View source for Golden triangle (universities)

{{short description|Unofficial grouping of  universities in the English cities of Oxford, Cambridge and London}}
{{other uses|Golden Triangle (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Location map+ |England|alt=The cities located in the south east of England which are host to the university members of the 'golden triangle'
highlighted|caption=The cities located in the south east of England which are host to the university members of the 'golden triangle'.|float=right|width=260|places=
{{Location map~|England|lat=51.76|long=-1.25|position=top|label=[[Oxford]]}}
{{Location map~|England|lat=52.21|long=0.12|position=top|label=[[Cambridge]]}}
{{Location map~|England|lat=51.51|long=-0.13|position=bottom|label=[[London]]}}
}}

The '''golden triangle''' is the triangle formed by the university cities of [[Cambridge]], [[London]], and [[Oxford]] in the south east of [[England]] in the United Kingdom.{{refn|group=note|Multiple sources state the golden triangle is formed around Oxford, Cambridge and London.<ref name=THE95/><ref name=Indy12/><ref name=FT15/><ref name=ReLocate15/><ref name=NewScientist05/><ref name=TES15/>}} The triangle is occasionally referred to as the '''Loxbridge''' triangle,<ref>{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Neuman|year=2018|url=http://talks.cam.ac.uk/talk/index/98671|website=talks.cam.ac.uk|title=The Loxbridge Triangle: Integrating the East-West Arch into the London Mega-region|publisher=University of Cambridge|access-date=12 February 2019|archive-date=13 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213005814/http://talks.cam.ac.uk/talk/index/98671|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=loxbridge>{{cite journal | author=Morgan, K. J. | title= The research assessment exercise in English universities, 2001 | journal=Higher Education | volume=48 | pages=461&ndash;482 | year=2004 | doi= 10.1023/B:HIGH.0000046717.11717.06 | issue=4|jstor= 4151567| s2cid= 145505001 }}</ref> a [[portmanteau]] of London and [[Oxbridge]] or, when limited to five members, the '''G5'''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Imagination: three models of imagination in the age of the knowledge economy |first1=Peter |last1=Murphy |first2=Michael A. |last2=Peters |author2-link=Michael Adrian Peters |first3=Simon |last3=Marginson |author3-link=Simon Marginson |publisher=[[Peter Lang (publisher)|Peter Lang]] |location=New York |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-4331-0529-6 |page=129 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GSr_8cJzg2UC&pg=PA129 |access-date=28 June 2011 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404144448/https://books.google.com/books?id=GSr_8cJzg2UC&pg=PA129 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=La universidad latinoamericana entre Davos y Porto Alegre: error de origen, error de proceso |first1=Orlando |last1=Albornoz |publisher=[[El Nacional (Venezuela)|El Nacional]] |year=2006 |isbn=980-388-266-X |page=86 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zc5_Py0ndB4C&pg=PA86 |access-date=14 February 2012 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404144437/https://books.google.com/books?id=zc5_Py0ndB4C&pg=PA86 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.sari.cas.cn/ic/icn/201105/t20110517_69878.html|title=President and Provost of UCL Visited SARI|access-date=3 December 2011|publisher=Shanghai Advanced Research Institute|archive-date=24 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524215210/http://english.sari.cas.cn/ic/icn/201105/t20110517_69878.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=THE1/>

