University of Sheffield ranked top in Russell Group for student experience

The University of Sheffield has been ranked as the top university in the Russell Group for student experience and support by the Daily Mail University Guide.

The University of Sheffield has been ranked as the top university in the Russell Group for student experience and support by the Daily Mail University Guide. 

The league table, which ranks universities on performance measures that include the proportion of graduates in highly-skilled jobs and the salaries they earn, degree outcomes, research quality and research income, has placed Sheffield in the top 10 universities (joint 10th place) in the UK, as well as top in the North of England for the second successive year.

Sheffield is ranked the highest in the Russell Group for student support and is behind only Oxford and Cambridge for student assessment of the quality of their teaching. 

This latest ranking follows the University of Sheffield being awarded University of the Year by students in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards earlier this year and rated top of the Russell Group in the latest National Student Survey (NSS). 

Professor Mary Vincent, Vice-President for Education at the University of Sheffield, said: “It is very rewarding to see Sheffield being rated so highly again for providing a fantastic student experience. This is a testament to our dedicated staff and outstanding Students’ Union who all work so hard to ensure our students have a rewarding experience at Sheffield. 

“Students are the life and soul of our university – we wouldn’t be a university without them – and we are determined to provide them with the very best student experience and help them get the most out of their time with us. Receiving another award for this shows our efforts are paying off, but we will keep working hard to improve further over the coming year. We are excited to start the new academic year and welcome students, new and returning, back to the city.”

In last year’s guide, the Daily Mail named the University of Sheffield its University of the Year and was shortlisted for the same category this year. 

Alastair McCall, Editor of the Daily Mail University Guide, said: “For the second successive year, Sheffield is the top university in northern England in the Daily Mail university ranking. It achieves this with success across a swathe of measures in the UK’s most broadly based league table.

“Sheffield was our University of the Year for Student Experience last year and continues to outperform most of the Russell Group in the annual National Student Survey. Students rate their time there – and many go on to settle in the city afterwards bringing sustained benefits to the city and the wider region.

“Sheffield is the top university in the Russell Group for both student experience and student support, and behind only Oxbridge when it comes to student assessment of the quality of their teaching – outstanding results.”

He added: “Facilities for students are equally outstanding and graduate outcomes strong. It is one of the leading research institutions in the country, ranking 15th in the UK for the quality and quantity of research and 13th for the amount of research income it attracts, evidence of a focus on real-world, business-relevant research endeavours.

“For its all-round strength, successful outcomes for students both while they are at university and beyond, and a relentless focus on delivering a first-class student experience, Sheffield is shortlisted for the Daily Mail University of the Year 2025.”

Read the Daily Mail University Guide.

More information on studying at Sheffield.