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{{Short description|British association of universities}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox organization
|name         = Russell Group
|image        = RussellGroup.svg
|formation    = {{start date and age|1994}}
|type         = Association of United Kingdom-based universities
|headquarters = 50/60 [[Station Road, Cambridge|Station Road]]<br />[[Cambridge]]<br />CB1 2JH<ref>{{cite web |title=Disclaimer |work=The Russell Group |url=https://russellgroup.ac.uk/disclaimer/ |publisher=Russell Group |access-date=1 December 2019 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213190050/https://russellgroup.ac.uk/disclaimer/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|region_served= United Kingdom
|membership   = 24:{{plainlist|
* [[University of Birmingham]]
* [[University of Bristol]]
* [[University of Cambridge]]
* [[Cardiff University]]
* [[Durham University]]
* [[University of Edinburgh]]
* [[University of Exeter]]
* [[University of Glasgow]]
* [[Imperial College London]]
* [[King's College London]]
* [[University of Leeds]]
* [[University of Liverpool]]
* [[London School of Economics]]
* [[University of Manchester]]
* [[Newcastle University]]
* [[University of Nottingham]]
* [[University of Oxford]]
* [[Queen Mary University of London]]
* [[Queen's University Belfast]]
* [[University of Sheffield]]
* [[University of Southampton]]
* [[University College London]]
* [[University of Warwick]]
* [[University of York]]
}}
|key_people = {{plainlist|
* Tim Bradshaw<br />(chief executive)
* [[Chris Day (hepatologist)|Chris Day]]<ref name="Chair_Day">{{cite news|url=https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-universities-2023-9-newcastle-vice-chancellor-becomes-russell-group-chair/|work=Research Professional News|date=4 September 2023|author=Emily Twinch|title=Newcastle vice-chancellor becomes Russell Group chair|access-date=25 September 2023|archive-date=25 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925230547/https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-universities-2023-9-newcastle-vice-chancellor-becomes-russell-group-chair/|url-status=live}}</ref><br />(chair 2023–2026)
}}
|website      = {{Official URL}}
}}
The '''Russell Group''' is a self-selected association of twenty-four [[public university|public]] [[research university|research universities]] in the United Kingdom. The group is headquartered in [[Cambridge]] and was established in 1994 to represent its members' interests, principally to [[Her Majesty's Government|government]] and [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]]. It was incorporated in 2007.<ref name=About>{{cite web|url=https://russellgroup.ac.uk/about/|title=About|publisher=Russell Group|access-date=29 October 2018|archive-date=30 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030201918/https://russellgroup.ac.uk/about/|url-status=live}}</ref> Its members are often perceived as being the UK's best universities, which has been widely disputed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Universities vie for the metric that cannot be measured: prestige|first=Paul|last=Blackmore|url=https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2016/mar/29/universities-vie-for-the-metric-that-cannot-be-measured-prestige|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=29 March 2016|quote=The Russell Group has successfully stage-managed the position that it is seen as comprising the best universities. Some are and some aren't, but by and large this is nonsense. However, parents increasingly say they want their child to go to one.<br />''[[Universities in the United Kingdom#Categorisation by age and location|Pre-92]] head.''|access-date=16 January 2023|archive-date=30 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330202825/http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2016/mar/29/universities-vie-for-the-metric-that-cannot-be-measured-prestige|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{As of|2017|post=,}} Russell Group members receive over three-quarters of all university research grant and contract income in the United Kingdom.<ref name=profile>{{cite web|url=https://russellgroup.ac.uk/media/5524/rg_text_june2017_updated.pdf|publisher=Russell Group|access-date=29 October 2018|title=Profile|date=June 2017|pages=6–7|archive-date=12 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112144155/https://russellgroup.ac.uk/media/5524/rg_text_june2017_updated.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Russell Group members award 60% of all doctorates gained in the United Kingdom.<ref name=profile/> In the 2021 [[Research Excellence Framework]], Russell Group universities accounted for 65% of all world-leading (4*) research conducted in the UK, and 91% of the Russell Group's research was judged to be world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russell Group universities produce more world-leading research than ever before |work=The Russell Group |url=https://russellgroup.ac.uk/news/russell-group-universities-produce-more-world-leading-research-than-ever-before/ |access-date=2022-06-09 |publisher=Russell Group |language=en |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527131629/https://russellgroup.ac.uk/news/russell-group-universities-produce-more-world-leading-research-than-ever-before/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the 2023 [[Teaching Excellence Framework|Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework]] (TEF), of the 20 English Russell Group universities which were assessed, 7 hold gold awards (35%) and 13 silver (65%). This compares to proportions across 128 higher education institutions of which 29% hold gold, 62% silver, and 9% bronze.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCabe |first1=Grace |title=What is the TEF? Results of the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/news/tef-2023-results |work=Times Higher Education |date=18 December 2023}}</ref> Their graduates hold 61% of all UK jobs that require a university degree, despite being only 17% of all higher education graduates.<ref>{{cite press release| title=Graduates in the UK Labour Market – 2017| publisher=Office for National Statistics| date=24 November 2017| url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/graduatesintheuklabourmarket/2017| access-date=12 January 2019| archive-date=1 September 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901065912/http://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/graduatesintheuklabourmarket/2017| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-publishes-destination-data-for-the-first-time |title=Government publishes destination data for the first time |date=12 July 2012 |publisher=Department for Education |access-date=13 January 2019 |archive-date=14 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114044447/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-publishes-destination-data-for-the-first-time |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Russell Group is named after the location of the first informal meetings of the Group, which took place at the [[Hotel Russell]] in [[Russell Square]], London.<ref name="bbc12312">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17341478|title=Four universities join elite Russell Group|access-date=5 September 2012|work=BBC News|date=12 March 2012|archive-date=8 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208142928/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17341478|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
The Russell Group of universities was formed in 1994 by 17 British research universities – Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Imperial College London, Leeds, Liverpool, London School of Economics, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Sheffield, Southampton, University College London and Warwick, who originally met at [[Hotel Russell]] shortly before meetings of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (now [[Universities UK]]) in nearby [[Tavistock Square]], close to the [[University of London]] buildings and, particularly, [[Senate House (University of London)|Senate House]].<ref name="bbc12312" /><ref name="guardian2012" /> With the exception of [[University of Warwick|Warwick]] (established in the 1960s), the founder members of the group were all universities or university colleges prior to World War I, including most of Britain's [[Ancient university|ancient universities]] and "[[redbrick universities]]". In 1998, Cardiff University and King's College London joined the group.<ref name="kclandcardiff">{{cite news|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=409118|title=Do you want to be in my gang?|access-date=1 January 2013|work=Times Higher Education|date=19 November 2009|archive-date=11 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611131444/https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=409118|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2001, the Russell Group decided against selecting a preferred option for the future funding of higher education, stating that endowments, a graduate contribution, increased public funding and top-up fees should all remain options.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=158251&sectioncode=26|title=Russell Group keeps funding options open|access-date=5 September 2012|work=Times Higher Education|date=23 March 2001|archive-date=11 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611064853/https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=158251&sectioncode=26|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2005, it was announced that the Russell Group would be appointing its first full-time director-general as a result of a planned expansion of its operations, including commissioning and conducting its own policy research.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=200241&sectioncode=26|title=Russell Group seeks leader to oversee its expanded role|access-date=5 September 2012|work=Times Higher Education|date=9 December 2005|archive-date=11 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611081203/https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=200241&sectioncode=26|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2006, Queen's University Belfast was admitted as the twentieth member of the group.<ref name="the91106">{{cite news|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=206624&sectioncode=26|title=Queen's gets key to Russell club door|access-date=5 September 2012|work=Times Higher Education|date=9 November 2006|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404132309/https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=206624&sectioncode=26|url-status=live}}</ref> In the same month [[Wendy Piatt]], the then deputy director in the Prime Minister's strategy unit, was announced as the group's new Director General and chief executive.<ref name="the91106" />