The list of universities considered to be members of the golden triangle varies between sources, but typically comprises the [[University of Cambridge]], the [[University of Oxford]], [[Imperial College London]],  [[King's College London]], the [[London School of Economics]] and [[University College London]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Social Class in the 21st Century|author=Mike Savage|date=5 November 2015|publisher=Penguin|quote="Higher education researchers often talk about a 'Golden Triangle' of universities. The 'triangle' describes an imaginary three-sided shape with corners in Oxford, Cambridge and London. The exact composition of the London 'corner' can vary, but typically it includes the London School of Economics, King's College London, University College London and Imperial College London."|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TE3ZCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT167|page=167|isbn=9780141978925|access-date=29 August 2017|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404144440/https://books.google.com/books?id=TE3ZCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT167|url-status=live}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|Multiple sources confirm the membership, although some omit either King's or LSE, as noted under their entries.<ref name=Nature05/><ref name=THE09/><ref name=THE10/><ref name=BBC13/><ref name=RF14/><ref name=Guardian03/><ref name=OECD08/><ref name=Grant05/><ref name=THE02/><ref name=Guardian2017/>}} Some sources omit either or both of King's College London{{refn|group=note|King's College London is not included by<ref name=loxbridge/><ref name=THE09/><ref name=THE10/><ref name=Guardian03/><ref name=OECD08/><ref name=THE02/><ref name=Guardian2017/>}} and the London School of Economics;{{refn|group=note|LSE is not included by<ref name=Nature05/><ref name=Guardian03/><ref name=OECD08/><ref name=THE02/>}} while occasionally other universities are included, e.g. the [[London Business School]] and the [[London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/world-reputation-rankings-2014-results/2011860.article|title=World Reputation Rankings 2014 results: UK's 'golden triangle' accounts for 8 of the country's 10 representatives in top 100|work=[[Times Higher Education]]|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043647/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/world-reputation-rankings-2014-results/2011860.article|url-status=live}}</ref> or all of the higher education institutions in the three cities.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/437447/bis-15-350-Public-expenditure-on-research-and-innovation-2013-14.pdf|title=Geographic breakdown of public research and innovation expenditure|date=June 2015|publisher=[[Department for Business, Innovation and Skills]]|access-date=6 March 2022|archive-date=9 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209142154/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/437447/bis-15-350-Public-expenditure-on-research-and-innovation-2013-14.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Members==
The universities typically considered members of the golden triangle are amongst the longest established universities in England and possess some of the largest [[List of universities in the United Kingdom by endowment|financial endowments]] across the United Kingdom. Total enrolments for the {{HESA year}} academic year range from about 12,900 at LSE to 51,400 at UCL, with UCL being the second-largest [[list of universities in the United Kingdom by enrolment|university in the United Kingdom by total enrolment]].<ref name="HESA citation"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; margin-right:0;"
|-
! width= 200px | Institution
! width= px | {{abbr|Est.|Year founded}}
! width= px | {{abbr|Undergr.|Undergraduates}}<ref name="HESA citation">{{HESA citation}}</ref>
! width= px | {{abbr|Postgr.|Postgraduates}}<ref name="HESA citation"/>
! width= px | {{abbr|Endow.|Endowment (in £ billion)}}
! width= px | {{abbr|Ac. Staff|Academic staff}}<ref name="HESA staff citation">{{HESA staff citation}}</ref>
! width= px | Motto
|-
! [[University of Cambridge]]
| {{year|1209}} 
| {{HESA undergraduate population|INSTID=10007788}}
| {{HESA postgraduate population|INSTID=10007788}}
| £7.134<sup>†</sup>{{refn|Colleges £4,665M,<ref name="CamCollAssets2022">[[Colleges of the University of Cambridge]]</ref> University (Group) £2,469.1M<ref name="Camannualfinstat23">{{Cite web |title=Reports and the Financial Statements 2023 |url=https://www.cam.ac.uk/system/files/university_of_cambridge_group_annual_reports_financial_statements_2022-23.pdf |access-date=14 June 2024 |publisher=University of Cambridge}}</ref>}}
| {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007788}}
| ''Hinc lucem et pocula sacra''<br />(From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge) 
|-
! [[Imperial College London]]
| {{year|1907}} 
| {{HESA undergraduate population|INSTID=10003270}}
| {{HESA postgraduate population|INSTID=10003270}}
| £0.235<ref name=AR2023-24>{{cite web |title=Annual Report and Accounts 2023–24 |url=https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/administration-and-support-services/finance/public/Annual-Report-2023-24-web.pdf |website=Imperial College London |date=13 December 2024 |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>
| {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10003270}}
|''Scientia imperii decus et tutamen''<br />(Knowledge is the adornment and protection of the Empire)
|-
! [[King's College London]]
| {{year|1829}} 
| {{HESA undergraduate population|INSTID=10003645}}
| {{HESA postgraduate population|INSTID=10003645}}
| £0.325<ref name="KCL 2023/24">{{cite web |url=https://www.kcl.ac.uk/about/assets/pdf/statements/financial-statements-2023-24.pdf |title=Financial Statements for the year to 31 July 2024|access-date=12 December 2024 |publisher=King's College London}}</ref>
| {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10003645}}
|''Sancte et Sapienter''<br />(With Holiness and Wisdom)
|-
! [[London School of Economics]]
| {{year|1895}} 
| {{HESA undergraduate population|INSTID=10004063}}
| {{HESA postgraduate population|INSTID=10004063}}
| £0.256<ref name="LSE Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web| url = https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/Finance-Division/assets/annual-accounts/PDF/2023-24-Annual-Accounts.pdf| title = Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024| access-date = 12 December 2024| publisher = London School of Economics| page = 56}}</ref>
| {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10004063}}
|''Rerum cognoscere causas''<br />(To Know the Causes of Things)
|-
! [[University of Oxford]]
| {{year|1096}} 
| {{HESA undergraduate population|INSTID=10007774}}
| {{HESA postgraduate population|INSTID=10007774}}
| £8.708{{refn|Colleges (group) £6,795.6M,<ref name=OxColl2024>{{cite web|url=http://d307gmaoxpdmsg.cloudfront.net/collegeaccounts2324/aggregated.pdf|title=Aggregated College Accounts: Consolidated and College Balance Sheets For the year ended 31 July 2024|access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> University (consolidated) £1,912.4M<ref name=OxUni2024>{{cite web|url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/Oxford_University_Financial_Statements_2023-24.pdf|title=Financial Statements 2023/24|publisher=University of Oxford |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref>}} 
| {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007774}}
|''Dominus Illuminatio Mea''<br />(The Lord is my Light)
|-
! [[University College London]]
| {{year|1826}} 
| {{HESA undergraduate population|INSTID=10007784}}
| {{HESA postgraduate population|INSTID=10007784}}
| £0.175<ref name="UCL Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web |url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/finance/sites/finance/files/ucl-2024-annual-report-financial-statements-final.pdf |title=Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2024 |publisher=University College London |access-date=12 December 2024}}</ref>
| {{HESA academic staff population|INSTID=10007784}}
|''Cuncti adsint meritaeque expectent praemia palmae''<br/>(Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward)
|-
|}
<small>'''Notes:'''<br>
<sup>†</sup> Only 2022/23 endowment figures available for Cambridge
</small>
==Research income==
With the exception of the LSE, the five other institutions typically considered members of the golden triangle have among the highest research incomes of all British universities, ranking in the top seven of British universities by research grant and contract income (along with [[University of Manchester|Manchester]] and [[University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh]]) and in the top six of English universities by [[Research England]] recurrent funding (along with Manchester). These five institutions
