UNIVERSITY OVERVIEW

Russell Group of Universities is an association of research-led public universities in the United Kingdom.

The group is committed to supporting the best research work and bringing a wide range of opportunities to students from all the over the world, by providing excellent standards of teaching and learning.
 
The vice chancellor of the University of Leeds, Professor Michael Arthur, is the chairman of this group. The group was formed in 1994 with 17 members. Three others, like the King’s College, London, Queen’s University, Belfast and Cardiff University joined later.  

Every major city in the UK has a Russell Group university. The group includes names like the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, Cardiff University, University of Edinburgh (Scotland), University of Glasgow (Scotland), Imperial College London, University College London (University of London), King’s College London (University of London), University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), University of Nottingham, University of Manchester, Newcastle University, Queen’s University Belfast (Northern Ireland), University of Southampton, University of Sheffield, University of Warwick. .

The primary reason behind their formation was to gain representation for its members in the parliament and in other important organisations. Out of the 20 universities, 18 are research-funded universities in the UK. 

These universities provide high-quality education, learning, influence and confidence to its students. Meritorious international students also receive scholarships to study at the universities in this group. The competition for the same is however, tough.  
The Russell Group of universities provides a solid platform for some of the best undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students from all parts of the world.

International and local students have a range of subjects to choose from at these universities – which include internationally-acclaimed courses in Medicine, Biology, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, Business and Humanities. 

The group has also managed to retain some of the best academics and tutors from all across the world.  These universities have an excellent education system, which is based on solid infrastructure and resources. 

For the last several years, this group has represented the interests of these universities who have been at the forefront of research-led activities, thereby making them the most quality-conscious universities of the UK. 

For students procuring a place in one of the esteemed universities, the competition is severe. The Russell group universities have an intake of approximately (new first-year) 75,000 students each year.

The good news for students is that some other top-ranked universities in the UK, like the University of Exeter, Durham University, Queen Mary (University of London) and University of York have recently (March 2012) been invited to join the esteemed ranks of the elite Russell Group. All have accepted and plan to join the group with effect from August 2012. 

Russell group is a powerful lobbying group too. The universities in this group particularly excel in fields of education, research and innovation in several disciplines and subjects. Therefore, it is in the institution’s own interest to align with the Russell Group.  

One of the main objectives of the Russell group is to invite the best students from across the world to its institutions, and also to hire the best faculty and staff for its members.