In March 2012, it was announced that four universities – Durham, Exeter, Queen Mary University of London; and York – would become members of the Russell Group in August of the same year.<ref name="bbc12312" /> All of the new members had previously been members of the [[1994 Group]] of British universities.<ref name="bbc12312" />

In January 2013, it was announced that the Russell Group would establish an academic board to advise the English exams watchdog [[Ofqual]] on the content of [[GCE Advanced Level (United Kingdom)|A-Levels]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=422488&c=1|title=Russell Group to advise on A-level content in post-16 shake-up|access-date=27 January 2013|work=Times Higher Education|date=23 January 2013|archive-date=13 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913231512/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news?sectioncode=26&storycode=422488&c=1|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, the group launched the website "Informed Choices" to advise school children on which A-level subject choices were useful for various degree courses, replacing an earlier teachers' guide of the same name from 2011 that had identified a list of "facilitating subjects'.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Daily Telegraph]]|date=23 May 2019|title=Bright teenagers risk having university plans 'scuppered' by bad A-levels advice, Russell Group warns|author=Camilla Turner}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsb.org.uk/images/Russell%20Group%20-%20Informed%20Choices.pdf|title=Informed choices|access-date=22 March 2023|publisher=Russell Group|archive-date=7 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307130634/https://www.rsb.org.uk/images/Russell%20Group%20-%20Informed%20Choices.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Organisation==
{{Location map+|United Kingdom|  alt=Map of the UK with location of Russell Group universities highlighted|caption=Locations of Russell Group universities|float=right|upright=1.8|places=
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=51.76|long=-1.25|position=right|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Oxford|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=52.21|long=0.12|position=top|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Cambridge|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=51.51|long=-0.13|position=right|label='''''London'''''|mark=City locator 11.svg|marksize=12}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=53.47|long=-2.23|position=top|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Manchester|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=52.94|long=-1.20|position=right|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Nottingham|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=51.46|long=-2.60|position=bottom|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Bristol|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=53.81|long=-1.55|position=top|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Leeds|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=53.38|long=-1.49|position=right|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Sheffield|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=52.45|long=-1.93|position=left|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Birmingham|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=50.93|long=-1.40|position=right|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Southampton|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=53.41|long=-2.97|position=bottom|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Liverpool|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=54.98|long=-1.62|position=left|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Newcastle|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=52.38|long=-1.56|position=right|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Warwick|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=55.95|long=-3.19|position=top|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Edinburgh|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=55.87|long=-4.29|position=bottom|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Glasgow|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=51.49|long=-3.18|position=left|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Cardiff|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=54.58|long=-5.93|position=bottom|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Queen's Belfast|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=53.95|long=-1.05|position=right|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|York|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=54.77|long=-1.57|position=right|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Durham|full=off}}}}}}
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=50.74|long=-3.53|position=left|label={{nowrap|{{BUni|Exeter|full=off}}}}}}

<!--LONDON UNIVERSITIES IN BOTTOM LEFT CORNER-->
{{Location map~|United Kingdom|mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png|marksize=1|lat=51|long=-11
|label='''[[Education in London#Research|London:]]'''<br />
&nbsp;{{nowrap|{{BUni|Imperial}}}}<br />
&nbsp;{{nowrap|{{BUni|KCL}}}}<br />
&nbsp;{{nowrap|{{BUni|LSE}}}}<br />
&nbsp;{{nowrap|{{BUni|Queen Mary}}}}<br />
&nbsp;{{nowrap|{{BUni|UCL}}}}
|position=right}}

|width=400|default_width=400}}
===Objectives===
The Russell Group states that "its aim is to help ensure that our universities have the optimum conditions in which to flourish and continue to make social, economic and cultural impacts through their world-leading research and teaching".<ref name=About/>

It works towards this by lobbying the UK government and parliament; commissioning reports and research; creating a forum in which its member institutions can discuss issues of common concern; and identify opportunities for them to work together.

===Leadership===
The Russell Group is led by Chief Executive Tim Bradshaw and chaired by [[Chris Day (hepatologist)|Chris Day]], Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle.<ref name="Chair_Day"/>

{| class="wikitable"
|+  | Russell Group chairs 2000–2026
|-
! Name !! Dates !! Institution
|-
| [[Colin Lucas]] || 2000–2003 || Oxford
|-
| [[Michael Sterling (academic)|Michael Sterling]] || 2003–2006 || Birmingham
|-
|  [[Malcolm Grant]] || 2006–2009 || UCL
|-
| [[Michael Arthur (physician)|Michael Arthur]] || 2009–2012 || Leeds
|-
|  [[David Eastwood]] || 2012–2015 || Birmingham
|-
|  [[David Greenaway (economist)|David Greenaway]] || 2015–2017 || Nottingham
|-
|  [[Anton Muscatelli]] || 2017–2020 || Glasgow
|-
|  [[Nancy Rothwell]] || 2020–2023 || Manchester
|-
|  [[Chris Day (hepatologist)|Chris Day]] || 2023–2026 || Newcastle
|}

==Members==
The Russell Group currently has twenty-four members,<ref name=guardian2012>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/mar/12/russell-group-four-more-universities|date=12 March 2012|title=Russell Group extends membership to four more universities|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=9 October 2015|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112042007/http://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/mar/12/russell-group-four-more-universities|url-status=live}}</ref> of which twenty are from England, two from Scotland, and one from each of Wales and Northern Ireland. Of the English members, five are from [[Greater London]]; three from the [[Yorkshire and the Humber]] region; two from each of the [[North East England|North East]], [[North West England|North West]], [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]], [[South West England|South West]] and [[South East England|South East]] regions; and one from each of the [[East Midlands]] and [[East of England|East]] regions. Four Russell Group members are constituent colleges of the [[University of London]] and a fifth London institution, Imperial College London, was part of the University of London until 2007.

The table below gives the members of the group, along with when they joined, their student and staff numbers, and their latest [[Teaching Excellence Framework]] overall rating (non-English universities were not assessed).

