Target University

[holdingtight2]

Just wanted to know what it means when a University is called a target university?

@TizerorFizz , sorry - I probably phrased that wrong! He def didn’t say about not aiming high, it’s just his school pupils can get a little over fixated on Oxbridge or bust, and so deflated when not making it, he wanted them to realise other unis are also good with a lot to offer. He was also aware Manchester has an amazing Maths dept and he was fortunate to be there. He just totally loved the entire Uni/city/work/study/student life package and was aware his sister had had a different experience at Oxbridge that he would not have swapped.

I think Edinburgh is also top tier for Maths

St Andrews and Durham also pretty good

This year's high fliers report is out.

The school might want to look at this!

Birmingham is the third most targeted university by employers, Warwick is 5th.

Top 5 are

Manchester
Nottingham
Birmingham
Bristol
Warwick

I wouldn't be surprised if the reaction to Birmingham is based on snobbery about the place itself.

That said, for your DD's specific subject, Warwick is the obvious choice.

The High Fliers annual report is an excellent source of info but the 'most targeted' stat needs to be seen in context. The specific question relates to physical attendance of fairs etc. Even well resourced recruitment functions cannot attend all unis, so there is a pragmatic bias to selecting, typically, one RG in each region.

This is why places like Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Notts, Bristol and Edinburgh all appear highly 'targeted'; Durham substitutes Newcastle in the NE and U of Bath is not highly ranked (on this list) as Bristol is just up the road and (presumably) employers' recruitment teams want 'tick off' the SW with a Bristol-based event (tough luck for Exeter and others!).

If anything, the High Fliers report emphasises the relative pulling power of Warwick as it is nearby Birmingham yet many recruitment teams feel it deserves its own visit (unlike, say, Bath-Bristol).

Yes, much of it is geographical. Hence no St Andrew's, too, I guess.

But in answer to the OP, it's still a good defence of Birmingham as a university. Their employment stars are a particular strength.

Absolutely, Piggy, I agree. One of the benefits of a large, well respected RG in a regional capital, like Birmingham, is that employers are likely to visit in person and they and/or other employers are more likely to have placement opportunities on the doorstep.

An interesting additional angle is that Birmingham offers a number of 'Maths&' options, including obviously its Liberal Arts & Natural Science course where Maths could be taken as a major component. Obviously that is not everyone's cup of tea (and many of Warwick's maths degrees are famously flexible) but I flag this to highlight uni and course decisions are more nuanced than the school cited by OP may care to admit.

@Milliways
I totally agree that Dc need to look at other great universities. Oxbridge isn’t going to accept everyone. Manchester is very strong for stem. My DD was always very enthusiastic about her university too.

Universities are often seen to serve their local community. In law, for example. Manchester is top for law in Manchester. Birmingham in Birmingham etc. They are targeted by local employers. Other universities are targeted by London or bigger employers. None of it means an Exeter or Bath or Lancaster grad won’t get a high flying job! Far from it.