What Are Russell Group Universities & Are They Better?

Your guide to Russell Group universities.

Russell Howard? Russell Crowe? Kurt Russell? What have they got to do with UK universities?

Nothing. 

Russell Group universities aren't named after a particular person, but rather a hotel in London — Hotel Russell (now known as Kimpton Fitzroy). The lore began there when the founding members of the group first met in 1994 to discuss their interests in funding and research. 

You really do learn something every day. 

If you're looking into higher education, you've likely seen Russell Group universities here, there, and everywhere, as a prestigious place to study — but what are they really? Will your degree be more valuable from one of the group's institutions? Are non-Russell Group schools not as good? 

We're going to break it down so it's easier for you to make your uni choices. Russell Group or non-Russell Group? That is the question.

What are Russell Group universities? 

Russell Group universities are a collection of 24 public research universities in the UK. They have a strong focus on academic excellence, research, and global reputation. They're essentially the UK's answer to the US Ivy-League. 

These universities are highly competitive and well-funded, with many believing they're the most prestigious. With strong connections with employers, attracting large research grants, and topping university league tables, Russell Group unis are popular choices for students who want to aim for the best. 

That being said, it doesn't mean that non-Russell Group universities are bad. In fact, many are equally great (if not more so) and most provide students with solid and excellent education in a range of subjects, as well as employability prospects. 

Which universities are part of the Russell Group?

There are 24 universities in the UK that are part of the Russell Group. 

These are:

• University of Birmingham

• University of Bristol

• University of Cambridge

• Cardiff University 

• Durham University

• University of Edinburgh

• University of Exeter

• University of Glasgow

• Imperial College London

• King's College London

• University of Leeds

• University of Liverpool

• London School of Economics

• University of Manchester

• Newcastle University

• University of Nottingham

• University of Oxford

• Queen Mary University of London

• Queen's University Belfast

• University of Sheffield

• University of Southampton

• University College London

• University of Warwick

• University of York

  
  

What's the difference between Russell Group and non-Russell Group universities?

There's not a huge difference between Russell Group and non-Russell Group universities. 

While Russell Group unis have a stronger focus on research and more funding, they're not necessarily any better in student experience or quality of teaching. They might also have more historical context and have highly-specialised fields — such as the University of Cambridge, renowned for its sciences and mathematics. 

The table below goes into more detail regarding the differences: 

Aspect	Russell Group	Non-Russell Group
Focus	Research-intensive	Varies — often more teaching-focused
Funding	Receive a larger share of research funding	Less research funding overall
Reputation	Generally higher global/international recognition	Some still have excellent reputations (e.g., Bath, St Andrews)
Graduate Prospects	Often strong employer links and alumni networks	Many non-RG unis now rival or surpass RG in employability
Entry Requirements	Typically higher	Can be more flexible
Teaching Quality	Not guaranteed to be better — varies by course	Some non-RG unis rank higher for teaching satisfaction

Are Russell Group universities better?

Whether Russell Group universities are better than non-Russell Group universities is subjective to some degree. It entirely depends on the individual and what you're looking for. 

The best university is the one that caters to your specific preferences and needs, not necessarily the ones with the most prestigious reputation. 

The global reputation of Russell Group universities might be better than non-Russell Group, but the quality of teaching can be the same, if not better in some cases, at Non-Russell Group unis. It's really all about what you're personally after. 

When might a Russell Group uni be better for you?

• You're aiming for a research-focused degree or postgraduate study

• You want access to world-leading facilities, funding, or academic networks

• You're applying for competitive careers where recognition might help, e.g. law, finance

  
  

When might a Russell Group uni not be better for you?

• You want a more supportive, hands-on learning environment

• You're interested in a subject where non-Russell Group universities are specialists, e.g. creative arts

• You want to prioritise student satisfaction or teaching quality

You might also decide on a university based on the city it's in, like whether it's close to home (or far, far away), whether it's accessible, if the area has plenty to do, that kind of thing. Or you might be interested in universities that have excellent support for disability and neurodiversity. 

Long story short, universities are all good in their own way, and you have just got to figure out what is important to you and your studies.

