With the start of the new academic year in full force, so are the 2025 University Rankings. League tables including The Guardian, and The Times have had their say on universities across the United Kingdom.
UCAS, states the main differences between the two is that the Times has a more narrow focus and The Guardian has more of an evaluation on the experience of teaching and post-graduate job opportunities. However, the league tables are not worlds apart in difference, with the top four in both rankings (in differing orders) being London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Oxford, Cambridge, and St Andrews. The Times ranks LSE in first place, up three places from 2024 and overtaking Oxbridge. Whereas in The Guardian, LSE ranks number four with Oxford rising to top place after previously being overtaken by St Andrews in 2023. Durham, being the highest ranked University in the North East, closely follows behind - taking 5th place in The Times and 6th in The Guardian.
"Up 7 places to 30th in The Times"
Newcastle University has climbed the ranks, up 7 places to 30th in The Times and increasing 5 places to 63rd in The Guardian. Becoming a Top 30th university in the Times has been a cause for celebration for Newcastle University this year.
Newcastle has been ranked equal with the University of Nottingham in The Times and a 0.2 difference with Nottingham in The Guardian, illustrating a similar guide point within the two tables. However, it is key to note that the placing of universities isn’t replicating of its credibility and value. For example, the University of Dundee and Royal Holloway are joint 52nd in The Guardian league table, 10 places above Newcastle, but only scored 2.6 points higher - showing disparities in the two tables
"Increasing 5 places to 63rd in The Guardian"
Despite Newcastle not placing in the Top 10 of the league tables, the numbers fail to take into account factors such as community and nightlife - two reasons why universities such as Newcastle are chosen by thousands of students year on year.