St Mary’s Rated Top 50 University in the UK

St Mary’s University, Twickenham, (SMU) has today been rated in the top 50 of the prestigious The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.

Published online today, and in print on Sunday, the 2024 edition of the Good University Guide sees SMU rated in its highest-ever position at 45^th in the country, and ranked eighth amongst the 22 London universities.

SMU, although being established in 1850, has also been rated the fourth best Modern University, following receipt of full degree awarding powers in 2014.

The Guide also recognises the University’s continued excellence in the categories of teaching quality and student experience, rating SMU in the top five and top ten in the country respectively and second in London for both.

The University has made significant investment in recent years to enhance the experience of students, and staff at St Mary’s work diligently to ensure they have the best outcomes. This. is reflected in the rises SMU has seen across all major league tables in recent years. Since 2021 SMU has seen a rise of 41 places in the Good University Guide, 25 places in the Complete University Guide and 30 places in the Guardian University Guide.

Speaking of the results, St Mary’s Vice-Chancellor Anthony McClaran said, “This is a notable day for the University. In last year’s edition, it was noted that St Mary’s was ‘on the cusp of the top 50’ and I am delighted to see St Mary’s has achieved a ranking of 45th in one of the world’s most respected league tables. Excellence is a core value for SMU, and rising steeply across all league tables in recent years is a result of this value in practice.

“This latest achievement is the outcome of our strong strategic drive on delivering our vision for the future and the hard work of colleagues across the University in providing an outstanding experience for our students. We know the foundation we provide leads to successful careers for our students. Coupled with this, developing their confidence, sense of community, and critical judgement means, when they leave St Mary’s, our students can make a positive impact on wider society.”

St Mary’s Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Prof Symeon Dagkas, added, “I am sure all members of our University community are filled with pride today, to see St Mary’s recognised in this way. I would like to thank team members across the University for their contributions to our academic journey, who have worked collaboratively to achieve these brilliant results. I look forward to continuing the work we are doing, building on this wonderful achievement and seeing where that takes us in future.”

Students at SMU also continue to rate their experience at the University highly, as it received outstanding feedback from graduating students in the 2023 National Student Survey (NSS). SMU was rated in the top five in London, and top 20 nationally, in six key themes amongst higher education providers with university status (excluding specialist providers).

The University was rated top in London for Academic Support, with a rating of 89%, and second in London for Teaching on my Course, with a rating of 88%; almost three percent above the sector average. The survey found 94% of students said that staff were good at explaining things, the top score in London, and 87% said staff made their subjects engaging.

The 2024 edition of the Complete University Guide also rated the university in the top ten nationally for student satisfaction.

The University was also the highest riser in the Times Higher Education Research Excellence Rankings, climbing 32 places since the previous edition. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, the majority of research submitted by St Mary’s was 4* World Leading or 3* Internationally Excellent in its originality, significance, and rigour. The University more than doubled its research rated by the REF in the top two three- and four-star classifications as compared to the previous research exercise in 2014.