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" | University
!Nation
! scope="col" | Year of joining
! data-sort-type="number" |  [[Undergraduates|Undergraduate students]] (2021/22)<ref name="HESAStudents">{{cite web |title=Where do HE students study? {{!}} HESA |url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/where-study#provider |access-date=31 January 2023 |publisher=[[Higher Education Statistics Agency]] |archive-date=10 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210120926/https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/where-study#provider |url-status=live }}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Postgraduates|Postgraduate students]] (2021/22)<ref name="HESAStudents"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Total students (2021/22)<ref name="HESAStudents"/>
! data-sort-type="number" | Total academic staff (2022/23)<ref name="HESAStaff">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/staff/working-in-he|title=Who's working in HE?|access-date=30 January 2024|publisher=[[Higher Education Statistics Agency]]|archive-date=29 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729033636/https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/staff/working-in-he|url-status=live}}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Teaching Excellence Framework|TEF award]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tef2023.officeforstudents.org.uk/|publisher=Office for Students|access-date=28 September 2023|title=Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 Outcomes|archive-date=13 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913231512/https://tef2023.officeforstudents.org.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Birmingham|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|25,150
|12,840
|37,990
|3,195
|data-sort-value="0" |Silver†
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Bristol|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|23,055
|8,425
|31,485
|2,830
|data-sort-value="1" |Silver
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Cambridge|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|13,645
|8,960
|22,610
|4,935
|data-sort-value="3" |Gold*
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Cardiff|full=on}}
|[[Wales]]
|1998
|23,765
|10,220
|33,985
|2,540
|{{n/a}}
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Durham|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|2012
|17,395
|4,835
|22,230
|1,745
|data-sort-value="1" |Silver
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Edinburgh|full=on}}
|[[Scotland]]
|1994
|26,000
|15,245
|41,250
|4,200
|{{n/a}}
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Exeter|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|2012
|23,755
|8,710
|32,465
|2,320
|data-sort-value="3" |Gold*
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Glasgow|full=on}}
|[[Scotland]]
|1994
|23,460
|19,520
|42,980
|3,155
|{{n/a}}
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Imperial|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|11,740
|9,730
|21,470
|3,715
|data-sort-value="2" |Gold
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|KCL|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1998
|23,225
|18,270
|41,490
|3,850
|data-sort-value="1" |Silver
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Leeds|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|27,015
|10,175
|37,190
|3,040
|data-sort-value="0" |Silver†
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Liverpool|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|22,265
|6,415
|28,680
|2,440
|data-sort-value="2" |Gold
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|LSE|full=on}}<sup>‡</sup>
|[[England]]
|1994
|5,575
|7,400
|12,975
|1,095
|data-sort-value="1" |Silver
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Manchester|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|30,900
|15,505
|46,410
|4,195
|data-sort-value="1" |Silver
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Newcastle|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|20,760
|6,520
|27,280
|2,525
|data-sort-value="0" |Silver†
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Nottingham|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|28,690
|8,570
|37,260
|2,870
|data-sort-value="1" |Silver
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Oxford|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|15,685
|11,610
|27,290
|6,005
|data-sort-value="3" |Gold*
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Queen Mary|full=on}}<sup>‡</sup>
|[[England]]
|2012
|17,430
|8,615
|26,045
|2,065
|data-sort-value="0" |Silver†
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Queen's Belfast|full=on}}
|[[Northern Ireland|N. Ire.]]
|2006
|17,970
|7,325
|25,295
|1,775
|{{n/a}}
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Sheffield|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|20,040
|10,820
|30,860
|2,855
|data-sort-value="1" |Silver
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Southampton|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|15,110
|8,685
|23,795
|2,060
|data-sort-value="1" |Silver
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|UCL|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|23,800
|23,030
|46,830
|6,460
|data-sort-value="1" |Silver
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|Warwick|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|1994
|18,955
|9,870
|28,825
|2,270
|data-sort-value="3" |Gold*
|-
|nowrap|{{BUni|York|full=on}}
|[[England]]
|2012
|15,350
|8,070
|23,420
|1,810
|data-sort-value="2" |Gold
|-
|}

<small>'''Notes:'''<br>
<sup>‡</sup> Member institution of the [[University of London]], awarding its own degrees<br />
<sup>*</sup> Achieved 'Gold' rating in all three categories of the assessment<br />
<sup>†</sup> Achieved overall 'Silver' rating with one category rated 'Bronze'
</small>

==Status==
===Research===
In 2022/23, following the 2021 [[Research Excellence Framework]] (REF), the English universities of the Russell Group saw their share of recurring research funding from [[Research England]] drop by 2.71 percentage points from the 2021/22 funding (based on the previous 2014 REF) to 68.21 per cent, although most institutions saw a rise in actual funding levels due to an overall increase in funding. The top 19 English institutions in terms of funding continued to all be from the Russell Group, with the top 20 being rounded off, as before, by [[University of Lancaster|Lancaster]]. The LSE was, as in previous REF rounds, the exception, ranking 31st in terms of funding (down from 23rd in 2021/11) and seeing a nine per cent fall (£1.7&nbsp;million) in its allocation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/post-92s-gain-research-funding-expense-golden-triangle|title=Post-92s gain research funding at expense of 'golden triangle'|date=4 August 2022|author=Tom Williams|work=Times Higher Education|access-date=15 August 2022|archive-date=17 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817224938/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/post-92s-gain-research-funding-expense-golden-triangle|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015/16, following the 2014 REF, the 19 English universities with [[HEFCE]] research funding allocations (excluding transitional funding) in excess of £20&nbsp;million were all members of the Russell Group. The only English Russell Group institution to receive an allocation below £20&nbsp;million was the LSE (£18.6&nbsp;million), which ranked 22nd behind the Universities of [[University of Leicester|Leicester]] and Lancaster (both on £19&nbsp;million).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/winners-and-losers-in-hefce-funding-allocations/2019306.article|title=Winners and losers in Hefce funding allocations|date=26 March 2015|work=[[Times Higher Education]]|author=Paul Jump|access-date=6 March 2016|archive-date=10 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310230954/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/winners-and-losers-in-hefce-funding-allocations/2019306.article|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2010/11, 19 of the 20 UK universities with the highest income from research grants and contracts were members of the Russell Group.<ref name=thefindat>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/sites/default/files/breaking_news_files/university-financial-health-check-2016-uk-institutions-finances-2014-2015.pdf|title=University financial health check 2014-5|access-date=2 June 2016|work=Times Higher Education|date=2 June 2016|archive-date=14 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914164421/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/sites/default/files/breaking_news_files/university-financial-health-check-2016-uk-institutions-finances-2014-2015.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In terms of total research funding allocations from the [[Higher Education Funding Council for England]] (HEFCE) in 2007/8, the top 15 universities were all Russell Group institutions.<ref name="education.guardian.co.uk">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/higher/specialreport/table/0,,2023291,00.html | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Hefce funding allocations 2007–08: All institutions | access-date=23 May 2010}}</ref> [[London School of Economics|LSE]] was 21st, due to its focus on less costly social sciences research. [[Queen's University Belfast]], [[Cardiff University|Cardiff]], [[University of Glasgow|Glasgow]] and [[University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh]], were not included in this table, as they are not English institutions. The Russell Group institutions received 82% of the total HEFCE research funding allocation.<ref name="education.guardian.co.uk"/>

The research funding figures depend on factors other than the quality of research, in particular there are variations due to institutional size and subject spread (e.g. science, technology and medicine tend to attract more money).

