Improving postgraduate study opportunities and higher‑level skills development across UK universities

The Russell Group has announced that it will start a new workstream aimed at improving access for students to postgraduate study and higher-level skills at universities in the UK. This initiative is meant to be a collective effort to bring together colleagues working in the same field to craft potential strategies for opening opportunities to underrepresented groups. As access to modern undergraduate programs has broadened significantly in recent years, participation in postgraduate programs has remained underserved. However, the number of students having higher-level skills is growing very fast, with government labour market projections indicating a 53 per cent increase in demand for workers educated beyond a bachelor’s degree between 2023 and 2025.

The current number of students undertaking postgraduate taught programmes in Russell Group universities is almost 150,000, while over 69,900 postgraduate researchers currently comprise close to 57 per cent of all UK postgraduate students. The Group further admitted that the pool of students must be wider so that it comprises people from different educational and socio-economic contexts and backgrounds who should benefit from accessing the postgraduate pathways.

Based on last year's research culture workshops that have covered issues of inclusive research environments, the Russell Group has convened representatives from the 24 universities and other sector bodies. This elaborated their knowledge on important issues and thus deepened their understanding concerning challenges, shared successful programmes, improved communication of postgraduate pathways to new audiences, and shaped the national agenda on postgraduate access by working with key stakeholders to drive policy change.

The inaugural cross-sector meeting was held on December 12, during which the attendees shared their standpoints on the current successes, strategies for eliminating structural barriers, and challenges realised in data on postgraduate access. According to Maddy Godin, Policy Manager in charge of admissions and widening participation, "The target has shifted once again for social mobility." She said when more people entered universities, access at the next level master's level-became the next barrier.

According to her, the skills and experience gained from postgraduate study open new avenues in careers such as research, academia, industry, and leadership. The absence of such structural barriers and information storage, advice, and guidance still prevents certain groups from accessing these opportunities, she observed. Russell Group universities would undoubtedly be in a better position to spearhead action in this area, enabling us to achieve high-impact change through a focused, joined-up strategy.

The Russell Group confirmed that it wants to draw in other experts across the sector as the workstream develops because it is part of the Russell Group response to the overall UK higher education skills agenda and within the contours of reforms about access and skills for UK students pursuing postgraduate education. It also remains that Russell Group policy on widening participation in postgraduate studies will be a major lifeline in enhancing the impetus toward increasing higher-level skills development and postgraduate research across UK universities.

Editor’s Note:

The Russell Group has developed a new workstream to help improve access to and success in postgraduate study and higher-level skills in universities in the UK. This initiative clearly represents Russell Group policy for widening participation in postgraduate study and is directly part of the UK's higher education workstream on skills development. With over 150,000 postgraduate taught students and nearly 70,000 postgraduate researchers enrolled, Russell Group universities account for more than half of the entire postgraduate involvement in the UK. However, the Group recognises that there is further need for broadening access in postgraduate study to ensure that individuals from diverse educational and socio-economic backgrounds can share in such opportunities. Building on last year's inclusive research culture workshops, the admission is acknowledged that this work belongs to best practice shared in communicating postgraduate pathways and shaping national policy. Demand for higher skills is projected to grow sharply by 2025 in the UK labour market, thereby marking postgraduate access as a priority. This Russell Group news seems to be about how UK research-intensive universities are supporting postgraduate access and higher-level skills development.

Skoobuzz underlines that the result of Russell Group initiatives to widen participation in postgraduate education is expected to be quite strong, contributing to graduate skills development, lifelong learning, and workforce growth throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

FAQs

1.What are the top 5 universities in the Russell Group?

The Russell Group includes many of the UK’s most respected universities. Based on global rankings and reputation, the top five are usually Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London (UCL), and the London School of Economics (LSE). These institutions consistently appear at the top of international league tables and attract students from all over the world.

2.What is the Russell Group in the UK?

The Russell Group is an association of 24 public research universities in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1994 to represent universities with a strong focus on research, innovation, and academic excellence. Members include well‑known institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester, and King’s College London. The group works together to influence higher education policy and promote the role of research‑intensive universities in the UK.

3.What is so special about Russell Group university?

Russell Group universities are considered special because they are research‑intensive, globally recognised, and provide excellent teaching alongside world‑class facilities. Graduates from these universities often enjoy strong career prospects, with higher average earnings compared to other institutions. They also have access to wide alumni networks, international collaborations, and opportunities to take part in cutting‑edge research. Many people see them as the UK’s equivalent of the Ivy League in the United States.

4.What is the hardest Russell Group to get into?

The hardest Russell Group universities to gain admission to are Oxford and Cambridge, which have very low acceptance rates and extremely high entry standards. Other highly competitive institutions include the London School of Economics (LSE), Imperial College London, and the University of Edinburgh. These universities receive far more applications than places available, making them especially selective.