Russell Group

British association of universities

Russell Group

Formation| 1994; 31 years ago (1994)
Type| Association of United Kingdom-based universities
Headquarters| 50/60 Station Road
Cambridge
CB1 2JH[1]

Region served

| United Kingdom
Membership| 24:

* 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
* 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

Key people

* Tim Bradshaw
(chief executive)
* Chris Day[2]
(chair 2023–2026)

Website| russellgroup.ac.uk

The Russell Group is a self-selected association of twenty-four public research universities in the United Kingdom. The group is headquartered in Cambridge and was established in 1994 to represent its members' interests, principally to government and Parliament. It was incorporated in 2007.[3] Its members are often perceived as being the UK's best universities, which has been widely disputed.[4]

As of 2017,[update] Russell Group members receive over three-quarters of all university research grant and contract income in the United Kingdom.[5] Russell Group members award 60% of all doctorates gained in the United Kingdom.[5] In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, Russell Group universities accounted for 65% of all world-leading (4*) research conducted in the UK, and 91% of the Russell Group's research was judged to be world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).[6] In the 2023 Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF), of the 20 English Russell Group universities which were assessed, 7 hold gold awards (35%) and 13 silver (65%). This compares to proportions across 128 higher education institutions of which 29% hold gold, 62% silver, and 9% bronze.[7] Their graduates hold 61% of all UK jobs that require a university degree, despite being only 17% of all higher education graduates.[8][9]

The Russell Group is named after the location of the first informal meetings of the Group, which took place at the Hotel Russell in Russell Square, London.[10]

## History

[edit]

The Russell Group of universities was formed in 1994 by 17 British research universities – Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Imperial College London, Leeds, Liverpool, London School of Economics, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Sheffield, Southampton, University College London and Warwick, who originally met at Hotel Russell shortly before meetings of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (now Universities UK) in nearby Tavistock Square, close to the University of London buildings and, particularly, Senate House.[10][11] With the exception of Warwick (established in the 1960s), the founder members of the group were all universities or university colleges prior to World War I, including most of Britain's ancient universities and "redbrick universities". In 1998, Cardiff University and King's College London joined the group.[12]

In March 2001, the Russell Group decided against selecting a preferred option for the future funding of higher education, stating that endowments, a graduate contribution, increased public funding and top-up fees should all remain options.[13] In December 2005, it was announced that the Russell Group would be appointing its first full-time director-general as a result of a planned expansion of its operations, including commissioning and conducting its own policy research.[14] In November 2006, Queen's University Belfast was admitted as the twentieth member of the group.[15] In the same month Wendy Piatt, the then deputy director in the Prime Minister's strategy unit, was announced as the group's new Director General and chief executive.[15]

In March 2012, it was announced that four universities – Durham, Exeter, Queen Mary University of London; and York – would become members of the Russell Group in August of the same year.[10] All of the new members had previously been members of the 1994 Group of British universities.[10]

In January 2013, it was announced that the Russell Group would establish an academic board to advise the English exams watchdog Ofqual on the content of A-Levels.[16] In 2019, the group launched the website "Informed Choices" to advise school children on which A-level subject choices were useful for various degree courses, replacing an earlier teachers' guide of the same name from 2011 that had identified a list of "facilitating subjects'.[17][18]

## Organisation

[edit]

Oxford

Cambridge

London

Manchester

Nottingham

Bristol

Leeds

Sheffield

Birmingham

Southampton

Liverpool

Newcastle

Warwick

Edinburgh

Glasgow

Cardiff

Queen's Belfast

York

Durham

Exeter

London:
Imperial Imperial
King's College King's College
LSE LSE
Queen Mary Queen Mary
UCL UCL

class=notpageimage|

Locations of Russell Group universities

### Objectives

[edit]

The Russell Group states that "its aim is to help ensure that our universities have the optimum conditions in which to flourish and continue to make social, economic and cultural impacts through their world-leading research and teaching".[3]

It works towards this by lobbying the UK government and parliament; commissioning reports and research; creating a forum in which its member institutions can discuss issues of common concern; and identify opportunities for them to work together.

### Leadership

[edit]

The Russell Group is led by Chief Executive Tim Bradshaw and chaired by Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle.[2]

Russell Group chairs 2000–2026  Name | Dates | Institution

|
|

Colin Lucas | 2000–2003 | Oxford
Michael Sterling | 2003–2006 | Birmingham
Malcolm Grant | 2006–2009 | UCL
Michael Arthur | 2009–2012 | Leeds
David Eastwood | 2012–2015 | Birmingham
David Greenaway | 2015–2017 | Nottingham
Anton Muscatelli | 2017–2020 | Glasgow
Nancy Rothwell | 2020–2023 | Manchester
Chris Day | 2023–2026 | Newcastle

## Members

[edit]

The Russell Group currently has twenty-four members,[11] of which twenty are from England, two from Scotland, and one from each of Wales and Northern Ireland. Of the English members, five are from Greater London; three from the Yorkshire and the Humber region; two from each of the North East, North West, West Midlands, South West and South East regions; and one from each of the East Midlands and East regions. Four Russell Group members are constituent colleges of the University of London and a fifth London institution, Imperial College London, was part of the University of London until 2007.

The table below gives the members of the group, along with when they joined, their student and staff numbers, and their latest Teaching Excellence Framework overall rating (non-English universities were not assessed).

