The Russell Group Universities
There are over one hundred universities in the UK, each one of them different – unique in their own way. Some are better for certain subjects than others, whilst some may place a higher emphasis on research over teaching. Categorising these wildly different institutions is something that we as humans like to do; categorisation allows us to group things so we can easily recognise, differentiate and understand them. There are several ways we categorise universities in the UK, by age, by subject area, and by research undertaken are the most popular ways, but universities are often part of groups, which can also act as a way of categorising them. The Russell Group is one such group.
What is the Russell Group?
There is a certain buzz around universities who are part of the Russell Group. Similar to the Ivy League universities in the USA, institutions that are part of the Russell Group have a reputation that precedes them. The group, which was set up in 1994 and named after the hotel where the universities met, represents some of the biggest names in higher education. The group places emphasis on the importance of research, so understandably the members are generally all research powerhouses, producing some of the most well-regarded and most influential papers year after year.
The group represents 24 UK universities who are committed to maintaining excellent research, whilst providing outstanding teaching and learning experiences for their students who, together with the institutions, contribute to the economic and cultural life of the UK, attracting the best academics and students from around the world. The universities also attract investments from research intensive businesses, which may otherwise be spent elsewhere.
Which Universities are part of the Russell Group?
Russell Group universities are spread across the United Kingdom and operate globally through different campuses and outreach programs. The following universities are part of the Russell Group:
- 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 & 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
Durham, Exeter, Queen Mary and York are members of the Russell Group that joined recently.
Are Russell Group Universities Better?
The Russell Group is an association of UK universities who place a high-degree of emphasis on research. Simply being a member of the Russell Group doesn’t make a university ‘better’. Likewise, if a university isn’t part of the Russell Group, it doesn’t mean that they are by default, inferior. It is worth noting though, that because of their research focus and pedigree that the Russell Group universities get a greater proportion of the research grants awarded in the UK, so postgraduate research opportunities will be more numerous at these institutions.
The Russell Group brand is often used as part of a university’s marketing strategy, as many feel that membership adds value to the institutions courses. Other factors should be taken into consideration when choosing a university, such as job prospects and the university rankings. At postgraduate level, a greater emphasis is placed on faculties and schools, rather than the institution itself. For this reason, it is worth attending the open days for universities or going to a postgraduate fair to find out more about what to expect and to get a better understanding of a particular postgrad course.
Russell Group Universities Rankings
You can search through thousands of postgraduate courses using the intuitive search tool at the top of this page and then select the universities with courses that best suit you.