Universities in the UK: What is the Russell Group?

Author: Study.eu Team — Last update: 5 July 2024

Maybe you have heard the term “Russell Group university” or “RG university” when looking for universities and study options. Let’s have a look at what that means:

What is the Russell Group?

The Russell Group is an association of 24 universities in the UK, many of which are considered to be among the top universities in the country and the world. The Group was originally founded in 1994.

Some have called the Russell Group the “British Ivy League”, referencing the Ivy League of universities in the USA which includes prestigious institutions like Harvard and Yale.

List of Russell Group universities

University	Year joining Russell Group	Total students
Cardiff University	1998	31,900
Durham University	2012	18,300
Imperial College London	1994	18,400
King's College London	1998	32,300
London School of Economics and Political Science	1994	11,600
Newcastle University	1994	26,500
Queen Mary University of London	2012	20,100
Queen's University Belfast	2006	24,500
University College London	1994	40,000
University of Birmingham	1994	34,900
University of Bristol	1994	24,900
University of Cambridge	1994	20,500
University of Edinburgh	1994	32,900
University of Exeter	2012	24,000
University of Glasgow	1994	29,700
University of Leeds	1994	34,400
University of Liverpool	1994	28,800
University of Manchester	1994	40,100
University of Nottingham	1994	33,100
University of Oxford	1994	24,900
University of Sheffield	1994	29,700
University of Southampton	1994	24,600
University of Warwick	1994	25,700
University of York	2012	18,800

More details on the official RG website.

Twenty and thus almost all Russell Group universities are located in England; two are in Scotland (Edinburgh and Glasgow) and one each in Northern Ireland (Queen's University Belfast) and Wales (Cardiff).

Are Russell Group universities better than other universities?

If you look at national and international rankings, you will find that almost all of the top-ranked British universities are members of the Russell Group. You can be reasonably sure that a degree from one of those institutions will give you great opportunities later in life. In 2024, all but one RG uni were ranked in the top 200 worldwide in both the QS and THE global rankings; and 19 in the ARWU Shanghai ranking. You can be reasonably sure that a degree from one of those institutions will give you great opportunities later in life.

However, it is difficult to generalise what “better” really means. Most British universities receive an official government rating for the teaching quality in their undergraduate degrees, i.e. Bachelors. This rating is called TEF (Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework) and looks at how many students finish their studies, employment rates after graduation and other factors. Universities can be graded Bronze, Silver or Gold.

Among the Russell Group, only less than half of the universities carry a Gold rating; the others are rated Silver, Bronze or not at all. On the other hand, there are many non-Russell universities that receive a Gold rating. So depending on your individual circumstances and what you are looking for, the ideal university for you might be a non-Russell university.

Are all top UK universities part of the Russell Group?

No. It is true: Many of the UK’s top-ranked universities are part of the Russell Group; but there are other non-member institutions that are also highly respected and rank among the best in the world. The following UK universities are ranked firmly among the world’s top 200 (in the THE or the QS rankings) but are not members of the Russell Group:

How to get into a Russell Group university?

Expect high admissions requirements when applying to a Russell Group university. Oxford, Cambridge and the other member institutions pride themselves with academic excellence, and this influences their admissions criteria.

But it is also very hard to generalise this assumption. Economics at the LSE might be a harder course to get into than, say, History at Cardiff.

That said, follow these general guidelines to maximise your chances of getting into a Russell Group university:

Have good grades. That means, if you’re still at school and want to do your undergraduate at an “RG” university, study hard.
If your long-term plan is to do a Master’s degree at a Russell Group school, and you still have to do your Bachelor’s degree first, try your best to get into a highly respected institution. That will make things easier for your Master application down the line.
If possible, get work experience that is somewhat relevant to the subject you plan to study. (More on this: Should I get a Master’s degree now - or start working?) If you already worked prior to the degree you’re going to apply to, ask your former superior if they would feel inclined to write a short reference letter - that way your experience will stand out even more.
Extracurriculars are always a good way to stand out amongst student applicants. Participate in clubs and societies or do volunteer work for charitable organisations. Choose a cause you believe in - it will do wonders for your application.

All that is no guarantee to get admitted to a Russell Group university. But if you follow this advice you can definitely increase your odds!

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