Manchester Universities have failed to impress in newly released Good University Rankings, as other research suggests a dive in student satisfaction might be to blame.
Students across the country are packing their bags in preparation for the long-awaited move to the university of their choice – each with their own expectations of the next few years – making it a perfect occasion to see what these institutions are all about.
The Times and Sunday Times published their university league tables today (15 September), which saw the University of Manchester improve by one place since last year, now ranked 23rd in the United Kingdom.
Elsewhere in the city, Manchester Metropolitan University followed suit as they climbed one spot to secure 59th place, while University of Salford dropped from 88th to 91st position.
The definitive ranking of Universities in the UK offered the top spot in the Northwest to the University of Lancaster, which was awarded 14th place as the region fell short of the top ten and any of the prestigious awards presented.
It was also reported that the importance of a student’s choice of university and degree to their future salary is growing, pulling potential students to the highest ranked universities, and making it crucial for cities to invest in the success of their higher education institutions.
Greater Manchester has one of the largest student populations in Europe – detailed in a study by New Economy – littered with vibrant student bars, clubs, and endless discounted and exclusive events.
So why in an area so targeted towards students are Universities not quite meeting the mark?
The University of Manchester ranked 120th in the UK for overall student satisfaction in a similar study conducted by The Complete University Guide, with the highest ranking in the city being Manchester Metropolitan University at a disappointing number 43.
A student from the University of Manchester described her experience as up and down, saying: “If there is ever something I really need, the communication between departments and students is lacking severely.
“The lack of response to important questions I have had has been very disappointing”.
As highlighted by the Journal of Innovative Business and Management, student satisfaction can have a resounding impact on academic performance, which could act as a barrier to the educational success of Manchester’s Universities.
You can find the full list of Universities in the UK and their rankings for 2024 at https://www.thetimes.co.uk/uk-university-rankings
Use #GoodUniGuide to join the conversation.
Main image courtesy of www.vitastudent.com
