I am often asked "where does [insert name] university rank?" which is problematic and complex to answer, not least because in literal terms it depends on what ranking table you look at.
To add to the choice the Economist has analysed information released by the Department of Education which address the impact of attendance at individual universities on future earnings. The Economist has used this data to produce a ranking comparing graduates' wages with expectation regardless of their university the average for a UK graduate with their qualifications prior to university entry (to give a fair test of the value the individual university adds). As well as Portsmouth, top universities using this measure include the often feted (Oxford and Nottingham) and the less familiar (Brunel and Robert Gordon).
To be clear the two biggest determinants of graduate earnings outcome are the difference in entry qualifications of the student intake and the subject studied - those with an element of maths being the most rewarded, financially. However the Economist study adjusts for these effects to draw out universities which seem to inject a better (or worse) future financial outcome than expected. The lower performing universities (on other ranking tables) that do well on the Economist's measure focus on vocational courses that have consistent earnings outcomes, which implies strong demand for these jobs and/or have has success at establishing links with successful industries. Bournemouth (fourth in this table) has a global reputation for visual effects and therefore strong links with the film industry. Southampton Solent has links with maritime design and shipping management and logistics.
Of course, there is a lot more to university choice than expected future earnings. I have always been very clear that the ability to develop one's talent and interest must always be a prime consideration. If however a closer examination of the data allows more students to make more informed choices and also forces universities to consider the quality of their offer, then should all be for that.
Subscribers to the Economist can look at their work in more detail at Economist.com/UniRankings17
