The Sunday Times has compiled this guide from the latest data available. The
following methodology shows how we used the information in our league table
and individual university profiles.
THE LEAGUE TABLE
Universities were ranked according to marks scored in nine key performance
areas.
Student satisfaction (175) The results of the 2007 national student
survey (NSS) are scored taking a theoretical minimum and maximum score of
50% and 90% respectively. This meant each percentage point gained above 50%
was worth 4.375 points in the league table. Mean scores were awarded to
Abertay Dundee, Napier, Paisley, Queen Margaret, The Robert Gordon and
Stirling who do not participate at present in the survey. Institutional
scores were calculated using the NSS Scales for All Institutions table,
first degree students only. The scores shown in the institutional subject
tables, on pages 58 to 63 inclusive, are drawn from the NSS Scales for All
institutions 41 Subjects table, first degree students only, excluding NHS
placement student responses. Source: NSS 2007.
Teaching excellence (75 points) Subject areas have been assessed on a
rolling programme. The number of “excellent” areas is shown in university
profiles as a percentage of the total number of subjects assessed at each
university since 1995. Excellence is defined as: subjects scoring at least
22/24 points, those ranked excellent, or those undertaken more recently in
which there is confidence in academic standards and in which teaching and
learning, student progression and learning resources have all been ranked
commendable. Teacher training excellence is based on a ranking system using
Ofsted assessments, produced by Professor Alan Smithers and Dr Pamela
Robinson of the Centre for Education and Employment Research, University of
Buckingham. Sources: Quality Assurance Agency; Scottish Higher Education
Funding Council; Higher Education Funding Council for Wales; all accurate as
at August 31, 2007.
Heads’/peer assessments (100) Heads were asked to identify the
highest-quality undergraduate provision. The number of subject citations at
each institution is expressed as a percentage of the maximum number
possible. This percentage was applied to the 50 points allocated to our
heads’ survey in the table. Academics were asked to rate departments in
their subject field on a five-point scale for the quality of their
undergraduate provision. The figure awarded was based on an overall score
expressed as a percentage of the maximum possible. This was applied to the
50 points allocated to peer review and the score combined with heads’ above.
Rankings for each are shown in profiles. Trinity College, Carmarthen is
awarded a mean score as no data was collated for this institution. Source:
Sunday Times heads’ survey and peer assessment, 2007.
Research quality (200) We used data from the most recent Research
Assessment Exercise, published in December 2001. Seven different ratings
were awarded for quality. The number of staff entered for assessment was
also recorded. We have taken into account both the quality and quantity of
research assessed to produce a percentage score for excellence. Source:
Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce).
A/AS-level points (250) Nationally audited data for the 2005-06
academic year were used for league table calculations. Points gained under
the Ucas tariff system from students entering university holding A- and
AS-levels only were used to calculate scores for all universities, except
those where entrants holding Highers and Advanced Highers were in the
majority (all Scottish institutions, except St Andrews and Edinburgh).
Grades were awarded points according to the following scale: A-levels –
A:120, B:100, C:80, D:60 and E:40; AS-levels – A:60, B:50, C:40, D:30, E:20;
Advanced Highers – A:120, B:100, C:80; Highers – A:72, B:60, C:48. A ceiling
was set of 500 points and a percentage of all available points calculated
for each university. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa),
2005-06 data, except for the following institutions: Aberdeen, Abertay
Dundee, Dundee, Glasgow Caledonian, Greenwich, Napier, The Robert Gordon
(own calculation, 2005-06). Glasgow, Heriot Watt, Paisley, Queen Margaret,
Stirling, Strathclyde, Hesa 2003-04 data.
Unemployment (100) The number of students assumed to be unemployed six
months after graduation was calculated as a percentage of the total number
of known destinations. This is shown as a percentage in each profile. For
the league table calculation, the percentage was subtracted from 50.
Separately, the percentage of full-time first-degree graduates in full-time
nongraduate jobs as defined by SOC 2000 (Standard Occupational
Classification 2000) grouping was subtracted from 50. The two scores out of
50 were added to produce the league table score. Source: Hesa, 2005-06
Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education data.
Firsts/2:1s awarded (100) We calculated the percentage of students who
graduated with firsts or 2:1 degrees. Unclassified degrees were excluded.
Source: Hesa, 2005-06 data.
