Strathclyde: best overall

The rivalry between the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow is legendary, but when Edinburgh pupil Sareta Puri announced that she wanted to study accountancy, her school careers service advised her to apply to Strathclyde University, writes Olga Wojtas.

"I was a bit wary at first. I hadn't really heard of it, but they said it had one of the country's best business schools," said Ms Puri, who has just completed her fourth year.

"It had a good reputation, it was a favourite among business employers and it had higher entry requirements. I thought it would be a better degree if it's harder to get into."

Strathclyde came top overall because of its all-round success, appearing in the top 20 for six out of ten categories. It did particularly well in terms of familiar surroundings, course and employability.

Ms Puri, who is about to join the students' association as a sabbatical officer, said that her accountancy peers had had no difficulty in getting the job of their choice. She also now considered herself a Glaswegian and planned to stay in the city.

"It's very vibrant, there's always something going on."

Ms Puri said there was a lively atmosphere in the large student residential village, with the well-equipped students' union nearby. "Right from the start, (the university) took a lot of interest in the students and made sure we knew what was going on. If ever you needed help, the department or careers service or student advisory and counselling service was there. I'd definitely recommend both the course and the university."

Jamie Davidson, president of Strathclyde's students' association, said:

"Strathclyde's excellence in teaching, combined with its innovative approach to learning, and its ideal location in Glasgow's city centre, makes it a great place to study."

Rank

Institution

11th

Bristol

1st

Strathclyde

11th

Warwick

2nd

University College London

13th

Bangor

3rd

King’s College London

14th

Dundee

4th

Oxford

15th

Umist

5th

Cardiff

16th

Durham

6th

Imperial College London

17th

Manchester

7th

Hull

17th

Queen’s, Belfast

8th

St Andrews

19th

Aston

9th

Cambridge

20th

Aberystwyth

10th

London School of Economics

21st

Edinburgh