The UK’s Loughborough University has won the Whatuni Student Choice Awards headline category, as it was awarded the University of the Year for the second time in three years, while Aberystwyth University in Wales was recognised as international winner for 2020.
The WUSCAs are an annual celebration of the best universities and higher education institutions in the UK, and this marks the second year in a row that a Welsh institution was ranked first in the international category – in 2019 Swansea took away the esteemed prize.
“High average review scores demonstrate a widespread effort from UK institutions”
The winners were announced based on more than 41,000 student reviews collected from 150 UK institutions.
Achieving a record-breaking high score of 4.58 out of 5 Loughborough, also ranked first for university facilities and societies and sports categories.
“These awards are a testament to the hard work of everyone right across the University and to our commitment to excellence, even in the most testing of times,” Loughborough University vice-chancellor, Robert Allison said.
According to the award’s organisers post 92 universities largely outperformed Russell Group counterparts in 2020 – the University of Sheffield was the only Russell Group institution to make the shortlist for the University of the Year category.
“This year, high average review scores across all WUSCA categories demonstrate a widespread effort from UK institutions to both listen and respond to the needs of students,” Simon Emmett, CEO at IDP Connect, said.
“With the recent challenges facing the sector, to have obtained such high reports of satisfaction across all universities, including those outside of The Russell Group in key categories like Course and Lecturers, is a credit to the value and outstanding experience students feel they are receiving in their higher education.”
In 2020, reports of dissatisfaction were lower across the board than in previous years, Whatuni revealed.
“This is something the sector should be incredibly proud of achieving and these outstanding results would be welcomed in many other sectors during this difficult time,” Emmett added.
That brings us to the end of the #WUSCA 2020. Congratulations to all winners and all those who were shortlisted, your students hold you in the highest regard. Before we leave you to the celebrations we have one last special message for everyone #WUSCA2020 @Whatuni pic.twitter.com/jw6SN7Y2ez
— IDP Connect (@IDP_Connect) July 8, 2020
The full list of 13 Whatuni Student Choice Awards winners determined entirely by student reviews are:
University of the Year: Loughborough University
International: Aberystwyth University
Postgraduate: Aberystwyth University
Student Support: Leeds Arts University
Job Prospects: Harper Adams University
Course and Lecturers: University of Wales Trinity St David
University Facilities: Loughborough University
Students’ Union: University of Sheffield
Accommodation: University of Wales Trinity St David
Societies and Sports: Loughborough University
Local Life: University of Strathclyde
Independent Higher Education: Oxford Business College
Further Education College: DN Colleges Group
