is Russell group university still as good as before?

13

I read on reddit that russell group is not good anymore after the admission scandal last year. and now the only good uni that will get you a job and prestige is oxbridge.

i am planning to apply for UCL so... :unimpressed:

Reply 1

PQ

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post

by littleCorsican

I read on reddit that russell group is not good anymore after the admission scandal last year. and now the only good uni that will get you a job and prestige is oxbridge.

i am planning to apply for UCL so... :unimpressed:

No university will get you a job and prestige.

Universities give you opportunities to learn and build your skills and experience. It’s what you do with that opportunity that makes a difference to your options post-degree.

The Russell group is and always has been a lobby group for research focused universities - not a mark of quality undergraduate teaching. The fact that people use it as a proxy for “quality” is a success of their marketing tactics and laziness of careers advisers/teachers.

Reply 2

nwar

Study Forum Helper

14

Original post

by littleCorsican

I read on reddit that russell group is not good anymore after the admission scandal last year. and now the only good uni that will get you a job and prestige is oxbridge.
i am planning to apply for UCL so... :unimpressed:

Reddit is a dubious source at best. If you want to apply to UCL, apply. I'm assuming there are other things you like about the uni apart from its prestige. If prestige is the only motivator behind your uni choices, do some more research and reconsider your choices.

Reply 3

Wired_1800

20

Original post

by littleCorsican

I read on reddit that russell group is not good anymore after the admission scandal last year. and now the only good uni that will get you a job and prestige is oxbridge.
i am planning to apply for UCL so... :unimpressed:

UCL is a top uni. You wont go wrong.

Reply 4

littleCorsican

OP

13

Original post

by PQ

No university will get you a job and prestige.
Universities give you opportunities to learn and build your skills and experience. It’s what you do with that opportunity that makes a difference to your options post-degree.
The Russell group is and always has been a lobby group for research focused universities - not a mark of quality undergraduate teaching. The fact that people use it as a proxy for “quality” is a success of their marketing tactics and laziness of careers advisers/teachers.

some universities are considered as "target schools" if u want to enter a certain industry you must go to those schools.
thats what i meant.

Reply 5

cksiu

Universities Forum Helper

15

Original post

by littleCorsican

I read on reddit that russell group is not good anymore after the admission scandal last year. and now the only good uni that will get you a job and prestige is oxbridge.
i am planning to apply for UCL so... :unimpressed:

RG unis are regarded "good" because of their commitment to research. Although good research does not guarantee good teaching, it represents attitude and rigor.

Reply 6

PQ

Clearing and Applications Advisor, Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post

by littleCorsican

some universities are considered as "target schools" if u want to enter a certain industry you must go to those schools.
thats what i meant.

If that’s the case then you would be better off directing your questions towards specific employers in those industries rather than posting about them on TSR without specifying which industries you’re interested in working in.

Generally “target universities” don’t include all RG universities and never have. And include some non RG universities (or did in the past before RG membership was expanded when the 1994 group disbanded)

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 7

cambio wechsel

20

Original post

by cksiu

RG unis are regarded "good" because of their commitment to research. Although good research does not guarantee good teaching, it represents attitude and rigor.

Membership of the RG was a function of the brute sum of research funding monies attracted, not a "commitment to research". Research is undertaken as earnestly at e.g. Bath or St Andrews as at any university in the RG.

The best available illustration is SOAS. It will never attract as much money for research just because (i) there simply isn't much money available for research into Kenyan kinship rituals, and (ii) there anyway isn't much money needed for that.

Reply 8

SOAS Rep Marjaan

Official Rep

9

Original post

by littleCorsican

I read on reddit that russell group is not good anymore after the admission scandal last year. and now the only good uni that will get you a job and prestige is oxbridge.
i am planning to apply for UCL so... :unimpressed:

Hello @littleCorsican

A little late to the party, but what the others have said is definitely true.

I totally get why you are feeling unsure after reading stuff like that online, but honestly speaking that is not a very credible source. The Russell Group unis are still really strong academically and well-respected by employers — that hasn’t changed. UCL in particular is one of the top universities in the UK and globally. It’s known for high-quality teaching, research, and great career prospects.

Oxbridge definitely has that extra layer of prestige, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only place worth going. Employers care about what you studied, what experience you’ve got, and the skills you bring — not just the name on your degree.
This shift in attitudes towards university has more to do with not overlooking universities that are not Russell Group. And instead looking at what you are interested in studying and what the best place to study is for you.

SOAS, and while we’re not in the Russell Group, our grads do incredibly well in sectors like law, politics, business, and international affairs — especially where global or regional expertise matters. SOAS specialises in the areas of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, where research and teaching is focused through the lens of decolonisation. SOAS is an internationally recognised university with an incredible research library.

What really counts is choosing a course and uni that suits you and what you want to do long-term.

So if UCL is where you’re thinking of applying — go for it! It's still very much a top choice.

— MA, SOAS Student Rep

is Russell group university still as good as before?

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