The Sunday Times has compiled this guide from the latest data available. The following methodology shows how we used the information in our league table and individual university profiles.

THE LEAGUE TABLE

Universities were ranked according to marks scored in nine key performance areas.

Student satisfaction (250 points) The results of the 2009 national student survey (NSS) are scored taking a theoretical minimum and maximum score of 50% and 90% respectively. This meant each percentage point gained above 50% was worth 6.25 points in the league table. Mean scores were awarded to Abertay Dundee and Queen Margaret, which do not participate at present in the survey. The 2008 institutional score was used for Oxford, as fewer than 50% of students completed 2009’s survey. Overall institutional scores were calculated using the NSS 2009 Complete Institution Results data. The responses to questions 1-22 only were used. The scores shown in the institutional subject tables, on pages 58 to 63 inclusive, are drawn from the NSS data for all institutions — level 2 subjects for full-time, first-degree students only, except Birkbeck College, London and the Open University, where part-time students’ responses were used. Source: NSS 2009.

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Heads’/peer assessments (100) Heads were asked to identify the highest-quality undergraduate provision. The number of subject citations at each institution is expressed as a percentage of the maximum number possible. This percentage was applied to the 50 points allocated to our heads’ survey in the table. Academics were asked to rate departments in their subject field on a five-point scale for the quality of their undergraduate provision and a figure was awarded to each institution based on coverting the average score for each institution on to a 100-point scale. This was then halved to give a mark out of 50 and the score combined with that of the heads. Rankings for each are shown in profiles. Harper Adams ranking in our head teachers’ survey declined from 2 to 123= following the reduction in the number of subjects, from 30 to 15, on which heads were surveyed. This included the removal of agriculture from the subject list. Source: Sunday Times heads’ survey and peer assessment, 2009.

Research quality (200) We used data from the most recent research assessment exercise, published in December 2008. Five different ratings were awarded for research quality, ranging from 4* to unclassified, from which we calculated an average score per member of staff entered for assessment. This average score was converted to a percentage and double weighted to give a score out of 200. In order to take some account of the number of staff submitted for assessment (and make a judgment based on quantity as well as quality), we limited the maximum institutional score to 150 points, 100 points and 50 points, where the number of staff submitted dropped below 200, 100 and 50 respectively. Buckingham, University College Birmingham and Trinity University College in Carmarthen did not take part in the 2008 RAE. Source: Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce).

A-level/Higher points (250) Nationally audited data for the 2007-8 academic year were used for league table calculations. Points gained under the Ucas tariff system from students entering university holding A- and AS-levels, Highers and Advanced Highers and other vocational qualifications were used to calculate scores for all universities. Grades were awarded points according to the following scale: A-levels — A:120, B:100, C:80, D:60 and E:40; AS-levels — A:60, B:50, C:40, D:30, E:20; Advanced Highers — A:120, B:100, C:80; Highers — A:72, B:60, C:48. A ceiling was set of 500 points and a percentage of all available points calculated for each university. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa), 2007-8 data, except for Birmingham City, Central Lancashire, Leicester, Stirling and Strathclyde (own figures).

Unemployment (100) The number of students assumed to be unemployed six months after graduation was calculated as a percentage of the total number of known destinations. This is shown as a percentage in each profile. For the league table calculation, the percentage was subtracted from 50. Separately, the percentage of full-time, first-degree graduates in full-time, non-graduate jobs as defined by SOC 2000 (Standard Occupational Classification 2000) grouping was subtracted from 50. The two scores out of 50 were added to produce the league table score. Source: Hesa, 2007-8 Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education data.

Firsts/2:1s awarded (100) We calculated the percentage of students who graduated with firsts or 2:1 degrees. Unclassified degrees were excluded. Source: Hesa, 2007-8 data, except Central Lancashire and The Robert Gordon (own figures).

