When it comes to choosing a Russell Group University, it’s important to understand that you have plenty of different options. There are many education institutions that are highly ranked in the UK, and studying at any one of them would be a great boon to your academic career.

However, choosing the right one for your study is important. There are many different considerations, and a lot of options to pick from. After all, there are plenty of universities that have earned this accolade, and to be in the Russell Group is a highly prestigious honour.

Unfortunately, this does also have the side-effect of meaning that the entry requirements are much higher and more demanding, so let’s take a look.

Which Universities Are Russell Group?

So, which universities are part of the Russell Group? Well, there are quite a few different options, so let’s take a look at them.

The Russell Group is made up of the following universities:

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 College London, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, London School of Economics and Political Science, 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 of Warwick and the University of York are all on the list.

As we can see, this is quite a comprehensive list of universities, and each one has its own unique merits. Choosing the right one for your needs, however, is a different question entirely.

The Different Options For You

The first thing that you should know is that each of the Russell Group universities have high entry requirements for the majority of their courses. The exact requirements you will need will vary depending on what you are applying to do, but generally the demands placed on students are higher than other universities.

To give an example, studying psychology of the history of Edinburgh currently requires entry requirements of three A’s, or one A and two B’s. Anything in between is accepted. However, if you wanted to study the same subject at the University College London, you would need to get one A* and 2 A’s.

Naturally, the entry requirements are higher because these are more prestigious universities that offer more to students. However, it is worth noting these tougher standards, because this will influence the majority of applicants.

The Benefits of Studying at Russell Group Universities  

Choosing a Russell Group University might be difficult, but the rewards that you get for doing so are pretty universal.

These kinds of universities generally receive 2/3 of all the research grants in the UK. This means that any students who are undertaking research as part of their final year or postgraduate degree dissertations get access to the resources that they need. Furthermore, owing to the fact that this type of university can afford a lot more in the way of a research grant, some of the best academics in the world are attracted to these universities.

How to Pick the Right Option For You

When it comes to choosing the right education provider for you, there is no one pathway to success. Education is a very unique thing, which means that your decisions will be influenced on your pathway and your choices.

However, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.

Universities like Oxford and Cambridge are considered to be some of the best in the country and indeed the world, which means they regularly attract some of the best talent from across the globe. As a result, the entry requirements and admission test that you have to take are much more rigorous than some of the other universities in the list.

It’s also worth noting that the prestige of the university is just one consideration for students. Things like postgraduate opportunities, student satisfaction, and the available support that you can get for your study is also worth considering. After all, you have to be comfortable studying for at least three years, possibly more if you want to proceed with higher education after your degree.

It’s also worth considering the cost of living. There are some universities, like those located in London, where the cost of living is much higher than in other parts of the country. As you will most likely have to secure part-time work in order to supplement your income, and the amount of maintenance that you may be able to get through a grant could be limited, you need to budget in order to successfully apply.

However, these considerations still offer students quite a few options when it comes to study. It’s important to acknowledge that these are some of the best universities in the country, so studying at any of them would be a good idea, and the one you pick will be dependent on you as a person.

Final Thoughts  

So, we would love to be able to say that it is easy to choose a Russell Group University for your needs. However, when it gets right down to it, it’s a very individual process, and you have to keep this in mind.

It’s well worth taking the time to look at all of the universities that are available before making a decision in starting your UCAS application.

The only thing that you should be aware of is that the deadline for Oxford and Cambridge is the 15th of October, instead of the later application date for all other universities, so if you want to apply to those, you will have to act quickly.

Regardless of where you choose to apply, make sure that you coordinate with your lecturer and UCAS themselves to complete your application according to the guidelines that have been created, as this will help you to secure conditional and unconditional offers from your chosen university.