You may be well aware that Russell Group universities are put on a pedestal in the academic world. From this knowledge of university reputations, I’ve felt a shadow of shame at times when I’ve told people I study at Nottingham Trent. Whenever people would ask me which university I attended, I’d often say Nottingham, keeping my answer ambiguous enough so that they’d assume I went to the University of Nottingham unless asked otherwise.
League tables, which are considered a holy grail when looking at how good a university is, are always subject to change. While it’s easy to get caught up in the stats and metrics of studying, we need to look at the institution more holistically and see whether the university encompasses the academic quality. But also what kind of culture, policies and how students are treated are equally important.
In recent years, some Russell Group universities across the country have plummeted in the rankings. While notoriously elite institutions like Oxford and Cambridge will always be highly regarded, if you’re just a regular person then the difference between Leicester Uni and DMU isn’t actually as big as we imagine.
Uni experience is key
If you currently go to a Russell Group university, or have aspirations to get into one, that’s totally fine. But for everyone else who may be feeling a lot of pressure where to go, just remember that it’s not about where you go, but the outcome of your experience.
Going to a university that’s highly regarded may look great on paper, but do they support their students? Do they embrace diversity and equality? Do you have opportunities to explore your creative side and make likeminded friends? All of these are equally important, because they directly and indirectly affect your academic performance and employability once your studies are complete.
As well as this, it’s important to evaluate what you want from your university experience. Sure, a university may have a great academic reputation, but Russel Group unis can fall flat in other aspects due to them carrying their reputation on the back of academics alone.
You want to be sure that if something goes wrong, or if you need help, that you can rely on the university services. So make sure you look around and do your research.
Don’t be fooled by the Russell Group because, more often than not, an employer won’t care about which uni you’ve gone to, but more so about what you did there, how you utilised your time, and the skills you gained.