It is the first time the Fife university has been ranked higher in the Guardian’s annual undergraduate course guide, pushing Oxford into second place and Cambridge into third. Detailed analysis of the rankings – which includes data on student satisfaction and achievement, postgraduate outcomes and staff-to-student ratios – shows that the three universities are in a league of their own, with only fractional differences separating the top and third place, but a much larger gap against their rivals, such as Imperial College London. Dame Sally Mapstone, the vice-chancellor and headteacher of St Andrews, said: “I hope that the amazing students at St Andrews and all my hard-working colleagues will feel the recognition of this very important achievement. They totally deserve it. “The combination of our strengths in the key areas that The Guardian measures has placed us narrowly ahead of some of the best universities in the world. For a small Scottish university to shake up the established order time and time again is a great tribute to everyone who works and studies here.” St Andrews is the third oldest university in the UK, having been founded in 1413 before Oxford and Cambridge, whose first royal charters were granted in the 13th century. The Stoxbridge trio also dominate the individual undergraduate subject rankings in the Guardian guide: Oxford, Cambridge and St Andrews come out on top in 30 out of 36 subject areas. Cambridge leads in 15 subjects, but St Andrews ranks first in a number of important subjects including history, economics, chemistry and English. Matt Hiely-Rayner, who compiled the guide, said there was not much to separate the Stoxbridge trio, with the narrowest gap between first and third place in the history of the guide. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “What is clearer is the extent to which these three are removed from the rest of the industry. But there is not much difference between them, they are so close that tiny judgments would make a difference in the series,” he said. In favor of St Andrews this year are slightly higher entry grades among incoming undergraduates, as well as high levels of student satisfaction with teaching and a high proportion going on to postgraduate or further study. “St Andrews offers slightly different subjects to Oxford and Cambridge, and because of that, it performs slightly better,” Hiely-Rayner said. Outside Stoxbridge, there were improved performances from Imperial, which was named the Guardian’s university of the year after rising to fifth place. It has the highest levels of student satisfaction for teaching in England, as well as a strong performance in engineering subjects, including the top position in the new category of aerospace engineering. Imperial also excels in helping students build their careers. In recent years, more than 94% have found graduate-level positions within 15 months of earning their degrees. The rankings recognize strong improvements in universities across the sector, with many able to celebrate improved rankings. The University of West London is ranked 23rd overall, continuing its rise from 96th in the 2017 guide, thanks to its outstanding performance in student satisfaction surveys. The University of Sunderland has jumped from 92nd to 50th place overall. Record numbers of graduates are starting undergraduate courses at UK universities this autumn. The unabated demand for higher education and the mini baby boom that began in the mid-2000s is causing increased competition for positions across the industry.
