institutions if any worldwide.

Reply 9

Anonymous #1

Original post by FortitudeBank

I think that the only universities that truly have a global brand globally are Oxford, Cambridge, and in the STEM fields Imperial. LSE in economics.
UCL comes just below that, so yes it is very reputable! Definitely one of the biggest university brands in the UK. In terms of prestige within the UK, I would say it is in the top tier (with St Andrews, Warwick, Edinburgh, some others?), just below the elite tier (Oxbridge, LSE and Imperial in their respective focus subjects).

So here's my points:

•

In terms of universities "in general" as in in every subject area it offers, I would argue only Oxbridge would be considered truly elite in that sense and is unique worlwide. Yes some will argue the Ivies and MIT and Caltech etc but the admissions process in the US is so different and places greater emphasis on extra-curriculars. But I digress.

•

Outside of Oxbridge maybe LSE and Imperial fit into that category but I hesitate when I mention them in that sense. Outside of say Medicine (and the same for other universities), the admissions process to LSE and Imperial are not 'rigorous' if you have the predicted grades or the grades to hand, notwithstanding an admissions test here or there as is commonplace across most universities.

•

Edinburgh I would agree given its international and historical standing. St Andrews only at the undergraduate level and even then its reputation only really grew after a certain 'royal' attended there. It always had a solid reputation mind but was never viewed as elite (Medicine aside). Warwick as well, this is only for a few subject areas like Maths or Graduate-Entry Medicine, or Finance related courses. Other than that and at postgraduate level, not so much.

•

Where St Andrews and Warwick do well domestically, the likes of UCL, Edinburgh, and King's, Manchester and even Bristol outperform them globally due to their research output. That doesn't make them any less prestigious of course, but the point I allude to is that defining prestige is really subjective and needs to be looked at within the context of the applicant's needs/objectives.

•

Personally as a multi-faculty university I would say UCL is probably the best in the UK after Oxbridge, and probably on par with Edinburgh, Manchester, King's and maybe Bristol. I view LSE and Imperial as specialist schools.

Reply 10

Anonymous #2

Original post by Anonymous #1

So here's my points:

•

In terms of universities "in general" as in in every subject area it offers, I would argue only Oxbridge would be considered truly elite in that sense and is unique worlwide. Yes some will argue the Ivies and MIT and Caltech etc but the admissions process in the US is so different and places greater emphasis on extra-curriculars. But I digress.

•

Outside of Oxbridge maybe LSE and Imperial fit into that category but I hesitate when I mention them in that sense. Outside of say Medicine (and the same for other universities), the admissions process to LSE and Imperial are not 'rigorous' if you have the predicted grades or the grades to hand, notwithstanding an admissions test here or there as is commonplace across most universities.

•

Edinburgh I would agree given its international and historical standing. St Andrews only at the undergraduate level and even then its reputation only really grew after a certain 'royal' attended there. It always had a solid reputation mind but was never viewed as elite (Medicine aside). Warwick as well, this is only for a few subject areas like Maths or Graduate-Entry Medicine, or Finance related courses. Other than that and at postgraduate level, not so much.

•

Where St Andrews and Warwick do well domestically, the likes of UCL, Edinburgh, and King's, Manchester and even Bristol outperform them globally due to their research output. That doesn't make them any less prestigious of course, but the point I allude to is that defining prestige is really subjective and needs to be looked at within the context of the applicant's needs/objectives.

•

Personally as a multi-faculty university I would say UCL is probably the best in the UK after Oxbridge, and probably on par with Edinburgh, Manchester, King's and maybe Bristol. I view LSE and Imperial as specialist schools.

Some excellent points here. I absolutely agree.

Reply 11

Singam21

12

Original post by callphd

It's definitely way below Oxbridge and Imperial but higher than all other russell groups

I wouldn't say so, its fallen off recently, still below Oxbridge, Imperial (for stem) and LSE(for finance and humanities). But i'd put it on par with Manchester, Edinburgh,Sheffield, Bristol and Bath, and possibly a few others depending on subject specialities

Reply 12

Anonymous #1

Original post by Singam21

I wouldn't say so, its fallen off recently, still below Oxbridge, Imperial (for stem) and LSE(for finance and humanities). But i'd put it on par with Manchester, Edinburgh,Sheffield, Bristol and Bath, and possibly a few others depending on subject specialities

Nobody in the know be it in academic or professional circles would ever consider Bath, Sheffield or even Bristol on par with UCL. Heck not even Edinburgh or Manchester but I think those two are far stronger than the aforementioned and can be assessed on their own merits rather than in comparison to UCL.

As for fallen off the radar whatever that’s meant to mean….. UCL is still considered one of the best in the country and globally regularly inside the top twenty sometimes even the top ten.

Places like Bath, Sheffield and Bristol can only dream of that kind of recognition.

Reply 13

Anonymous #2

I had not heard about Bath or Sheffield until I started the university application process so there's that. Not saying these universities are not good and I have now read a lot of excellent things about them but if we are talking about recognition then how are they at par with UCL when they are not that known nationally.

Reply 14

Singam21

12

Original post by Anonymous #1

Nobody in the know be it in academic or professional circles would ever consider Bath, Sheffield or even Bristol on par with UCL. Heck not even Edinburgh or Manchester but I think those two are far stronger than the aforementioned and can be assessed on their own merits rather than in comparison to UCL.
As for fallen off the radar whatever that’s meant to mean….. UCL is still considered one of the best in the country and globally regularly inside the top twenty sometimes even the top ten.
Places like Bath, Sheffield and Bristol can only dream of that kind of recognition.

I disagree, as uni's go UCL is very overared especially STEM, theres a reason it ranks fairly low in almost all stem league tables, not sure about other subjects

Reply 15

123bbbkkksofbe

1

Original post by Singam21

I wouldn't say so, its fallen off recently, still below Oxbridge, Imperial (for stem) and LSE(for finance and humanities). But i'd put it on par with Manchester, Edinburgh,Sheffield, Bristol and Bath, and possibly a few others depending on subject specialities

I would hope its higher than Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester etc. I would say in terms of the caliber of student, along side reputation UCL is just Bellow Oxbridge and by quite some way better than those mentioned above. LSE and imperial for their respective subjects are usually (but not always) better. But if your judging it against other multi faculty universities in uk it is just bellow oxbridge and better than the rest.

UCL reputation in uk

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