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Russell Group universities

Russell Group

You’ve decided that you want to study at university or college. There are over 160 higher education providers in the UK and it can be difficult to decide which one you would like to study at. You may have heard about Russell Group universities and wonder what the term means and whether it’s even something that you should be considering.

What is a Russell Group university?

The Russell Group is made up of 24 of the UK's top leading universities. These universities are committed to maintaining the highest levels of academic excellence in both teaching and research and have unrivalled links with business and the public sector.

Annually over 280 Winstanley College students received places at Russell Group universities 

Winstanley College always attracts the best students from across the North West. Annually, 39% of students go on to study at Russell Group universities. Compared to a Sixth Form College average of 29%. This shows great things can be achieved when students are inspired and supported to achieve their true potential.

Why study at a Russell Group University?

Leading research

By deciding to study at a Russell Group university, you will have the opportunity to choose a degree from a wide range of internationally renowned courses – from medical, biological and physical sciences to business, social sciences and the humanities. More than 500,000 students are enrolled at Russell Group universities – one in five of all higher education students in the UK. Importantly, many academic staff in Russell Group universities are working at the cutting edge of their disciplines. This means that, as a student, you will interact with leading thinkers and follow a curriculum which is informed by world-class research. As a student, you are likely to have opportunities to engage in research yourself.

Big Investers

Russell Group universities have some of the best state of the art facilities. Millions of pounds are spent investing in libraries and study space, cutting-edge laboratory equipment, improved lecture theatres, innovative courses, arts and culture facilities, the latest software and professional careers services. On average, Russell Group universities spend 50% more per student than other UK universities on academic services and staff and student facilities. Entry to this group of universities is highly selective, and applications outweigh places on the majority of courses. This means that you will benefit from working with, and learning from, a highly-motivated and talented peer group.

Bursaries and scholarships

Every student with the qualifications, potential and determination to succeed at a Russell Group university should have the opportunity to do so, whatever their background. Bursaries and scholarships are available at all Russell Group universities.

Success rates

There are many indicators which highlight the success of Russell Group students during their degree courses: the rate of students who complete their degrees is better than at many of the other institutions in the UK and abroad, and Russell Group students are more likely to achieve excellent degree results. Furthermore, a high percentage of students are in work or further study six months after their graduation: 93% of first-degree graduates from Russell Group universities, compared to 90% for non-Russell Group graduates . First-degree students from research-intensive universities are also more likely to progress straight to postgraduate study.

Transferable skills

Students are taught how to problem solve, learn independently and think creatively and analytically – all valuable employment skills. Graduates are equipped with the skills to be successful entrepreneurs, and a significant number of them set up their own companies. So it’s no wonder why graduates are highly sought after by employers, both nationally and internationally.

Research suggests that graduates from Russell Group universities earn, on average, around 10% more than those from other universities over a lifetime. One recent study shows that 41% of those in work were earning £30,000 or more after three years, compared to 32% for graduates from all UK universities.

Networking

Russell Group universities, have successful and growing alumni associations across the UK and internationally, which provide excellent opportunities for networking and staying in touch.

For further information about Russell Group universities

A full list of Russell Group universities and the Winstanley College students who attended them in 2023:

University of Birmingham

Feeder School Name

Outwood Grange Haydock

Joseph

Bishop Rawstorne HS

Millicent Alice

Standish HS

Fahd

Burscough Priory Academy

Ellen

University of Bristol

Feeder School Name

Ormskirk School

Naomi

Other

Natalie

Burscough Priory Academy

Stuart

Other

Lydia

Westhoughton HS

Louise

University of Cambridge

Feeder School Name

Merchant Taylors

Thomas

Great Sankey HS

Lucy May

St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS

Molly

Standish HS

Martin

Culcheth HS

Will

Other

Eleanor

Standish HS Vijay Hitesh
Our Lady's RCHS, Skelmersdale Harry
St. Peter's RCHS Ellie

