How to Get Into a Russell Group University

The Russell Group Universities in the UK are focused on research and have a reputation for high academic standards. They are often ranked highly in national league tables.

When Was the Russell Group Formed?

The Russell Group was established in 1994 by 17 leading British research universities, including Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Imperial College London, Leeds, Liverpool, LSE, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Sheffield, Southampton, UCL, and Warwick.

These institutions first met at Hotel Russell ahead of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals meetings (now Universities UK) in Tavistock Square, near Senate House. Except for Warwick, which was founded in the 1960s, the founding members were established before World War I, representing Britain’s ancient and "redbrick" universities. Cardiff University and King’s College London joined the group in 1998.

Why was the Russell Group formed?

Universities in the Russell Group receive up to two-thirds of the total research funding in the UK, giving them an enormous influence on the country’s intellectual, cultural, and economic life.

Because of this, top students and academics are drawn to study and work at Russell Group universities, similar to Ivy League in the USA.

They produce world-class research across various subjects and fields, which helps drive the UK’s economy forward.

According to the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF), universities from the Russell Group produce most of the UK’s world-leading research and a high percentage of the country’s research with an outstanding impact.

For international students, Russell Group universities tend to have better employment prospects than non-Russell Group institutions and higher staff-student ratios.

List of Russell Group Universities

There are currently twenty-four universities within the Russell Group:

1. University of Birmingham
2. University of Bristol
3. University of Cambridge
4. Cardiff University
5. Durham University
6. University of Edinburgh
7. University of Exeter
8. University of Glasgow
9. Imperial College London
10. King’s College London
11. University of Leeds
12. University of Liverpool
13. London School of Economics & Political Science
14. University of Manchester
15. Newcastle University
16. University of Nottingham
17. University of Oxford
18. Queen Mary, University of London
19. Queen’s University Belfast
20. University of Sheffield
21. University of Southampton
22. University College London
23. University of Warwick
24. University of York

How do I get into a Russell Group University?