The facilities will be used by students including those of the anticipated Three Counties Medical School, the opening of which has been postponed until 2023. The medical school has received funding for 20 UK medical students, having first launched with only international student applications. The school builds on Worcester’s strong reputation for health-related courses — it has been shortlisted as Nurse Education provider of the Year (pre-registration) multiple times in the Student Nursing Times Awards. The new building will house its wide range of health disciplines, helping students to learn together.

Worcester’s usually high rates of student satisfaction tumbled this year, leading to the university losing ground in our main league table. Only last year our National Student Survey analysis showed it was in the top 20 for students’ evaluation of the wider experience and the top 25 for their assessment of teaching quality, but these have fallen to 64th= and 81st respectively. In-person teaching only is the prevalent model of delivery in the present academic year, which may lead to more positive reviews next year. 

Work placements of up to 12 months are offered within degree courses and students in the academic schools benefit from their links with related organisations. The School of Sport and Exercise Science, for instance, has secured placements with local teams such as the Worcester Warriors rugby club and Worcestershire County Cricket Club. Industry initiatives at the School of Arts include monthly masterclasses and guest lectures, plus links with organisations that include the Writers’ Guild, Channel 4 and ITV Central.

The focus on employability translates into Worcester ranking in the top 60 for graduate prospects this year (as it did in our previous edition) on the strength of almost three-quarters of graduates being in high-skilled work or further study 15 months after their degrees. The university’s three teaching campuses are less than a mile from each other and all close to the city centre. The attractive City campus incorporates the former Worcester Royal Infirmary and the striking and contemporary Hive library. The business school, health and wellbeing centre and Jenny Lind law building are also at the City site.

Just opposite is the Art House, opened in 2019, which has modern facilities for art and illustration courses in a grade II listed art deco building, complete with clock tower. St John’s campus, the headquarters, is 15 minutes from the city centre and houses science facilities, the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit, the digital arts centre and drama studio.    

The curriculum gained nine new degrees this year in subjects including: criminology with politics; professional policing; data science; and digital business. From September 2023 nutrition and dietetics joins the roster. 

Having made big gains in the previous Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 compared with previous assessments, based on the new REF 2021 Worcester drops 23 places in our research quality ranking this year. A third of its work was classified as world-leading or internationally excellent (the top standards) with some of the best results produced by art and design; history; and sport and exercise sciences. 

As well as the Worcester Arena at the Severn campus there are sports facilities throughout the university sites including a rubber crumb pitch at St John’s and a sport therapy suite at City. The Lakeside campus has 50 acres of open grass and woodland for bushcraft. University rowing benefits from amenities at Worcester Rowing Club on the River Severn.

The university moves five places up our social inclusion ranking this year, recruiting 97 per cent of students from nonselective state schools (only ten universities have fewer entrants from selective state or independent schools). More than one in ten students is disabled, the 12th highest proportion in any university. Contextual offers, foundation years in science and health and links with further education colleges and schools all help to improve access and participation at the university.

One in ten Worcester residents is a student, creating a student-friendly atmosphere amid the Tudor buildings, riverside scenery and the nearby Malvern Hills. Clubs and societies play an active role in the social scene and accommodation is guaranteed to first-years.