University  | Nation  | Year of joining  | Undergraduate students (2021/22)[19] | Postgraduate students (2021/22)[19] | Total students (2021/22)[19] | Total academic staff (2022/23)[20] | TEF award[21]

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Birmingham University of Birmingham | England | 1994  | 25,150  | 12,840  | 37,990  | 3,195  | Silver†
Bristol University of Bristol | England | 1994  | 23,055  | 8,425  | 31,485  | 2,830  | Silver
Cambridge University of Cambridge | England | 1994  | 13,645  | 8,960  | 22,610  | 4,935  | Gold*
Cardiff Cardiff University | Wales | 1998  | 23,765  | 10,220  | 33,985  | 2,540  | —
Durham Durham University | England | 2012  | 17,395  | 4,835  | 22,230  | 1,745  | Silver
Edinburgh University of Edinburgh | Scotland | 1994  | 26,000  | 15,245  | 41,250  | 4,200  | —
Exeter University of Exeter | England | 2012  | 23,755  | 8,710  | 32,465  | 2,320  | Gold*
Glasgow University of Glasgow | Scotland | 1994  | 23,460  | 19,520  | 42,980  | 3,155  | —
Imperial Imperial College London | England | 1994  | 11,740  | 9,730  | 21,470  | 3,715  | Gold
King's College King's College London | England | 1998  | 23,225  | 18,270  | 41,490  | 3,850  | Silver
Leeds University of Leeds | England | 1994  | 27,015  | 10,175  | 37,190  | 3,040  | Silver†
Liverpool University of Liverpool | England | 1994  | 22,265  | 6,415  | 28,680  | 2,440  | Gold
LSE London School of Economics‡ | England | 1994  | 5,575  | 7,400  | 12,975  | 1,095  | Silver
Manchester University of Manchester | England | 1994  | 30,900  | 15,505  | 46,410  | 4,195  | Silver
Newcastle Newcastle University | England | 1994  | 20,760  | 6,520  | 27,280  | 2,525  | Silver†
Nottingham University of Nottingham | England | 1994  | 28,690  | 8,570  | 37,260  | 2,870  | Silver
Oxford University of Oxford | England | 1994  | 15,685  | 11,610  | 27,290  | 6,005  | Gold*
Queen Mary Queen Mary University of London‡ | England | 2012  | 17,430  | 8,615  | 26,045  | 2,065  | Silver†
Queen's Belfast Queen's University Belfast | N. Ire. | 2006  | 17,970  | 7,325  | 25,295  | 1,775  | —
Sheffield University of Sheffield | England | 1994  | 20,040  | 10,820  | 30,860  | 2,855  | Silver
Southampton University of Southampton | England | 1994  | 15,110  | 8,685  | 23,795  | 2,060  | Silver
UCL University College London | England | 1994  | 23,800  | 23,030  | 46,830  | 6,460  | Silver
Warwick University of Warwick | England | 1994  | 18,955  | 9,870  | 28,825  | 2,270  | Gold*
York University of York | England | 2012  | 15,350  | 8,070  | 23,420  | 1,810  | Gold

Notes:
‡ Member institution of the University of London, awarding its own degrees
* Achieved 'Gold' rating in all three categories of the assessment
† Achieved overall 'Silver' rating with one category rated 'Bronze'

## Status

[edit]

### Research

[edit]

In 2022/23, following the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), the English universities of the Russell Group saw their share of recurring research funding from Research England drop by 2.71 percentage points from the 2021/22 funding (based on the previous 2014 REF) to 68.21 per cent, although most institutions saw a rise in actual funding levels due to an overall increase in funding. The top 19 English institutions in terms of funding continued to all be from the Russell Group, with the top 20 being rounded off, as before, by Lancaster. The LSE was, as in previous REF rounds, the exception, ranking 31st in terms of funding (down from 23rd in 2021/11) and seeing a nine per cent fall (£1.7 million) in its allocation.[22]

In 2015/16, following the 2014 REF, the 19 English universities with HEFCE research funding allocations (excluding transitional funding) in excess of £20 million were all members of the Russell Group. The only English Russell Group institution to receive an allocation below £20 million was the LSE (£18.6 million), which ranked 22nd behind the Universities of Leicester and Lancaster (both on £19 million).[23]

In 2010/11, 19 of the 20 UK universities with the highest income from research grants and contracts were members of the Russell Group.[24] In terms of total research funding allocations from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in 2007/8, the top 15 universities were all Russell Group institutions.[25] LSE was 21st, due to its focus on less costly social sciences research. Queen's University Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and Edinburgh, were not included in this table, as they are not English institutions. The Russell Group institutions received 82% of the total HEFCE research funding allocation.[25]

The research funding figures depend on factors other than the quality of research, in particular there are variations due to institutional size and subject spread (e.g. science, technology and medicine tend to attract more money).

In 2008, 18 of the then 20 members were positioned in the top 20 of Research Fortnight's Research Assessment Exercise 'Power' Table. The other two places were occupied by Durham University and Queen Mary University of London, which were not then Russell Group members but have since joined. The two Russell Group institutions outside the top 20 were QUB (21st) and the LSE (27th), while the other two universities to have since joined were York (22nd) and Exeter (25th).[26] In the equivalent table for the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, the 24 Russell Group members occupied the top 24 positions, with the University of Lancaster in 25th being the highest-ranked non-Russell Group university.[27]

### Rankings

[edit]

See also: Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom

In 2023, all eight UK universities in the ARWU top 100, seventeen of the eighteen in the QS top 100 (the other place being occupied by the University of St Andrews), and all ten in the THE top 100 are members of the Russell Group. The Russell Group provides seven of the top ten in the Complete, Guardian, and Times/Sunday Times.

