Harper Adams wins University of the Year title again

As well as taking home the title of University of the Year, Harper Adams, near Newport, also came top in three other award categories – job prospects, course and lecturers and student support.

The full ranking, which includes 127 universities, was announced yesterday, with universities being ranked by 27,000 students across 12 categories.

Dr David Llewellyn, vice-chancellor of Harper Adams University, said: “We are thrilled to have been named the Whatuni Student Choice Awards University of the Year.

"This is a tremendous vote of confidence from our students and we greatly appreciate their support, as well as the many ways in which they contribute with our staff to create a vibrant academic community working at the cutting edge of some of the world’s greatest challenges.

"To have won the award for the first time last year was wonderful, but to have taken the top place for a second time is really special. It just goes to show that smaller universities have a big role to play in providing an environment where students can really get the most out of their time in higher education.”

Marcella Collins, managing director for higher education at the Hotcourses Group, said: “We’d like to extend our congratulations to Harper Adams for taking home the University of the Year award for the second year in a row, as well as wins in three further categories.”

Harper Adams was a finalist in nine out of 12 Whatuni Student Choice Awards categories and was presented with its four gold, two silver and three bronze awards by event host and comedian David Mitchell.

The got a silver award for accommodation and "giving back", while bronze awards were given for university facilities and clubs and societies.

Each category in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards is based on the aggregate review score submitted by students at that university. The Giving Back category is new for 2017 and students were asked how much they felt their university gave back to the community.

The announcement has been made just weeks after the agricultural university topped the tables for the best student experience in the country as part of the Times Higher Education UK Student Experience Survey.

John Gill, editor of Times Higher Education, said: “It is notable that our league table is topped by a specialist institution with among the best track records for industry links and employability.

"Our survey tracks student attitudes across 22 criteria, but there’s no doubt that students put enormous stock on their future career prospects in this era of high tuition fees."