Surrey soars up University league table
Friday 9 September 2011
The University of Surrey's improvements in performance and student experience have been reflected in the latest UK university league table published by the Sunday Times this weekend.
In a remarkable achievement the University has climbed twenty places from last year’s table to number 21.
The University is also the only institution in the South East to be shortlisted for the Sunday Times University of the Year Award, alongside another five institutions.
The short-listing and improved ranking is down to the University’s unrivalled track record in employability, as well as student experience.
It is a cause for double celebrations on campus for Surrey as the University has also been shortlisted for the Times Higher Award for ‘Most Improved Student Experience’, which was based on the results of anonymous poll on the opinions and experiences of current students.
Alastair McCall, Editor of The Sunday Times University Guide, said: “Surrey's shortlisting for The Sunday Times University of the Year award is a recognition of its achievements not just this year but over very many years. It has a record for graduate employment second to none in England, producing graduates with the employability X Factor.
"A sustained period of campus investment has given Surrey's students facilities to rival any in Britain, providing the platform from which the university can go on to achieve at an even higher level. There is every reason to believe that the University's astounding twenty place rise in our university league table can be sustained."
Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Christopher Snowden commented: “We are thrilled to be recognised with the dramatic rise in the Sunday Times League Table and making the shortlist for University of the Year. That Surrey has climbed up all the league tables this year – The Guardian, The Times, The Complete University Guide, the National Student Survey (NSS), QS World Rankings and now the Sunday Times - is indicative of the hard work and dedication of all staff and students in ensuring that we strive to provide the best Higher Education experience.”
The Sunday Times University Guide 2011 contains full profiles of all universities and the leading colleges of higher education in the UK. It was compiled using data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, the national funding councils and the institutions themselves.
The league table is drawn up from criteria including student satisfaction, teaching and research quality, academic peer review, entrance qualifications held by new students, degree results achieved, student/staff ratios, graduate employability and university dropout rates.
Media enquiries:
Mike Findlay
Media Relations Manager
University of Surrey
T: 01483 686076
m.findlay@surrey.ac.uk
Editors' Notes
The University of Surrey is one of the UK’s leading professional, scientific and technological universities with a world class research profile and a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Ground-breaking research at the University is bringing direct benefit to all spheres of life – helping industry to maintain its competitive edge and creating improvements in the areas of health, medicine, space science, the environment, communications, defence and social policy. Programmes in science and technology have gained widespread recognition and it also boasts flourishing programmes in dance and music, social sciences, management and languages and law. In addition to the campus on 150 hectares just outside Guildford, Surrey, the University also owns and runs the Surrey Research Park, which provides facilities for 140 companies employing 2,700 staff.
The Sunday Times names Surrey as ‘The University for Jobs' which underlines the university’s growing reputation for providing high quality, relevant degrees.
Surrey is a member of the 1994 Group of 19 leading research-intensive universities. The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching. Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience.
