Least impressive universities?

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If you could reject three from this list based PURELY on how impressive they look on your CV and no other reason, which would you reject, leaving a list of five?

Durham
York
Newcastle
Liverpool
Manchester
Liverpool
Sheffield
Leeds

Thank you

At a glance, I'd say Durham and York look traditionally a bit more impressive than the others, but only by the tiniest bit.

I also agree that it is an antiquated way of choosing a university and also that it depends on the course

Need the subject. Each of those is a good solid university that has some courses better than others.

Newcastle is brilliant for marine engineering. York is know for archeology. Manchester for theoretical physics, Sheffield for mech engineering. Durham is great for anthropology.

Depends on the subject area I think

These are all good universities and there's no snobbery penalty for any of them. However, you should be looking at the course of study, the quality of outcomes and the "fit" for the person going.

Only 7 different ones are listed.

It really does depend on the subject. If you were interested in engineering they’d maybe be among the weaker options, Sheffield would be preferable.

Recruiters/HR don’t tend to see which university you got your degree from these days - they do blind recruiting to stop people dismissing a candidate because of snobbery and lack of of understanding of the quality of individual courses.

On that basis, I’d say none and wouldn’t eliminate any university on the basis of what it ‘looks like on a cv’.

If you were interested in international reputation you might look at the QS rankings - that would put Manchester well ahead of the others in that list of 7.

https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings?countries=gb

Which course?

Yes, I did say later in my post that it is stupid to think like that and that it depends on the course.

A friend of mine did physics, then a masters in astrophysics at Sheffield and she seemed to really rate it. Many years ago now though as she is 50ish.

I think there is (wrongly) more snobbery about universities like Sheffield Hallam tbh, but all of the universities on op's list are well respected imo. There really isn't much difference on op's criteria of "what looks most impressive"

Also, what a pp says is correct - some employers won't look at which university you went to anymore. So just choose the best one for the person who will be going

What is being studied? Only 1 vet school there and it's highly rated. At least 3 medical schools, 2 dentistry, Durham prob highly regarded re Law, History etc. Newcastle has engineering and science as do the other redbricks. Also depends on the student. Mcr, Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle have great nightlife. Durham is I think a bit town and gown

None they are all great

That's not blind recruitment. You still see the university, degree and results in blind recruitment, you just don't see people's personal details or protected characteristics. Educational details are not protected characteristics

I do look at what uni people went to when shortlisting, but a) I'm in academic, and b) it's in no way the crucial info.

you realise Liverpool is there twice?

I’d get rid of:

Newcastle
Liverpool
Manchester
Liverpool
Sheffield

Sheffield is one of the top engineering Russell Group Universities. You are being a snob

Depends on how good each university is for whatever the course is.

That’s a nice idea but I don’t think it really works like that especially in some sectors.

Depends on the course. Medicine / Law / Philosophy / Business / French with Integrated Masters would get you 5 different answers.

Liverpool
Newcastle
Leeds

they’re still obviously excellent but maybe not as recognisably excellent to the average person? 🤷🏻‍♀️

As others have said, very subject specific.

I was expecting somewhere like Ravensbourne and London Met to be on a list when I saw the thread title.

The worst of the late 80s education reforms was to call almost all post 18 academic institutions universities.

If you're including Durham you also have to specify which college. Durham is a fantastic university but some colleges have a reputation for being "posher" than others so if you're looking for "posh" universities then that's something else to consider.

I don’t think you can, some have exceptionally good courses in particular subjects

I don’t think you can, some have exceptionally good courses in particular subjects

You mean get rid of the ones that are most impressive? I agree with others it depends on the degree. Durham, Liverpool, Sheffield and Manchester are the only ones I’d heard of before my own DD started looking (I did not grow up or go to uni on this country), and that is because: Durham from reputation, Liverpool because my cousin went there, Sheffield because my friend’s son went, Manchester because my stepson went there.
But aren’t they all good unis? I think the difference between them due to reputation is not big enough to make a material difference.