Cardiff University

Feeder School Name

Ormskirk School

Maggie

Moorside HS

Lillie-Belle

St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS

Anne-Marie

Kings Leadership Academy

Kian

St. Bede's RCHS

Niamh

St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS

Elise

Bishop Rawstorne HS Erin
St. Joseph's RCHS, Horwich Emily
Tower College Jessica
Rainford HSBen Ben
St. Peter's RCHS Olivia

Durham University

Feeder School Name

Byrchall HS

Harriet

Moorside HS

Erica

Culcheth HS

Charlotte

St. Peter's RCHS

Isabelle Louise Ann

Our Lady's RCHS, Skelmersdale

Emily

Rainford HS

Rebecca

Birchwood Community School Benjamin
St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS Daniel
Upholland HS James
Culcheth HS Ruby
Golborne HS Nina
St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS Amelia
Co-op Academy Walkden Ella-Louise
Burscough Priory Academy Ellie
Bolton School Alice
Rainford HS Hannah Louise
Burscough Priory Academy Katharine
Bishop Rawstorne HS Lydia
Deyes HS, Maghull Darcy
Hawkley Hall HS Ellie

University of Edinburgh

Feeder School Name

Fred Longworth HS

Fai

Scarisbrick Hall

Ella

Byrchall HS

Leonie

St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS

Olivia

Kings Leadership Academy

Tay

Lowton HS

Aidan

University of Exeter

Feeder School Name

Our Lady's RCHS, Skelmersdale

Grace

University of Glasgow

Feeder School Name

Byrchall HS

Aliyah

King’s College London

Feeder School Name

Culcheth HS

Evie

Co-op Academy Walkden

Lucy

University of Leeds

Feeder School Name

St. Peter's RCHS

Holly

Deanery HS

Jamie

Moorside HS

Olivia

St. Bede's RCHS

Roisin

Deanery HS

Ellen

Standish HS

Thomas

St. Bede's RCHS Lauren
St. Mary's RCHS, Leigh James
Culcheth HS Lauren
Golborne HS Amelia
Rainford HS Jessica
Golborne HS Jessica
Deanery HS Robyn
Greenbank HS Samara

University of Liverpool

Feeder School Name

Rainford HS

Alla

Culcheth HS Ethan
Maricourt RCHS Luke
St. Bede's RCHS Annaleise
Our Lady's RCHS, Skelmersdale Matthew
Deanery HS Nicky
St. John Fisher RCHS Ellie
Our Lady's RCHS, Skelmersdale Amy
Kings Leadership Academy Evie
All Saints RCHS, Kirkby Libby
Bishop Rawstorne HS Alexandra
Byrchall HS Daniel
St. Bede's RCHS Joseph
Culcheth HS Romahn
Upholland HS Gabriel
St. Joseph's RCHS, Horwich Isabelle
Deyes HS, Maghull Lydia
Maricourt RCHS Ethan
St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS Jude
Ormskirk School Holly
Standish HS Thomas
Hawkley Hall HS Lewis
St. Mary's RCHS, Leigh Benjamin
Byrchall HS Emma
St. Peter's RCHS Caoimhe
St. Peter's RCHS Erin
Cansfield HS Harry
Fred Longworth HS Penny
Fred Longworth HS Charlie
Outwood Grange Haydock Will
Outwood Grange Haydock Ben
Co-op Academy Walkden Eve
Culcheth HS Melissa
Bridgewater HS, Worsley Amber
Bedford HS Rebecca
Co-op Academy Walkden Rebecca
Standish HS Daisy
Rainford HS Maryam
St. Mary's RCHS, Leigh Daragh
The Westleigh School Ivaylo
All Saints RCHS, Kirkby Charlie
St. Bede's RCHS Sean
St. Bede's RCHS Isabella
St. Bede's RCHS Paul
Atherton Community School Suzie
St. Bede's RCHS Nicholas
Ormskirk School Cerys
Byrchall HS Daniel
Upholland HS Jemma
Upholland HS Grace
Other Eraj
Our Lady's RCHS, Skelmersdale Braden
St. Mary's RCHS, Leigh Daniel
Standish HS Milly
St. Mary's RCHS, Leigh Charlotte
Maharishi School Daniel
Golborne HS Benjamin
Kirkby HS Devon
Atherton Community School Oliver
St. Peter's RCHS Ting Xin
Upholland HS Olivia