all have significant fractions of their research grant and contract income from clinical medicine, varying (in 2021/22) from 41.7% (Cambridge) to 63.6% (King's College London), compared to an average across the UK of 34.4%. Overall, 50.9% of the 2020/21 research grant and contract income of the five institutions (50.0% if the LSE is included) came from clinical medicine research, and they accounted for 34.7% of all research grant and contract income of UK universities in 2020/21 (35.2% if the LSE is included).<ref name=resincome/> Each university receives millions of pounds in research fundings and other grants from the UK government, criticised by leaders of some other universities as disproportionate and not in the best interests of the country as a whole.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/south-secures-research-cash/207821.article|title=South secures research cash|date=16 February 2007|work=[[Times Higher Education]]|author=Rebecca Attwood|access-date=26 October 2016|archive-date=27 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027125527/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/south-secures-research-cash/207821.article|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013/14, universities in Oxford, Cambridge and London received 46% of research funding in the UK, up from 42.6% a decade earlier.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mediafhe.com/golden-triangle-increases-share-of-research-funding |title=Golden triangle increases share of research funding |access-date=6 June 2018 |archive-date=22 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122094708/http://www.mediafhe.com/golden-triangle-increases-share-of-research-funding |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the 2021 [[Research Excellence Framework]] (REF), the golden triangle universities saw a fall in their share of Quality Research funding (recurring funding based on the REF results rather than grants or other sources) from [[Research England]]. Analysis by Times Higher Education showed that the share of funding going to the golden triangle (not including the LSE in this analysis) fell from 35.36 per cent in 2020/21 under the previous REF to 33.05 per cent in 2021/22, although the actual funding the institutions received increased due to an overall increase in funding levels and the five universities remained (with [[University of Manchester|Manchester]]) the top six institutions by share of funding. The LSE saw a decrease in actual funding of 9.03 per cent, leading to a 0.28 percentage point fall in its share of funding to 0.85 per cent, placing it below the [[Post-1992 university|post-92]] [[Northumbria University]].<ref name=QR2223>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/post-92s-gain-research-funding-expense-golden-triangle?mc_cid=5a8b0d51fd&mc_eid=b1ecadc54c|title=Post-92s gain research funding at expense of 'golden triangle'|author=Tom Williams|date=4 August 2022|work=Times Higher Education|access-date=6 August 2022|archive-date=6 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806062840/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/post-92s-gain-research-funding-expense-golden-triangle?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial-daily&mc_cid=5a8b0d51fd&mc_eid=b1ecadc54c|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2004, the G5 universities consisting of Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, Oxford and UCL were accused of secretly coordinating bids for an increased share of any extra money made available in the government's summer 2004 spending review. The objective was to secure extra state funding above the £3,000 student top-up fees planned in England from 2006 to cover the full costs of home and European Union undergraduates on their courses. This has been attributed to the universities stating they are offering ''no cheap courses'', and that they would have to reduce their intake of UK students without the additional income.<ref name="THE1">{{cite web |date=6 February 2004 |title=Super elite in secret bid for cash boost |url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=186508&sectioncode=26 |access-date=10 February 2011 |publisher=Times Higher Education |archive-date=20 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720193441/http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=186508&sectioncode=26 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The balance of funding between the 'golden triangle' and the rest of the UK has been questioned, and was specifically included in the terms of reference for an enquiry in 2018 by the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] [[Science and Technology Select Committee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/science-and-technology-committee/news-parliament-2017/research-innovation-spending-inquiry-launch-17-19/|title=Balance and effectiveness of research and innovation spending inquiry launched|at=Terms of Reference|date=20 July 2018|access-date=13 December 2018|publisher=House of Commons|archive-date=16 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216073723/https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/science-and-technology-committee/news-parliament-2017/research-innovation-spending-inquiry-launch-17-19/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to defenders of the level of funding going to the golden triangle institutions, "The apparent concentration of research in the golden triangle is little more than a reflection of the distribution of people in the UK".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/cuts-golden-triangle-could-leave-uk-bad-shape|title=Cuts to the golden triangle could leave the UK in bad shape|date=6 December 2018|work=Times Higher Education|author=Sarah Chaytor and Graeme Reid|access-date=13 December 2018|archive-date=16 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031632/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/cuts-golden-triangle-could-leave-uk-bad-shape|url-status=live}}</ref> Analysis of grant proposals to [[Research Councils UK]] between 2012–13 and 2016–17 has shown that golden triangle institutions do not have unusually high success rates (two are actually below the expected range), but that the northern universities of [[Durham University|Durham]], [[Lancaster University|Lancaster]] and [[University of York|York]] do.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.esrc.ac.uk/2018/09/27/putting-research-in-its-place/|title=Putting research in its place|date=27 September 2018|publisher=ESRC|author=Alex Hulkes|access-date=5 April 2019|archive-date=1 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501220626/https://blog.esrc.ac.uk/2018/09/27/putting-research-in-its-place/|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2022, the UK Government announced as part of its "Levelling Up" [[white paper]] that public investment outside of the south east would increase by 40% by 2030, despite warnings from leaders of research-intensive universities that this could reduce the importance of scientific excellence in funding decisions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-regions-promised-research-funding-boost-under-levellingup|title=UK regions promised research funding boost under 'levelling up'|work=Times Higher Education|date=2 February 2022|author=Chris Havergal|access-date=2 February 2022|archive-date=2 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202232335/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/uk-regions-promised-research-funding-boost-under-levellingup|url-status=live}}</ref> A report by the Higher Education Policy Institute in 2024 found that research quality was no higher in the golden triangle than elsewhere, concluding that the higher funding levels in the golden triangle "may reflect a retained and somewhat toxic historical and cultural bias towards particular institutions", with lower levels of research activity outside of the southeast reflecting lower levels of investment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/golden-triangle-research-no-more-golden-rest-uk|title=Golden triangle research ‘no more golden than rest of UK’|date=18 January 2024|author=John Morgan|work=Times Higher Education}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Recurrent Quality Research funding from Research England for golden triangle universities (out of English universities, year 2022/23)<ref name=QR2223/>
|-  style="background:#efefef; text-align:center;"
| '''Rank'''
| '''University'''
| '''QR funding (£m)'''
| '''QR funding share (%)'''
|-
| 1
| University of Oxford
| 164.2
| 8.32
|-
| 2
| University College London
| 159.2
| 8.06
|-
| 3
| University of Cambridge
| 141.5
| 7.78
|-
| 4
| Imperial College London
| 106.5
| 5.45
|-
| 6
| King's College London
| 81.2
| 4.11
|-
| 31
| London School of Economics
| 16.8
| 0.85
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Research grant and contract income (excluding recurring Quality Research funding from funding councils) for golden triangle universities (out of British universities, year 2020/21)
! rowspan=3|Rank<ref name=resincome>{{cite web|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/finances/table-5|access-date=6 August 2022|work=Higher Education Statistics Agency|title=Table 5 - Research grants and contracts - breakdown by source of income and HESA cost centre 2015/16 to 2020/21|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303170518/https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/finances/table-5|url-status=live}}</ref>
!rowspan=3|University
!colspan=4|Research income
|-
!rowspan=2|Total (£m)<ref name=resincome/>
!colspan=2|Clinical medicine
! rowspan=2|Total as<br>proportion of<br>total income<br>(%)<ref name=totincome>{{cite web|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/finances/table-1|access-date=6 August 2022|work=Higher Education Statistics Agency|title=Table 1 - Consolidated statement of comprehensive income and expenditure 2015/16 to 2020/21|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703092817/https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/finances/table-1|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! (£m)<ref name=resincome/>
! As proportion of<br> total research<br>income (%)<ref name=resincome/>
|- 
| 1
| University of Oxford
| style="text-align:right;"|653.3
| style="text-align:right;"|363.5
|style="text-align:right;"|55.6%
| style="text-align:right;"|26.9%
|- 
| 2
| University of Cambridge
| style="text-align:right;"|588.6
| style="text-align:right;"|245.4
| style="text-align:right;"|41.7%
| style="text-align:right;"|27.0%
|- 
| 3
| University College London
| style="text-align:right;"|476.9
| style="text-align:right;"|256.9
| style="text-align:right;"|53.9%
| style="text-align:right;"|29.6%
|-
| 4
| Imperial College London
| style="text-align:right;"|363.0
| style="text-align:right;"|169.8
| style="text-align:right;"|46.8%
| style="text-align:right;"|33.6%
|- 
| 7
| King's College London 	
| style="text-align:right;"|187.9
| style="text-align:right;"|119.5
| style="text-align:right;"|63.6%
| style="text-align:right;"|18.8%
|- 
| 41
| London School of Economics
| style="text-align:right;"|34.9
| style="text-align:right;"|0.0
| style="text-align:right;"|0.0%
| style="text-align:right;"|8.8%
|}

