UK's New Universities Top Poll

A recent survey by the alternative online prospectus, Whatuni.com, has uncovered some intriguing results in regards to the best courses and lecturers in the UK. The website compiled the research after asking over 7,000 students about their university experience (covering topics from facilities to ‘eye candy'), and found that of the top 10, four of the institutions listed could be considered ‘new' universities - i.e. established after 1960.

The highest placing of the so-called ‘new' universities was Buckinghamshire New University at No. 4. Despite having a history that stretches back to the late 1800s (and a rather helpful tax on alcohol that helped fund it), the institution has only been granted university status since 2007. However, according to Whatuni.com, the establishment seems entirely deserving of its upgrade - especially where courses and lecturers are concerned, with glowing reviews of course-related field trips abroad and attentive staff.

The next highest rated ‘new' university by Whatuni.com was the University of East Anglia (UEA). The UEA was established in 1963 and despite its relative youth consistently scores highly in rankings such as The Times Good University Guide. Alongside glowing reviews of facilities, the lecturers at UEA were also described as ‘positive and talented' by one student who decided to stay on to do an MSc.

Following UEA, another eastward university, the University of Essex also ranked highly at No. 8. Located in Colchester, the University of Essex was established around the same time as its East Anglian peer and now boasts around 11,000 students. In fact, it is smaller number of students to staff ratio that is seen as a benefit to students, at least according to those asked by Whatuni.com. "With my Literature degree the classes are reasonably small (about 12 people) and intimate which makes it easy to make friends and for the teacher to help you," wrote one undergraduate. The institution also benefits from a range of distance learning courses.

Number 9 on the Whatuni.com Course and Lecturers list 2009 went to Loughborough University. Again, the institution was also granted university status in the mid-60s during the post-war boom for education - and has grown steadily since. The reviews are similar, with a majority of praise for the enthusiasm of the lecturers and the "worth" of the course. Indeed, the importance of what a university should offer is very evident within the reviews concerning course and lecturers - for if they are disappointed with these two key aspects to university life, then they are often referred to as a waste of money. A criticism that is unlikely to ever be an attribute to an institution because of its union or accommodation.

Sarah Maple is writing for Kaplan Adult Education about degree courses and education in general.