Fantasy Higher Education: University and college league tables

University league tables have burgeoned in the UK in recent years and are being published by an ever-increasing number of newspapers. National and international university league tables are examined. Results of a number of university league tables that appeared in the UK in 1998 are compared and discussed, and some methodological issues are raised. The degree of usefulness of these league tables to prospective students is then considered, and it is argued that, for the majority of potential students, the tables do not provide them with the critical information needed to make an informed choice of where to study. Some of the likely future developments of these league tables are then discussed.