How does this work for University rankings?

[DasEnglischesWetter]

At Universities like Oxbridge, they tell you what rank you came in your cohort ie if you came 15th/250 for a certain module or overall.

But, some other Universities seem to only tell you if you come 1st in your cohort but don’t tell anyone else.

Do you know how this works?

How to find out your relative rank?

Do non-Oxbridge universities tell you your relative rank?

It isn't, don't worry. It used to be a thing in maths. The OP got a little obsessed with Oxford & Cambridge in previous lifetimes & has a habit of posting truly bizarre questions.

Makes sense, I suppose. In a way it's a shame that something that was a very collective experience you did with your mates, is now something solitary and secret.

😂😂😂😂😂

Oxford will only tell you your position in cohort if you ask, so if you don't want to know you don't have to.
My DC didn't want to know so never asked.

Assume it's the same at Cambridge

DD is doing a masters and won an academic prize for her first year. I have read conflicting advice on this thread, so I'm not sure whether she should put this on her CV or not.

Dd has hers on her CV, it creates a talking point at interview that is easily expanded on.

Cambridge has traditionally had a different approach. Tripos rankings were displayed on boards at Senate House until about 2021, I think, and continued to be provided to students with their results even after that. The university announced a review into this policy in 2025. There is no longer automatic notification of rankings to most students but some very high rankings are still put into the public domain in official university publications.

Oxford doesn’t (and didn’t when I was there in the 80s) automatically notify a student of their ranking except where the ranking is such that it entitles them to a prize.

Oh, I think she should! I like to see a section of the CV called something like ‘Esteems and Honours’ and I think that as long as it’s kept under control it is relevant and potentially useful.

A prize during the Masters defo fits the bill. A prize during primary school, unless you’ve just become the one of the youngest Something We Should Be Expected to Recognise, is not. National level recognition during high school and uni, and university esteems, are.

Cambridge used to publish exam results on the Senate House wall in rank order. I don’t know if they still do.

Ah - you are more up to date than me.

Thank you. I will let her know. She is currently updating her CV and applying for jobs for when she finishes.

I always find your posts on the HE topic helpful.

gonna get my DC to do this! DD won a prize for best final year mark in her year in her subject (fairly specific but it was Eng lit so lots take it); and DS2 played his sport for his country. So maybe they should mention these things.

ETA: Agree @poetryandwine always so helpful and supportive.

Thank you, @RampantIvy

I think ‘Esteems and Honours’ is most effective when it is not a headline feature of the CV.

To organise one's cv otherwise does rather prompt thoughts about the jokes How do you know if someone went to Oxford / Cambridge / How do you know if someone is a vegan?

DD did get the departmental prize for her undergraduate dissertation, so does know her ranking for that specific component of her degree, but I seriously doubt that it's the first thing she mentions on her cv.

That says as much about the cohort as it does about the graduate, though.

The degree classification shows the academic calibre of the individual. Their prior work experience, internships, and leadership experiences or initiatives they have undertaken say much more about them as a candidate for a job.

I love this.