Sunday Times ranks Sussex among top 20 universities

Sunday Times ranks Sussex among top 20 universities

The University of Sussex has risen two places to be ranked 19^th in the UK in the Sunday Times University Guide 2012, published today (11 September 2011) - the fourth top 20 placing for the University this year.

The University enters the top 20 in the Sunday Times for the first time - and is the only university in the South-East in the top 20. Sussex was ranked 21^st in 2010.

The Sunday Times ranking places Sussex among the very top universities in the UK, in line with rankings in the Guardian (11^th), Times (14^th) and Independent (19^th). Sussex is one of only 15 universities nationally to feature in the top 20 places in all of the four major newspaper league tables. The University is also currently ranked 8^th in the UK in the Times Higher magazine’s World University Rankings.

University of Sussex Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Farthing says: "Our fourth consecutive ranking among the UK’s top 20 universities confirms Sussex as a leading institution and endorses our commitment to improving the student experience. This news is particularly pleasing as it comes during a weekend of celebration with former students, friends, donors and staff who have joined us to mark the university’s 50^th anniversary. It’s a very welcome birthday present!"

The league table is drawn up from criteria including student satisfaction, teaching and research quality, entrance qualifications held by new students and degree results achieved, with particular emphasis placed on student satisfaction with the quality of teaching, as recorded in this year’s National Student Survey results, where Sussex is ranked among the top ten for teaching satisfaction.

Overall satisfaction with courses was considered separately and measured against a benchmark showing the level of satisfaction expected by the Higher Education Funding Council at a given institution given its subject and student mix.

More than 2,300 academics were consulted and asked to rate departments in their subject field at other universities on a five-point scale for the quality of their undergraduate provision.