PUSH (university Guide) - Research

Research

Push's research methodology is significantly different from similar resources such as league tables of British universities published by several UK newspapers. Although it uses publicly available data from Higher Education Statistics Agency, National Student Survey and other sources, Push also originates most of its own research from a series of lengthy questionnaires sent to the universities and students unions and from annual site visits by Push's own research team to every UK university. These visits involve face-to-face interviews with students from the university.

This research is published in the form of detailed profiles of each university and in a number of statistical tables and top ten lists for individual criteria.

The following are among the statistics exclusive to Push:

• The Push Student Debt Survey: This is the largest annual survey of student debt in the UK that does not rely on self-selecting participants. Instead it surveys over 2,000 interviewees, including a minimum of 15 from each university. It is the only survey to provide a comparative breakdown of average student debts for each institution.

• The Booze Index: An index of average student drinks prices, based on the weighted cost of a pint of beer, a glass of wine and a glass of orange juice bought in the student bar and a local pub.

• Flunk rates: Based on HESA's 'non-completion' data, this table shows the proportion of students who do not successfully complete the degree courses on which they enrol.

• The Student Living Costs Survey: A weighted index showing the comparative costs of living and studying at each university in the UK, based on accommodation costs, entertainments and a basket of goods that a student is likely to buy.

Media attention is also often given to data published about sex ratios at each university, clearing rates (i.e. the proportion of student arriving through the UCAS clearing system), the availability and cost of housing, famous alumni and the provision of welfare.

Push has a stated opposition to the league tables of British universities and Johnny Rich has been outspoken on the subject on a number of occasions. Push's position is that "Any university ranking is based on what its inventors think is important, but their priorities may be a snail’s hike from yours." In an effort to prove the point and provoke controversy, on April Fools' Day 2008 Push published its own alternative league table which used what it argued were more student-centred criteria and which featured very different universities at the top of the list. These included Lampeter University in first place and two institutions – Harper Adams University College and Bishop Grosseteste University College – which had only gained full university status in the past year. Neither Oxford University nor Cambridge University made it into the top ten.