==Academics==
===Admissions===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ UCAS Admissions Statistics (2023)
! !! Applications<ref name=UCASEoC23>{{cite web |title=UCAS Undergraduate Sector-Level End of Cycle Data Resources 2023 |url=https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-end-cycle-data-resources-2023 |at=Show me... Domicile by Provider |website=ucas.com |date=December 2023 |publisher=UCAS |access-date=30 April 2024}}</ref> !! Offer Rate (%)<ref name="offer rate">{{cite web|title=2023 entry UCAS Undergraduate reports by sex, area background, and ethnic group|date=30 April 2024|url=https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-end-cycle-data-resources-2023/2023-entry-ucas-undergraduate-reports-sex-area-background-and-ethnic-group|publisher=[[UCAS]]|access-date=30 April 2024}}</ref> !! Accepted<ref name=UCASEoC23/> !! [[UCAS Tariff|Average Entry Tariff]] (2022)<ref name=entry>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?tabletype=full-table&sortby=entry-standards|work=Complete University Guide|access-date=10 June 2025|title=University League Tables entry standards 2026}}</ref>
|-
| '''Cambridge'''
| 21,940
| 24.4%
| 3,565
| 206
|-
| '''Imperial'''
| 30,725
| 33.1%
| 3,135
| 202
|-
| '''King's'''
| 69,300
| 38.5%
| 6,810
| 168
|-
| '''LSE'''
| 26,240
| 20.6%
| 1,815
| 187
|-
| '''Oxford'''
| 24,230
| 19.7%
| 3,260
| 203
|-
| '''UCL'''
| 77,615
| 27.0%
| 7,595
| 173
|-
|}
The golden triangle universities are highly selective, with entrance typically requiring strong performances in standardised exams as represented by the average scores of new entrants when converted to [[UCAS Tariff|UCAS points]]. Four of the golden triangle universities were in the top ten by entry standards for 2022–23, with UCL coming in 12th and King's coming in 18th.<ref name=entry/> The universities also make up six of the eight British universities by lowest offer rates (the others being 4th-placed St Andrews and 7th-placed Edinburgh). For the 2022 undergraduate admissions cycle, all of the universities reported offer rates, including conditional and unconditional offers, below 40%.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cambridge to scrap ‘unjust’ state school targets|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/11/cambridge-to-scrap-state-school-targets/|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=11 March 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331190103/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/11/cambridge-to-scrap-state-school-targets/|archive-date=31 March 2024}}</ref>

===Rankings and reputation===
{{See also|Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom}}

Golden triangle universities generally do well on international rankings, which strongly reflect research performance. Some global rankings, such as those produced by [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings|Times Higher Education]] (THE) and QS, correct for the sizes of institutions in calculating their results but others, such as the [[Academic Ranking of World Universities]] (ARWU), make no such adjustment.<ref name="LSE rankings">{{cite web |title = LSE in university league tables |url = http://www.lse.ac.uk/aboutLSE/leagueTables/LSEinUniversityLeagueTables.aspx |publisher=London School of Economics |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055639/http://www.lse.ac.uk/aboutLSE/leagueTables/LSEinUniversityLeagueTables.aspx }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.hepi.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Hepi_International-university-rankings-For-good-or-for-ill-REPORT-89-10_12_16_Screen.pdf |title = International university rankings: For good or ill? |author = Bahram Bekhradnia |publisher = Higher Education Policy Institute |date = 15 December 2016 |access-date = 26 May 2017 |archive-date = 15 February 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170215055236/http://www.hepi.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Hepi_International-university-rankings-For-good-or-for-ill-REPORT-89-10_12_16_Screen.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref> The Golden Triangle universities generally do well on British university league tables, with Cambridge and Oxford consistently in the top three, and Imperial, LSE and UCL ranked in the top ten by all compilers. King's College London, however, fails to make the top ten in any of the major rankings.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
! University
! data-sort-type="number" | ''[[Academic Ranking of World Universities|ARWU]]''<br>2024<br>(Global)<ref>{{cite web|title=Academic Ranking of World Universities 2024|url=https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2024|publisher=Shanghai Ranking Consultancy|date=15 August 2024}}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | ''[[QS World University Rankings|QS]]''<br>2025<br>(Global)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings|title=QS World University Rankings 2025|publisher=Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd.|date=4 June 2024}}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | ''[[Times Higher Education World University Rankings|THE]]''<br>2025<br>(Global)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2025/world-ranking#!/length/25/locations/GBR/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats|title=THE World University Rankings 2025|publisher=Times Higher Education|date=9 October 2024|access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | ''[[Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom#The Complete University Guide|Complete]]''<br>2026<br>(National)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings|title=Complete University Guide 2026|publisher=The Complete University Guide|date=10 June 2025|access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | ''[[Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom#The Guardian|Guardian]]''<br>2025<br>(National)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2024/sep/07/the-guardian-university-guide-2025-the-rankings|title=Guardian University Guide 2025|work=The Guardian|date=7 September 2024|access-date=11 September 2024}}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | ''[[Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom#The Times/The Sunday Times|Times/Sunday Times]]''<br>2025<br>(National)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk-university-rankings|title=Good University Guide 2025|work=[[The Times]]|date=20 September 2024|access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref>
|-
| University of Cambridge
| 4
| 5
| 5
| 1
| 3
| 4
|-
| Imperial College London
| 25
| 2
| 9
| 6
| 5
| 6
|-
| King's College London
| 53
| 40=
| 36=
| 19
| 28
| 24=
|-
| London School of Economics
| 151–200
| 50=
| 50=
| 3
| 4
| 1
|-
| University of Oxford
| 6
| 3
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 3
|-
| University College London
| 15
| 9
| 22=
| 13
| 9
| 7
|-
|}

==Student demographics==
===Social class===
Students from [[Independent school (United Kingdom)|private education]] are over-represented at the six institutions. With the exception of King's, the remaining universities reported over 30% of their UK-domiciled student body in 2020-21 composed of private school students. This places the universities  among the nine highest UK providers with more than 10,000 students for the proportion of private school students with Imperial in 5th at 32.4% (behind Durham, St Andrews, Edinburgh and Exeter) followed by UCL (32.4%), Oxford (31.4%), LSE (30.4%) and Cambridge (30.0%).<ref>{{cite web |title=Widening participation: UK Performance Indicators 2020/21: Table T2a - Participation of under-represented groups in higher education |url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/performance-indicators/widening-participation |website=Higher Education Statistics Authority |publisher=hesa.ac.uk |access-date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206041422/https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/performance-indicators/widening-participation |url-status=live }}</ref> Nationally, around 6% of school-aged pupils attend education in the private sector, although this figure increases to 18% for pupils aged 16–19 in England.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Francis |title=Private schools and inequality |url=https://ifs.org.uk/inequality/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Private-schools-and-inequality.pdf |website=ifs.org.uk |publisher=ifs |access-date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207194353/https://ifs.org.uk/inequality/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Private-schools-and-inequality.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Domicile and ethnic background===
Among mainstream British higher education institutions, the LSE had the [[International students in the United Kingdom#By proportion of International Students|highest proportion of non-UK students]] in 2023–24 at 63.7% (followed by Hertfordshire and University of the Arts London), UCL in fourth at 52.3% and Imperial at fifth at 50.8%.<ref name="HESA_domicile">{{cite web|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/where-study#provider|title=Where do HE students study?: Students by HE provider|publisher=[[Higher Education Statistics Agency|HESA]]|at=HE student enrolments by HE provider|access-date=12 September 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"  style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
|+Domicile and ethnic background (2023/24)<ref name="HESA_domicile"/><ref name="HESA ethnicity">{{cite web|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/whos-in-he/characteristics|title=Who's studying in HE?: Personal characteristics|date=12 September 2024|publisher=[[Higher Education Statistics Agency|HESA]]|access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref>
! rowspan=2|University !! rowspan=2|[[White people in the United Kingdom|British White]]{{efn|Not to be confused with solely [[White British]]}} !!rowspan=2| [[British Asian]] !!rowspan=2| [[Black British people|Black British]] !!rowspan=2| [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|British<br> Mixed Heritage]] !!rowspan=2| Other/<br/>not known !! colspan=2|International
|-
![[European Union|EU]] !! [[International students in the United Kingdom|Non-EU]]
|-
! Cambridge
| 45.3% || 11.3% || 2.7% || 5.4% || 3.1% || 6.9% || 25.3%
|-
! Imperial
| 20.5% || 18.4% || 2.6% || 3.5% || 4.1% || 9.9% || 40.9%
|-
! King's
| 27.7% || 18.7% || 6.2% || 4.3% || 5.1% || 5.9% || 32.0%
|-
! LSE
| 16.0% || 11.9% || 2.4% || 3.3% || 2.8% || 12.7% || 51.0%
|-
! Oxford
| 45.5% || 7.6% || 2.1% || 4.7% || 3.4% || 8.3% || 28.4%
|-
! UCL
| 23.5% || 13.6% || 3.3% || 3.8% || 3.6% || 6.6% || 45.7%
|-
|  || || || || || || ||
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Demographics of England|England]]<ref name=2021census>{{cite web|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/ethnicity/bulletins/ethnicgroupenglandandwales/census2021|title=Ethnic group, England and Wales: Census 2021|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=29 November 2022}}</ref>
| 81.0% || 9.6% || 4.2% || 3.0% || 2.2% || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}}
|-
|colspan="5" | 82.6% || 6.3% || 11.1%
|}
{{notelist}}

== Gallery ==

{{gallery
|title=Golden Triangle (Universities)|width=250
|File:Cambridge Peterhouse OldCourt.JPG| [[University of Cambridge]]<br>([[Peterhouse]])
|File:Royal School of Mines from across Prince Consort Road on a spring afternoon.jpg|[[Imperial College London]]<br>([[Royal School of Mines]])
|File:The_Maughan_Library,_King's_College,_London.jpg|[[King's College London]]<br>([[Maughan Library]])
|File:NABuilding.JPG|[[London School of Economics]]<br>(New Academic Building)
|File:Merry olde england (6176634975).jpg|[[University of Oxford]]<br>([[All Souls College, Oxford|All Souls College]])
|File:Wilkins Building 1, UCL, London - Diliff.jpg|[[University College London]]<br>([[UCL Main Building|Wilkins Building]])
}}

