Dundee named Scottish university of the year

THE University of Dundee has been named Scottish university of the year in the annual Good University Guide which provides an in-depth view of higher education in Britain.

The Times and Sunday Times guide named Dundee top of Scots universities. Picture: Geograph

Students gave the university the best marks in the country for teaching and overall student experience.

Judges said its research was pushing back boundaries and praised its impact on the city.

The university’s reputation as a leader in the life sciences has been enhanced in the past year after strong results in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, which placed it top in the UK for biological sciences.

It also received accolades for its civil engineering, which came in the UK’s top three.

Dundee was also Scotland’s top university for the sixth successive year in the Times Higher Education magazine’s student experience survey, with its central facilities voted the best in the UK.

The university, which has completed a £200 million redevelopment by the architect Sir Terry Farrell, doubled in size over two decades and has been aiming to break into the higher education elite.

Overall St Andrews retains its crown as the top-ranked Scottish university – with a fourth-place UK ranking – and is still the only Scottish university in the top 20 rankings.

However it loses its status as Scottish university of the year to Dundee due to the great strides being made at the Tayside establishment.

Principal Prof Sir Pete Downes said: “Our record in recent years on student experience is remarkable. I know from speaking to our students how much they enjoy their time here at Dundee.

“We are absolutely delighted to be named as Scottish University of the Year. This is a tribute to the dedication of staff right across the university.”