THE World Reputation Rankings 2013

05 March 2013

Commenting on Times Higher Education’s world reputation rankings, Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, said:

“All league tables have their limitations and students should look beyond them when picking a degree course. The global reputation of the UK’s leading universities remains strong with seven ranked in the top 50 worldwide and overall we come second only to the United States.

“Our universities punch well above their weight and do more with less, outperforming most rivals relative to expenditure. But if the UK is to remain a global leader in higher education, with truly world-class institutions, then the Government must concentrate investment where it will have the most impact. 

“The UK invests just 0.56% of GDP of public expenditure in higher education: one of the lowest levels in the OECD. We are concerned that our global competitors in the US, East Asia and Europe are pumping billions into higher education - and as these results show money really matters.”

Note to editors

1. The UK’s investment of 0.56% of public expenditure in HE is one of the lowest in the OECD - the average is over 1.0%. Even including private expenditure on higher education this was still only 1.3% of GDP, well below the OECD average (1.6%), half that of the USA (2.6%) and below South Korea, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Israel, Japan, Argentina, Russia, and comparable to India. OECD education at a glance 2012. (Data refers to 2009).

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