Hidden gems revealed in the North West

A Level students in the North West looking to secure their university place through Clearing have a whole world of options in front of them as this years ‘hidden gems’ are revealed by the Complete University Guide. 

On A Level results day, students who don’t get into their first choice university can use Clearing to unlock new opportunities and secure their place on a course of their choosing. It also gives a chance for those who exceed their predicted grade to choose a university more aligned with their ambition. 

Hidden gems are the universities that really shine in a particular field.  

Often less well-known or placed lower down the Complete University Guide league tables, these universities are highly rated in a certain subject area. They could be a better place for a student looking for a world-class study experience over more recognised institutions that do not fare so well in their chosen subject.

Students in the North West of England have a plethora of choices in front of them. 

In a region known for areas of outstanding beauty and famous for its music culture, it should be no surprise that Tourism, Transport, Travel & Heritage Studies is a stand-out subject. Edge Hill University ranks 4th in the UK, University of Chester places 9th and Manchester Metropolitan University is 10th. Edge Hill is also highly ranked for Social Work, placing 9th in the UK. 

The universities of the North West were also highly rated at this year’s Whatuni Student Choice Awards. With the University of Chester taking 3rd place for Lecturers & Teaching Quality and 8th and 9th places for Facilities and Career Prospects respectively. While Edge Hill University was rated 9th for University Halls and University of Bolton was 10th for Lecturers & Teaching Quality. 

All this shows A Level students that Clearing is a chance for a fresh start with fantastic opportunities.

These hidden gems have been revealed by the Complete University Guide's 2024 league tables. This data is complemented by May's WhatUni Student Choice Awards, hosted by its sister site Whatuni, building on the information available to prospective students to help them make the right decisions as they consider their highest education options.

Professor Amanda Chetwynd, Chair of the Complete University Guide Advisory Board, said:

“The independent and trusted Complete University Guide is the gold standard for university rankings in the UK, and has helped countless students choose the university and the course that is right for them.  Whether you are looking for a different course or university in Clearing our insights reveal hidden gems that students may not have spotted. The research shows there are excellent courses in your local university and showcases some world-class options in less well-known universities. There are some tremendous hidden gems in all regions of the UK and still time for potential students to secure their place that best suits their ambitions.”

Simon Emmett, CEO at IDP Connect, said:

“Clearing is a great opportunity for students to reframe their future and discover new opportunities. With thousands of places on hundreds of courses still up for grabs, new students still have time to make the decisions which are right for them. 

“And with the Complete University Guide league tables and the Whatuni Student Choice Awards on hand, those embarking on Clearing in the North West have a treasure trove of information on hand to review which university or course best suits their ambitions. Potential students can take a second look at well-reviewed courses and think again about which university they may want to go to based on a whole host of factors such as career prospects, lecturer quality or academic rating. 

“What makes the Complete University Guide and the Whatuni Student Choice Awards special are their independence. Whatuni Students Choice Awards draw on direct input from students, while our expert board considers a whole array of information before producing the widely-regarded Complete University Guide rankings. It means students, teachers or parents can look to these sites for trusted guidance, because they know the advice is truly independent and complete.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

• Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs) collected more than 35,000 reviews from institutions nationwide.
• A full list of 2024 hidden gems can be found here and will be accessible from 14th August 2023.
• Hidden Gems are defined universities ranked 40th or lower in the overall UK university league table but who are 10th or above and in the top quintile [or top 20%] for the subject
• The team behind thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk has compiled university league tables for more than 25 years. Since 2007, these have been freely available online. The Guide is an autonomous division of IDP Education, global leader in education services and technology, from which, by mutual agreement, it retains its complete editorial independence. 
• The Whatuni Student Choice Awards are the UK's leading student-led university awards. Now in their eleventh year, they celebrate the UK's best universities. This year saw 35,000 verified student reviews generated from over 240 higher education institutions across the UK.
• thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk attracts over ten million visitors each year. 
• The independent and trusted Complete University Guide is the country’s leading university ranking system but unlike others, the Complete University Guide provides valuable insights into choosing a course and university including safety on campus, budgeting and cost of living, student accommodation alongside traditional indicators such as graduate career prospects.
• The main league table is based on ten measures: Entry Standards, Student Satisfaction, Research Quality, Research Intensity, Graduate Prospects – outcomes, Graduate Prospects – on track, Student-Staff Ratio, Spending on Academic Services, Spending on Student Facilities, and Continuation. It includes 130 institutions.
• The Arts, Drama & Music League Table, published since 2016, lists 12 specialist institutions offering too small a subject range to appear in the main table.
• The subject tables are based on six measures (Entry Standards, Student Satisfaction, Research Quality, Continuation, Graduate Prospects – outcomes and Graduate Prospects – on track) and include 151 universities, university colleges and specialist higher education institutions. 
• All university league tables on thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk can be filtered by region and mission group (Cathedrals Group, GuildHE, MillionPlus Group, Russell Group, University Alliance, as well as unaffiliated universities). Tables from the current and previous years can be downloaded. All tables can also be sorted by any of the measures that comprise them. 
• Criteria for inclusion in the main university league table and the subject tables can be seen on our website.