University  | ARWU 2024 (Global)[28] | QS 2025 (Global)[29] | THE 2024 (Global)[30] | Complete 2025 (National)[31] | Guardian 2025 (National)[32] | Times/Sunday Times 2024 (National)[33]

|
|
|
|
|
|

University of Birmingham  | 151–200  | 80=  | 101  | 12  | 36  | 22
University of Bristol  | 97  | 54  | 81  | 16  | 16  | 16
University of Cambridge  | 5  | 5  | 5  | 1  | 3  | 3
Cardiff University  | 151–200  | 186  | 190  | 27  | 46  | 25
Durham University  | 301–400  | 89=  | 174  | 6  | 6  | 7
University of Edinburgh  | 40  | 27  | 30=  | 15  | 15  | 13
University of Exeter  | 151–200  | 169=  | 177=  | 14  | 18  | 11
University of Glasgow  | 101–150  | 78  | 87=  | 29  | 14  | 12
Imperial College London  | 25  | 2  | 8  | 5  | 5  | 5
King's College London  | 53  | 40=  | 38=  | 24  | 28  | 27
University of Leeds  | 151–200  | 82=  | 129  | 23  | 37  | 24
University of Liverpool  | 101–150  | 165=  | 168=  | 18=  | 27  | 29=
London School of Economics  | 151–200  | 50=  | 46  | 3  | 4  | 4
University of Manchester  | 52  | 34=  | 51  | 22  | 31  | 23
Newcastle University  | 201–300  | 129  | 168=  | 26  | 63  | 37
University of Nottingham  | 101–150  | 108  | 130=  | 30  | 62  | 32
University of Oxford  | 6  | 3  | 1  | 2  | 1  | 2
Queen Mary University of London  | 201–300  | 120=  | 135  | 50  | 74  | 46
Queen's University Belfast  | 301–400  | 206=  | 201–250  | 25  | 43  | 31
University of Sheffield  | 151–200  | 105=  | 105  | 18=  | 20  | 18
University of Southampton  | 151–200  | 80=  | 97=  | 20  | 22  | 17
University College London  | 16  | 9  | 22  | 9  | 9  | 6
University of Warwick  | 101–150  | 69=  | 106=  | 10  | 8  | 9
University of York  | 301–400  | 184  | 147  | 17  | 25  | 15

### Selectivity

[edit]

All but two of the universities in the Russell Group are part of the Sutton Trust's group of 30 highly selective universities, the Sutton 30 (the absent members being Queen Mary University of London and Queen's University Belfast).[34] The Sutton 13 group of the 13 most highly selective universities only includes one non-Russell Group member, the University of St Andrews.[35]

The top 10 by average UCAS points of new undergraduate students in 2021–22 included three non-Russell Group universities: St Andrews (1st: 212 points), Strathclyde (2nd: 210 points), and Aberdeen (joint 10th with Durham: 185 points).[36] The top 10 by lowest offer rate to new undergraduate students in 2024-25 included three non-Russell Group universities: St Andrews (4th; 30.0%), St George's (7th; 42.0%) and University of the Arts London (10th; 48.4%). The average offer rate, including conditional and unconditional offers, across 'higher tariff' UK institutions (as defined by UCAS) was 63.3% in 2024.[37]

University  | Average
Entry Tariffa[36] | Offer Rate (%)b[37]

|
|

University of Birmingham  | 158  | 69.6
University of Bristol  | 174  | 67.6
University of Cambridge  | 209  | 24.5
Cardiff University  | 153  | 73.4
Durham University  | 185  | 67.6
University of Edinburgh  | 197  | 43.6
University of Exeter  | 164  | 85.1
University of Glasgow  | 209  | 66.5
Imperial College London  | 206  | 32.8
King's College London  | 171  | 44.3
University of Leeds  | 162  | 59.9
University of Liverpool  | 147  | 73.2
London School of Economics  | 195  | 21.0
University of Manchester  | 167  | 57.7
Newcastle University  | 151  | 80.2
University of Nottingham  | 154  | 70.1
University of Oxford  | 205  | 20.3
Queen Mary University of London  | 151  | 64.5
Queen's University Belfast  | 156  | 73.5
University of Sheffield  | 157  | 77.7
University of Southampton  | 156  | 76.5
University College London  | 190  | 35.2
University of Warwick  | 173  | 70.8
University of York  | 157  | 79.3

Notes:
a The average UCAS tariff achieved by new undergraduate students entering the university in 2021–22. This is based on qualifications achieved, for example A-levels: A* = 56, A = 48, B = 40 UCAS points; IBO Certificate in Higher Level: H7 = 56, H6 = 48, H5 = 32.[38]
b The average offer rate for June deadline undergraduate applicants (all ages) in 2024.

### Finances

[edit]

The Russell Group accounted for 49.1% of the income of the higher education sector in the UK in 2013–14, having risen from 44.7% of the total in 2001–02. Over the same period the total income of Russell Group universities rose by 69.9% in real terms, compared to a sector average of 54.4%.[39] Russell Group universities are also seen as "particularly creditworthy" due to their membership of the group, allowing them to borrow money at low interest rates.[40]

The total annual income for Russell Group members for 2023/24 was £25.31 billion (2020/21 – £20.30 billion) of which £5.67 billion (2020/21 – £4.77 billion) was from research grants and contracts, with an operating surplus of £6.50 billion (2020/21 – £1.15 billion). Russell Group universities hold a total endowment value of £6.66 billion excluding colleges (2020/21 – £6.18 billion) and net assets of £41.08 billion (2020/21 – £31.52 billion). The table below is a record of each Russell Group member's financial data for the 2023/24 financial year.