==See also==
* [[Ivy League]] (older private universities in the United States)
* [[Imperial Universities]] (Japan)
* [[C9 League]]  The Chinese Ministry of Education's formal grouping of elite universities in China
* [[SKY (universities)]] (Korea) 
* [[Institutes of National Importance]] (India)
* [[National Institutes of Technology]] – 30 leading public engineering universities in India
* [[Research-intensive cluster]]
* [[Global Medical Excellence Cluster]]
* [[MedCity (London)]]
* [[Russell Group]] A formal grouping of research universities in the UK
* [[SES-5 (universities)|SES-5]] A formal grouping of universities in the South East of the UK
* [[Group of Eight (Australian universities)|Group of Eight]] A formal group of eight universities in Australia
*[[Doxbridge]], a portmanteau for a combination of Oxbridge and [[Durham University]]
*[[Ancient university|Ancient universities]] Oxbridge, Scottish, and Irish Universities formed before the year 1600 with unique undergraduate MA awarding powers

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name=THE95>{{cite web |url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=94844&sectioncode=26 |title=Oxbridge windfall |work=Times Higher Education |date=4 August 1995 |quote="A large amount of the cash awarded to humanities postgraduates still goes to the "Golden Triangle" of Oxford, Cambridge and London, British Academy figures reveal." |access-date=4 June 2009 |archive-date=3 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403011936/http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=94844&sectioncode=26 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name=Indy12>{{cite news|author=Kershaw, Alison|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/uk-universities-slip-in-rankings-8196772.html|title=UK universities slip in rankings|newspaper=The Independent|date=4 October 2012|quote="Rankings editor Phil Baty said: "Outside the golden triangle of London, Oxford and Cambridge, England's world-class universities face a collapse into global mediocrity."|access-date=29 August 2017|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701131122/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/uk-universities-slip-in-rankings-8196772.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name=FT15>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9cae5cd8-1a88-11e5-8201-cbdb03d71480.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211221253/https://www.ft.com/content/9cae5cd8-1a88-11e5-8201-cbdb03d71480|archive-date=11 December 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=Johnson floats £10bn biotech fund for London|author=Andrew Ward|newspaper=Financial Times|date=25 June 2015|quote="[[MedCity (London)|MedCity]] was launched last year to increase collaboration between Imperial College, King's College and University College London – the capital's three main science universities – and promote the broader 'golden triangle' between London, Cambridge and Oxford to investors."|access-date=25 June 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=ReLocate15>{{cite web|url=http://www.relocatemagazine.com/news/rmarriage-03-d2-2015-6588-education-uk-confirmed-as-global-education-superpower-in-new-international-university-rankings|title=UK confirmed as 'global education superpower' in international university rankings|author=Rebecca Marriage|work=ReLocate Global|date=11 March 2015|quote="The 'golden triangle' of Oxford, Cambridge and London strengthened its grip on UK higher education: As well as Cambridge and Oxford rising closer to the summit, University College London moved up from 25th to 17th, the London School of Economics rose two places to 22nd and King's College London jumped eight places from 43rd to 31st."|access-date=15 October 2015|archive-date=12 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012144520/http://www.relocatemagazine.com/news/rmarriage-03-d2-2015-6588-education-uk-confirmed-as-global-education-superpower-in-new-international-university-rankings|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name=NewScientist05>{{cite news|author=Mullins, Justin|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18624962.800-englands-golden-triangle.html|title=England's golden triangle|newspaper=New Scientist|date=23 April 2005|quote="Take a look at any of the various league tables ranking universities around the world ... Oxford and Cambridge are in the top handful, while London's University College and Imperial College sit comfortably in the top 25. ... London, Oxford and Cambridge are a 'golden triangle' of academic success."|access-date=29 August 2017|archive-date=10 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510031030/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18624962.800-englands-golden-triangle.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name=TES15>{{cite web|last = Wiggins|first = Kaye|title = The World Reputation Rankings: UK's university 'golden triangle' strengthens grip|url = https://www.tes.co.uk/news/school-news/breaking-news/world-reputation-rankings-uks-university-golden-triangle-strengthens|quote = "The "golden triangle" of Oxford, Cambridge and London has strengthened its grip on the UK's higher education system, according to the latest global reputation rankings from TES's sister title Times Higher Education."|date = 11 March 2015|access-date = 29 June 2015|archive-date = 4 April 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230404144445/https://www.tes.com/magazine/archived/new-magazine-experience|url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name=Nature05>{{cite news|url=http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2005/050707/full/nj7047-144a.html|title=Golden opportunities|work=Nature|date=6 July 2005|quote="No longer rivals, Oxford, Cambridge and London are now working towards a common goal – ensuring the 'golden triangle' becomes a global science hub."|access-date=23 October 2010|archive-date=17 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117163616/http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2005/050707/full/nj7047-144a.html|url-status=live}} (Names Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, King's and Imperial)</ref>

