Britain's best value universities

Universities in Northern Ireland and the North-East of England offer students the best value for money while those studying in London receive the least in return for their expenditure, a new study has found.
 

University of Ulster in Belfast represents the best value of the 117 institutions measured by the survey, while the ten worst-value universities are all located in the capital due to the high cost of accommodation.
 

The Student Value for Money Report 2012 considered the academic league table standings of 117 universities as well as the tuition fees they charge and the local average rental prices to calculate an overall score indicating the value for money studying at each institution provides.
 

"Now, more than ever, prospective students will be looking at how to get the best value for money when choosing where to go to university," said David Jackson of Simple Landlords Insurance, which commissioned the report.
 

"It's not just about league table positioning anymore. With tuition fees soaring, students and parents alike will be taking into account the total cost of a degree, and exactly what you get for your money."
 

 
Three of the top 10 universities by academic ranking according to the Complete University Guide league table 2013 also featured in the top 10 by value for money – Oxford (7), Durham (6) and Lancaster (5).
 
Scottish universities were also prominent on the list due to their lower tuition fees – Scottish-domiciled students do not pay for tuition, while costs for rest-of-UK students are generally below the average £8,507 figure for England for 2013 study.
 
Robert Gordon University charges the lowest tuition fees of £5,000, while University of Ulster is the second-cheapest of the universities featured with fees of £6,000. Figures relate to the cost a student from England would pay per year to attend.
 
The highest rents were unsurprisingly found in London, where the average rent per week for students is £108.03, and Norwich. Other expensive places to study were Exeter (£94.61p/w), Brunel and Buckinghamshire New University (91.54p/w), Surrey (£91.23p/w) and Cambridge (£90.86p/w), which is ranked as offering inferior value for money to Oxford by the study.
 
The cheapest university for study by average rental costs was Middlesbrough-based Teesside University, where the average weekly student rent is just £43.68. Other university locations offering budget rental costs were Glamorgan (£45.74p/w), Staffordshire (£46.69p/w), Hull (£47.42p/w) and Belfast-based institutions Queen's Belfast and University of Ulster (£51.10p/w)
 
The study picked a fixed number of random lettings from the areas surrounding the universities and averaged their cost.
 

The 10 Best Value Universities

1. University of Ulster

2. Robert Gordon University

3. University of Glasgow

4. University of Stirling

5. Lancaster University

6. Durham University

7. University of Oxford

8. Queen's University Belfast

9. Coventry University

10. University of Birmingham

Cheapest Average Rent – Top 10 (average student rental per week)

1. Teesside University (£43.68)

2. University of Glamorgan (£45.74)

3. Staffordshire University (£46.69)

4. University of Hull (£47.72)

5. Queen's University Belfast (£51.10)

6. University of Ulster (£51.10)

7. University of Bolton (£55.08)

8. University of Derby (£55.15)

9. University of Salford (£55.35)

10. University of Central Lancashire (£56.43)
Telegraph