In 2008, 18 of the then 20 members were positioned in the top 20 of [[Research Fortnight]]'s [[Research Assessment Exercise]] 'Power' Table. The other two places were occupied by [[Durham University]] and [[Queen Mary University of London]], which were not then Russell Group members but have since joined. The two Russell Group institutions outside the top 20 were QUB (21st) and the LSE (27th), while the other two universities to have since joined were York (22nd) and Exeter (25th).<ref name="Research Fortnight">{{cite web |url=http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=36755 |title=剁䔰㠠偯睥爠呡扬 |access-date=4 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609102926/http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=36755 |archive-date=9 June 2012 |lang=ja }}</ref> In the equivalent table for the 2014 [[Research Excellence Framework]], the 24 Russell Group members occupied the top 24 positions, with the [[University of Lancaster]] in 25th being the highest-ranked non-Russell Group university.<ref name="Research Fortnight 2014">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/ng-interactive/2014/dec/18/university-research-excellence-framework-2014-full-rankings|newspaper=The Guardian|title=University Research Excellence Framework 2014 – the full rankings|date=17 December 2014|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140152/https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/ng-interactive/2014/dec/18/university-research-excellence-framework-2014-full-rankings|url-status=live}}</ref>

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

In 2023, all eight UK universities in the ARWU top 100, seventeen of the eighteen in the QS top 100 (the other place being occupied by the [[University of St Andrews]]), and all ten in the [[Times Higher Education|THE]] top 100 are members of the Russell Group. The Russell Group provides seven of the top ten in the Complete, Guardian, and Times/Sunday Times.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! width=200px | University
! data-sort-type="number" | ''[[Academic Ranking of World Universities|ARWU 2024]]'' (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|access-date=16 August 2024}}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | ''[[QS World University Rankings|QS 2025]]'' (Global)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings|title=QS World University Rankings 2025|publisher=Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd.|date=27 June 2024|access-date=27 June 2024}}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | ''[[Times Higher Education World University Rankings|THE 2024]]'' (Global)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2024/world-ranking#!/length/25/locations/GBR/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats|title=THE World University Rankings 2024|publisher=Times Higher Education|date=28 September 2023|access-date=28 September 2023|archive-date=27 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927173053/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2024/world-ranking#!/length/25/locations/GBR/sort_by/rank/sort_order/asc/cols/stats|url-status=live}}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | ''[[Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom#The Complete University Guide|Complete 2025]]'' (National)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings|title=Complete University Guide 2025|publisher=The Complete University Guide|date=14 May 2024|access-date=14 May 2024|archive-date=6 April 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220406135553/https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings|url-status=live}}</ref>
! data-sort-type="number" | ''[[Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom#The Guardian|Guardian 2025]]'' (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 2024]]'' (National)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk-university-rankings|title=Good University Guide 2024|work=The Times|date=15 September 2023|access-date=15 September 2023|archive-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107023235/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/uk-university-rankings|url-status=live}}</ref>

|-
| University of Birmingham
| 151–200
| 80=
| 101
| 12
| 36
| 22
|-
| University of Bristol
| 97
| 54
| 81
| 16
| 16
| 16
|-
| University of Cambridge
| 5
| 5
| 5
| 1
| 3
| 3
|-
| Cardiff University
| 151–200
| 186
| 190
| 27
| 46
| 25
|-
|Durham University
| 301–400
| 89=
| 174
| 6
| 6
| 7
|-
| University of Edinburgh
| 40
| 27
| 30=
| 15
| 15
| 13
|-
| University of Exeter
| 151–200
| 169=
| 177=
| 14
| 18
| 11
|-
| University of Glasgow
| 101–150
| 78
| 87=
| 29
| 14
| 12
|-
| Imperial College London
| 25
| 2
| 8
| 5
| 5
| 5
|-
| King's College London
| 53
| 40=
| 38=
| 24
| 28
| 27
|-
| University of Leeds
| 151–200
| 82=
| 129
| 23
| 37
| 24
|-
| University of Liverpool
| 101–150
| 165=
| 168=
| 18=
| 27
| 29=
|-
| London School of Economics
| 151–200
| 50=
| 46
| 3
| 4
| 4
|-
| University of Manchester
| 52
| 34=
| 51
| 22
| 31
| 23
|-
| Newcastle University
| 201–300
| 129
| 168=
| 26
| 63
| 37
|-
| University of Nottingham
| 101–150
| 108
| 130=
| 30
| 62
| 32
|-
| University of Oxford
| 6
| 3
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 2
|-
| Queen Mary University of London
| 201–300
| 120=
| 135
| 50
| 74
| 46
|-
| Queen's University Belfast
| 301–400
| 206=
| 201–250
| 25
| 43
| 31
|-
| University of Sheffield
| 151–200
| 105=
| 105
| 18=
| 20
| 18
|-
| University of Southampton
| 151–200
| 80=
| 97=
| 20
| 22
| 17
|-
| University College London
| 16
| 9
| 22
| 9
| 9
| 6
|-
| University of Warwick
| 101–150
| 69=
| 106=
| 10
| 8
| 9
|-
| University of York
| 301–400
| 184
| 147
| 17
| 25
| 15
|}

===Selectivity===

All but two of the universities in the Russell Group are part of the [[Sutton Trust]]'s group of 30 highly selective universities, the [[Sutton Trust#Sutton Trust 30|Sutton 30]] (the absent members being Queen Mary University of London and Queen's University Belfast).<ref>{{cite report|title=Degree of Success: University Chances by Individual School|url=https://www.suttontrust.com/our-research/degree-success-university-chances-individual-school/|date=8 July 2011|publisher=The Sutton Trust|access-date=28 July 2020|archive-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916163741/https://www.suttontrust.com/our-research/degree-success-university-chances-individual-school/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Sutton Trust#Sutton Trust 13|Sutton 13]] group of the 13 most highly selective universities only includes one non-Russell Group member, the [[University of St Andrews]].<ref>{{cite report|title=Earnings by Degrees|publisher=[[Sutton Trust]]|url=https://www.suttontrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Earnings-by-Degrees-REPORT-1.pdf|pages=16–17|date=18 December 2014|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-date=13 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913231509/https://www.suttontrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Earnings-by-Degrees-REPORT-1.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The top 10 by average [[UCAS Tariff|UCAS points]] of new undergraduate students in 2021–22 included three non-Russell Group universities: St Andrews (1st: 212 points), [[University of Strathclyde|Strathclyde]] (2nd: 210 points), and [[University of Aberdeen|Aberdeen]] (joint 10th with Durham: 185 points).<ref name="Entry Standards"/> The top 10 by lowest offer rate to new undergraduate students in 2024-25 included three non-Russell Group universities: St Andrews (4th; 30.0%), [[St George's, University of London|St George's]] (7th; 42.0%) and [[University of the Arts London]] (10th; 48.4%). The average offer rate, including conditional and unconditional offers, across 'higher tariff' UK institutions (as defined by [[UCAS]]) was 63.3% in 2024.<ref name="offer rate"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! University
! data-sort-type="number" | [[UCAS Tariff|Average <br/>Entry Tariff]]<sup>a</sup><ref name="Entry Standards">{{cite web|title=Complete University Guide 2024 – Entry Standards|url=https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?tabletype=full-table&sortby=entry-standards|access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref><!-- Later UCAS tariff data since 2021 has not been published by HESA yet -->
! data-sort-type="number" | Offer Rate (%)<sup>b</sup><ref name="offer rate">{{cite web|title=2024 entry UCAS Undergraduate reports by sex, area background, and ethnic group|date=7 February 2025|url=https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-end-cycle-data-resources-2024/2024-entry-ucas-undergraduate-reports-sex-area-background-and-ethnic-group|publisher=[[UCAS]]|access-date=7 February 2025}}</ref>

