The University of Oxford has secured a top spot in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023 rankings.

It is the first time in 12 years that Oxford has returned to the top although it has always been in the top three.

Oxford came first followed by St Andrew’s University and University of Cambridge who were placed second and third, respectively.

The university dominates this year’s league table, following the global recognition of its groundbreaking work on the Covid-19 vaccine.

On top of this, the university has received a gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework, claiming fourth place for research quality.

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide is the definitive guide to the country’s universities, which ranks them based on various factors, including graduate employment and teaching quality.

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Oxford came first for 2:1s and Firsts with 94.5 per cent.

It came joint first for completion rate of 99 per cent.

Its staff student ratio came first at 10.5.

Oxford ranked fourth for graduate prospects with 91.6 per cent of graduates in professional jobs or doing graduate study.

Oxford’s boycott of the National Student Survey meant that student satisfaction with teaching quality or the wider undergraduate experience could not be included in the analysis.

Author Zoe Thomas said: "The reason that Oxford edged it this year in particular is its extremely low staff to student ratio. At Oxford there are 10.5 students per member of academic staff, and that's staff with responsibility for teaching. That's way above anybody else.

"It speaks very clearly of their tradition of having a don and up to two other students."

She added that unlike many other institutions which keep growing, Oxford is declining more and more students and is able to keep its "intimate" atmosphere.

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Ms Thomas added: "The extraordinary work on the Astra Zeneca Covid vaccine can not be overlooked but it was not part of our methodology. Still it is part of the rich profile that it brings to everything that it does."

Professor Dame Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: "My colleagues and I are delighted by this news. It is a testament to the talent and commitment of staff all across the collegiate university as well as to the creativity and resilience of our students who refused to allow a pandemic to derail their education."

The new edition of the free 96-page supplement will be published this weekend in The Sunday Times.

Find out more at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/good-university-guide-in-full-tp6dzs7wn

 

 

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