St Andrews takes first place in UK national university rankings

[Anonymous]

First in new national rankings from The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2023/sep/09/the-guardian-university-guide-2024-the-rankings

It's not super important to me, didn't chose St Andrews for where it was ranked.

But metrics like this do help verify that it's a top UK school with high standards, high quality research and teaching, and lots to offer its students. Exceptional leadership and strong strategic planning at St Andrews in the past 30 years has improved the teaching and research quality, expanded and improved the facilities, increased student numbers of both undergraduates and postgraduates (some growing pains here), undertaken significant fundraising (still room for improvement here), and increased the university's global presence and reputation, while still maintaining the special student experience and traditions of St Andrews.

Louise Richardson, former number 1 at St Andrews is now leading Oxford, while St Andrews has had Oxfords former number 2, Sally Mapstone, in leadership for almost ten years now.

Note, this isn't an international ranking. The St Andrews hater (who spends their whole life on DCUM) will surely link us to one ASAP (remind me again how Dartmouth, Brown, Williams and Amherst fare on international rankings), and appeal to their authority as a "Brit" with anecdotes of how awful and laughed at St Andrews is! Look in the comments—I'm sure St A hater will reach this post in a few minutes

The Guardian's list is a national-level, undergraduate-focused ranking, looking at teaching, quality of life, student experience, opportunities, graduate outcomes, not focused on the research expenditure and size of the institution and its affiliated medical centre.

But look through the rankings. Look subject by subject. See what it's worth to you. If you're interested in the UK for uni, St Andrews, Edi, Oxbridge, London, etc., it's probably best to visit the schools and gauge the vibe. Ask around for folks in your network who have attended.

[Anonymous]

Oxbridge shows "n/a" for two data points. That would have hurt them in the ranking since there are two less data points to bump up their overall score.

I would never consider STA over Oxbridge, and certainly not for STEM over Cambridge.

[Anonymous]

I thought Imperial took top spot and St. A's was at # 6
I guess it depends on the newspaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oxbridge shows "n/a" for two data points. That would have hurt them in the ranking since there are two less data points to bump up their overall score.

I would never consider STA over Oxbridge, and certainly not for STEM over Cambridge.

Two data points were on student satisfaction. Perhaps Oxbridge should submit such data. Those may have made a difference, but we don't know. It's the Guardian's methodology, take it for what you will.

St Andrews still beats Oxbridge though in other very objective measures, for instance, average entry tariff, where St A is highest of all UK universities:

St Andrews - 212
Cambridge - 208
Oxford - 203

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought Imperial took top spot and St. A's was at # 6
I guess it depends on the newspaper.

They did in the DailyMails new rankings. I think StA got at or need the top in the Guardian’s and Times’s rankings for the last few years.

[Anonymous]

Sorry but I'm a little sceptical. I don't have any skin in the game - educated in a different country - but I do know people who have graduated from St Andrews and Oxbridge and/or have sent their kids there.

St Andrews is a very good school which is very focused on attracting students from the US. In some courses, it is excellent. Almost 50% of its undergrads are from the US and account for most of the university's revenues since they pay international fees. The uni understands that where its bread is buttered and puts a lot of effort into rating well on various factors included in the league tables.

The kids I know at St Andrews are bright but none of them are Oxbridge material. That isn't a criticism. Oxbridge is just very very selective and conducts its own screening process. They didn't even apply. Oxford leads the research-focused Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, where St Andrews rests between 201 and 250. You can also see on the league table that N/A is recorded for a few columns for Oxbridge. Their students boycotted a national survey of attitudes and were assumed to have been less satisfied, in line with other students subjected to distance learning during the pandemic.

I suggest anyone looking at universities in the UK, to the extent you are relying on league tables, should focus on the ratings for the particular course they are interested in and should also look at global rankings.

[Anonymous]

I’m not a St A hater, but I am a Brit who laughs at this! Sorry OP, hope your kid has a great time there. It’s not the top uni in the UK by any standard metric but enjoy!

[Anonymous]

Is St Andrews like the Case Western of the UK?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry but I'm a little sceptical. I don't have any skin in the game - educated in a different country - but I do know people who have graduated from St Andrews and Oxbridge and/or have sent their kids there.

St Andrews is a very good school which is very focused on attracting students from the US. In some courses, it is excellent. Almost 50% of its undergrads are from the US and account for most of the university's revenues since they pay international fees. The uni understands that where its bread is buttered and puts a lot of effort into rating well on various factors included in the league tables.

