Best Russell Group Universities to Apply to in 2023

Meridean Overseas

Updated On 18 April 2023 & Read Time 5 minutes

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Overview

Studying abroad is a nerve-wracking experience. Choosing to pack up your life from one place and build it from scratch in another takes courage. Amidst all this, choosing the right country and university is of the utmost importance. While there are many countries to choose from, we suggest you study in UK and apply to Russell Group universities to give wings to your study abroad dream.

Russell Group universities are some of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the UK. You might not be familiar with all of them, but you must have heard of Oxford or Cambridge, right? However, they are not the only ones. There are plenty of options for you to choose from that perfectly align with your needs. So, what are you waiting for? Explore this blog and get more information about the best Russell Group universities to apply to in 2023.

Table of Contents

Overview
What is the Russell Group?
A Little Sneak-peak into the History of Russell Group
List of all the Russell Group Universities
Best Russell Group Universities
Conclusion

What is the Russell Group?

The Russell Group is a group of 24 self-selected universities in the UK. All these universities advocate and focus on research-intensive education and share a reputation for academic excellence. These Russell Group universities in UK are equivalent to Ivy League universities in the USA.

A Little Sneak-peak into the History of Russell Group

To explore and discuss the future of higher education in the UK, the vice-chancellors and principals of the 17 most well-known and research-intensive universities, including the University of Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and Imperial College, got together in 1994.

This conference took place at a hotel named Russell Group, after which the group chose their name. It is now known as the Kimpton Fitzroy London Hotel.

The main topic of discussion at the conference was the 17 universities on the list. The founders of Russell Group institutions stated that the goal was to “help ensure that the universities have optimum conditions to flourish and continue to make social, economic and cultural impacts through their world-leading research and teaching.”

Afterwards, a plan was set in motion to fund and manage the universities. Eventually, the number of Russell Group Universities grew and became home to many students from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Founded in 1994, the organisation has its headquarters in Cambridge and advocates the interests of its members primarily before the UK government and parliament.

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List of all the Russell Group Universities

The table below lists all the 24 Russell Group universities and their QS World University rankings.

List of Russell Group Universities in UK
University Name	QS World Ranking
University of Oxford	2
University of Cambridge	3
Imperial College London	7
University College London	8
University of Edinburgh	16
University of Manchester	27
King’s College London	35
London School of Economics and Political Science	49
University of Warwick	61
University of Bristol	62
University of Glasgow	73
University of Southampton	77
Durham University	82
University of Birmingham	90
University of Leeds	92
University of Sheffield	95
Queen Mary, University of London	117
University of Nottingham	103
Newcastle University	134
University of Exeter	149
Cardiff University	151
University of York	151
University of Liverpool	189
Queen’s University Belfast	216

Best Russell Group Universities

All of the Russell Group universities are considered prestigious and are known for their global rankings. Deciding which one is best depends on your needs and your choice of course. The right university is the one that has the right degree for you. Nevertheless, the universities below are the top-ranked Russell Group Universities to apply to in 2023.

University of Oxford
University of Cambridge
Imperial College London
University College London
University of Edinburgh
University of Manchester
King’s College London
London School of Economics and Political Science

Apart from the universities mentioned above, the University of Exeter, University of Leeds, University of Sheffield, Newcastle University, etc., are also ranked as some of the best Russell Group universities by different student-centred metrics like accommodation, etc.

Conclusion

To sum up, Russell Group universities are excellent academic institutions with a very distinguished brand and a high student satisfaction rate. Additionally, they boast high global rankings and their degrees are valued worldwide. Hence, while considering to study in UK, these universities should be on your list.

Now that you know which are the best Russell Group Universities to apply to in 2023, why not apply to them? Contact our expert study in the UK education counsellors at any Meridean Overseas Education Consultants (MOEC) branch. Our counsellor will provide you with guidance throughout your study abroad journey. Get help with the application process, SOPs and filing for a visa. Visit us and get one-to-one counselling or avail yourself of free video counselling via our website. We will be more than happy to help you, so please do not hesitate to contact us at application02@merdean.org or 1800-1230-00011.