LONDON, March 31 /PRNewswire/ --     The small Welsh campus of Lampeter is the best university in the UK
according to a controversial new league table by the leading independent
student advice website Push (http://www.push.co.uk/). Meanwhile, Cambridge
fails to make the top ten and Oxford is not even in the top 50.

Despite the radical departure from other university rankings, the team
behind the study insists this is no April Fool's joke. Push's table is unique
in terms of both what the public should take from it and the criteria used.
As well as academic standards and job prospects, the ranking takes into
account many other factors that may be at least as important to most
students.

Among the main differences, the Push league table considers the cost of
living and average levels of student debt at each university (both of which
are based on data exclusive to Push). Whereas some league tables would give
credit to universities with restrictive entry requirements, in Push's case,
it is ease of entry that is considered beneficial, especially when it is
balanced with high demand for places. Also considered is the range and
quality of extra-curricular activities and support.

After Lampeter, come the predominantly Catholic Heythrop College in
Kensington and Scotland's Stirling University. Others that make the top ten
include two colleges - Harper Adams and Bishop Grosseteste - that only gained
university status in the last five years.

Surprisingly, even though it is based on rigorous research conducted in
every university in the UK, Push does not claim its table is superior to
others. The exercise is intended to highlight the message that no league
table properly reflects what any individual actually looks for in a
university and too much emphasis is placed on rankings such as these which
are all based on arbitrary judgements.

Push.co.uk's approach is to help students make such judgements for
themselves. A key feature of the website is the Uni Chooser tool
(http://www.push.co.uk/pushguide/) which allows users to set for themselves
the importance of over 200 criteria in order to create their own personalised
'league table'.

Johnny Rich, Editor of Push.co.uk, said:

"There is no such thing as a 'best' university. It all depends what's
important to the individual student. Most league tables tend to focus on very
traditional academic indicators, such as research standards, which may have
little bearing on most undergraduates. They serve only to reinforce
preconceptions about what universities ought to be. Given the diversity on
offer and the variety of students' needs and desires, these stereotypes have
never been further from the truth."

"Over the next few months, various league tables will be published in the
media - after all, they do make good copy. However, applicants need to
recognise these are no more than a list of universities that fit a particular
type. Applicants would do better to consider what they themselves want and
find which universities best match that description."

For the full table, visit http://www.push.co.uk/league_table_2008

For the table methodology:
http://www.push.co.uk/Document.aspx?id=E55A5CD3-E503-46A2-A14E-EB0E4FBCE475&s
ection=&l2section=

(Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste 
this  hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the 
space if one exists.)

For other Push stories in the news: http://www.push.co.uk/press

For banner links etc:
http://www.push.co.uk/Document.aspx?id=A8DD07BB-7864-4F06-818A-92D5AE9FEDE4&s
ection=&l2section=

(Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste 
this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the 
space if one exists.)

For further information and interviews with Push Editor, Johnny Rich:
    Online : http://www.push.co.uk/press/
    Tel: +44(0)20-7005-3650/4
    E-mail: press@push.co.uk

    Outside office hours, contact Johnny Rich:
    Direct +44(0)20-7703-4873 or mobile +44(0)78-1111-4292