University  | Government funding body grants (£m)  | Teaching income (£m)  | Teaching income as % of total income  | Research income (£m)  | Research income as % of total income  | Total income (£m)  | Operating surplus (£m)  | Surplus as % of total income  | Endowment value (£m)  | Total net assets (£m)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

University of Birmingham[41] | 109.5  | 456.3  | 49.3%  | 205.2  | 22.2%  | 926.0 | 199.5  | 21.5%  | 155.8  | 1,309.7
University of Bristol[42] | 119.0  | 459.9  | 43.4%  | 294.1  | 27.7%  | 1,060.1 | 291.4  | 27.5%  | 98.7  | 1,580.8
University of Cambridge‡[43] | 202.5  | 394.9  | 16.1%  | 568.8  | 23.2%  | 2,449.4 | 387.5  | 15.8%  | 2,259.0  | 7,254.7
Cardiff University[44] | 83.2  | 328.3  | 51.5%  | 126.6  | 19.8%  | 638.0 | 137.6  | 21.6%  | 53.1  | 852.6
Durham University‡[45] | 48.2  | 301.9  | 58.8%  | 60.7  | 11.8%  | 513.4 | 120.4  | 23.5%  | 106.6  | 544.3
University of Edinburgh[46] | 208.7  | 527.2  | 38.0%  | 365.2  | 26.4%  | 1,385.8 | 400.1  | 28.9%  | 580.4  | 3,002.6
University of Exeter[47] | 72.8  | 350.6  | 52.6%  | 129.2  | 19.4%  | 666.6 | 186.1  | 27.9%  | 51.6  | 616.6
University of Glasgow[48] | 182.7  | 387.8  | 40.8%  | 221.1  | 23.2%  | 950.0 | 291.4  | 30.7%  | 262.4  | 1,409.0
Imperial College London[49] | 165.4  | 507.5  | 38.8%  | 396.2  | 30.3%  | 1,309.3 | 258.1  | 19.7%  | 235.2  | 2,081.8
King's College London[50] | 144.9  | 630.5  | 49.6%  | 256.9  | 20.2%  | 1,270.7 | 326.7  | 25.7%  | 324.8  | 1,670.9
University of Leeds[51] | 101.8  | 563.8  | 53.8%  | 190.9  | 18.2%  | 1,047.8 | 299.7  | 28.6%  | 94.8  | 1,264.6
University of Liverpool[52] | 93.4  | 367.1  | 52.1%  | 123.3  | 17.5%  | 705.3 | 189.5  | 26.9%  | 193.8  | 885.6
London School of Economics[53] | 26.8  | 316.4  | 60.2%  | 41.4  | 7.9%  | 525.6 | 181.2  | 34.5%  | 255.5  | 1,008.8
University of Manchester[54] | 151.0  | 714.3  | 52.3%  | 287.9  | 21.1%  | 1,365.2 | 340.0  | 24.9%  | 240.2  | 2,214.7
Newcastle University[55] | 88.7  | 307.4  | 49.6%  | 126.1  | 20.4%  | 619.8 | 144.8  | 23.4%  | 94.8  | 627.2
University of Nottingham[56] | 120.7  | 437.5  | 52.4%  | 141.6  | 17.0%  | 834.7 | 219.4  | 26.3%  | 78.1  | 783.5
University of Oxford‡[57] | 224.7  | 524.7  | 18.6%  | 777.8  | 27.5%  | 2,829.1 | 766.6  | 27.1%  | 1,198.7  | 6,250.5
Queen Mary University of London[58] | 86.9  | 390.0  | 54.8%  | 146.8  | 20.6%  | 712.2 | 189.7  | 26.6%  | 48.0  | 859.2
Queen's University Belfast[59] | 107.5  | 160.0  | 33.7%  | 105.2  | 22.2%  | 474.2 | 128.3  | 27.1%  | 70.9  | 658.0
University of Sheffield[60] | 109.1  | 401.8  | 45.3%  | 185.8  | 20.9%  | 887.9 | 236.5  | 26.6%  | 55.2  | 1,885.7
University of Southampton[61] | 84.0  | 369.7  | 49.8%  | 136.5  | 18.4%  | 742.4 | 220.1  | 29.7%  | 12.4  | 929.3
University College London[62] | 228.1  | 971.2  | 47.9%  | 538.8  | 26.6%  | 2,028.6 | 558.2  | 27.5%  | 174.8  | 2,186.4
University of Warwick[63] | 74.4  | 459.6  | 54.0%  | 146.5  | 17.2%  | 850.5 | 290.9  | 34.2%  | 7.3  | 733.3
University of York[64] | 54.8  | 260.1  | 50.5%  | 100.4  | 19.5%  | 515.5 | 136.1  | 26.4%  | 7.8  | 472.7
Overall  | 2,888.8  | 10,588.5  | 41.8%  | 5,673.0  | 22.4%  | 25,308.1 | 6,449.8  | 25.7%  | 6,659.9  | 41,082.5

Notes:
‡ exclusive of colleges

## Criticisms

[edit]

### 'Elite' status questioned

[edit]

