University named third best in UK

The University of St Andrews has achieved its highest ever ranking in a national league table.  In a new guide out today, St Andrews has been named third best university in the UK, behind only Oxford and Cambridge.

The Guardian University Guide is compiled by assessing various aspects of university life, from teaching quality and staff-student ratios to graduate job prospects.  A major component of St Andrews success this year is continued high levels of student satisfaction. St Andrews students named their university top in the UK in the latest National Student Survey.

St Andrews has overtaken The London School of Economics and Warwick to tuck in behind Oxford and Cambridge, says the Guardian. A key ingredient in their success was the very high satisfaction ratings from their students.

Last year St Andrews was placed fifth in the Guardian guide, one place down from its previous highest ever position of fourth in the UK in 2007.   This year, St Andrews has cemented its position as top in Scotland and a consistent presence among the top five UK universities.

Individual subjects at St Andrews performed particularly well in the rankings with 13 placed in the top five in the UK and 16 judged to be top in Scotland.   Computer Sciences and Politics are placed 2nd in the UK; Chemistry, Classics, Economics, Philosophy, Psychology and Religious studies & theology are all in 3rd place; Business & management studies and Geography & environmental studies 4th, while Biosciences, History and History of art and Mathematics all appear in 5th place.

Principal and Vice-Chancellor Dr Louise Richardson, said, “We are very proud of this result.  It is a testament to the talent, committment and hard work of every student, teacher and member of staff at the University, as well as the tradition of academic excellence that has long prevailed here.”

The guide is available in full online at http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide

ENDS

Issued by Press Office, University of St Andrews
Contact Gayle Cook, Senior Press Officer on 01334 467227 / 462529, mobile 07900 050 103, or email [email protected]
Ref:  Guardian table 120509
View the latest University press releases at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk