Top 5 Universities in the South West 2016

1. Arts University Bournemouth

Only its 3rd appearance in the Complete University Guide league tables but Arts University Bournemouth looks like 1 to watch – from 9th in the region in 2014 to the coveted South West top 5 in 2016. The university's research output is an area they've clearly been working on, almost doubling in score compared last year's table.

As the name suggests particular subject strengths at this university include the creative arts and design.


2. Bournemouth University

The town of Bournemouth is having a good year university wise, its 2 institutions have made the South West's top 5, and that's 2 more than last year's league table release. Bournemouth University provides students with high return on investment, scoring highly for Academic Services Spend and Facilities Spend.

Bournemouth has particular teaching strengths in media industries, in fact its Skillset Media Academy is the largest centre for higher education in the industy in the UK.


3. University of Bristol

The top 3 universities in the South West have remained unchanged ever since we first began publising university league tables online. One could argue therefore that Bristol is simply in another league when it comes to universities in the South West, plus it has the added prestige of being in our overall top 20 – climbing 3 places to 15th. With Bristol in the top 10 of 25 of our subject tables, this university is truly a jack of all trades, add to this its student’s outstanding Graduate Prospects and you’re on to a winner.


4. University of Bath

A relatively young university, having received its Royal Charter in 1966, the University of Bath’s reputation has gone from strength to strength. Bath is not only highly regarded at home, it can also hold its own within the global university scene having recently placed within the top 50 of the Times Higher Education ‘young’ university world rankings.

If you’re technically minded Bath should definitely make it into your shortlist what with it having major academic strengths in engineering, the physical sciences, mathematics and technology.


5. University of Exeter

Exeter has become a well established Complete University Guide high flyer in recent years, even managing to make it into the nation’s top 10 three years in a row. Exeter’s rise to prominence has been spearheaded by its rapidly increasing Graduate Prospects and Entry Standards, now at 79.4% and 463 respectively.

Seeing as it is located in the South West, attending university here almost guarantees you’ll get the lion’s share of the small amount of good weather that England receives.