As new and returning students made their way to university, new data for 2024 reveals the top UK universities based on a range of factors including student satisfaction, graduate prospects, the cost of living, and more

St Andrews University in Scotland is revealed as the top UK university overall for the second year in a row, scoring full points across the board

While the University of Exeter and the University of Leeds both saw a drop in their positions from last year, the University of Bath and Bangor University both saw a huge improvement in their scores from 2023.

Bangor University ranked 50th in 2023, but the North Wales institution has soared into fourth place, overtaking the likes of Cambridge and Oxford.

The index reveals the best universities ranked according to a range of priorities to suit all applicants so that they can make the most informed decision

  • Times Higher Education ranking
  • Student satisfaction
  • Graduate prospects
  • Average weekly accommodation costs
  • Cost of an ‘inexpensive’ meal
  • Cost of a pint (domestic beer)
  • Cost of a one-way ticket on local transport
  • Cost of a monthly fitness membership
  • The total number of nightclubs

Bangor featured in the Top 10 for average accommodation costs of £104/Week and is also one of the safest UK University cities. The average cost of a pint in Bangor is £4.20 and an inexpensive meal out £13. 

Cost of living factors for UK universities in 2024

The cost of living remains a key concern for the majority of students with 81% of students concerned about how they will make ends meet according to a survey run by Save the Student. With this in mind RateMyPlacement’s data reveals the most affordable accommodation, with Staffordshire University coming out as a clear leader with its weekly accommodation fees set at £80 compared to the London School of Economics’ weekly rate of £261, the highest in the UK.

Students at Durham University can expect to save on public transport at just 50p for a one-way ticket compared to those at the University of Chichester who fork out a staggering £4.60 each way.

The safest UK universities

Crime levels were also taken into account in the research, with the overall winners at St Andrews University also scoring lowest in this area. Bangor University and the University of Winchester also came in closely behind with their low crime rates.

For those where safety is a key concern, UCLan had the highest instances of crime, followed by the University of Chichester and the University of Huddersfield.

Co-founder of RateMyPlacement, Oliver Sidwell, comments, “As Freshers Week starts up again and students in their final year of further education start considering their choices, there’s lots of pressure on young people to make decisions when it comes to their next steps.

This index helps take all factors into account to help inform applicants’ decisions impartially whether they’re prioritising their studies, budgets or their extracurricular activities, there’s a university to meet their needs in this list. It’s crucial applicants take all factors into account to consider where they’re choosing to relocate to and think about what’s best for them, personally.”

For more information on the best UK universities based on differing priorities visit the RateMyPlacement website.