City University, London

[LetMeThinkAboutThat]

Does anyone have any idea of ideas why City has dropped 20 places this yr in the league tables? i always thought it was a 'decent', with particular strengths in finance type subjects etc with terrific links to the London city. Some years ago it joined the University of London so is also now one of their colleges. So i'm rather surprised its dropped from its usual position of low 40 something to 66th! Any ideas?

p.s DS is thinking of putting it as his insurance.

[LetMeThinkAboutThat]

bump

[BubblesBuddy]

It’s not RG as far as I know but often universities with strengths, and they also offer law courses which are good, are excelkebt for those subjects. However I think jobs in the city are hugely competitive so I would be making sure that good links actually exist.

As for league tables it could be many reasons that change year on year as there are several components to the tables and several tables! It’s pitching against former polytechnics and isn’t up with UCL or Kings as far as London is concerned. I think that doesn’t matter if your DC won’t get the grades for the other two. If still aiming high, City isn’t the best. Mid division is fine though if that’s where your grades take you. I would look closely at the course and what students do afterwards if that’s important.

[BubblesBuddy]

I also meant to say that you can compare each component that goes towards the ranking year on year. So look back over previous years and see if it’s research, student satisfaction or something else that’s caused the drop. It could be that other universities have upped their game of course!

[LetMeThinkAboutThat]

Bubbles, I'll certainly have a look at the ranking indicators wether it can shed more light.I was hoping someone in the know might pop up with more internal knowledge. its not unusual for universities to move up and down 4 or 5 places in rankings but 20 places just seems very odd.

[BubblesBuddy]

Well I’ve now looked at two league tables for 2019 that have City at 42 and 43 respectively. So it hasn’t dropped 20 places since last year because I don’t think it was ever ranked 22. Also when you get to ranking the mid division it’s splitting hairs anyway! We all know there’s a huge difference between Oxford and Aston University but do you really know the difference between Aston and City? Or City, Sheffield Hallam and Lincoln? Probably not. Just choose the course based on the reputation of the faculty and what DC will be learning and links to employers. It’s insurance after all!

[LetMeThinkAboutThat]

I'm looking at the complete university guide and it tells a different story. I don't agree that just because its middle division (is it?) there's no difference between them all, so students can just go anywhere, which is what you're implying. The example of the differences between Oxford and Aston is rather extreme. There are still lots of differences that a to consider, different course modules, links with industry, geographical location, mode of assessment, course structure, optional modules. Lots of differences!

[BubblesBuddy]

Yes, but the league tables don’t look into any of the differences you mention! Therefore it is silly just to look at league tables. You have answered your own query.

City has never been top 20. It’s usually behind UCL, Kings, St Mary’s, Imperial and LSE in London for a start and RG universities elsewhere too. Add the ex polys into the mix and City sits with them. That’s obvious and therefore it’s mid division. It has Cass Business School and City Law but overall it’s never ranked as highly as RG universities.

However if all the elements you mention are more important than league tables, go with City. However you seem blinkered as to it’s standing and I just plucked out other universities because employers may like them as well. They all move up and down the tables but they are not top 20 and probably never will be. If your DC likes the course then go for it but shouldn’t just look at league tables, as you said. You shouldn’t think City is better ex Polys either when it’s clearly not ranked above them. There’s so little difference in the elements that make up the tables when you get into the middle rankings how are employers meant to know what’s better? They look at the individual. They won’t care how you have learnt what you’ve learnt either.

[lurker101]

Casa-alum here, not sure why it dropped, but when I was an undergrad (in the last 10 years) its quality varied massively between departments. As a general rule we found that Cass, Law school, Journalism and Health Sciences departments were much stronger than others at the Uni, but that may have changed.

[LetMeThinkAboutThat]

Bubbles - I think sometimes you’re so carried away with RG or Non RG that you completely miss the point of the OP, and your tone gets very aggressive quickly if you think the OP is listening to you.

We already know it’s not an RG university, and we know it’s not comparable to Kings et al. None of this is useful information to what I’m asking. City has never been a top 20, there is no confusion about that.