In a statement made in 2014 to the Higher Education Policy Institute, David Watson of the University of Oxford suggested that the Russell Group's claim to represent 24 'leading universities' was "a real stretch". In the context of the Russell Group's reputation in the sector, he continued: "particularly dangerous, I think, is the bottom half of the Russell Group...The problem with the Russell Group is that it represents neither the sector as a whole [nor], in many cases, the best of the sector". Performance in research intensity showed that there were dozens of other UK universities "above the bottom Russellers".[65]

A Durham University academic, Vikki Boliver, published a report in 2015 claiming that the prestigious position of the Russell Group was not based on evidence, but rather successful marketing. Only the universities of Oxford and Cambridge were significantly more elite than the majority of "old" universities when a grouping analysis was performed using data on academic selectivity, research activity, teaching quality, socio-economic exclusivity and economic resources. The other 22 members of the Russell Group sit in a second tier of universities along with 17 other "old" universities (Aberdeen, Bath*, Dundee, East Anglia*, Goldsmiths*, Heriot-Watt, Kent, Lancaster*, Leicester*, Loughborough*, Reading*, Royal Holloway*, St Andrews*, SOAS*, Strathclyde, Surrey* and Sussex*), mostly comprising former members of the defunct 1994 Group (shown by asterisks). Another 13 "old" universities and 54 "new" universities made up a third tier, with a fourth tier of 19 "new" universities. Within each tier, the differences between the institutions were less significant than the differences between the tiers.[66][67] This reflected an earlier result from 2010 that, when the "Golden Triangle" universities (defined in the study as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, and UCL) were omitted, the remaining (then) members of the Russell Group were outperformed by the (then) members of the 1994 Group.[68]

Ant Bagshaw from the Wonkhe think-tank has criticised the use of Russell Group membership as a proxy for selectivity in official Department for Education reports and statistics, as better measures of selectivity are available from UCAS data. He states that the idea that "Russell Group membership is synonymous with 'best'" is "persistent, but unverified". He also notes that this may lead to less scrutiny of the performance of non-Russell Group selective universities with respect to widening participation and improving access.[69]

### Protectionism

[edit]

The Institute of Economic Affairs has argued that the Russell Group acts out of protectionist interests. It is claimed that this will "restrict competition, discourage innovation and encourage inefficiency, thereby depriving students of lower prices and/or greater choice".[70]

### Sustainability

[edit]

The twenty-four universities in the Russell Group are responsible for around half of the Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions of the UK university sector.[71][better source needed] The Group as a whole has been criticised for an inconsistent and inadequate response to the need to identify emissions and take reduction measures.[72] An Environmental Sustainability Network was announced by the Russell Group in December 2019;[73] as of November 2021 no outcomes from this had been announced.

### Widening access

[edit]

Analysis by the Labour Party in 2018 found that the number of students from disadvantaged areas has only increased by one percentage point since 2010.[74]

In 2015, Durham academic Vikki Bolívar published a paper, Lies, damned lies, and statistics on widening access to Russell Group universities, criticising the statistical analysis in the Russell Group publication Opening Doors. This had said that "real progress has been made over the last few years" in widening access, but Bolívar highlighted four areas where the statistics used to justify this claim were misleading. She also pointed out that there was "a growing body of statistical research evidence which indicates that one important barrier to widening access at Russell Group universities is that applicants from less advantaged social backgrounds are less likely to be offered places at these universities than comparably qualified applicants from more advantaged social groups" that had not been mentioned in the Russell Group report.[75]

UCAS statistics on offers to applicants from low/high participation neighbourhoods (2022)[76] | POLAR4 Q1 (lowest participation 20% neighbourhoods)  | POLAR4 Q5 (highest participation 20% neighbourhoods)

|
|

University  | Offer rate differencea | Flagb | % of all offers  | Offer rate differencea | Flagb | % of all offers
Birmingham  | +2.3  | \+  | 9.2  | +0.9  | \+  | 39.8
Bristol  | +5.6  | \+  | 7.3  | -1.9  | \-  | 48.3
Cambridge  | +1.2  |  | 5.4  | -0.2  |  | 50.2
Cardiff  | -1.6  |  | 9.4  | +0.6  | \+  | 37.4
Durham  | +37.4  | \+  | 12.3  | -12.7  | \-  | 38.4
Edinburgh  | +6.8  | \+  | 6.1  | -1.4  | \-  | 49.9
Exeter  | +7.9  | \+  | 6.9  | -3.2  | \-  | 46.3
Glasgow  | +3.2  | \+  | 5.8  | +0.3  |  | 47.6
Imperial  | +6.8  | \+  | 7.4  | -2.1  | \-  | 44.0
King's  | +6.6  | \+  | 7.1  | -1.4  | \-  | 41.3
Leeds  | +8.9  | \+  | 10.4  | -2.2  | \-  | 42.1
Liverpool  | +1.0  |  | 10.9  | +0.7  | \+  | 37.9
LSE  | +21.6  | \+  | 9.0  | -4.3  | \-  | 44.0
Manchester  | +4.9  | \+  | 10.3  | -0.4  |  | 40.2
Newcastle  | -0.2  |  | 9.3  | +0.4  |  | 41.5
Nottingham  | +1.0  |  | 8.6  | +0.6  | \+  | 42.8
Oxford  | +8.3  |  | 8.2  | -2.2  | \-  | 47.2
Queen Mary  | +1.0  |  | 5.0  | -0.2  |  | 37.5
Queen's Belfast  | -3.5  | \-  | 9.4  | +0.8  |  | 38.5
Sheffield  | -1.6  | \-  | 10.8  | +0.9  | \+  | 37.7
Southampton  | -0.4  |  | 7.9  | +0.9  | \+  | 41.3
UCL  | +4.9  | \+  | 6.3  | -0.2  |  | 48.9
Warwick  | +2.0  | \+  | 7.0  | +0.5  |  | 43.8
York  | +0.8  |  | 10.3  | +0.1  |  | 37.9
All higher tariff providers  | +4.4  | \+  | 8.6  | -1.0  | \-  | 42.1
All UK providers  | 0.6  |  | 11.6  | -0.2  |  | 32.0

