If you’re studying in the UK, you’ll be familiar with Russell Group universities. However, you may have heard of another category thrown up around and not been familiar with it. We explain what red brick universities are, and what it means to be one.
Even if you can’t list all of the Russell Group universities, you probably have a good idea of what it means to be one. You won’t be alone if you’re confused about the red bricks, however. Now, there’s no need to wonder anymore as we explain what the category means and what universities are part of it.
What Is A Red Brick University? Meaning Explained
Founded in the 19 century, a red brick is one of ten universities in major industrial cities. The term was coined at a professor at the University of Liverpool who was inspired by the look of the Victoria Building. After featuring it in a title for a book Redbrick, it became more commonplace
In more recent years, and since the reclassification of the polytechnic universities in 1992, many more universities than the original ten are red brick.
Often, the term is widely used for any university founded in the 19 and 20 centuries in major cities.
The term ‘red brick’ refers, unsurprisingly, to how the structure of the universities. Coined in the 19 century, it was to contrast the older universities made of stone masonry. Originally, because the materials were cheaper and less traditional, these universities weren’t as highly regarded as more established institutions.
However, this general perception has come to be untrue, with 8 of the 9 remaining universities now part of the Russell Group.
These universities were also known to admit students who were not religiously aligned. There was also a focus on proving ‘real world skills’, offering degrees associated with trade jobs such as engineering and also medicine.
Many of the red bricks gained official university status before World War 1. The rest then became official universities before or because of the 1992 reformation.
The UK Universities That Are Red Brick
Now you know what it means to be a red brick, these are the universities that belong to the category. Originally, there were 10, however, Victoria University became defunct in 1903.
Here are the official ones that remain:
- University of Birmingham
- University of Liverpool
- University of Manchester
- University of Leeds
- Newcastle University
- University of Sheffield
- University of Bristol
- University of Reading
- University of Nottingham
Though many universities share the same characteristics as the above, these are the ones that began the category.
All of these apart from the University of Reading are Russell Group, with competition to get into them high each year.
Others that are often referred to as red brick are:
- University of Dundee
- Aberystwyth University
- Cardiff University
- Bangor University
- Swansea University
- University of Exeter
- University of Southampton
- Keele University
There are others considered in the category, but it often depends on where you look. The official list is always the same, however.