I asked a very specific question becuase I’m curious about bout it. I realise I should’ve said I was looking at the complete university guide. My query is about the sudden drop in that guide from position 40 odd to 66th this yr, if anybody knows why? That’s all I want to know. I’m not an idiot, there’s nothing you’ve said that I don’t know already know. It might not sound like an intelligent question to you but that’s because you can’t possibly know they why’s behind every question from random internet users. If you don’t know the answer just leave it.

[titchy]

Just compare the individual scores last year to those this year - that will tell you why they've dropped.

[titchy]

For example the student satisfaction score for 2019 is 4.01; last year it was 4.14,

[LetMeThinkAboutThat]

Thank you titchy. I know I could do that but I was being lazy, and thought MN might be quicker 😒. I’ll do that and probably come back with more questions.

[BubblesBuddy]

Yep, titchy: I said that yesterday and got abuse on that suggestion! See my first post!

[LetMeThinkAboutThat]

Yep, titchy: I said that yesterday and got abuse on that suggestion! See my first post!

My reply to bubbles first post:
Bubbles, I'll certainly have a look at the ranking indicators wether it can shed more light.I was hoping someone in the know might pop up with more internal knowledge. its not unusual for universities to move up and down 4 or 5 places in rankings but 20 places just seems very odd.

Please show me where you got abuse ..

[LetMeThinkAboutThat]

Really keen to see where bubbles was abused in my reply to her first post about checking the indicators or infact any post. Outlandish claim.

[ViragoKnows]

I’m curious about this. I had some dealings about five years ago (not as a student or academic). I think the student demographics are pretty unique, being mid-level and London.

[LetMeThinkAboutThat]

Virago - I’ve actually looked at the indicator stats and it seems the dip comes from ‘Entry standards’, although I notice every other university seem to have halved on ‘entry standards’ as well but managed to maintain their relative position. Some variation on ‘graduate prospects’ as well.

[BubblesBuddy]

Op: Following your recent post saying I’m aggressive and miss the point plus the faux outrage! Bizarre response as I was trying to help! I don’t think a reasonabld person would have said this about my posts but I would say, in the circumstances, yours is a very strong resonse, but I guess you didn’t like my comments. Have you name changed by any chance?

I really don’t give a flying what’s it about RG. You might already be aware one of my DDs didn’t attend one so I’m not wedded to them in any shape or form! However you appeared to suggest that City had fallen from a lofty position and from a position that would have ranked it with RG universities which tend, but not exclusively, to be higher in the tables. You have chosen to look at one table and are not looking at other evidence. It seems to be ultra nit picking.

[ViragoKnows]

Some variation on ‘graduate prospects’ as well.

I’ll end up going over there and getting sucked into the stats myself. I know I will

[LetMeThinkAboutThat]

Bubbles, You made a false accusation about being abused after your first post but anyone can see that there is no evidence of abuse in my response to you at all. infact i took on board what you said. At least have the grace to say that you were wrong and apologise.

You are simply outraged that i have disagreed with something you said further down and the only person frothing on here has been you. That in itself is a problem you are going to have to deal with.

There is a lot of projection in your last post and assumptions that say more about you than anything i've posted here. I never said City was a high flying or on par with UCL etc university, infact what i said was, "I thought it was a decent uni", and my dc would like it as a possible insurance choice. No mention of RGs etc. You first response was "Its not RG as far as i know", which is odd in itself as i didn't ask that and already know its not. We don't care about any of that.

However you appeared to suggest that City had fallen from a lofty position and from a position that would have ranked it with RG

There's something clearly wrong with your comprehension because i neither said nor implied anything of the sort. I said in the complete university guide it had fallen from its usual 40 something position to 66th! how many RG's do you know in position 44 or 66????

I know nothing about your DC and have made no reference to them. You are a randomer on the internet. You seriously need help with your obsession with RG v Non RG and unis.

[BubblesBuddy]

I don’t have that obsession. You seem to be obsessed with me!

[JennyHolzersGhost]

Good for postgrad rather than undergrad I think. Partic finance and media.

[LetMeThinkAboutThat]

I don’t have that obsession. You seem to be obsessed with me!

yes dear, of course!

[LetMeThinkAboutThat]

Virago - lets know if you find anything.