|-
| University of Birmingham
| 158
| 69.6
|-
| University of Bristol
| 174
| 67.6
|-
| University of Cambridge
| 209
| 24.5
|-
| Cardiff University
| 153
| 73.4
|-
| Durham University
| 185
| 67.6
|-
| University of Edinburgh
| 197
| 43.6
|-
| University of Exeter
| 164
| 85.1
|-
| University of Glasgow
| 209
| 66.5
|-
| Imperial College London
| 206
| 32.8
|-
| King's College London
| 171
| 44.3
|-
| University of Leeds
| 162
| 59.9
|-
| University of Liverpool
| 147
| 73.2
|-
| London School of Economics
| 195
| 21.0
|-
| University of Manchester
| 167
| 57.7
|-
| Newcastle University
| 151
| 80.2
|-
| University of Nottingham
| 154
| 70.1
|-
| University of Oxford
| 205
| 20.3
|-
| Queen Mary University of London
| 151
| 64.5
|-
| Queen's University Belfast
| 156
| 73.5
|-
| University of Sheffield
| 157
| 77.7
|-
| University of Southampton
| 156
| 76.5
|-
| University College London
| 190
| 35.2
|-
| University of Warwick
| 173
| 70.8
|-
| University of York
| 157
| 79.3
|}

<small>'''Notes:'''<br />
<sup>a</sup> The average [[UCAS]] tariff achieved by new undergraduate students entering the university in 2021–22. This is based on qualifications achieved, for example [[GCE Advanced Level (United Kingdom)|A-levels]]: A* = 56, A = 48, B = 40 UCAS points; [[International Baccalaureate|IBO Certificate in Higher Level]]: H7 = 56, H6 = 48, H5 = 32.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ucas.com/file/603496/download?token=cBYDgpzT|publisher=UCAS|date=May 2021|title=UCAS Tariff tables|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=13 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913232008/https://www.ucas.com/file/603496/download?token=cBYDgpzT|url-status=live}}</ref>
<br><sup>b</sup> The average offer rate for June deadline undergraduate applicants (all ages) in 2024.<br /></small>

===Finances===
The Russell Group accounted for 49.1% of the income of the higher education sector in the UK in 2013–14, having risen from 44.7% of the total in 2001–02. Over the same period the total income of Russell Group universities rose by 69.9% in real terms, compared to a sector average of 54.4%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/russell-group-pulls-further-away-in-funding-race|title=Russell Group 'pulls further away' in funding race|work=[[Times Higher Education]]|date=9 December 2015|author=Chris Havergal|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-date=13 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913232114/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/russell-group-pulls-further-away-in-funding-race|url-status=live}}</ref> Russell Group universities are also seen as "particularly creditworthy" due to their membership of the group, allowing them to borrow money at low interest rates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/russell-group-membership-a-badge-of-quality-for-bond-investors|title=Russell Group membership a 'badge of quality' for bond investors|date=11 February 2016|author=John Morgan|work=[[Times Higher Education]]|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-date=12 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212081028/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/russell-group-membership-a-badge-of-quality-for-bond-investors|url-status=live}}</ref>

The total annual income for Russell Group members for 2023/24 was £25.31 billion (2020/21 – £20.30 billion) of which £5.67 billion (2020/21 – £4.77 billion) was from research grants and contracts, with an operating surplus of £6.50 billion (2020/21 – £1.15 billion). Russell Group universities hold a total endowment value of £6.66 billion excluding colleges (2020/21 – £6.18 billion) and net assets of £41.08 billion (2020/21 – £31.52 billion). The table below is a record of each Russell Group member's financial data for the 2023/24 financial year.

{| class="sortable wikitable"
!University
!data-sort-type="number" |Government funding body grants (£m)
!data-sort-type="number" |Teaching income (£m)
!data-sort-type="number" |Teaching income as % of total income
!data-sort-type="number" |Research income (£m)
!data-sort-type="number" |Research income as % of total income
!data-sort-type="number" |Total income (£m)
!data-sort-type="number" |Operating surplus (£m)
!data-sort-type="number" |Surplus as % of total income
!data-sort-type="number" |Endowment value (£m)
!data-sort-type="number" |Total net assets (£m)
|-
|[[University of Birmingham]]<ref name="Birmingham Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web | url = https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/documents/finance/uob-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-24.pdf| title = Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024 | access-date = 12 December 2024| publisher = University of Birmingham}}</ref>
|109.5
|456.3
|49.3%
|205.2
|22.2%
|'''926.0'''
|199.5
|21.5%
|155.8
|1,309.7
|-
|[[University of Bristol]]<ref name="Bristol Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web | url = https://www.bristol.ac.uk/media-library/sites/finance/documents/UoB%20AR%20FS%202024%20WEB.pdf | title = Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024 | access-date = 18 December 2024 | publisher = University of Bristol }}</ref>
|119.0
|459.9
|43.4%
|294.1
|27.7%
|'''1,060.1'''
|291.4
|27.5%
|98.7
|1,580.8
|-
|[[University of Cambridge]]<sup>‡</sup><ref name="Cambridge Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web | url = https://www.cam.ac.uk/system/files/university_of_cambridge_group_annual_reports_financial_statements_2023-24.pdf | title = Reports and Financial Statements 2024 | access-date = 18 December 2024 | publisher = University of Cambridge}}</ref>
|202.5
|394.9
|16.1%
|568.8
|23.2%
|'''2,449.4'''
|387.5
|15.8%
|2,259.0
|7,254.7
|-
|[[Cardiff University]]<ref name="Cardiff Financial Statements 23/24">{{cite web |title=Annual Report and Financial Statements Year ended 31 July 2024 |url=https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/2894974/CU_AnnualReport2024_Final.pdf |website=cardiff.ac.uk |publisher=Cardiff University |access-date=31 January 2025}}</ref>
|83.2
|328.3
|51.5%
|126.6
|19.8%
|'''638.0'''
|137.6
|21.6%
|53.1
|852.6
|-
|[[Durham University]]<sup>‡</sup><ref name="Durham Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web|url=https://www.durham.ac.uk/media/durham-university/professional-services/finance-service/7724_DU_Annual_Report_2024_Accessible_Final_V2.pdf|publisher=Durham University |access-date=8 January 2025|title=Durham University Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2024}}</ref>
|48.2
|301.9
|58.8%
|60.7
|11.8%
|'''513.4'''
|120.4
|23.5%
|106.6
|544.3
|-
|[[University of Edinburgh]]<ref name="Edinburgh Financial Statements 23/24">{{cite web |url=https://uoe-finance.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-01/ARA%2024.pdf |title=Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31 July 2024 |publisher=The University of Edinburgh |access-date=16 January 2025}}</ref>
|208.7
|527.2
|38.0%
|365.2
|26.4%
|'''1,385.8'''
|400.1
|28.9%
|580.4
|3,002.6
|-
|[[University of Exeter]]<ref name="Exeter Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web |url=https://www.exeter.ac.uk/v8media/universityofexeter/financeservices/pdfs/annualreport2023-2024.pdf |title=Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024 |access-date=18 December 2024 |publisher=University of Exeter }}</ref>
|72.8
|350.6
|52.6%
|129.2
|19.4%
|'''666.6'''
|186.1
|27.9%
|51.6
|616.6
|-
|[[University of Glasgow]]<ref name="Glasgow Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web |url = https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_1137393_smxx.pdf |title = Reports and Financial Statements for the year to 31 July 2024 |access-date = 21 December 2024 |publisher = University of Glasgow}}</ref>
|182.7
|387.8
|40.8%
|221.1
|23.2%
|'''950.0'''
|291.4
|30.7%
|262.4
|1,409.0
|-
|[[Imperial College London]]<ref name="Imperial Financial Statements 23/24">{{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>
|165.4
|507.5
|38.8%
|396.2
|30.3%
|'''1,309.3'''
|258.1
|19.7%
|235.2
|2,081.8
|-
|[[King's College London]]<ref name="KCL Financial Statements 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>
|144.9
|630.5
|49.6%
|256.9
|20.2%
|'''1,270.7'''
|326.7
|25.7%
|324.8
|1,670.9
|-
|[[University of Leeds]]<ref name="Leeds Financial Statements 23/24">{{cite web|url=https://www.leeds.ac.uk/download/downloads/id/3490/annual-report-and-accounts-2023-24.pdf|title=Annual report and accounts 2023–24|publisher=University of Leeds|access-date= 12 December 2024}}</ref>
|101.8
|563.8
|53.8%
|190.9
|18.2%
|'''1,047.8'''
|299.7
|28.6%
|94.8
|1,264.6
|-
|[[University of Liverpool]]<ref name="Liverpool Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web |title=Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024 |url=https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/media/livacuk/finance/Review,of,the,Year,2024.pdf |publisher=University of Liverpool |access-date= 17 December 2024}}</ref>
|93.4
|367.1
|52.1%
|123.3
|17.5%
|'''705.3'''
|189.5
|26.9%
|193.8
|885.6
|-
|[[London School of Economics]]<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}}</ref>
|26.8
|316.4
|60.2%
|41.4
|7.9%
|'''525.6'''
|181.2
|34.5%
|255.5
|1,008.8
|-
|[[University of Manchester]]<ref name="Manchester Financial Statements 23/24">{{cite web |title=Financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2024 |url=https://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=74868 |access-date=12 December 2024 |publisher=University of Manchester}}</ref>
|151.0
|714.3
|52.3%
|287.9
|21.1%
|'''1,365.2'''
|340.0
|24.9%
|240.2
|2,214.7
|-
|[[Newcastle University]]<ref name="Newcastle Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web | url = https://www.ncl.ac.uk/mediav8/freedom-of-information/files/IAR-23-24-compressed.pdf |title= Integrated Annual Report 2022–23|access-date=30 January 2025|publisher = Newcastle University}}</ref>
|88.7
|307.4
|49.6%
|126.1
|20.4%
|'''619.8'''
|144.8
|23.4%
|94.8
|627.2
|-
|[[University of Nottingham]]<ref name="Nottingham Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web | url = https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/FABS/Finance/documents/Financialstatements/2024-university-of-nottingham-report-accounts-signed-v2.pdf | title = Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024 | access-date = 12 December 2024 | publisher = University of Nottingham}}</ref>
|120.7
|437.5
|52.4%
|141.6
|17.0%
|'''834.7'''
|219.4
|26.3%
|78.1
|783.5
|-
|[[University of Oxford]]<sup>‡</sup><ref name="Oxford Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web | url = https://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/Oxford_University_Financial_Statements_2023-24.pdf | title = Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24 | access-date = 18 December 2024 | publisher = University of Oxford}}</ref>
|224.7
|524.7
|18.6%
|777.8
|27.5%
|'''2,829.1'''
|766.6
|27.1%
|1,198.7
|6,250.5
|-
|[[Queen Mary University of London]]<ref name="QMUL Financial Statement 2023-24">{{cite web| url = https://finance.qmul.ac.uk/media/finance/financialstatements/960_24_Annual_(Financial)_Report_-_FINAL_22Nov.pdf| title = Financial Statements for the Year to 31 July 2024| access-date = 12 December 2024| publisher = Queen Mary, University of London| page = 42}}</ref>
|86.9
|390.0
|54.8%
|146.8
|20.6%
|'''712.2'''
|189.7
|26.6%
|48.0
|859.2
|-
|[[Queen's University Belfast]]<ref name="QUB Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web |url = https://www.qub.ac.uk/home/Filestore/annual-report-23-24.pdf |title = Annual Report 2023–24 |access-date = 18 December 2024 |publisher = Queen's University Belfast |page = 92 }}</ref>
|107.5
|160.0
|33.7%
|105.2
|22.2%
|'''474.2'''
|128.3
|27.1%
|70.9
|658.0
|-
|[[University of Sheffield]]<ref name="Sheffield Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web |title=Annual Report and Financial Statements 2023–24 |url=https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/media/84071/download?attachment |publisher=The University of Sheffield |access-date=17 December 2024 }}</ref>
|109.1
|401.8
|45.3%
|185.8
|20.9%
|'''887.9'''
|236.5
|26.6%
|55.2
|1,885.7
|-
|[[University of Southampton]]<ref name="Southampton Financial Statements 23/24">{{cite web | title=Financial Statements 2022–2023 |url = http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~assets/doc/University%20of%20Southampton%20-%20Financial%20Statements%202022-23.pdf| publisher = University of Southampton| page = 30}}</ref>
|84.0
|369.7
|49.8%
|136.5
|18.4%
|'''742.4'''
|220.1
|29.7%
|12.4
|929.3
|-
|[[University College London]]<ref name="UCL Financial Statements 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>
|228.1
|971.2
|47.9%
|538.8
|26.6%
|'''2,028.6'''
|558.2
|27.5%
|174.8
|2,186.4
|-
|[[University of Warwick]]<ref name="Warwick Financial Statements 23/24">{{cite web |url=https://warwick.ac.uk/services/finance/resources/accounts/accounts2324_-_with_cover.pdf |title=Statement of accounts for the year ended 31 July 2024 |publisher=University of Warwick |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>
|74.4
|459.6
|54.0%
|146.5
|17.2%
|'''850.5'''
|290.9
|34.2%
|7.3
|733.3
|-
|[[University of York]]<ref name="York Financial Statement 23/24">{{cite web|title=Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024|url=https://www.york.ac.uk/media/staffhome/marketing/corporatepublications/Annual-report-and-financial-statements-2024.pdf|publisher=University of York|access-date=23 December 2024}}</ref>
|54.8
|260.1
|50.5%
|100.4
|19.5%
|'''515.5'''
|136.1
|26.4%
|7.8
|472.7
|-
!Overall
!2,888.8
!10,588.5
!41.8%
!5,673.0
!22.4%
!'''25,308.1'''
!6,449.8
!25.7%
!6,659.9
!41,082.5
|}

<small>'''Notes:'''<br><sup>‡</sup> exclusive of colleges</small>

==Criticisms==
==='Elite' status questioned===
In a statement made in 2014 to the Higher Education Policy Institute, [[David Watson (academic)|David Watson]] of the [[University of Oxford]] suggested that the Russell Group's claim to represent 24 'leading universities' was "a real stretch". In the context of the Russell Group's reputation in the sector, he continued: "particularly dangerous, I think, is the bottom half of the Russell Group...The problem with the Russell Group is that it represents neither the sector as a whole [nor], in many cases, the best of the sector". Performance in research intensity showed that there were dozens of other UK universities "above the bottom Russellers".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Morgan|first1=John|title=Sir David Watson: Russell Group is not all it's cracked up to be|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/sir-david-watson-russell-group-is-not-all-its-cracked-up-to-be/2012364.article|access-date=14 December 2016|work=Times Higher Education|publisher=Times Higher Education|date=3 April 2014|archive-date=21 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221110644/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/sir-david-watson-russell-group-is-not-all-its-cracked-up-to-be/2012364.article|url-status=live}}</ref>

A [[Durham University]] academic, Vikki Boliver, published a report in 2015 claiming that the prestigious position of the Russell Group was not based on evidence, but rather successful marketing. Only the universities of Oxford and Cambridge were significantly more elite than the majority of "old" universities when a grouping analysis was performed using data on academic selectivity, research activity, teaching quality, socio-economic exclusivity and economic resources. The other 22 members of the Russell Group sit in a second tier of universities along with 17 other "old" universities ([[University of Aberdeen|Aberdeen]], [[University of Bath|Bath]]*, [[University of Dundee|Dundee]], [[University of East Anglia|East Anglia]]*, [[Goldsmiths, University of London|Goldsmiths]]*, [[Heriot-Watt University|Heriot-Watt]], [[University of Kent|Kent]], [[Lancaster University|Lancaster]]*, [[University of Leicester|Leicester]]*, [[Loughborough University|Loughborough]]*, [[University of Reading|Reading]]*, [[Royal Holloway, University of London|Royal Holloway]]*, [[University of St Andrews|St Andrews]]*, [[SOAS, University of London|SOAS]]*, [[University of Strathclyde|Strathclyde]], [[University of Surrey|Surrey]]* and [[University of Sussex|Sussex]]*), mostly comprising former members of the defunct [[1994 Group]] (shown by asterisks). Another 13 "old" universities and 54 [[New universities (United Kingdom)|"new" universities]] made up a third tier, with a fourth tier of 19 "new" universities. Within each tier, the differences between the institutions were less significant than the differences between the tiers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/most-russell-group-universities-little-better-than-other-pre-92s|title=Most Russell Group universities 'little different to other pre-92s'|newspaper=Times Higher Education|date=19 November 2015|author=Chris Havergal|access-date=18 November 2015|archive-date=30 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730130008/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/most-russell-group-universities-little-better-than-other-pre-92s|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://dro.dur.ac.uk/14978/|title=Are there distinctive clusters of higher and lower status universities in the UK?|journal=Oxford Review of Education|volume=41|issue=5|pages=608–627|author=V. Bolivar|publisher=Taylor & Francis|date=30 September 2015|doi=10.1080/03054985.2015.1082905|s2cid=143154842|access-date=14 July 2019|archive-date=14 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714180513/http://dro.dur.ac.uk/14978/|url-status=live}}</ref> This reflected an earlier result from 2010 that, when the [[Golden triangle (universities)|"Golden Triangle"]] universities (defined in the study as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, and UCL)<!---the study did not include King's College London as part of the "golden triangle", do not add it to this list---> were omitted, the remaining (then) members of the Russell Group were outperformed by the (then) members of the 1994 Group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/data-disprove-case-for-distributing-research-funds-on-historical-basis/410949.article|title=Data disprove case for distributing research funds on historical basis|date=25 March 2010|author=Zoë Corbyn|newspaper=Times Higher Education|quote=The analysis, due to be published on 25 March, uses citation data to show that when the five "golden-triangle" institutions – the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London and the London School of Economics – are removed from the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities, the 1994 Group of smaller research-led universities outperforms it.|access-date=20 February 2016|archive-date=10 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310062431/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/data-disprove-case-for-distributing-research-funds-on-historical-basis/410949.article|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ant Bagshaw from the Wonkhe think-tank has criticised the use of Russell Group membership as a proxy for selectivity in official Department for Education reports and statistics, as better measures of selectivity are available from UCAS data. He states that the idea that "Russell Group membership is synonymous with 'best{{'"}} is "persistent, but unverified". He also notes that this may lead to less scrutiny of the performance of non-Russell Group selective universities with respect to widening participation and improving access.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wonkhe.com/blogs/its-time-to-stop-conflating-the-russell-group-with-the-best/|publisher=Wonkhe|title=It's time to stop conflating the Russell Group with the 'best'|author=Ant Bagshaw|date=14 July 2017|access-date=30 July 2017}}</ref>

===Protectionism===

The [[Institute of Economic Affairs]] has argued that the Russell Group acts out of protectionist interests. It is claimed that this will "restrict competition, discourage innovation and encourage inefficiency, thereby depriving students of lower prices and/or greater choice".<ref name=Stanfield>[http://www.iea.org.uk/blog/free-trade-in-higher-education-%E2%80%93-no-protectionism-required-for-learning Institute of Economic Affairs:] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427094810/http://www.iea.org.uk/blog/free-trade-in-higher-education-%E2%80%93-no-protectionism-required-for-learning |date=27 April 2011 }} James Stanfield</ref>

=== Sustainability ===
The twenty-four universities in the Russell Group are responsible for around half of the Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions of the UK university sector.<ref>{{cite web |website=UK Higher Education Statistics Agency |url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/estates |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121114038/https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/estates |archive-date=21 November 2021 |url-status=live |title=Estates Management }}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=This links to data, not an analysis of that data, so this claim may constitute original research.|date=November 2021}} The Group as a whole has been criticised for an inconsistent and inadequate response to the need to identify emissions and take reduction measures.<ref>Bill Spence (19 April 2021). ''"[https://www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/elite-universities-are-falling-short-their-green-promises Elite universities are falling short on their green promises]"'' Times Higher Education.</ref> An Environmental Sustainability Network was announced by the Russell Group in December 2019;<ref>Russell Group December 2019, [https://russellgroup.ac.uk/news/russell-group-publishes-joint-statement-on-environmental-sustainability/ Joint statement on environmental sustainability] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121114028/https://russellgroup.ac.uk/news/russell-group-publishes-joint-statement-on-environmental-sustainability/ |date=21 November 2021 }}.</ref> as of November 2021 no outcomes from this had been announced.

