University of Bolton‘s positive learning delivers top 50 in The Guardian’s Best University Guide 2021

The University of Bolton has been named in the Top 50 best UK universities in the 2021 Guardian league tables.

The University ranked 50th out of 121 HE institutions in the UK, leaping 36 places from last year’s position of 86 in the national newspaper’s annual University Guide.

Professor George E Holmes DL, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Bolton, described the news as “fantastic”.

The Guardian league tables rank universities through eight different scores which form a total out of 100, including what students say about their teaching, feedback and the course itself in the annual National Student Survey (NSS).

The University of a Bolton scored 83.6 per cent for students’ overall satisfaction with their course; 88.1 per cent for the quality of teaching on the course as rated by first year students and received a 78.9 per cent rating for the quality of feedback and assessment by final year students.

The number of students per member of teaching staff was 14.4 and the University scored 6.8 out of 10 in terms of spend per student.

It scored 69 per cent for the number of graduates who find graduate-level jobs, or are in further study at professional or HE level within 15 months of graduation. The percentage of students who continue to second year is 87 per cent.

Prof Holmes said: “I am delighted by this news. Student success is at the heart of everything we do at the University of Bolton.

“This has been recognised by very high student satisfaction scores in the last few years. In fact, this year we have been named in the Complete University Guide 2021 as best in the whole of the North West of England for student satisfaction and joint fourth in the UK.

“To make such a huge jump in the Guardian league tables is enormously satisfying as it comes in the middle of probably the most challenging year the University of Bolton and the HE sector as a whole has faced in its history.”

The league tables also look at class sizes and student-to-staff ratio, how much universities spend on teaching per student, as well as students’ A-level grades, whether their academic performance improves at university (the value-added score) and how likely they will be to continue with their course.

This year, the tables also include new data on how many students get graduate jobs or go on to further study 15 months after leaving university.

The Guardian says on its website: “Unlike other league tables, the Guardian rankings are designed with students in mind . . . we take into account what matters most to young people: how well will you be taught? Do current students rate their course highly?”

It adds: “We think the universities at the top of the table offer the best education and experience for students.”

Prof Holmes said: “It is testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at this institution.

“I am extremely proud. We will continue to focus on providing the best quality teaching and experience for the people who matter most – our students.”

The Guardian UK University Guide 2021 can be found here.