Oxford best university for third year running
Oxford increased its stranglehold as the best University in the United Kingdom this week, topping The Times Good University Guide for the third year running.
Having overtaken the Tabs as the country's premier learning institution in 2002, Oxford this year stretches its lead from 14 to 47 points over its Light Blue rival, forcing Imperial and the LSE into third and fourth places respectively.
Although Cambridge tops 26 of the 44 individual subject league tables in which it appears, with Oxford leading just six, Oxford's superior spending on libraries and student facilities was enough to ensure that whilst the Dark Blues may have been found lacking in the Boat Race, they power ahead in university standings.
Times Education Correspondent Glen Owen told The OxStu: "Oxford confirms its reputation as the nursery for the nation's elite by stretching ahead of Cambridge, despite the latter's superior ratings in individual subjects. In the end, it was undone by the might of Oxford's per student spending."
Further down the table, St Andrew's is the best Scottish university, rising two places to ninth. The 'Prince William effect' is cited for continuing large rises in applications, forcing entry standards at the University to rise by the equivalent of a whole A-level grade.
Loughborough was this year's surprise package, bursting into the top ten for the first time in its history. The University, notable for its sporting achievements, now outranks two-thirds of the 19-strong elite Russell Group.
An Oxford spokeswoman told The OxStu: "The University is very pleased - it's testament to the excellent facilities and teaching available to students." A Cambridge spokesperson said: "We consider our teaching and research to be world-class, leading the UK."
Top 10 UK universities
(The Times Good University Guide)
1 Oxford
2 Cambridge
3 Imperial
4 LSE
5 Warwick
6 UCL
7 York
8 Durham
9 St Andrew's
10 Loughborough
20th May 2004