The University of Strathclyde has scored three successes in the inaugural Daily Mail University Guide and Daily Mail University Awards. It has been named Scottish University of the Year, is runner-up in the UK University of Year category and has broken into the top 10 of a major UK league for the first time.
Strathclyde is ranked eighth in the UK overall and second in Scotland in the table. Strathclyde was also fourth for both research income and UCAS tariff points and 16th for high-skilled jobs, with a median graduate salary after 15 months of £28,000.
It is the first edition of the Daily Mail’s university league tables compiled by data journalist Alastair McCall who formerly produced the Sunday Times Good University Guide.
Founding principle
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal & Vice-Chancellor, University of Strathclyde, said: “We warmly welcome this recognition for Strathclyde as well as for our staff and students – such achievements are a great reflection on our people, our Strategy, our contributions and Strathclyde’s distinctive way of getting things done.
“As a leading international technological University that is socially-progressive, we are committed to our founding principle of being a ‘place of useful learning’.
“While we have some of the highest entry requirements in the UK, we welcome students from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds and we provide a first-class learning experience that equips them with the knowledge and skills that are highly sought after by employers in a wide variety of sectors.
“We conduct world-leading research across a broad spectrum of disciplines – from health and care, energy, and advanced manufacturing to quantum physics, education, and business – and we work in close collaboration with business, industry, government and the third sector to shape our curriculum, and on joint research projects to tackle societal challenges and boost economic growth and prosperity.
“We do all of this with a strong focus on sustainability, the UN sustainability goals, and most importantly, our people who embody our shared Strathclyde values of being People-oriented, Innovative, Collaborative, Ambitious, and Bold.”
Outstanding university
Alastair McCall, Editor, Daily Mail University Guide, said: “Strathclyde is an outstanding university with a stellar record for graduate employment, particularly in areas where there is a national shortage of able graduates. An engineering powerhouse by reputation and achievement, it offers more than 300 industry sponsorships to students, one of the biggest portfolios of financial assistance in the subject at any university. It attracts the fourth highest sum of research income per capita of any British university, a further reflection of the esteem in which its academics are held.
“The university makes its debut in the top 10 of the new Daily Mail university ranking off the back of its strength in key areas of interest to modern students and all-round excellence teased out by the ranking’s new methodology. It was the unanimous choice as our Scottish University of the Year and it came close to carrying off the UK University of the Year title, too.
“Our awards seek to identify both academic excellence and a social conscience and Strathclyde scores well in this latter area also, admitting a higher proportion of students from the 20% of Scottish postcodes considered to be the most deprived than any other highly selective university in Scotland. It takes good care of its students as well with strong progression rates; it prioritises student welfare and the judges liked the fact that Strathclyde is one of a small number of institutions that asks students to nominate a “wellbeing contact” when they register.
“Without question, Strathclyde makes a compelling case to students and is the epitome of a progressive 21st century university, seeking to shape and change society for the better through the pursuit of educational excellence and social change – and still a place of “useful learning” just as it set out to be more than 200 years ago.”
The Daily Mail University Guide is published in print in the Mail on Sunday and online at www.mailplus.co.uk/uni on Sunday, September 10.