When answering whether Royal Holloway is a good university, the first people to ask are current and past students. After all, their experience and opinions are what matters the most.
According to Student Crowd, which allows people to rate their university experience – think Trip Advisor for unis – Royal Holloway is definitely worth your consideration. It is currently rated 38 out of 140 UK universities on the website, with an average score of 4.11 out of 5.
According to one reviewer: ‘The campus itself is stunning with the views amazing, while…the teaching and lecturers make everything understandable.’
That is surely what you want from a university, so the early signs are good.
The lecturers get praised over and over again on Student Crowd. They are called ‘highly supportive’ by one student, ‘friendly’ by another, and ‘engaging and helpful’ by a third.
The location is also clearly a crowd-pleaser, although the nightlife is not to everyone’s taste and that is obviously something a lot of potential applicants also consider.
But overall, the campus is praised by practically every reviewer and it is likely to impress those who visit before making their final choice.
Of course, student feedback is only part of the story (albeit a sizeable one). How does Royal Holloway compare in the league tables?
According to the Guardian University Guide 2022, Royal Holloway is currently the 22nd best uni in the country. That is 10 places up from the previous year and a sign that this is definitely a great place to study. It is also the fourth-best ranked institution in London and is clearly doing plenty right. When you consider how many quality universities there are in the capital, that stat is not to be sniffed at.
Is Royal Holloway in the Russell Group?
No, Royal Holloway is not in the Russell Group. The Russell Group is made up of the following 24 universities.
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bristol
- University of Cambridge
- Cardiff University
- Durham University
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Exeter
- University of Glasgow
- Imperial College London
- King’s College London
- University of Leeds
- University of Liverpool
- London School of Economics & Politic Science
- University of Manchester
- Newcastle University
- University of Oxford
- Queen Mary, University of London
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
- University College London
- University of Warwick
- University of York
But please don’t let that deter you from applying. Royal Holloway is widely regarded as one of the best non-Russell Group universities in the country. Its current ranking and student satisfaction certainly testify to that.
Royal Holloway University of London ranking
As we’ve already seen, Royal Holloway ranks highly on student-centric websites and in the Guardian’s league table. But there are other rankings that are also worth considering.
The Complete University Guide currently places Royal Holloway at 33 with an overall percentage of 69%. It is rated 77% for student satisfaction, which is no surprise given the comments above. It is also ranked an impressive 83% for research quality but only 68% for graduate prospects.
According to The Times Higher Education, Royal Holloway sits at 44 in the UK, so rankings remain somewhat subjective given the slight differences in numbers here.
Of course, as with any university, it is often a case of focusing on what you want to study. After all, different universities can specialise or excel in certain areas.
With Royal Holloway, there is definitely strength in science the arts, management, economics and law.
So there you have it. Hopefully we have answered some of your questions in this article. However, when it comes to applying to university, the more research you do, the better.
There isn’t always a simple answer when it comes to which universities are good, bad or average. It is often down to an individual’s wants, needs and ultimate experience.
That said, there is certainly a lot to love about Royal Holloway and, if you do end up there, we hope you enjoy it as much as so many have before you.
So, why choose Royal Holloway University?
- The students rate Royal Holloway a 4.11 out of 5
- Ranked number 33 out of 130 UK universities by The Complete University Guide
- It’s ranked as a top 10 university for Music and Creative Writing by The Complete University Guide
- Optional placement year in employment, study abroad or volunteering for all undergraduates
- Beautiful, modern campus to explore and enjoy
- Interesting clubs and societies to join
- Career guidance and support available throughout your course
