Loughborough leads the way… but Derby Uni is rising star

Eight East Midlands universities have been ranked The Guardian’s influential University League Tables 2017 – with half of them in the top 50.

Loughborough leads the way in 4th – followed by Nottingham in 25th, Leicester is 47th, Derby in 48th, Nottingham Trent in 53rd, Lincoln in 56th, De Montfort in 61st and Northampton in 73rd.

The Guardian league tables, published today, rank universities according to a variety of criteria including value-added score that compares students’ entry qualifications with their final degree results, how satisfied final-year students are with their courses and the student to staff ratio. Derby showed improved performance across all criteria.

Derby has jumped from 73rd to 48th place out of 119 institutions – the second biggest jump in the country – to achieve its highest ever ranking.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell, vice-chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “The fact this is our highest ever ranking says a lot about where we are currently at as a University.

“It is particularly pleasing to be recognised in the Top 50 in the country by The Guardian which puts such a heavy focus on student experience and satisfaction which has always been at the heart of our approach.”