Sheffield named top university performer in region

SHEFFIELD University has replaced York to be named as the region’s top performer in new national league tables.

It has risen from 15th last year to 13th in the latest Sunday Times University Guide and has been praised for delivering world leading research in subjects including psychology, architecture and law.

York has moved in the opposite direction from 13th to 15th this year and is ranked as the second best university in the region.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Leeds finished third in Yorkshire but was also the national runner-up in the university of the year award. The guide says Leeds is “ahead of the curve” for announcing a partnership agreement with students which sets out the amount of contact time they can expect as fees move up to £9,000-a-year. The university’s Leeds for Life programme will build on this agreement by promising to provide “hands on” personal tutors, according to the guide.

Hull University was the region’s joint biggest climber in the table moving from 51st position to 44th while Huddersfield, which climbed five places to 60th, was Yorkshire’s top performer in both teaching excellence and low graduate unemployment.

It is among the top 15 universities in the guide for graduate employability, with 94 per cent of students in work or further study within six months of graduating.

Undergraduates are also happy with their lecturers giving them a 79.8 per cent score for teaching excellence.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

York St John had the second highest ranking for teaching excellence in the region and was also the joint highest climber in the guide moving from 89th last year to 82nd in the new table.

Bradford University has the highest proportion of students going into graduate level employment.

The guide says: “Each academic school has fostered relationships with companies and organisations relevant to courses and potential careers, including Intel, the NHS, Rolls-Royce and the United Nations.”

The university boasts a 100 per cent employment record for civil engineering, economics, midwifery, pharmacy, occupational therapy and radiotherapy.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Leeds Metropolitan was the region’s worst performer and the only university in Yorkshire to be ranked outside the top 100 in the country.

Sheffield University’s vice chancellor, Prof Keith Burnett, said: “Being named top in the region by the Sunday Times University Guide is a fantastic accolade for the university, and one that is richly deserved. The university has not only been named top in Yorkshire but we have also seen a rise in our national ranking, highlighting our exceptional reputation both at home and overseas.

“The university has been acknowledged in recent awards and rankings in a wide variety of areas, including outstanding student satisfaction, innovative widening participation schemes and world-leading research, demonstrating our commitment to constantly strive towards excellence in everything that we do.”

Sheffield is one of five universities in the region which will charge top-level fees of £9,000 next year as the cap is almost trebled. Bradford, Hull, Leeds and York have also introduced £9,000 fees.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Leeds Met, York St John and Sheffield Hallam are introducing fees of £8,500-a-year while Huddersfield will be the lowest charging university in Yorkshire with annual fees of £7,950.

Hull’s vice chancellor Prof Calie Pistorius welcomed the university’s rise up the table.

He said: “We’re delighted that we have improved on the results of last year.

“It is one of a number of indicators that show the university is delivering a high quality student experience, and teaching practices, which have a lasting impact for our graduates.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The results of the Sunday Times University Guide 2012 follows on from recent news that we have been named in the top 10 universities for student satisfaction.”

The Sunday Times University Guide 2012 ranks institutions on criteria including student satisfaction, teaching and research quality, entrance qualifications held by new students, degree results achieved, student/staff ratios, graduate unemployment levels and university dropout rates.