Looking beyond the Russell Group if you're thinking about university study in England or Wales

Discerning students considering university study in England or Wales should take a careful look at universities outside the Russell Group.  Many non-Russell-Group universities have excellent reputations, often for particular academic specialisms, or for wider areas of excellence, such as the quality of teaching.

Additionally, if you're thinking about where to study at university in the UK, you might want to consider non-academic factors which may be important to you.  For example, if you were a keen wind-surfer, you might want to study at a university with access to windy coastlines - you could, perhaps, look at Aberystwyth University in Wales or Lancaster University in England.  Your choice of university might, therefore, take into account other important factors beyond the league-table position of the university.

A number of universities in this category are relatively new.  This means that they have had to develop strong profiles quickly, in the highly competitive context of UK universities.  Some of these universities have outstanding reputations in particular subject-areas, whilst others appeal due to their relatively small size.  

Don't overlook universities in or near lesser-known or smaller cities.  Cities in England and Wales all offer highly distinctive student experiences, and some of the newest universities are located in some of the most atmospheric and historic cities in the country.

Here is a a selection of highly renowned universities in England and Wales which are not part of the Russell Group:

• University of Aberystwyth (Wales) *

Vibrant, historic university in one of Wales's most distinctive towns.  Stunning seaside location, and access to the National Library of Wales which is one of the university's key assets.

• University of the Arts, London *

Offers a comprehensive range of dedicated arts degrees, including art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts.  Europe's largest specialist art university, comprising six highly-renowned London art colleges, and educating over 22,000 students.  Rated no 2 in the world for Art and Design by the QS World University Rankings *.

• University of Bath *

For some applicants, the idea of studying in a beautiful, small city which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a huge attraction.  The university itself, however, is outside the historic city centre, and is a modern, purpose-built campus, very different from the film-set-like history of the city.  Renowned for the high quality of its teaching and its strong positions in most rankings.

• Bournemouth University *

Bournemouth's attractive seaside location (with main campus in the town of Poole) in the south west of England is a very strong pull, along with outstanding specialisms in media.  

• University of East Anglia (UEA) *

Located in the historic city of Norwich, with a purpose-built campus featuring some striking, futuristic buildings, the University of East Anglia has a strong reputation for its research in a number of areas, as well as for innovate degrees in the humanities.  Its smaller size (over 14,000 students) means that it suits students looking for a more personalised experience.  

• University of Hull *

Hull is a resurgent port city in East Yorkshire, with an attractive, thriving cultural scene and a relatively low cost of living.  The university is famed for scientific innovations, and its association with poetry (the university's most famous librarian was the poet Philip Larkin).  It has a strong medical school.

• University of Keele *

A campus university near to the town of Stoke-on-Trent in the midlands of England.  Relatively small (just over 10,000 students), the university is famous for the quality of its teaching and research.  Has a well-established medical school, and a relatively new veterinary medicine school.

• University of Kent *

Situated on a hill just outside the centre of Canterbury, one of England's most ancient historic towns and the historic centre of Christianity in England.  A strong offering across the board from this relatively new university, with an identity defined by the university being the nearest in England to the European mainland.

• Lancaster University *

An attractive campus university situated above the historic market town of Lancaster, the university is ideally suited to students wanting to make the most of the university's proximity to the Lake District, a national park.

• University of Wales Trinity Saint David (Carmarthen, Lampeter, Swansea - Wales) *

A really interesting alternative option.  If you decide to opt for courses taught in Lampeter or Carmarthen, you will be studying a small, historic town.  Lampeter's campus offers mainly humanities courses, and centres on a historic site where students can enjoy small-scale university life.  Swansea, on the other hand, is Wales's second city, and enjoys an attractive seaside location.

• University of Leicester *

Leicester is a dynamic, cosmopolitan city, blending historic culture and the best of contemporary England.  The university is particularly renowned for scientific research - for example, in genetic fingerprinting - and has attractive buildings in the lively centre of the city.

• University of Loughborough *

Loughborough university has a reputation for established excellence in areas such as sports science and aeronautical and automotive engineering.  Loughborough is a market-town, close to Leicester and Nottingham in the English midlands.

• University of Reading *

Reading is a city near to London and a centre for ICT companies.  The university occupies three campuses, the most historic of the three being an attractive park near the city centre.  The Henley Business School is part of the university, and is a highly selective business school offering graduate degrees.

• Royal Holloway, University of London *

One of the most impressive of England's (relatively) lesser-known universities: it is based in one of the most spectacular university buildings in the whole of Europe, set in a spacious parkland campus in Surrey.  Part of the University of London, with an excellent reputation not only for the quality of its research and teaching, but also for the quality of the student experience.  Worth a very serious look.

• University of Surrey *

A modern university in the pleasant county town of Guildford, near to London geographically, but very different in atmosphere - a typically pleasant large town in one of England's most prosperous counties.   Innovative links to the communications technology sector, and very highly-ranked courses in hospitality & tourism, petroleum engineering and nursing, as well as an excellent reputation for the student experience (the university is relatively small, with over 15,000 students).

• University of Sussex *

A university founded in the 1960s, set on a campus outside the coastal city of Brighton, a town famous for its pleasant seaside ambience and its progressive, liberal atmosphere.   Particularly renowned for its research and its graduate degrees (over one-third of its students are graduate students).

Photo - Buildings at the Stag Hill campus, Guildford, University of Surrey, England.  Photo by James Harding