2nd January 2015 1:00
By Blue Tutors
According to the latest research rankings, London universities are catching up with Oxbridge fast. UCL may soon overtake Oxbridge in the research stakes, and will consequently be able to attract considerable funding. This information will be of interest to students considering their university offers in the coming months. Oxbridge hopefuls will soon be hearing the outcome of their applications, and for some, Oxford or Cambridge will have been their first choice university ever since they began thinking about it. But should they reconsider their options in the light of the new research rankings?
The answer to that depends on what attracted them to Oxbridge in the first place. Oxbridge is extremely popular amongst students for a number of reasons. The atmosphere, the history, the ancient buildings, the resources, and of course world class teaching are all qualities which make Cambridge and Oxford many people’s first choice. For some, London universities closing in on Oxbridge research rankings won’t make a difference at all. If you are specifically after the history and the traditional reputation it is still the best bet. Oxbridge still offers more one to one tuition than any other university, and has provides an excellent amount of contact time.
But the fact is that, whilst it won’t make a difference to many students, those holding Oxbridge and London offers should think carefully about their futures. It would be a mistake to assume that Cambridge or Oxford universities are necessarily the right choice simply because they are the ‘best’. Other top universities are now in the same league in many ways, so students should take the time to ask themselves what they want to get out of their university experience, and which university will ensure that they get what they need. The answer may be surprising.