if you don't get into a Russell Group university, skip going altogether

matt10001

Do you agree?

I did not go to a Russell Group university, is my life doomed? Will I not get a decent job? Also is it hard to join a graduate scheme without going to a Russell Group university?

Zinger549

You can get a good degree and job from lots of uni's. It's all about you and your skills.

duchy

There's a school of thought that believes a degree from a Russell Group university will doom you.

Define "Decent job" (actually that the question needed to be asked may be an answer in itself)

Diggs.

I disagree. Though you have to accept the fact that applicants with a first from Oxbridge/Russell Group/red brick will have an edge over applicants with a 2.1 from unis that don't fall in that category.

That said, it's just another hurdle. It's not impossible to get a "good job" just because you didn't go to a Russell Group uni. That's just one of the factors potential employers will consider, and if everything else on your application/CV is top-notch then it won't necessarily result in you being written off. So focus on the things you can control - writing good applications, getting good extra-curriculars, work experience etc on your CV.

I went to a rubbish uni and ended up in what I expect would be considered a "good job"!

Peccary

I went to a Russell group uni, have a science degree and work in research

Husband went to an ex poly, never graduated and now works for a large bank

We both work hard and like our chosen careers but one of us earns twice what the other does, i'll let you guess which way round it is!

shop-to-drop

Subject choice is critical too.

melysion

As a fellow science researcher I most definitely know the answer Peccary

I don't see any reason at all why someone can't get a decent job regardless of what university they went to.

Wyndham

There are plenty of decent Universities which are not in the Russell group. In particular, there was a group built in the 1960s which are very good, and often higher in various rankings than those in the Russell group.

Personally, I'd avoid ex-polys and very new Universities. But, even saying that, if I wanted to do a vocational degree, I'd probably get a better one there than I would in the Russell group.

Two4Tuesday

My old boss didn't get a degree, but a HND from a regular college. He's now the multimillionaire chairman of a PLC with over 5000 employees.

I still kick myself for leaving just before the company went public. I lost a lot of promised share options, but at the time, I thought the grass was greener somewhere else.

pinkshoes

I know plenty of bosses who wouldn't know what a Russell group university was!

it's about your skills and potential, and whether you're the right person for the job.

Mrs_Soup

Depends a lot on subject. I work for Reading and they are top in the Uk for Agriculture. My old employer is a very new university and while I wouldn't chose them for some subjects they were very well regarded for Design. I don't think many people outside the university sector even know about the Russell group.