Why Study Your PhD at a Russell Group University?

Considering doing your doctorate in the UK? Chances are you've heard of the Russell Group. This network includes some of the UK's oldest, most prestigious and highest ranked universities.

But the Russell Group isn't actually defined by its members' age or ranking. Its real purpose is to bring together top 'research-intensive' universities, pooling resources and sharing objectives to 'produce excellent research on a grand scale'

Sounds impressive, but what does it actually mean?

Well, for one thing, the Russell Group produces almost twice as much world-leading research as other UK universities – and guess what you'll be doing during your PhD?

Better yet, Russell Group members attract over three quarters of UK Research Council studentships – so your chances of getting PhD funding are muich higher.

All of this explains why the Russell Group awards over 60% of UK PhDs.

None of this means that you should only consider a Russell Group university for your PhD.

But it's definitely worth knowing something about the Russell Group and what its universities can offer you. This blog offers a quick introduction.

The Russell Group was formed in 1994, at a meeting in London's Hotel Russell (hence the name). It now has 24 members, in all parts of the UK:

Russell Group Universities in England:

This membership is very diverse, with no specific membership criteria beyond the quality of a university's research and teaching and its belief in the organisation's wider mission and objectives.

The oldest Russell Group universities are Oxford, Cambridge, Glasgow and Edinburgh with histories stretching back hundreds of years. Younger members, such as the University of Exeter and the University of Warwick were established in the mid-twentieth-century.

All Russell Group members are public universities. This means their fees and funding are regulated by the UK Government – along with the quality of their teaching and research.

Individual Russell Group members are independent universities, with the freedom to pursue their own research objectives and put together their own courses. The real purpose of the Russell Group is to combine the impact and reputation of its members to ensure they can continue delivering high quality research and teaching.

The short answer is "yes."

We can be a bit more detailed though. There are three simple ways to assess the quality of Russell Group members (or other universities) for postgraduate study: rankings, research performance and graduate employment.

Russell Group university rankings

If rankings are to be believed then, yes: some of the best universities in the world are in the Russell Group:

Taken as a whole, Russell Group members are far and away the highest performing UK institutions in global rankings.

Research performance at Russell Group universities

University rankings are one broad way of assessing institutions, but, at its core, the Russell Group aims to bring together top 'research intensive' universities.

And research performance is obviously pretty crucial for PhD study.

So, how good is the research produced by Russell Group universities? Thankfully, there's an easy way to check.

The UK's Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a regular assessment of the research carried out at universities across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It's used by official bodies to determine how much funding individual universities receive from public finances.

The most recent REF was carried out in 2021. You can browse the results on our website. The next results will come out in 2029 but we'll keep you updated on this.

Graduate employment at Russell Group universities

Russell Group universities also pride themselves on offering excellent graduate employment prospects. This is partly due to the reputation of their members, but is also the result of top employers actively seeking Russell Group graduates for in their recruitment campaigns.

Statistics back up the Russell Group's reputation, with data suggesting that its graduates earn up to 10% more over their lifetime.

At the end of the day, the right PhD for you will be defined by far more than a university's membership of a specific 'mission group'.

You'll want to be researching the right topic, supervised by the most appropriate experts, with access to the right facilities.

But there's no denying that Russell Group universities have an impressive track record – and many of their strengths are particularly relevant to postgraduate research.

Here are some of the broad benefits a Russell Group university may be able to offer your PhD

Research opportunities

It's a statistical fact that Russell Group members are some of the UK's most active research universities.

They produce the most world-leading work, attract the most funding for it and go on to produce more of it. It's a virtuous circle. And your PhD could be a part of it.

Facilities and resources

Top research requires excellent facilities – whether that's access to expensive digital archives, unique historical collections or cutting-edge laboratories and workshops.

Russell Group members have the incentives and the means to procure these. This capacity can have a dramatic effect on the opportunities they offer postgraduates.

It's not simply a case of having access to beneficial equipment or resources as an 'optional extra'. A well-equipped laboratory or a rare archival collection can be the definitive factor that actually makes some PhD research possible.

Postgraduate funding

The statistics don't lie: Russell Group universities are very good at attracting funding for their research work and some of this directly benefits postgraduate students.

This is particularly significant at PhD level, where Russell Group members generally have access to much larger pots of Research Council funding for doctoral training.

Postgraduates can also benefit from their university's own financial resources – or leverage its reputation when seeking competitive funding elsewhere.

Reputation

Reputation is central to the Russell Group's mission. At its core, the network exists to protect its members' association with great research and teaching and its activities are designed to ensure that prestige is deserved.

As a Russell Group (post)graduate you'll be able to draw on that reputation. This can carry some not-insignificant weight with certain employers. Universities and funding bodies will also have a certain amount of respect for Russell Group graduates and this may be a beneficial factor in applications for further postgraduate research degrees, funding or academic positions.

It's important to approach reputation in the right way though – and not put the proverbial cart before the horse.

A Russell Group member's reputation should be based on the quality of the research and training it offers. But it's that quality research and training you should focus on when looking for a PhD – not the reputation based on it.

So, we've established that Russell Group membership is worth paying at least some attention to in your search for a PhD. But how do you find out if one of these 24 universities offers a project or programme you're interested in?

You could look at the opportunities listed on FindAPhD, but that would take a while.

A faster way is to attend our Russell Group Universities Postgraduate Roadshow. These events feature all 24 Russell Group members and usually take place across the UK in the autumn.

You'll be able to meet representatives from Russell Group universities, talk about the projects and subjects they offer, hear about funding and learn about the added value a Russell Group university can bring to your PhD.

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