In response to Mike Gow, Bristol - To apply to Oxford or Cambridge you have to go through UCAS, and you don't have to be put forward by a teacher - but you will need academic references - as you do for all universities.

Kristie, Foulsham, Norfolk

As in too many areas of modern life, the coinage has been debased. The era of mass mediocrity is upon us and our glorious leaders now revel in the promotion of all things grey. This is nowhere more the case than in the realm of higher education. It is now open to all and that is a contradiction.

Duncan, Waterloo, Belgium

To be honest, this university ranking is just a gimmicky thing that tries hard to attract attentions by manipulating the rankings (especially those within 5th - 25th range) every year, so that people would mistakenly believe that this ranking is actually 'useful'.

James, London,

There is one disadvantage in most prestigious universities: when people graduate them, they sometimes think that they are the best and know everything, and can not listen to collegues at work. Sometimes it is realy difficult to deal with such a person.

Elya, Usinsk, Russia

Also, I think the best university is the one that suits the individual student best in terms of teaching, forms of assessment and so on, not just what someone else says is best.
Does anyone else agree?

Clare, Cambridge,

To add to what Nasir said, I believe Oxford is the third most prestigious and best university in the world after Harvard and one other American university (i cannot remember which). If I am wrong in saying about Oxford being the third university, please correct me.

Clare, Cambridge, England

To me, ask yourself, are you consider yourself is a clever, creative, innovative and dynamic person after you r graduated or study from/in the "BEST" universities or "WORST" universities?If yes, why not try to think of a solution i.e. how to resuce economics crisis.

Walter, Penang, Malaysia

Dear all, why wanna bother about how years you need to study in Engineering field or etc either in UK or other foreign countries? Why not think of what kind of the contribution you have contributed to the world in Technologies, medical and etc?

Walter , Penang, Malaysia

The Guy who made comments (1st comment) about Oxford is wrong. I graduated from one of British Universities (Lampeter) before coming to Oxford for my MSc. This is the only University with almost perfect academic services delivery. You have every right to envy us, but we remain the best University.

Nasir Daniya, Oxford, United Kingdom

Oxford is a worthless, over-rated university, where people have seemingly adopted a care-free attitude toward their students. I know, I attended. I would not recommend Oxford to anyone.

Richard, Orlando, USA

Dear Ryan D'Souza....not nicely said...because from what I recall from my 5 years in a Scottish University...the ones that actually made the difference in Engineering degrees, were the Greeks (as far as maths and physics is concerned) and French in Digital and Communications....

Andy , Rome, Italy

Trinity college Dublin, as the name suggests is in fact in DUBLIN which is located in the republic of Ireland and not in fact in the UK at all.

Lesley Duggan, Dublin, Ireland

Michael McGrath: Dublin isn't in the UK

Will, London,

The best university in the U.K. is Trinity College Dublin !!!

Michael McGrath, Dublin, Ireland

Where to get the whole table of the best universities in UK? Or at least the top ten

Imantas, Klaipeda, Lithuania

I completely disagree with Ryan D'Souza's comments, but could other commentators please not generalise that all English have the same opinion. Its equally ignorant to assume so.

Shane, London, UK

Of course, the English can finish thier degree in 3 years. This is why they are all overall completely ignorant about everything else but their subject. Therefore are not aware that Europeans also take their degrees in 3 years, that is called BA and that the subsequent 2/3 years is specialization.

Helen, Cambridge, UK

I totally disagree with Ryan D'Souza's comment which is totally disrespectfull and epitomises the English's cocky and arrogant attitude towards others. I believe students from both Nationalities are equally capable, although there are, on a whole, better Universities in England.

Gwern Owain, Ruthin,

The fact of the matter is that English students on a whole are simply more intelligent, more capable and more advanced than their European counterparts. That is why our degrees are shorter. We English can learn in three years what takes you Germans four or five years.

Ryan D'Souza, Barnes, England

A three-year British degree has the added benefit of making you think quickly, packing more into less time. There is little time to sit about, and speaking from experience I think that students in the German system would exhibit a bit more dynamism if exposed to such time pressure.

Gareth, Durham, UK

I totally disagree with you Stefan! I study in Munich as well and the question isnt whether you spend a lifetime at the University or not, its more about the quality you receive while studying. I think the English have really tried to provide this quality even if there are exceptions.

Ibrahim, Munich, Germany

I completely agree with Tom from Auckland, the standards of the Engineering degrees in Britain are really poor since these are three years degrees whilst in the rest of Europe it takes five years to get an Engineering degree.

Stefan, Munich, Germany

It's incredible the substantial difference in earnings for those studying medicine in comparison to those with an arts degree!

Lucy, Kings Hill, England

This league table is full of half truths. Make your own mind up and remember England is one of the few countries in the world with 3 year University Engineering degrees, so most of these Unis look suspect when compared internationally. (except the Scottish ones that is).

Tom, Auckland, New Zealand

"It is outside the standard UCAS system." What is exactly sorry? In what way does that make them biased?

You have to provide evidence when you make statements such as "They also receive much more funding than any other uni." If you can provide concrete evidence for any of your statements, please..

Dan, Oxford, OXON

Whoever said that rubbish about Oxford and Cambridge is totally wrong. The selection criteria is very fair- tough yes, but that's because the courses ARE tough. It is not outside the UCAS system. They select what they think are the best candidates for the courses, it's the real world, suck it up

Jules, London,

What do these ratings actually mean? Edinburgh comes out pretty poorly yet it is classed as one of the top 30 universities worldwide, and one of the best in life/biomedical sciences.
Students shouldn't be fooled by ratings alone.

Adam, Glasgow,

I think Oxofrd and Cambridge should be excluded from these lists.

Their selection criteria is biased and students have to be put forward by their teachers in order to apply. It is outside the standard UCAS system.

They also receive much more funding than any other uni.

Mike Gow, Bristol, UK

In support of Chris at Oxford, I am in the unusual position of having done an undergraduate gistory degree at both Oxford and London universities. No offence to anyone at London, but I did more more work in one eight week term at Oxford than I did in an entire year at London.

William, London,

The Times idea of "best" colleges and universities really is blinkered. I work for a small HE institution: Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication, one of the top colleges in the country for Broadcast and Fashion. If you want to enter these industries you may want to come to us.

RC, London,

Chris from Oxford is obviously not studying market research!

roddy gordon, Dubai,

I have been at Oxford for a year, and comparative to my friends at other top 10 universities, we do significantly more work to a better standard. The best lecturers work intelligent students incredibily hard, and subsequently results are achieved.

Chris, Oxford,

As with everything the name is what determines wether an institution is given the higher rank. I went to a branch of the Met. and I enjoyed a very pleasant time at it, with no more than 10 students per class and a quality personlised teaching but i guess it will not compete with the likes of Oxford

john, london,

I have been to Westminster University, although it is not listed top in the league table I was very happy with the teaching and facilities. I felt the student support was there and l learnt so much.

Maureen, London, UK

Surely any opinions or ranks are subject to averages. Where one person may fail, another may flourish. It is difficult to believe or base my choices on such a list, as an A-level student.Some of the best uni's I have visited don't even rank in the list, but they look like great places to study.

Natalie, Huddersfield,