The kids I know at St Andrews are bright but none of them are Oxbridge material. That isn't a criticism. Oxbridge is just very very selective and conducts its own screening process. They didn't even apply. Oxford leads the research-focused Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, where St Andrews rests between 201 and 250. You can also see on the league table that N/A is recorded for a few columns for Oxbridge. Their students boycotted a national survey of attitudes and were assumed to have been less satisfied, in line with other students subjected to distance learning during the pandemic.

I suggest anyone looking at universities in the UK, to the extent you are relying on league tables, should focus on the ratings for the particular course they are interested in and should also look at global rankings.

Ah the St Andrews hater is back! Flagrantly spreading disinformation as per usual.

It's utterly false that "Almost 50% of its undergrads are from the US"

20% are north american, including the US, Canada, and Mexico. Most of that 20% are American. It's nowhere close to 50%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not a St A hater, but I am a Brit who laughs at this! Sorry OP, hope your kid has a great time there. It’s not the top uni in the UK by any standard metric but enjoy!

LMAO it's literally the same St A hater I predicted, leaving two comments in a row. The language you use in every hate comment of St Andrews is the same. The false information you rampantly spread... don't you have any integrity?

Sure it's DCUM, but at least defend your opinions with information that is not demonstrably false with a quick google search.
Not by any standard or metric? Explain the St Andrews entry tariffs being higher than Oxford and Cambridge then, please do!

I'm not sure what dog you have in the fight. Did your child get rejected from St Andrews? Either way, please find another way to spend your time beyond DCUM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry but I'm a little sceptical. I don't have any skin in the game - educated in a different country - but I do know people who have graduated from St Andrews and Oxbridge and/or have sent their kids there.

St Andrews is a very good school which is very focused on attracting students from the US. In some courses, it is excellent. Almost 50% of its undergrads are from the US and account for most of the university's revenues since they pay international fees. The uni understands that where its bread is buttered and puts a lot of effort into rating well on various factors included in the league tables.

The kids I know at St Andrews are bright but none of them are Oxbridge material. That isn't a criticism. Oxbridge is just very very selective and conducts its own screening process. They didn't even apply. Oxford leads the research-focused Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, where St Andrews rests between 201 and 250. You can also see on the league table that N/A is recorded for a few columns for Oxbridge. Their students boycotted a national survey of attitudes and were assumed to have been less satisfied, in line with other students subjected to distance learning during the pandemic.

I suggest anyone looking at universities in the UK, to the extent you are relying on league tables, should focus on the ratings for the particular course they are interested in and should also look at global rankings.

How are Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings useful when choosing where to go to undergrad?

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-un...order/asc/cols/stats

The same rankings place UIUC Michigan State and Wisconsin-Madison above Dartmouth. And UW Seattle and Wisconsin-Madison above Brown. Now again, explain how this is helpful for students deciding where to go to undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry but I'm a little sceptical. I don't have any skin in the game - educated in a different country - but I do know people who have graduated from St Andrews and Oxbridge and/or have sent their kids there.

St Andrews is a very good school which is very focused on attracting students from the US. In some courses, it is excellent. Almost 50% of its undergrads are from the US and account for most of the university's revenues since they pay international fees. The uni understands that where its bread is buttered and puts a lot of effort into rating well on various factors included in the league tables.

The kids I know at St Andrews are bright but none of them are Oxbridge material. That isn't a criticism. Oxbridge is just very very selective and conducts its own screening process. They didn't even apply. Oxford leads the research-focused Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, where St Andrews rests between 201 and 250. You can also see on the league table that N/A is recorded for a few columns for Oxbridge. Their students boycotted a national survey of attitudes and were assumed to have been less satisfied, in line with other students subjected to distance learning during the pandemic.

I suggest anyone looking at universities in the UK, to the extent you are relying on league tables, should focus on the ratings for the particular course they are interested in and should also look at global rankings.

Agree you should look at the rankings for your course of study. St Andrews is ranked very high in a number of courses.

As for world rankings St Andrews number #95 in world rankings ahead of schools like USC and Wisconsin among others. St Andrews has been steadily improving while others stagnate or decline. It happens.

[Anonymous]

I think UW Madison is also better than Dartmouth.

[Anonymous]

I can see that. I think we've locked ourselves into such an old mindset about some of these schools.

[Anonymous]

George Mason is ranked higher than Harvard…..in something