Every year, the Times Higher Education (THE) UK Student Experience Survey sets out to find the top 100 universities in the United Kingdom, based on student experience. This year Loughborough University emerged as the best for student experience. Established in 2005, the research aims to give prospective students another way to assess the best places to study. To put together the rankings, researchers used 21 criteria to measure each university.
Criteria include the structure of the courses, the quality of staff and lectures– along with how helpful and interesting they are, how good the social life is, community atmosphere, good environment and quality of facilities. The data used for the study is based on the responses of around 15,000 undergraduate students.
The Times state that the latest figures reveal students now have higher expectations and are demanding more from their universities. Below are the Top 10 universities ranked highest in the survey;
1. Loughborough University. Jess Excell, president of Loughborough Students' Union, said upon learning of the results: "What everyone loves about Loughborough is that community feel and that, no matter what your interests, there's something here for you." FlickrLoughborough University Library. As well as bagging the overall top spot, Loughborough came first in four separate categories: quality facilities; sports facilities; personal requirements; and 'I would recommend my university to a friend'.Flickr2. Harper Adams University, Newport. Founded in 1901, Harper Adams is seen as the UK's leading agriculture learning institute. FlickrThe Bamford Library, Harper Adams University, Newport. Notable Harper Adams alumni include cricketer Boyd Rankin and dog trainer Barbara Woodhouse.Google3. Firth Court, University of Sheffield. The University of Sheffield is home to 27,000 students from over 140 countries.WikiCommonsThe Alfred Denny Building, University of Sheffield. Named after a former biology professor, the Alfred Denny building is host to the university's Museum of Zoology.WikiCommons4. University of Oxford. Oxford was recently named the world's top university by The Times as well.FlickrUniversity of Oxford. Thanks to the high student count, Oxford has the youngest population of any city in England.Flickr5. The University of Bath entrance. Formerly known as the Merchant Venturers' Technical College.FlickrThe University of Bath. Bath was granted full university status in 1966 by Royal Charter.Flickr6. University of Leeds. Leeds has been awarded 22 National Teaching Fellowships, the most of any English educational institution. FlickrUniversity of Leeds. The university's first student, in 1874, was local miner Shadrach Stephenson.Flickr=7. The University of East Anglia. Known for its creative writing courses, three Booker Prize winners received their MAs at UEA.FlickrThe University of East Anglia. These are Anne Enright, Kazuo Ishiguro and Ian McEwan.Flickr=7. King's Gate Building, Newcastle University. Newcastle became independent from the University of Durham in 1963.FlickrNewcastle University Business School. Newcastle University is one of the few British higher education institutions with no motto.Flickr9. University of Cambridge. 90 Cambridge affiliates have won at least one form of Nobel Prize.FlickrUniversity of Cambridge. Cambridge is the fourth-oldest surviving university in the world.Flickr10. Keele University. Keele is the largest main-campus university in the UK.FlickrKeele University chapel. Notable alumni include Steve Jackson of the Fighting Fantasy adventure book series and Yvette Baker, Britain's greatest ever female orienteer. Flickr