a – difference between the actual offer rate and the offer rate expected if predicted grades and subject choice were the only factors
b – indicates significantly higher (+), significantly lower (-) or no significant difference from expected rate (blank)

## See also

[edit]

* Association of American Universities – group of US research universities
* Imperial Universities – group of older universities in Japan
* Institutes of National Importance – premier universities in India
* National Institutes of Technology – 31 leading public engineering universities in India.
* Golden Triangle – informal grouping of universities in London and southeast England
* Doxbridge \- informal grouping of older collegiate universities in England
* SKY (universities) – group of Korean universities
* C9 League – The Chinese Ministry of Education's formal grouping of elite universities in China
* TU9, alliance of nine leading Technical Universities in Germany
* Group of Eight (Australian universities), formal group of eight universities in Australia
* Ancient universities Oxbridge, Scottish, and Irish Universities formed before the year 1600 with undergraduate MA awarding powers
* Armorial of UK universities

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Disclaimer". The Russell Group. Russell Group. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
2. ^ a b Emily Twinch (4 September 2023). "Newcastle vice-chancellor becomes Russell Group chair". Research Professional News. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
3. ^ a b "About". Russell Group. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
4. ^ Blackmore, Paul (29 March 2016). "Universities vie for the metric that cannot be measured: prestige". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023. "The Russell Group has successfully stage-managed the position that it is seen as comprising the best universities. Some are and some aren't, but by and large this is nonsense. However, parents increasingly say they want their child to go to one.
Pre-92 head."
5. ^ a b "Profile" (PDF). Russell Group. June 2017. pp. 6–7\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
6. ^ "Russell Group universities produce more world-leading research than ever before". The Russell Group. Russell Group. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
7. ^ McCabe, Grace (18 December 2023). "What is the TEF? Results of the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023". Times Higher Education.
8. ^ "Graduates in the UK Labour Market – 2017" (Press release). Office for National Statistics. 24 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
9. ^ "Government publishes destination data for the first time". Department for Education. 12 July 2012. Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
10. ^ a b c d "Four universities join elite Russell Group". BBC News. 12 March 2012. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
11. ^ a b "Russell Group extends membership to four more universities". The Guardian. 12 March 2012. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
12. ^ "Do you want to be in my gang?". Times Higher Education. 19 November 2009. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
13. ^ "Russell Group keeps funding options open". Times Higher Education. 23 March 2001. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
14. ^ "Russell Group seeks leader to oversee its expanded role". Times Higher Education. 9 December 2005. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
15. ^ a b "Queen's gets key to Russell club door". Times Higher Education. 9 November 2006. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
16. ^ "Russell Group to advise on A-level content in post-16 shake-up". Times Higher Education. 23 January 2013. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
17. ^ Camilla Turner (23 May 2019). "Bright teenagers risk having university plans 'scuppered' by bad A-levels advice, Russell Group warns". Daily Telegraph.
18. ^ "Informed choices" (PDF). Russell Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
19. ^ a b c "Where do HE students study? | HESA". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
20. ^ "Who's working in HE?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
21. ^ "Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 Outcomes". Office for Students. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
22. ^ Tom Williams (4 August 2022). "Post-92s gain research funding at expense of 'golden triangle'". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
23. ^ Paul Jump (26 March 2015). "Winners and losers in Hefce funding allocations". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
24. ^ "University financial health check 2014-5" (PDF). Times Higher Education. 2 June 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
25. ^ a b "Hefce funding allocations 2007–08: All institutions". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
26. ^ "剁䔰㠠偯睥爠呡扬" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
27. ^ "University Research Excellence Framework 2014 – the full rankings". The Guardian. 17 December 2014. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
28. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities 2024". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
29. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2025". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
30. ^ "THE World University Rankings 2024". Times Higher Education. 28 September 2023. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
31. ^ "Complete University Guide 2025". The Complete University Guide. 14 May 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
32. ^ "Guardian University Guide 2025". The Guardian. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
33. ^ "Good University Guide 2024". The Times. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
34. ^ Degree of Success: University Chances by Individual School (Report). The Sutton Trust. 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
35. ^ Earnings by Degrees (PDF) (Report). Sutton Trust. 18 December 2014. pp. 16–17\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
36. ^ a b "Complete University Guide 2024 – Entry Standards". Retrieved 8 June 2023.
37. ^ a b "2024 entry UCAS Undergraduate reports by sex, area background, and ethnic group". UCAS. 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
38. ^ "UCAS Tariff tables". UCAS. May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
39. ^ Chris Havergal (9 December 2015). "Russell Group 'pulls further away' in funding race". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
40. ^ John Morgan (11 February 2016). "Russell Group membership a 'badge of quality' for bond investors". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 12 February 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
41. ^ "Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024" (PDF). University of Birmingham. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
42. ^ "Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024" (PDF). University of Bristol. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
43. ^ "Reports and Financial Statements 2024" (PDF). University of Cambridge. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
44. ^ "Annual Report and Financial Statements Year ended 31 July 2024" (PDF). cardiff.ac.uk. Cardiff University. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
45. ^ "Durham University Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2024" (PDF). Durham University. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
46. ^ "Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31 July 2024" (PDF). The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
47. ^ "Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024" (PDF). University of Exeter. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
48. ^ "Reports and Financial Statements for the year to 31 July 2024" (PDF). University of Glasgow. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
49. ^ "Annual Report and Accounts 2023–24" (PDF). Imperial College London. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
50. ^ "Financial Statements for the year to 31 July 2024" (PDF). King's College London. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
51. ^ "Annual report and accounts 2023–24" (PDF). University of Leeds. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
52. ^ "Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024" (PDF). University of Liverpool. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
53. ^ "Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024" (PDF). London School of Economics. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
54. ^ "Financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2024". University of Manchester. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
55. ^ "Integrated Annual Report 2022–23" (PDF). Newcastle University. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
56. ^ "Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024" (PDF). University of Nottingham. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
57. ^ "Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24" (PDF). University of Oxford. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
58. ^ "Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024" (PDF). Queen Mary, University of London. p. 42. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
59. ^ "Annual Report 2023–24" (PDF). Queen's University Belfast. p. 92. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
60. ^ "Annual Report and Financial Statements 2023–24". The University of Sheffield. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
61. ^ "Financial Statements 2022–2023" (PDF). University of Southampton. p. 30.
62. ^ "Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2024" (PDF). University College London. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
63. ^ "Statement of accounts for the year ended 31 July 2024" (PDF). University of Warwick. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
64. ^ "Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024" (PDF). University of York. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
65. ^ Morgan, John (3 April 2014). "Sir David Watson: Russell Group is not all it's cracked up to be". Times Higher Education. Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
66. ^ Chris Havergal (19 November 2015). "Most Russell Group universities 'little different to other pre-92s'". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
67. ^ V. Bolivar (30 September 2015). "Are there distinctive clusters of higher and lower status universities in the UK?". Oxford Review of Education. 41 (5). Taylor & Francis: 608–627\. doi:10.1080/03054985.2015.1082905. S2CID 143154842. Archived from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
68. ^ Zoë Corbyn (25 March 2010). "Data disprove case for distributing research funds on historical basis". Times Higher Education. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016. "The analysis, due to be published on 25 March, uses citation data to show that when the five "golden-triangle" institutions – the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London and the London School of Economics – are removed from the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities, the 1994 Group of smaller research-led universities outperforms it."
69. ^ Ant Bagshaw (14 July 2017). "It's time to stop conflating the Russell Group with the 'best'". Wonkhe. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
70. ^ Institute of Economic Affairs: Archived 27 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine James Stanfield
71. ^ "Estates Management". UK Higher Education Statistics Agency. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021.
72. ^ Bill Spence (19 April 2021). "Elite universities are falling short on their green promises" Times Higher Education.
73. ^ Russell Group December 2019, Joint statement on environmental sustainability Archived 21 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
74. ^ Jessica Elgot (14 August 2018). "Government accused of 'total failure' to widen elite university access". The Guardian.
75. ^ Boliver, V. (2015). "Lies, damned lies, and statistics on widening access to Russell Group universities". Radical Statistics. 113: 29–38\. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
76. ^ "2022 entry UCAS undergraduate reports by sex, area background, and ethnic group". UCAS. 2023. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Russell Group

