Could you remind me why the Open University isn’t in The Times Good
University Guide? How does it compare to other universities with regards to
its 'teaching quality'? Andrea Cope, Stourbridge
It is omitted because, as an institution dedicated entirely to distance
learning, the Open University cannot be judged on some of the criteria used
in The Times Good University Guide. This applies particularly to spending on
libraries, computing and other facilities that are provided for full-time
students. The OU did especially well on student satisfaction, however,
outperforming all the conventional universities.
I have recently received offers to study chemistry from five
universities and have narrowed my choices down to Bristol and Newcastle. I
was disappointed to see that Newcastle did not appear in the top twenty
universities to study chemistry and would like to know where it was placed.
I am leaning towards accepting my place at Newcastle although I know Bristol
is considered a better university. Will going to Newcastle over Bristol
damage my prospects of a well-paid career in the future? Or are both looked
highly upon by employers? Name and address withheld
Both Bristol and Newcastle are well regarded by employers. Bristol has
invested heavily in chemistry in recent years, but Newcastle also has a long
tradition in the subject. Newcastle is 37th out of 47 universities in the
full chemistry table contained in the paperback version of the guide, but no
one should choose a course on league table positions alone.
How is it possible for Cambridge to come second behind Oxford despite
scoring higher than it in every category other than ‘Good honours’ and
‘Library spending’? Mark Braithwaite, Leeds
On most measures, there is little difference in the scores of Oxford and
Cambridge, so Oxford's big lead in library and computing spending is
crucial.
I can understand that the teaching quality review figures were dropped
because of their age, however why were the recent results from the student
survey not used in their place on the subject specific tables? Oliver
Williams
The threshold for the publication of results in the National Student
Satisfaction Survey was a 50 per cent response rate with returns from at
least 30 students. Consequently, many of the smaller departments have no
satisfaction rating and it was decided that the gaps were too extensive for
the survey to be used this year in the subject tables.
I would like to know why The Times ranking is so much different from
the Education Guardian. Shirley Ngan, Hong Kong
The measures used are quite different - the Guardian did not include the
student satisfaction survey, for example, and has had to be amended more
than once since publication. Apart from the substitution of student
satisfaction for teaching quality assessments, the Times measures have
remained consistent for several years.
I find the new Times league table of universities for 2007 to be
somewhat shocking. Famous UK universities such as St Andrews and Manchester,
with immaculate reputations, high entry requirements and intense competition
for places have been displaced by the likes of Loughborough and Royal
Holloway. Are the league tables credible anymore? Ahmed Arfan,
Kettering
There is more volatility than normal this year in The Times table. That is
because of the removal of the most heavily weighted measure - the teaching
quality assessments - on the advice of the review group of university
representatives, which meets after every edition. The scores were considered
too old to be a true reflection of quality. Students may have a different
approach but, as the 'consumers', their views cannot be discounted.
With respect to good career prospects, would attending a university
below fifth place for law have a considerable impact on gaining a graduate
job at one of the good law firms in London? Jonathan Morris,
Kingston upon Thames
The top law firms tend to recruit from the top universities, but there is no
closed shop. Plenty of successful lawyers have come from universities
outside the top five.
Bearing in mind the clear differences in methodology between the
overall league table and the subject tables, which would you recommend
students use? Bob Loblaw, Guilford
Both are worth considering. Most employers will be more aware of the main
table, especially since the majority of graduate jobs are not subject
specific. But the subject tables may be more influential in specialist
fields such as engineering.
With such low ratings, how can the universities at the bottom of the
list justify their existence? Kaushik Pandya, Luton
Most of the universities near the foot of the table have different missions
from those at the top - their accent is on widening participation in higher
education and they do not have the same tradition of research as the older
and better-funded foundations. That does not make them unworthy of the
title. All are subject to quality checks through external examiners and the
Quality Assurance Agency.
Please could you tell me why Manchester University is 26th in the
rankings since it has always done much better? Eddie Waldron,
Manchester
The main reason is that Manchester's teaching quality assessments were among
the best but it did not do as well in the student satisfaction survey, which
replaced them.
How can St Andrews go from 7th last year to 18th this year? Surely, a
university cannot deteriorate so rapidly? Mike Collins,
Edinburgh
St Andrews was second only to York on teaching quality so it has suffered more
than most from the switch to student satisfaction. Scottish universities did
not take part in the first satisfaction survey so their scores for this
measure are generated from their performance on the remaining indicators.
Several have joined this year's survey, which will feed into next year's
guide.
Where does Birkbeck College fit into this university guide? Jonathan
Waswo, London
Birkbeck caters primarily for part-time students so, as with the Open
University, comparisons with conventional universities would not be fair,
especially where spending measures are concerned.
From an undergraduate's perspective teaching is one of the most
important components that makes up degree study. As a university guide that
seems to be primarily aimed at undergraduates, why has this data not been
used when compiling this year’s league table? Nicola
Landes, Elstree
Because there are now no up-to-date comparisons of teaching quality in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some of the initial teaching
assessments are more than ten years old and, unfortunately, ministers were
persuaded not to continue with the system when the first round of subjects
was completed in 2001.
Would it possible to make separate the tables for both postgraduate
and undergraduate subjects? Eamonn Hurley-Flynn, Altrincham
Other than for business schools, there are no separate postgraduate league
tables because not enough data are available. It is certainly possible to
discount some elements of the existing tables if you feel they are not
relevant in choosing a postgraduate course.
Please could you explain how the Student Satisfaction Score for
institutions is arrived at using the National Student Survey data. Sarah
Hipkiss, Newcastle
The Times ranking uses the first four sections of the survey - on teaching,
assessment and feedback, academic support and course organisation and
management. The remaining sections were omitted to avoid double counting,
for example with the library and computing measure.
Why is the guide not published earlier in the year, before Ucas
choices are finalised? Jean Aldridge, Forres, Scotland
The guide is mainly for entrants in 2007 who are beginning to think about
their choices around this time. The publication date is determined by the
availability of statistics. An earlier date would mean more mixing of
different years' figures and less time for universities to check the data.
