01 May 08

On top of the game: Oxford University and its students

Oxford has been named Britain's best university for the fourth year running in The Guardian's 2009 University Guide.

The annual league table, which assesses teaching quality, staff-student ratios and graduate job prospects, places Oxford first in the overall rankings.

The guide was compiled by The Guardian and Campus Pi, an applied research department at Brunel University.

It is aimed at helping prospective students choose courses and therefore concentrates less than alternative tables on research ratings. It judges courses on the student verdict on teaching and feedback, gathered from final year undergraduates in the National Student Survey, plus spending per student, staff/student ratios, job prospects, entry qualifications and a value-added measure comparing individuals' entry qualifications with their degree results.

The Vice-Chancellor, Dr John Hood, said: 'We are very pleased that Oxford has been recognised by The Guardian's university guide as the top higher education institution in the UK for the fourth year running.

'Our students continue to demonstrate exceptional intellectual abilities, to seize the opportunities Oxford offers and to leave for promising careers in their chosen field.'