The University of Bath is ranked 6th in the UK overall, according to the latest Guardian University Guide 2024 released this weekend.

For a number of years the University has performed strongly in the annual Guardian University Guide. This year it scores 81.4/100, behind only St Andrews, Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, and Imperial College.

The Guardian rankings aim to help students understand which universities will give them the best experience, rather than just showing which are strongest in academic research.

It ranks universities across eight different scores, which form a total out of 100. These include what students say about their teaching as well as feedback in the annual National Student Survey (NSS).

The Guide also considers the level of staff engagement with students through the student-to-staff ratio, and how much universities spend on teaching each student.

Also part of the rankings are how students’ A-level grades compare with their academic performance (the ‘value-added’ score), plus how likely they are to continue with their course and get graduate jobs upon leaving.

For individual subjects, the University is number one for Sports Science and also ranked in the top 5 in an additional nine subject areas: Aerospace Engineering (3), Business Management (5), Civil Engineering (4), Criminology (5), Education (3), Mechanical Engineering (3), Psychology (5), Sociology and Social Policy (5).

Access the full subject rankings

Commenting on the recognition, Professor Ian White, the University of Bath’s Vice-Chancellor and President, said: “This year’s Guardian rankings are a reflection of how we have continued to make the University of Bath the best it can be for all our students. To have risen a place in this year’s rankings, among very stiff competition, is no mean feat.

“I pay particular tribute to colleagues in academic and professional services across our University community who are helping us to deliver for our excellent students. I extend my warm congratulations to colleagues whose performance has resulted in particularly strong subject rankings, including those in Sports Science for being named number one in the country.”