Student/staff ratio (100) Student/staff ratio calculated by Hesa by
institution. The Robert Gordon provided its own calculation. We took a ratio
of 10:1 as a benchmark for excellence, worthy of 100 points. Source: Hesa,
2005-06 data.
Dropout rate (variable) The number of students who drop out before
completing their courses was compared with the number expected to do so (the
benchmark figure shown in brackets). Benchmarks vary according to subject
mix and students’ entry qualifications. The percentage difference between
the projected dropout rate and the benchmark was multiplied by five and
awarded as a bonus/penalty mark. Universities that lost fewer students than
their benchmark gained; those losing more had points deducted. Source:
Hefce, Performance Indicators in Higher Education 2004-05 except Cambridge,
2003-04.
The University of Cumbria is ranked on data from one of its predecessor
institutions, St Martin’s College. All data shown in its profile relates to
St Martin’s. London Metropolitan University is excluded from the guide after
withholding data from The Sunday Times.
OTHER INDICATORS IN THE PROFILES
Teaching excellence The percentage of subjects rated excellent during
teaching-quality assessments from 1995 onwards.
Student satisfaction Answers to all 22 questions in the NSS on a
five-point scale were analysed to produce a score for each institution
expressed as a percentage of the maximum score possible.
Head teacher ranking The rank achieved in a 2007 Sunday Times survey
of head teachers’ opinion of course quality.
Peer ranking The rank achieved in a 2007 Sunday Times survey of
academics’ opinion of course quality.
A-levels for entry This shows the percentage of students of known
background admitted to first-year courses (full-time or sandwich) in 2005-06
whose highest qualifications were A-levels (or Highers for Scottish
universities). Source: UK universities/Hesa.
World ranking The rank achieved in the 2006 Times Higher Education
Supplement (THES) World University Rankings, where applicable.
Undergraduates/postgraduates The first figure in each category shows
the number of full-time students, the second, in brackets, part-time.
Source: Hesa 2005-06.
Teaching staff The number of staff at each university engaged in
teaching and research. It excludes those engaged solely in research work and
part-time staff, paid by the hour, who practise a profession or trade
outside. Source: Hesa 2005-06.
Applications/places The ratio of degree-course applicants to the
number accepted for these courses who applied through Ucas. The figure shown
in brackets is the percentage increase or decrease in applications this year
up to June 30, 2007. Source: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
(Ucas) annual statistical tables, 2006 entry, and Ucas 2007 data.
Clearing entry The percentage of spare places filled through clearing.
Source: UK universities, 2006 entry.
Bursaries The number of means-tested nonrepayable bursaries expected
to be awarded in 2007-08 to help offset the cost of tuition fees. The
figures shown may be significantly revised for 2008 admissions in view of
government changes from September 2008 to the qualification thresholds for
state maintenance grants, to which many bursary awards are pegged. For
Scotland and Wales, where the fees situation is different, n/a is often
shown or much smaller provision.
Scholarships The number of scholarships expected to be awarded in
2007-08 on the basis of academic merit (unless specified), together with the
minimum and maximum awards. For Scotland and Wales, where the fees situation
is different, n/a is often shown or much smaller provision.
EU/overseas students This shows the percentage of students from the
European Union and overseas in 2006 who applied through Ucas.
Mature students The percentage of students aged 21 or over when they
began their undergraduate courses in September 2006. Source: Ucas annual
statistical tables, 2006 entry.
State school The percentage of young full-time first-degree students
of known background drawn from state schools or colleges.
Lowest social classes The percentage of young full-time first-degree
students of known background whose parental occupation is nonskilled manual,
semi-skilled or unskilled (social classes 4, 5, 6, 7).
Low-participation areas The percentage of young, full-time,
first-degree students of known background whose home postcode has a low
participation record in higher education. Source: Hefce, Performance
Indicators in Higher Education, 2005-06.
Live in The percentage of full-time undergraduates living in
university accommodation, 2006-07. The figure in brackets shows the
percentage for first-years wanting to live in only. Also shown are the
minimum and maximum costs of university-run student accommodation to the
nearest pound. Source: UK universities.
Rated excellent A full list of the subjects at each institution
considered to be excellent under The Sunday Times’s criteria, outlined above
including the pre1995 assessments now excluded from league table
calculations.
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