The Times Good University Guide 2010

03 June 2009

Director General of the Russell Group, Dr Wendy Piatt, said:

“We are delighted to see Russell Group universities continue to excel in league tables, taking seven out of the top ten places in today’s Times guide and 19 in the top 30. Such tables are only one factor that students and their families will take into account in choosing a university and at Russell Group institutions they will have the benefit of being taught in a research-rich environment as well as gaining a prestigious degree.

“Now more than ever students want to be sure their degree will be worth the time and expense and make them employable. Research has shown the graduates of Russell Group universities earn a salary top-up of around 10% compared to other graduates, with starting salaries that are, on average, £3,000 higher. (2)”

Notes to editors

1. As highlighted by The Times, some of the biggest climbers in this year’s table are Russell Group universities. These include Liverpool (up from 34 to 28), Leeds (from 31 to 27), Sheffield (from 22 to 18) and Edinburgh (from 18 to 14).
2. Research undertaken by the Centre for Economics of Education has identified an average wage premium of nearly 10% (9.4%) for a graduate from a Russell Group university compared to a graduate from a modern university. This statistic comes from an OLS linear estimation technique, which controls for individual characteristics including A-level scores, parental background, the school the individual attended among other factors affecting wages. “Does it pay to attend a prestigious university?” Arnaud Chevalier and Gavan Conlon, March 2003, Centre for the Economics of Education, LSE (table 5 for the 1995 cohort, page 29).