The University's excellent showing in national league tables has been further confirmed by the Sunday Times University Guide (published yesterday), which placed us in 11th position, up 10 places from last year. We were also shortlisted in the Sunday Times 'University of the Year' award (along with the winner, St Andrews; the London Institute; Plymouth; and Warwick), and placed third in the region (after Oxford and Cambridge). The University was placed eighth in the country for the quality of its research, 13th for the quality of its teaching, and was among the top 12 most popular universities in the country (judged on the number of applications per place).

The Sunday Times noted that 'Southampton's advance has been fuelled by a research performance ranked the eighth best in the country . . . recent heavy investment in campus facilities, including a £5m redevelopment of the students' union building, has vastly improved the students' lot. The University has risen to its highest ever placing in our league table after an outstanding year.

Three more stubjects were rated excellent for the quality of teaching--archaeology, politics, and philosophy . . . The University has achieved perfect teaching scores seven times, a result that compares with the best. Southampton also recorded a sharp improvement in the latest research ratings. A net gain of 11 subjects considered internationally excellent was a good result in itself. Allied to the fact that nine out of 10 members of staff were assessed, it lifts the University to eighth place in the research table.'

Paying particular tribute to the University's staff, Vice-Chancellor Professor Bill Wakeham said: 'It is extremely sastisfying to have achieved such high ranking in the Sunday Times league table. The results reflect the significant progress made by the University in learning, teaching and research over recent years. The recognition of the improved quality of our accomplishments in these activities is very welcome.

'This owes at least as much to the high quality of our staff as to the strategic investments we have made in new facilities and subject areas.

'This investment is continuing now with a particular focus on student facilities, including a large extension to the Students' Union, and a new sports facility and swimming pool, all of which will make the University an even more attractive place to study.

'I hope all staff will take great pleasure from this confirmation of the University's growing status,' he continued, 'which follows our excellent achievements in the Research Assessment Exercise, and our vastly improved showing in other national league tables.

Speaking personally, I am proud to have joined an institution which is so committed to success and I have no doubt that this success will be continued in the future. One of the goals of our Vision for the University is that it should be recognized as a 'top ten' university. Our rating in the Sunday Times league table shows that this has now been very nearly achieved.'

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