===Widening access===
Analysis by the Labour Party in 2018 found that the number of students from disadvantaged areas has only increased by one percentage point since 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/aug/15/government-accused-of-total-failure-to-widen-elite-university-access|title=Government accused of 'total failure' to widen elite university access|date=14 August 2018|author=Jessica Elgot|work=The Guardian}}</ref>

In 2015, Durham academic Vikki Bolívar published a paper, ''Lies, damned lies, and statistics on widening access to Russell Group universities'', criticising the statistical analysis in the  Russell Group publication ''Opening Doors''. This had said that "real progress has been made over the last few years" in widening access, but Bolívar highlighted four areas where the statistics used to justify this claim were misleading. She also pointed out that there was "a growing body of statistical research evidence which indicates that one important barrier to widening access at Russell Group universities is that applicants from less advantaged social backgrounds are less likely to be offered places at these universities than comparably qualified applicants from more advantaged social groups" that had not been mentioned in the Russell Group report.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://dro.dur.ac.uk/18034/|title=Lies, damned lies, and statistics on widening access to Russell Group universities.|author=Boliver, V.|date=2015|journal=Radical Statistics|volume=113|pages=29–38|access-date=30 January 2023|archive-date=29 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129182648/https://dro.dur.ac.uk/18034/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="sortable wikitable"
|+UCAS statistics on offers to applicants from low/high participation neighbourhoods (2022)<ref>{{cite web |title=2022 entry UCAS undergraduate reports by sex, area background, and ethnic group |url=https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-sector-level-end-cycle-data-resources-2022/2022-entry-ucas-undergraduate-reports-sex-area-background-and-ethnic-group |year=2023 |publisher=UCAS |access-date=29 January 2023 |archive-date=29 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129233739/https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-sector-level-end-cycle-data-resources-2022/2022-entry-ucas-undergraduate-reports-sex-area-background-and-ethnic-group |url-status=live }}</ref>
!
! colspan=3|POLAR4 Q1 (lowest participation 20% neighbourhoods)
! colspan=3|POLAR4 Q5 (highest participation 20% neighbourhoods)
|-
! University
! Offer rate difference<sup>a</sup>
! Flag<sup>b</sup>
! % of all offers
! Offer rate difference<sup>a</sup>
! Flag<sup>b</sup>
! % of all offers
|-
|Birmingham
| +2.3
| +
| 9.2
| +0.9
| +
| 39.8
|-
|Bristol
| +5.6
| +
| 7.3
| -1.9
| -
| 48.3
|-
|Cambridge
| +1.2
|
| 5.4
| -0.2
|
| 50.2
|-
|Cardiff
| -1.6
|
| 9.4
| +0.6
| +
| 37.4
|-
|Durham
| +37.4
| +
| 12.3
| -12.7
| -
| 38.4
|-
|Edinburgh
| +6.8
| +
| 6.1
| -1.4
| -
| 49.9
|-
|Exeter
| +7.9
| +
| 6.9
| -3.2
| -
| 46.3
|-
| Glasgow
| +3.2
| +
| 5.8
| +0.3
|
| 47.6
|-
|Imperial
| +6.8
| +
| 7.4
| -2.1
| -
| 44.0
|-
|King's
| +6.6
| +
| 7.1
| -1.4
| -
| 41.3
|-
|Leeds
| +8.9
| +
| 10.4
| -2.2
| -
| 42.1
|-
|Liverpool
| +1.0
|
| 10.9
| +0.7
| +
| 37.9
|-
|LSE
| +21.6
| +
| 9.0
| -4.3
| -
| 44.0
|-
| Manchester
| +4.9
| +
| 10.3
| -0.4
|
| 40.2
|-
|Newcastle
| -0.2
|
| 9.3
| +0.4
|
| 41.5
|-
| Nottingham
| +1.0
|
| 8.6
| +0.6
| +
| 42.8
|-
|Oxford
| +8.3
|
| 8.2
| -2.2
| -
| 47.2
|-
|Queen Mary
| +1.0
|
| 5.0
| -0.2
|
| 37.5
|-
|Queen's Belfast
| -3.5
| -
| 9.4
| +0.8
|
| 38.5
|-
| Sheffield
| -1.6
| -
| 10.8
| +0.9
| +
| 37.7
|-
|Southampton
| -0.4
|
| 7.9
| +0.9
| +
| 41.3
|-
|UCL
| +4.9
| +
| 6.3
| -0.2
|
| 48.9
|-
| Warwick
| +2.0
| +
| 7.0
| +0.5
|
| 43.8
|-
|York
| +0.8
|
| 10.3
| +0.1
|
| 37.9
|-
| All higher tariff providers
| +4.4
| +
| 8.6
| -1.0
| -
| 42.1
|-
| All UK providers
| 0.6
|
| 11.6
| -0.2
|
| 32.0
|}
<sup>a</sup> – difference between the actual offer rate and the offer rate expected if predicted grades and subject choice were the only factors<br />
<sup>b</sup> – indicates significantly higher (+), significantly lower (-) or no significant difference from expected rate (blank)

==See also==
* [[Association of American Universities]] – group of US research universities
* [[Imperial Universities]] – group of older universities in Japan
* [[Institutes of National Importance]] – premier universities in India
* [[National Institutes of Technology]] – 31 leading public engineering universities in [[India]].
* [[Golden triangle (universities)|Golden Triangle]] – informal grouping of universities in London and southeast England
* [[Doxbridge]] - informal grouping of older collegiate universities in England
* [[SKY (universities)]] – group of Korean universities
* [[C9 League]] – The Chinese Ministry of Education's formal grouping of elite universities in China
* [[TU9]], alliance of nine leading [[Technical universities|Technical Universities]] in [[Germany]]
* [[Group of Eight (Australian universities)]], formal group of eight universities in Australia
* [[Ancient university|Ancient universities]] Oxbridge, Scottish, and Irish Universities formed before the year 1600 with undergraduate MA awarding powers
* [[Armorial of UK universities]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}

{{Russell Group}}
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