University of Manchester

Feeder School Name

The Westleigh School

Katie

St. Bede's RCHS Pedro
Lowton HS Olivia
N/K Emilia
St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS Rachel
Co-op Academy Walkden Arjun
Rivington & Blackrod HS Jack
St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS Bridgette
St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS Megan
Rainford HS Megan
Atherton Community School Ellie
Rainford HS Paige
Rainford HS Jessie
Standish HS Yoseph
Atherton Community School Debbie
Culcheth HS Oliver
Kings Leadership Academy Ben
St. Mary's RCHS, Leigh Eleanor
Ormskirk School Junjia
Byrchall HS Thomas
St. Mary's Crosby Grace
Atherton Community School Brandon
Co-op Academy Walkden Ellie
Atherton Community School Louisa
St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS Matthew
Fred Longworth HS Elizabeth
St. Bede's RCHS Regan
Kirkby HS Dylan
Dean Trust Rose Bridge Faith
Co-op Academy Walkden Thomas
Hawkley Hall HS Llyanne
Fred Longworth HS Ellie
Birchwood Community School Jake
Deyes HS, Maghull Hannah
Rainford HS Cody
Byrchall HS Emigen Hong-Yee
Shevington HS Willem

Newcastle University

Feeder School Name

Shevington HS

Elizabeth

Deyes HS, Maghull

Anna

Culcheth HS Georgia
Byrchall HS Bethany
Culcheth HS Ryan
Deyes HS, Maghull Faye
St. Mary's RCHS, Leigh Grace
Co-op Academy Walkden Elijah
St. Mary's RCHS, Leigh Elleanor
St. John Fisher RCHS Mary
St. Mary's RCHS, Leigh Aimee
St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS Daniel
St. Joseph's RCHS, Horwich Jude
St. Mary's RCHS, Leigh Roisin
Rainford HS Rebecca
Standish HS Felicity
Tower College Liam
Byrchall HS Caitlin
Kings Leadership Academy Jack
St. Mary's RCHS, Leigh Abbie
St. Mary's RCHS, Leigh Summer
Standish HS Lydia
Culcheth HS Isabella

University of Nottingham

Feeder School Name

St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS

Leon

St. Bede's RCHS

Evie

Upholland HS

Sjoerd

Fred Longworth HS Katie
Rainford HS Jessica
Culcheth HS Isabella
Lowton HS Dillon
  Evie
Fred Longworth HS Thomas

University of Oxford

Feeder School Name

Greenbank HS

Josephine

St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS

Kira

St. Peter's RCHS Cecilia
Shevington HS Megan
Culcheth HS Lucy
Ormskirk School Amy
Byrchall HS Molly

Queen Mary University of London

N/A

Queen’s University Belfast

Feeder School Name

Westhoughton HS

Della

St. Bede's RCHS

Daniel

University College London

Feeder School Name

Culcheth HS

Aiden

Culcheth HS

Heather

St. John Fisher RCHS

Bethany

Culcheth HS

Harley

Bedford HS

Mackenzie

University of Warwick

Feeder School Name

Byrchall HS

Jarod

Birchwood Community School

Megan

St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS Charlotte
Fred Longworth HS Andrew
Ormskirk School Isabel
Byrchall HS Katie
Shevington HS Emily

University of York

Feeder School Name

Byrchall HS

Emma

Fred Longworth HS

Jamie

Kings Leadership Academy George
St. Bede's RCHS Annabel
Ormskirk School Amy
Outwood Grange Haydock Callum
Golborne HS Elizabeth
Culcheth HS Emma
Deanery HS Dylan
Rainford HS Georgina
St. Edmund Arrowsmith RCHS Poppy
Westhoughton HS Natasha
Culcheth HS Laura
Hawkley Hall HS Ella
Culcheth HS William
Kings Leadership Academy Morgan
Kirkby HS Isabel