<ref name=THE09>{{cite news|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=409229|title=In research, small is just as beautiful|newspaper=Times Higher Education|date=26 November 2009|quote=The findings reveal the full extent of the dominance of the golden triangle: papers from the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, University College London, Imperial College London, and the London School of Economics were cited far more often than the world average|author=Zoe Corbyn|access-date=23 January 2012|archive-date=8 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208231427/http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=409229|url-status=live}} (Names Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial and LSE)</ref>

<ref name=THE10>{{cite news|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=410357|title='Golden triangle' to win funding riches|newspaper=Times Higher Education|date=11 February 2010|quote="The other institutions in the Cambridge-Oxford-London 'golden triangle' – University College London, Imperial College London and the London School of Economics – will also receive big cash windfalls, as will the University of Manchester."|access-date=31 October 2012|archive-date=2 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202140009/http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=410357|url-status=live}} (names Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial and LSE)</ref>

<ref name=BBC13>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24367153|title=London top city in global university rankings|author=Sean Coughlan|work=BBC News|date=3 October 2013|quote="The so-called 'golden triangle' of UK universities – Oxford, Cambridge and leading London institutions – is seen as a breakaway elite group, with these universities consolidating their international reputations. Imperial College, University College London, LSE and King's College London are all in the top 40."|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=30 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930143034/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24367153|url-status=live}} (Names Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, King's, Imperial and LSE)</ref>

<ref name=RF14>{{cite news|url=http://exquisitelife.researchresearch.com/files/rf4470.pdf|title=Golden Triangle pulls ahead in REF shake-out: UCL and KCL ascend power rankings, Manchester and Leeds fall|author1=Miriam Frankel|author2=Alison Goddard|author3=Gretchen Ransow|work=Research Fortnight|date=18 December 2014|quote=The top six universities in the so-called golden triangle—Oxford, UCL, Cambridge, Imperial, KCL and the London School of Economics and Political Science—have done particularly well in the Power Ratings.|access-date=29 June 2015|archive-date=21 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121214654/http://exquisitelife.researchresearch.com/files/rf4470.pdf|url-status=dead}} (Names Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, King's, Imperial and LSE)</ref>

<ref name=Guardian03>{{cite news|author=Jha, Alok|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/jun/03/highereducation.research|title=Gold rush|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 June 2003|quote=The golden triangle of Oxford, Cambridge, University College London and Imperial College, show no sign of slowing down in their race away from the rest of the sector when it comes to research funding.|access-date=11 December 2016|archive-date=18 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118075846/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/jun/03/highereducation.research|url-status=live}} (Names Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Imperial)</ref>

<ref name=OECD08>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oshFutmvGe8C&pg=PA222|title=OECD Reviews of Regional Innovation OECD Reviews of Regional Innovation, North of England, UK|publisher=OECD|date=2008|page=222|quote="The "Golden Triangle" of ... the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Imperial College and University College of London ..."|isbn=9789264048942|access-date=2 November 2016|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404144530/https://books.google.com/books?id=oshFutmvGe8C&pg=PA222|url-status=live}} (Names Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Imperial)</ref>

<ref name=Grant05>{{cite journal| last = Grant| first = Malcolm| title = The future of the University of London: a discussion paper from the Provost of UCL| page = 6| date = 1 March 2005| url = http://www.ucl.ac.uk/images/Uni-Lon.pdf| access-date = 10 July 2006| archive-date = 10 March 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210310015350/https://www.ucl.ac.uk/images/Uni-Lon.pdf| url-status = live}} (Names Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, King's, Imperial and LSE)</ref>

<ref name=THE02>{{cite news|author=Clark, Paul|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=167534&sectioncode=26|title=The golden triangle holds the secret|newspaper=Times Higher Education|date=1 March 2002|quote="Suppose, for the sake of argument, that the four institutions comprising the 'golden triangle' – Cambridge, Imperial College, Oxford and University College London – elect not to receive their block Higher Education Funding Council for England grant for teaching."|access-date=30 October 2012|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404144609/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/the-golden-triangle-holds-the-secret/167534.article?storyCode=167534&sectioncode=26|url-status=live}} (Names Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Imperial)</ref>

<ref name=Guardian2017>{{cite news|title=We need to rethink research funding for UK regions to prosper|url=https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2017/jun/05/rethink-research-funding-uk-regions-prosper|date=5 June 2017|author=Jonathan Adams|work=[[The Guardian]]|quote="Currently, most R&D investment is concentrated in the south-east, London and the east, with the “golden triangle” universities of Oxford, Cambridge, University College London, Imperial College and the LSE taking over a quarter of the pot.|access-date=10 July 2019|archive-date=10 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710201840/https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2017/jun/05/rethink-research-funding-uk-regions-prosper|url-status=live}}</ref>

|30em}}

{{University associations and groupings in the United Kingdom}}
{{Navboxes|list1=
{{University of Cambridge}}
{{University of Oxford}}
{{Imperial College London}}
{{London School of Economics}}
{{University College London|affiliates}}
{{King's College London}}
{{Science and technology in the United Kingdom}}
}}

[[Category:Colloquial terms for groups of universities and colleges]]
[[Category:Innovation in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Universities in England]]