PRESS RELEASE: New Hidden Gems Revealed for Students Seeking Out Best Universities Across UK

A-Level students looking to secure a degree in certain subjects through Clearing have some fantastic options in front of them as this year’s ‘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 provides a chance for those who exceed their predicted grades to choose a university more aligned with their ambition. 

‘Hidden gems’ are the universities that really shine in a particular subject 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.

For example, for students looking to study health-related subjects Swansea University is rated 1st in the UK for Complementary Medicine and Sheffield Hallam is rated 2nd in the UK for Health Studies.  Glasgow Caledonian is rated 4th in the UK for Medical Technology & Bioengineering and Bradford is the 2nd best in the country for Paramedic Science. Ulster University rated 2nd in the UK for Speech & Language Therapy, 5th for Pharmacology & Pharmacy and 10th for Nursing while Robert Gordon University rated 3rd for Physiotherapy. Queen Margaret University secured 5th place in the UK for Counselling, Psychotherapy & Occupational Therapy. 

Hidden gems can be identified in every region across the UK. Some examples of regional hidden gems in just a handful of regions include:

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

In Wales, Bangor University achieved an impressive 2nd for Information Technology & Systems and 4th in the UK for Health Studies. Delving into the Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCA) we can see that Aberystwyth University achieved 3rd place in the University of the Year category as well as coming 1st for Lecturers and Teaching Quality, 5th in the University Halls, and Facilities categories, and an impressive 1st place for Student Life.

In Scotland, the University of Dundee places 10th in the UK for Art & Design, and Heriot-Watt University ranks 6th in the UK for Building. Not to be outdone, Stirling is a UK-wide hidden gem for Education ranking 7th place. In this year’s Whatuni Student Choice Awards. The University of Strathclyde secured 3rd place in the UK for having the best Students’ Union, while the University of Aberdeen was voted 4th in the UK for Student Support.

In the South of England, the University of Kent ranks 3rd in the UK for Forensic Science and 10th for Creative Writing. Not to be outdone, the University of Brighton was ranked the 7th best UK university to study of Physiotherapy. The University of Plymouth also ranks 2nd in the UK for Food Science and ranks 6th for Tourism.

In the West Midlands, Aston University is rated 4th in the UK for Building and Coventry University comes in 5th in the UK for Health Studies. While Keele University is ranked 6th in the UK for Medical Technology & Bioengineering.

In London, City, University of London is ranked 2nd in the country for Marketing and 10th for Business & Management while Kingston University is rated 6th for Art & Design.

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 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.”

To discover the full hidden gem results across more regions of the UK and per subject go to the newly published UK university league tables - hidden gems on the Complete University Guide now.