There is not long to go until this year’s university-bound school leavers leave behind the peace and freedom of the summer, and depart for their new lives on campus.
Some 400 thousand students found out that they had landed a spot in a UK university on the respective A Level and Scottish Qualification Authority results days last month, with four out of five immediately getting into their first choice university. Others have managed to make their university match via the Clearing process, connecting them up to tertiary institutions with open places across the country.
Many of these students are currently navigating moving away from home for what is likely the first time, with orientation weeks - sometimes fondly known as ‘Freshers’ week’ - at most UK universities set to kick off in late September. But not all universities are made equal, and many might be wondering how their school of choice stacks up with others they might have chosen this year.
Luckily, the Complete University Guide has created an in-depth league table for UK universities to shine some light on this, taking into account a wide range of factors. These include student satisfaction scores, average grades of students they have allowed in, and the quality of research and studies published by the university. They also consider some more practical features, like the ratio of students to staff, how much the university invests in support services like healthcare and sports facilities, and even graduate’s job prospects.
Here were the 21 universities from across the UK that came out on top:
5. Imperial College London
Based in South Kensington, Imperial College London is thought to be the only university in the UK to specialise in only science, technology, engineering, medicine and business. Its overall score is 90%, and it has the UK’s highest proportion of graduates going on to graduate-level jobs or further study at 94.2%. | BuildPix/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images
6. Loughborough University
The highest ranking university on the list with places still available via the Clearing process, Loughborough’s sprawling 500-acre campus is based in its namesake market town in Leicestershire, in the East Midlands. It has an overall score of 89%, and 18 top ten subjects, including English, marketing, and communication and media studies. | Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
7. Durham University
Based in Durham up in England’s North East, Durham University also has an overall score of 89%. It boasts a rich culture of extracurriculars and 31 top ten subjects - including everything from theology and religious studies, to geology, to music. | File Photo: Adobe Stock
8. University of Bath
This university can be found in the heart of Bath, in the South West of England. It has an overall score of 88%. Its 25 top ten courses include civil engineering, pharmacology and pharmacy, and manufacturing and product engineering. | File photo: Adobe Stock