Career prospects

We all want a good job once we're done and dusted with university, but are your career prospects better if you graduate from a Russell Group uni?

We looked at The Guardian University Guide Rankings 2025 which gave a score out of 100 for career prospects within 15 months of graduation (the higher the score, the better). 

Below are two tables that we've split into Russell Group and non-Russell Group, showing the scores they received. You'll see that there's not a lot of difference between the two, with a few non-Russell Group unis coming out better than some in the Russell Group, or not that much further behind. 

Russell Group universities

Institution	Group	Career after 15 months
Imperial College	Russell Group	96
Cambridge	Russell Group	94
Oxford	Russell Group	93
London School of Economics	Russell Group	93
Durham	Russell Group	91
UCL	Russell Group	90
Warwick	Russell Group	89
Birmingham	Russell Group	88
Cardiff	Russell Group	88
Bristol	Russell Group	87
Southampton	Russell Group	87
Nottingham	Russell Group	87
Glasgow	Russell Group	86
Edinburgh	Russell Group	86
Exeter	Russell Group	86
Sheffield	Russell Group	86
York	Russell Group	86
Liverpool	Russell Group	86
Manchester	Russell Group	86
Leeds	Russell Group	86
Newcastle	Russell Group	86

Non-Russell Group universities

Institution	Group	Career after 15 months
Bath	Non-Russell Group	92
St Andrews	Non-Russell Group	91
Loughborough	Non-Russell Group	89
Surrey	Non-Russell Group	88
Aston	Non-Russell Group	87
Lancaster	Non-Russell Group	86
Strathclyde	Non-Russell Group	86
Dundee	Non-Russell Group	86
Aberdeen	Non-Russell Group	85
Swansea	Non-Russell Group	85
UEA	Non-Russell Group	85
St Mary's, Twickenham	Non-Russell Group	85
Robert Gordon	Non-Russell Group	85
Leicester	Non-Russell Group	84
Reading	Non-Russell Group	84
Heriot-Watt	Non-Russell Group	84
Plymouth	Non-Russell Group	84
Ulster	Non-Russell Group	83
Royal Holloway	Non-Russell Group	83
Keele	Non-Russell Group	83
Queen Mary	Non-Russell Group	83
Worcester	Non-Russell Group	83
Northumbria	Non-Russell Group	82
Teesside	Non-Russell Group	82
Bradford	Non-Russell Group	82
SOAS	Non-Russell Group	82
Suffolk	Non-Russell Group	82
Edge Hill	Non-Russell Group	81
Bournemouth	Non-Russell Group	81
Chichester	Non-Russell Group	80
Bolton	Non-Russell Group	80
Coventry	Non-Russell Group	80
Hull	Non-Russell Group	80
Salford	Non-Russell Group	80
Portsmouth	Non-Russell Group	79
Chester	Non-Russell Group	79
Lincoln	Non-Russell Group	79
Sussex	Non-Russell Group	79
Brighton	Non-Russell Group	79
Stirling	Non-Russell Group	79
Central Lancashire	Non-Russell Group	79
Canterbury Christ Church	Non-Russell Group	79
Cumbria	Non-Russell Group	79
Essex	Non-Russell Group	78
Staffordshire	Non-Russell Group	78
London South Bank	Non-Russell Group	78
Kent	Non-Russell Group	78
Huddersfield	Non-Russell Group	78
Bangor	Non-Russell Group	78
Hertfordshire	Non-Russell Group	78
Abertay	Non-Russell Group	78
Wolverhampton	Non-Russell Group	78
Gloucestershire	Non-Russell Group	78
South Wales	Non-Russell Group	77
Derby	Non-Russell Group	77
Aberystwyth	Non-Russell Group	77
Queen Margaret	Non-Russell Group	77
Greenwich	Non-Russell Group	77
Brunel	Non-Russell Group	77
West of Scotland	Non-Russell Group	77
Kingston	Non-Russell Group	76
De Montfort	Non-Russell Group	76
West London	Non-Russell Group	75
Anglia Ruskin	Non-Russell Group	75
Wrexham	Non-Russell Group	75
Middlesex	Non-Russell Group	75
Northampton	Non-Russell Group	75
Winchester	Non-Russell Group	75
Buckinghamshire New University	Non-Russell Group	74
Goldsmiths	Non-Russell Group	74
University of the Arts London	Non-Russell Group	73
Sunderland	Non-Russell Group	72
Bath Spa	Non-Russell Group	72
East London	Non-Russell Group	71
Solent	Non-Russell Group	71
Bedfordshire	Non-Russell Group	71
Falmouth	Non-Russell Group	70
London Met	Non-Russell Group	70
Westminster	Non-Russell Group	69
Roehampton	Non-Russell Group	68
Trinity Saint David	Non-Russell Group	67
University for the Creative Arts	Non-Russell Group	66
Arts University Bournemouth	Non-Russell Group	65

