Latest league table gives RGU reason to cheer

The guide places RGU in the top three in Scotland for teaching quality and second in Scotland for the new people and planet ranking, which is assessed against 14 ethical and environmental criteria that measure an institution’s sustainability.

This rating reflects positively on the University’s strategic commitment to playing an active role towards a more sustainable future and achieving its net zero ambitions.

RGU fared well for many individual subjects too, appearing in the overall top three in the UK and second in Scotland for Physiotherapy and in the UK’s top 10 for Radiography and Building.

In another strong showing, Physiotherapy was number one in the UK and Scotland across each measure of teaching quality, student experience and graduate prospects. Radiography was number one both in the UK and Scotland for graduate prospects while subjects from across schools featured top in the country for individual measures.

Elsewhere in the rankings, RGU has also climbed nine places on the UK graduate prospects measure which was reflected in the Scotland rankings in which the University increased by one place.

Overall, the University has risen one place in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide to its highest position for a decade. 

Professor Steve Olivier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Robert Gordon University, said: “These latest rankings highlight the University’s commitment to its strategy and our collective mission to transform people and communities. Remaining in the top three for teaching quality in Scotland remains a significant achievement and one to be particularly proud of.

“Our efforts in sustainability are not only genuine but also impactful, emphasised by this rating of second in Scotland for the new people and planet measure. We are successfully embedding sustainability throughout our curriculum and the needs of the planet are front and centre of much of our research and innovation.

“Many of our subjects have again been ranked among the top in the UK across many measures, including overall. Combined with our teaching quality placing, this is just reward for many of our staff who continue to work extremely hard to provide such an excellent experience for our students.”

The following subjects rated top in Scotland for teaching quality: Architecture; Art and Design; Building; Communication and Media Studies; Computer Science; Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation and Tourism; Physiotherapy; and Social Studies.

For student experience, the following subjects placed top in Scotland: Accounting and Finance; Architecture; Art and Design; Building; Communication and Media Studies; Computer Science; Physiotherapy; and Social Studies.

Lastly for graduate prospects, Archaeology and Forensic Science; Building; and Subjects allied to medicine all featured top in Scotland while Physiotherapy and Social Studies were top in Scotland and the UK.

This latest league table publication also follows RGU’s positive showings in the The Guardian University Guide 2025 which placed RGU first in Scotland and in the UK’s top 10 for assessment satisfaction.

Meanwhile, The Daily Mail University Guide  placed RGU second in Scotland and in the UK’s top 10 for careers on track in a measure based on the views of graduates and whether they felt that their early-stage careers were on track and in line with their expectations.

At the recent Alliance Awards 2024, which celebrate excellence in higher education and recognises achievements across all parts of universities who are members of University Alliance, RGU was recognised for its student support, entrepreneurialism, and for its effort in sustainability through the Lifetime Achievement Award shortlisting of Bill Sommerville, Director of Estates & Property Services.

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 provides the definitive rankings for UK universities and the most comprehensive overview of higher education in Britain, making use of the latest data. 

On the guides launch on Friday, Helen Davies, editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said: “The higher education sector is facing unprecedented challenges from debates on free speech to financial stability, but it is important to remember the force for good that going to university can be.”

Compiled by The Times and The Sunday Times, view in full: