Picking which university to go to is a massive decision. Often people look at what the best universities are to help inform them. We take a look at the top 100 universities in the UK and which of them are Russell Group universities.
Lots of potential students hear about the esteemed list, but don’t actually know what the Russell Group universities are. This is particularly so when the top 100 universities in the UK list is talked about a lot. Although both of these are helpful when deciding what university to attend, they don’t mean the same thing.
The Top 100 Universities In The UK
Unlike the Russell Group list, this is not a decisive list and is often different depending on where you look. For 2023, the Complete University Guide has the following as the top 100 universities in the UK.
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- London School of Economics and Politics
- University of St Andrews
- Imperial College London
- Durham University
- Loughborough University
- University of Bath
- UCL (University College London)
- University of Warwick
- Lancaster University
- The University of Edinburgh
- University of Southampton
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bristol
- University of Leeds
- University of Manchester
- University of Surrey
- University of Exeter
- University of York
- University of Liverpool
- King’s College London, University o…
- University of Glasgow
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of Nottingham
- Cardiff University
- University of East Anglia UEA
- University of Sheffield
- University of Leicester/Harper Adams University
- University of Reading
- University of Strathclyde
- Royal Holloway, University of London
- Heriot-Watt University
- Queen Mary University of London
- Newcastle University
- University of Aberdeen
- University of the Arts London
- University of Essex
- City, University of London
- University of Sussex
- Swansea University
- Northumbria University, Newcastle
- Ulster University
- Oxford Brookes University (not part of Oxford University)
- SOAS University of London
- University of Kent
- Aston University, Birmingham
- University of Dundee
- University of Stirling
- University of Lincoln
- Keele University
- Aberystwyth University
- Norwich University of the Arts
- St George’s, University of London
- Nottingham Trent University
- Coventry University
- University of Hull
- University of Huddersfield
- University of Chester
- Bristol, University of the West of England
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- Bangor University
- University of Plymouth
- Edge Hill University
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- University of Hertfordshire
- University of Portsmouth
- Falmouth University
- Arts University Bournemouth
- Bournemouth University/Cardiff Metropolitan University
- University of Bradford/University for the Creative Arts
- University of Chichester
- University of West London
- University of Roehampton/Kingston University
- Liverpool John Moores University
- Brunel University London/University of Brighton
- University of Sunderland/University of Greenwich
- University of Salford/University of Worcester
- St Mary’s University, Twickenham
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- Birmingham City University/Liverpool Hope University
- University of Derby/University of South Wales
- Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
- Teesside University, Middlesbrough
- Royal Agricultural University/Bath Spa University
- Edinburgh Napier University
- University of Northampton
- University of Central Lancashire
- University of Suffolk
Though it is largely the same universities that feature on the list, sites such as AHZ Associates have them in a different order. This is simply because different places use different markers to measure how good a university is.
What Are The Russell Group Universities?
The universities in this list are the ones that the Russell Group believe to be the leading 24 universities in the UK. Russell Group universities receive three-quarters of all university research grant and contract income and their graduates hold 61 per cent of all UK jobs that require a university degree.
“We believe people and ideas are the key to meeting global challenges. Through world-class research and education, we are helping to create a dynamic economy, stronger communities and a better future for the UK.”
Here is the list of the current 24 Russell Group universities. The website does not list them in any academic order, just alphabetically.
- 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 and Political Science
- University of Manchester
- Newcastle University
- University of Nottingham
- 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
Are Russell Group Universities Better?
It all depends on what is important to you. Because of their funding, the universities tend to have better facilities and more of an opportunity to be involved in research projects.
However, employers don’t tend to be fussed about whether you went to a Russell Group university or not, it’s always going to be about how well you did.
Looking at The Student Room, students think that although the universities are better known, that doesn’t mean that Russell Group universities are better overall.
“I’d say going to a decent Uni, doing a relevant course to the career you want to enter and achieving 2:1 or a First is no less than going to a Russell Group Uni(and achieving similar). It has to be suitable for you e.g. convenience is how I picked my Uni choices.”
So, don’t make a decision solely on your potential university just because it is Russell Group. It’s more about what works for you.