Taken from The Guardian University League table

If you want to find out more, we've got the best non-Russell Group universities in the UK to help make your choice easier.

FAQs

Are Russell Group universities more expensive?

So, for home students (UK & Irish), universities in England and Wales are capped at £9,250 per year for undergraduate study — regardless of whether it's a Russell Group uni or not. This will rise to £9,535 from August 2025. 

The living costs in each university city will differ, i.e. if you're studying in London you'll likely be paying more in rent and general living expenses compared to a smaller city like Lancaster. 

For international students, tuition is uncapped and this is where Russell Group universities may charge more — due to demand and reputation. 

In terms of maintenance loan, the amount you'll receive is correlated to your household income. Check out our student maintenance loans guide for more information on how much you might get. 

Is teaching better at Russell Group universities?

Just because a university is in the Russell Group, doesn't automatically mean the teaching is better. A Russell Group uni might excel in teaching chemistry, for example, but their drama course might not be as great. 

It really depends on the subject you want to study and what kind of learner you are. Russell Group universities tend to have academics teaching subjects who are leaders in their research field, but they might not be able to offer as much support to students because of fewer contact hours. 

Non-Russell Group universities might have smaller classes for some subjects, meaning there's more 1:1 support and guidance. 

Make sure you do your research depending on the course you want to study.

Is a Russell Group university right for me? 

It depends. You have to take into account your goals, learning style, and priorities — what's right for someone else, might not be right for you. 

If you prefer more contact time, smaller classes, and a more personal teaching approach, a non-Russell Group uni might be a better fit for you. 

Benefits of going to a Russell Group university:

• Globally recognised

• Cutting-edge research opportunities

• Taught by world-leading researchers

• World-class facilities like labs and libraries

• Academic networking and influence

• Motivated peers

Do you need higher grades to get into a Russell Group university?

Typically, yes, you do need higher grades to get into a Russell Group university. These unis attract a lot of talent from across the country (and globe) so they often set higher entry requirements than non-Russell Group unis. 

For example, to study English Literature (or Language and Literature) at University of Oxford, you'll needgrades AAA, with one subject being English Literature or English Language and Literature. 

To study English at University of Lincoln, you'll need an equivalent of 104 UCAS tariff points — so grades BCC-BBC.

Table of average entry tariff of applicants for the top 5 Russell Group universities vs the top 5 non-Russell Group universities

Russell Group uni	Average entry tariff	Non-Russell Group uni	Average entry tariff
Oxford	203	St. Andrews	212
Cambridge	208	Bath	180
London School of Economics	192	Loughborough	162
Imperial College London	204	Lancaster	154
Durham	185	Aberdeen	187

Taken from The Guardian University League table

Do Russell Group universities accept BTEC qualifications?

Most Russell Group universities will accept BTEC Level 3 Extended Diplomas for undergraduate courses, but you might have to achieve a Distinction at the minimum.

If you have a mixture of A-Levels and BTECs then your chances might be higher than if you have solely BTECs. It may also vary between courses, and only specific BTECs might be accepted (like ones related to your undergrad course).

The top Russell Group universities, like Oxford and Cambridge, may only accept BTECs on the rare occasion, but will typically ask for 3 A-Levels.

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