Oxford victory over Cambridge
Oxford University has again pushed Cambridge into second place, coming top of the annual Times newspaper’s university league table for 2007. The University pulled ahead of Cambridge in the Good University Guide mainly due to its average spending on books. Oxford spends over £500 per student more on libraries and computer facilities every year than their Varsity rivals. Oxford students are also more likely to get top grades, the report revealed. At Oxford, 88.4% of students achieved a first or upper second class degree, compared to just 84.6% at Cambridge. However, Cambridge showed its formidable dominance in individual subjects, coming top in 35 out of 44 subject tables. Oxford came top in just eight. Oxford University Vice Chancellor John Hood said, “I’m delighted to learn that the University’s position as the top UK institution has been confirmed by The Times now for the fifth year running, as well as by The Guardian for the last two years.
“Applicants choose Oxford not just because of what they can study, but how they can study, and the resources available to them. The collegiate system, with its tutorial based teaching, remains one of Oxford’s most distinctive aspects.” Oxford Brookes was also extremely successful, being ranked as the country’s best new university for the fifth year running. The former polytechnic, ranked 54 overall, scored highly on the amount it spends on facilities such as sports, careers and health.
The current recognition of Oxford’s status as Britain’s best university follows similar findings by the Guardian newspaper, which also placed Oxford top.
8th Jun 2006