Let’s start by rephrasing that question to: ‘Is there such a thing as the best university?’
If there really is one university that is head and shoulders above the rest, what criteria make it so? Can a university that offers the best academic opportunities also provide a full social life for its students?
According to the Complete University Guide, which looks at everything from research standards to entry grades and graduate job prospects, the University of Cambridge is currently the best university in Britain, followed by the University of Oxford and the London School of Economics.
But do league tables like this really look at the bigger picture and even if to some extent they do, are they useful when it comes to choosing the right university for you?
There are so many variables in selecting a university – the course you want to study, the location of the university, the standard of accommodation on offer, the size and scope of the students’ union etc. No league table could possibly predict the best fit for the individual.
It’s worth researching which universities perform well in the subject you want to study before deciding where you want to go but there is a lot to consider in addition to league table rankings before you make your mind up.
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