Members|

* Birmingham
* Bristol
* Cambridge
* Cardiff
* Durham
* Edinburgh
* Exeter
* Glasgow
* Imperial College London
* King's College London
* Leeds
* Liverpool
* London School of Economics
* Manchester
* Newcastle
* Nottingham
* Oxford
* Queen's
* Queen Mary
* Sheffield
* Southampton
* University College London
* Warwick
* York

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

University associations and groupings in the United Kingdom

Formal associations|

| Current|

* Cathedrals Group
* Eastern ARC
* GuildHE
* GW4
* Francis Crick Institute
* MedCity
* Midlands Innovation
* Million+
* N8 Research Partnership
* NCUK
* Russell Group
* SES
* SETsquared
* Thomas Young Centre
* University Alliance
* Universities Scotland
* Universities UK
* Wallace Group
* White Rose University Consortium

|

Defunct|

* 1994 Group
* Global Medical Excellence Cluster
* North West Universities Association

By age|

* Ancient (pre-1600)
* Scotland (pre-1600)
* Red brick (1900–1963)
* Plate glass (1960–1969)
* New (since 1992)

Informal groupings|

* Campus university
* Golden triangle
* Doxbridge
* Oxbridge

* v
* t
* e

Universities in the United Kingdom

England|

| East of England|

* Anglia Ruskin
* Bedfordshire
* Cambridge
* Cranfield
* East Anglia
* Essex
* Hertfordshire
* Norwich University of the Arts
* Suffolk

|

London|

| University
of London|

* Birkbeck
* Brunel
* City St George's
* Courtauld
* Goldsmiths
* Institute of Cancer Research
* King's
* London Business School
* LSE
* LSHTM
* Queen Mary
* Royal Academy of Music
* Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
* Royal Holloway
* Royal Veterinary College
* School of Advanced Study
* SOAS
* UCL

|

Other|

* East London
* Greenwich
* Imperial
* Kingston
* London Met
* London South Bank
* Middlesex
* Northeastern University – London
* Ravensbourne
* Regent's
* Richmond, The American International University in London
* Roehampton
* St Mary's
* University of the Arts London
* Westminster
* West London

