The Guardian University Guide’s rise has been boosted by student satisfaction throughout pandemic challenges.
The Guardian’s ranking uses nine different criteria, each weighted between 5 and 15%. Unlike other annual rankings of British universities, the criteria do not include a measure of research output. A “value-added” factor is included which compares students’ degree results with their entry qualifications, described by the newspaper as being based upon a sophisticated indexing methodology that tracks students from enrolment to graduation, qualifications upon entry are compared with the award that a student receives at the end of their studies. Tables are drawn up for subjects, with the overall ranking being based on an average across the subjects rather than on institutional level statistics.
The 9 criteria are:
- “Entry scores” (15%);
- “Assessment and feedback” (10%) – as rated by graduates of the course (data source: National Student Survey);
- “Career prospects” (15%) (data source: Destination of Leavers from Higher Education);
- “Overall satisfaction” (5%) – final-year student’s opinions about the overall quality of their course (data source: National Student Survey);
- “Expenditure per student” (5%);
- “Student-staff ratio” (15%);
- “Teaching” (10%) – as rated by graduates of the course (data source: The National Student Survey);
- “Value added” (15%);
- “Continuation” (10%).
What’s changed for 2022?
The structure and methodology of the rankings have remained broadly constant since 2008 but there have been some seismic changes to the data used in this year’s guide, necessitating some adjustments to their methodology for compilation.
Subject profiles
You might need to know a bit more about the subject’s universities offer because there’ll be lots that you didn’t encounter at school. Have a look at the subject profiles, which were all drawn up with the help of the academics who teach them, and detail how you’ll be taught and what job you could get.
University profiles
Clicking on the name of a university in the tables will take you its profile – you can read about what makes each institution special and get the info you need on fees, accommodation, and bursaries. You’ll see how many students are male/female, and where they come from.
Key to the table headings
1. Guardian ranking for this year.
2. Guardian ranking for last year.
3. Name of the university.
4. The Guardian score, out of 100, is a rating of excellence based on a combination of all the other factors.
5. Course satisfaction: the rating for the overall quality of the course, given by final-year students in the latest NSS.
6. Teaching quality: the rating for the quality of teaching on the course, given by final-year students in the NSS.
7. Feedback: the rating for the quality of feedback and assessment, given by final-year students in the NSS.
8. Staff-student ratio: the number of students per member of teaching staff.
9. Spend per student: money spent on each student, excluding academic staff costs, given as a rating out of 10.
10. Average entry tariff: typical Ucas scores of young entrants (under 21) to the department.
Value-added score: this compares students’ degree results with their entry qualifications, to show how effectively they are taught. It is given as a rating out of 10.
12. Career after 15 months: percentage of graduates who find graduate-level jobs, or are in further study at professional or HE level, within 15 months of graduation. It reflects how good the university is at employability.
13. Continuation rate: the percentage of first-year students continuing to the second year.
A few points about the methodology
At some universities, there are so few students studying a particular subject that the guardian guide team can’t include them in the statistics. Courses with small numbers of students are listed at the end of each table but are not given a ranking. That should not be taken as any comment on their quality.
In compiling their tables, they have been advised by an expert review group of professionals from UK universities. The group meets regularly to monitor changes in subject areas and the way data is collected and makes sure they produce the best possible guide.
The tables have been compiled for the Guardian by Intelligent Metrix, an independent consultancy that specializes in measuring performance in higher education. The rankings are based on official data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) and the NSS.
The best UK universities 2022 – rankings
We love to celebrate our clients’ success. Here is the list-
| 2022 Ranking | Institution | Guardian score/100 |
| 10 | Loughborough University | 81.5 |
| 17 | University of Southampton | 74.8 |
| 18 | University of Strathclyde | 74.6 |
| 18 | University of York | 74.6 |
| 20 | University of Aberdeen | 74.5 |
| 21 | University of Chichester | 74.3 |
| 24 | Swansea University | 73.5 |
| 25 | Aston University | 73.3 |
| 27 | University of Sheffield | 72.8 |
| 30 | University of Leicester | 71.6 |
| 31 | University of Dundee | 71.5 |
| 32 | University for the Creative Arts | 71.3 |
| 34 | University of Lincoln | 70.6 |
| 36 | Heriot-Watt University | 70.4 |
| 36 | University of The West of England Bristol | 70.4 |
| 38 | Coventry University | 70.2 |
| 38 | Cardiff University | 70.2 |
| 40 | University of Liverpool | 70 |
| 41 | Northumbria University | 69.6 |
| 41 | University of Plymouth | 69.6 |
| 45 | Kingston University | 68.8 |
| 46 | Oxford Brookes University | 68.7 |
| 48 | Keele University | 68.5 |
| 49 | University of Stirling | 68.4 |
| 53 | University of Hull | 67.3 |
| 54 | University of Huddersfield | 67.2 |
| 55 | Nottingham Trent University | 67.1 |
| 58 | Ulster University | 66.9 |
| 59 | University of Derby | 66.8 |
| 62 | Cardiff Metropolitan University | 65.9 |
| 62 | Manchester Metropolitan University | 65.9 |
| 64 | University of Essex | 65.5 |
| 67 | Birmingham City University | 65.2 |
| 71 | University of Gloucestershire | 64.7 |
| 72 | Staffordshire University | 64.6 |
| 75 | University of Portsmouth | 64.3 |
| 75 | Liverpool John Moores University | 64.3 |
| 79 | University of Bradford | 64.1 |
| 80 | University of Chester | 64 |
| 80 | Teesside University | 64 |
| 82 | University of South Wales | 63.9 |
| 86 | Bangor University | 61.6 |
| 90 | University of Hertfordshire | 61 |
| 91 | Bath Spa University | 60.8 |
| 92 | University of Sunderland | 60.6 |
| 94 | University of Salford | 60.5 |
| 94 | University of Greenwich | 60.5 |
| 96 | University of Roehampton | 60.3 |
| 97 | Anglia Ruskin University | 60.1 |
| 97 | University of Central Lancashire | 60.1 |
| 102 | University of Brighton | 59.6 |
| 106 | University of Wolverhampton | 58.7 |
| 109 | Leeds Beckett University | 57.8 |
| 112 | Middlesex University | 56.1 |
| 113 | London South Bank University | 55.9 |
| 114 | University of East London | 55.2 |
| 116 | Brunel University London | 54.7 |
| 118 | De Montfort University | 52.5 |
| 119 | Canterbury Christ Church University | 52.2 |
N.B: This table was amended on 11 September 2021.
You might feel daunted by deciding where to spend the next years of your life. So we have the experts team, they will help you to choose the right destination along with lots of information.
This is perhaps more important now than ever after 18 months of disruption to your life and education. The Guardian University ranking guide is designed to help you find the exciting, fulfilling, and memorable university experience you deserve.
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