Student/staff ratio (100) Student/staff ratio calculated by Hesa by institution. We took a ratio of 10:1 as a benchmark for excellence, worthy of 100 points. Source: Hesa, 2007-8 data, except Central Lancashire, Exeter, Leicester and Southampton (own figures).

Dropout rate (variable) The number of students who drop out before completing their courses was compared with the number expected to do so (the benchmark figure shown in brackets). Benchmarks vary according to subject mix and students’ entry qualifications. The percentage difference between the projected dropout rate and the benchmark was multiplied by four and awarded as a bonus/penalty mark. Universities that lost fewer students than their benchmark gained, those losing more had points deducted. Source: Hefce, Performance Indicators in Higher Education 2006-7, except Glasgow Caledonian and St Mary’s University College, Twickenham (own figures).

Liverpool Hope, London Metropolitan, Swansea Metropolitan and Wolverhampton universities are excluded from the guide after withholding data from publication in The Sunday Times. The University of the West of Scotland does not feature in our tables this year, following its merger with Bell College.

OTHER INDICATORS IN THE PROFILES

Student satisfaction Answers from all participating students to questions 1-22 in the NSS on a five-point scale were analysed to produce a score for each institution expressed as a percentage of the maximum score possible. Part-time students only used to calculate Birkbeck College, London and Open University scores. Source: NSS 2009.

Head teacher ranking The rank achieved in a 2009 Sunday Times survey of head teachers’ opinion of course quality. Source: Sunday Times survey.

Peer ranking The rank achieved in a 2009 Sunday Times survey of academics’ opinion of course quality. Source: Sunday Times survey.

World ranking The rank achieved in the 2008 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, where applicable. Source: The Times Higher Education QS World University Rankings, 2008

Undergraduates/postgraduates The first figure in each category shows the number of full-time students, the second, in brackets, part-time. Source: Hesa 2007-8.

Teaching staff The number of staff at each university engaged in teaching and research. It excludes those engaged solely in research work and part-time staff, paid by the hour, who practise a profession or trade outside. Source: Hesa 2007-8

Applications/places The ratio of degree-course applicants to the number accepted for these courses who applied through Ucas. The figure shown in brackets is the percentage increase or decrease in applications this year up to June 30, 2009. Source: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) annual statistical tables, 2008 entry, and Ucas 2009 data.

Clearing entry The percentage of spare places filled through clearing. Source: UK universities, 2008 entry, unless stated.

Bursaries The number of means-tested, non-repayable bursaries expected to be awarded in 2009-10 to help offset the cost of tuition fees. For Scotland and Wales, where the fees situation is different, n/a is often shown or much smaller provision. Source: Sunday Times survey.

Scholarships The number of scholarships expected to be awarded in 2009-10 on the basis of academic merit (unless specified), together with the minimum and maximum awards. For Scotland and Wales, where the fees situation is different, n/a is often shown or much smaller provision. Source: Sunday Times survey.

EU/overseas students This shows the percentage of students admitted to universities from the European Union and overseas in 2008 who applied through Ucas. Source: Ucas annual statistical tables, 2008 entry.

Mature students The percentage of students aged 21 or over when they began their undergraduate courses in September 2008. Source: Ucas annual statistical tables, 2008 entry.

State school The percentage of young, full-time, first-degree students of known background drawn from state schools or colleges. Source: Hesa, Performance Indicators in Higher Education, 2007-8.

Lowest social classes The percentage of young, full-time, first-degree students of known background whose parental occupation is non-skilled manual, semi-skilled or unskilled (social classes 4, 5, 6, 7). Source: Hesa, Performance Indicators in Higher Education, 2007-8.

Low-participation areas The percentage of young, full-time, first-degree students of known background whose home postcode has a low participation record in higher education. Source: Hesa, Performance Indicators in Higher Education, 2007-8.

Live in The percentage of full-time undergraduates living in university accommodation, 2008-9. The figure in brackets shows the percentage for first-years only wanting to live in. Also shown are the minimum and maximum costs of university-run student accommodation to the nearest pound. Source: Sunday Times survey.

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