Midlands|

* Aston
* Birmingham
* Birmingham City
* Birmingham Newman
* Bishop Grosseteste
* Coventry
* De Montfort
* Derby
* Harper Adams
* Keele
* Leicester
* Lincoln
* Loughborough
* Northampton
* Nottingham
* Nottingham Trent
* Staffordshire
* University College Birmingham
* Warwick
* Wolverhampton
* Worcester

North|

* Bradford
* Chester
* Cumbria
* Durham
* Edge Hill
* Greater Manchester
* Huddersfield
* Hull
* Lancashire
* Lancaster
* Leeds
* Leeds Arts
* Leeds Beckett
* Leeds Trinity
* Liverpool
* Liverpool Hope
* Liverpool John Moores
* LSTM
* Manchester
* Manchester Metropolitan
* Newcastle
* Northumbria
* Salford
* Sheffield
* Sheffield Hallam
* Sunderland
* Teesside
* York
* York St. John

South|

* Arts University Bournemouth
* Bath
* Bath Spa
* Bournemouth
* Brighton
* Bristol
* Buckingham
* Buckinghamshire New
* Canterbury Christ Church
* Chichester
* Creative Arts
* Exeter
* Falmouth
* Hartpury
* Gloucestershire
* Kent
* Oxford
* Oxford Brookes
* Plymouth
* Plymouth Marjon
* Arts University Plymouth
* Portsmouth
* Reading
* Royal Agricultural
* Solent
* Southampton
* Surrey
* Sussex
* UWE Bristol
* Winchester

Northern Ireland|

* Queen's
* Ulster

Scotland|

* Aberdeen
* Abertay
* Dundee
* Edinburgh
* Edinburgh Napier
* Glasgow
* Glasgow Caledonian
* Heriot-Watt
* Highlands and Islands
* Queen Margaret
* Robert Gordon
* Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
* St Andrews
* Stirling
* Strathclyde
* West of Scotland

Wales|

* Aberystwyth
* Bangor
* Cardiff
* Cardiff Metropolitan
* South Wales
* Swansea
* Wales Trinity Saint David
* Wrexham

Overseas territories|

* Bermuda College
* Cayman Islands Law School
* Gibraltar
* International College of the Cayman Islands
* Saint James School of Medicine
* St. Matthew's University
* University College of the Cayman Islands
* University of Science, Arts and Technology
* University of the West Indies Open Campus

Crown dependencies|

* Universities in Crown Dependencies

Non-geographic|

* Arden
* BPP
* Law
* London International Programmes
* Open

Related|

* 2010 United Kingdom student protests
* List by date of foundation (Ancient; Third-oldest in England; Redbrick; Plate glass; Post-1992)
* List by endowment
* List by enrolment
* Colleges within universities
* Degree abbreviations
* HEFCW
* Office for Students (HEFCE)
* Rankings
* Scottish Funding Council
* Student loans and grants in the United Kingdom
* Student Radio Association
* Student television in the United Kingdom
* Student unionism in the United Kingdom
* Tuition fees in the United Kingdom
* Undergraduate degree classification
* UCAS
* University and College Union
* Polytechnic

* Category
* List

* v
* t
* e

Science and technology in the United Kingdom

Economy of the United Kingdom

Official
bodies and
personnel|

* Chief Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Defence
* Council for Science and Technology
* Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
* Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
* Building Digital UK
* Intellectual Property Office
* Government Office for Science
* Chief Scientific Adviser
* National Technology Advisor
* UK Research and Innovation
* Arts and Humanities Research Council
* Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
* Economic and Social Research Council
* Innovate UK
* Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
* Medical Research Council
* Natural Environment Research Council
* Research England
* Science and Technology Facilities Council
* UK Space Agency
* Food and Environment Research Agency
* List of UK government scientific research institutes
* Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
* Science and Technology Select Committee
* Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies

Industry
sectors|

* Aerospace
* British space programme
* Automotive
* Computers
* Nuclear technology
* Pharmaceutical
* Renewable energy
* Telecommunications

Non-
governmental
bodies|

| Education
and museums|

* Science museums
* National Museum of Science and Industry
* National Space Centre
* Universities
* List
* Golden triangle
* Russell Group

|

Societies and
professional
bodies|

* British Computer Society
* British Mass Spectrometry Society
* British Science Association
* British Society for the Philosophy of Science
* Engineering Council
* Geological Society of London
* Institute of Physics
* Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine
* Royal Academy of Engineering
* Royal Aeronautical Society
* Royal Astronomical Society
* Royal Entomological Society
* Royal Geographical Society
* Royal Institution
* Christmas Lectures
* Royal Society
* The Association for Science Education
* Royal Society of Chemistry
* Science Council
* Royal Society of Biology
* North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers

Other|

* Campaign for Science and Engineering
* EngineeringUK
* Science Media Centre
* Wellcome Trust

People|

* Engineers
* Inventors
* Nobel laureates
* Science writers
* Scientists
* Technology writers

Places|

* Burlington House
* East London Tech City
* M4 corridor
* Science parks
* Silicon Fen
* Silicon Glen
* Silicon Gorge
* Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Other|

* Innovations and discoveries
* Science and technology awards
* Science and technology magazines
* JANET
* National Science Week

* Category
* Commons

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template