THE results of The Times & Sunday Times official Good University Guide for 2024 were released this morning. 

This guide ranks the country’s universities based on various factors including graduate employment and teaching quality.

Competition for the top university in the South West was fierce this year, and a panel had to compare prestigious universities such as University of Exeter, University of Bristol and Royal Agricultural University against each other.

This year the University of Bath claimed the title of the top university in the South West (and placed 8th nationally), closely followed by the University of Exeter and the University of Bristol.

Cirencester's Royal Agricultural University just missed out on a top ten spot, and placed 11th (and 104th nationally). 

Next on the list was the University of Gloucestershire and Hartpury University which placed 12th and 13th (and joint 112th nationally).

Helen Davies, editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said: “The higher education landscape has never been tougher.

"It is more competitive to get a place at many of our top institutions; the cost of attending university has soared, leaving graduates with extraordinary debt; and in many cases campus life still bears the scars of the pandemic. 

"Meanwhile lecturers are on strike and the marking crisis is a running scandal.  

“It means any prospective student, parent or carer needs to think hard about whether university is the right choice, and then where to study and what subject.

"It’s where this guide — our 30th edition — is here to help. Our online version has so much more on how the universities compare subject by subject, a guide on campus life, and what scholarships and bursaries may be on offer.  
 
“We are here to champion the ambitious work of our first-class universities, and the aspirations of any student of any age who wants to keep on learning.” 

To see the full list visit https://www.thetimes.co.uk/uk-university-rankings