Southampton vs Nottingham: Who REALLY is No.1?

UK’s #1 University in Malaysia!

Quick story: Recently, one of our curious readers reached out with an observation they made on their way to a local shopping mall. They spotted a billboard from the University of Southampton Malaysia claiming to be the number 1 UK university in Malaysia. A bold but respectable claim.

Just moments later, they noticed another billboard, this time from the University of Nottingham Malaysia, also declaring itself as the number 1.

So, what’s happening here? We have two esteemed UK universities, each claiming to be the best in Malaysia.

Let’s unpack these claims and find out who’s really number 1.

Standing out in World Rankings

The University of Southampton advertisement featured the QS International Rankings.

The QS World University Rankings is a prestigious annual ranking that assesses the performance of universities worldwide. It evaluates institutions based on key criteria such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, research citations per faculty, international faculty, and international student ratios. These rankings provide a super comprehensive overview of a university's standing in the global academic community, helping students and educators identify top institutions in various fields of study. From this, Southampton appears to have a clear advantage. The University of Southampton is ranked number 80, while Nottingham is at 108.

In the Times Higher Education rankings (another widely-used global university rankings), we see a similar gap, with Southampton ranked at 97 and Nottingham at 130.

So from a rankings standpoint, Southampton takes the lead in offering better international recognition and prestige.

But does this mean that the University of Nottingham was manipulative in its claim? Not necessarily.

Popularity and variety

If you look closely, the University of Nottingham Malaysia billboard has a little caveat in fine print – “Based on highest number of students @ Profile Book IBTS (MOHE) 2021” highlighting the fact that the university is a popular choice among Malaysians, which is only possible through reputation and top-class education.

Looking through both universities’ Malaysian websites, it is clear that University of Southampton Malaysia is more focused, primarily concentrating on engineering, computer science, and business disciplines. This narrower focus enables Southampton to deliver deep expertise and high-quality education in these key areas, particularly aligning with its strengths in global rankings for engineering and technology. 

In contrast, The University of Nottingham Malaysia offers a super diverse range of academic programmes across multiple disciplines, including business, engineering, law, science, and all sorts of arts and social science courses. This extensive variety allows students to explore and specialise in numerous fields, catering to a wide array of interests and career aspirations.

So, Who Really Deserves the Number 1 Title?

In the end, the title of “number 1” depends on what you’re looking for. 

There is a clear winner if you base it on world rankings alone, but when it comes to your education, there are other aspects to consider. It’s also about finding the right fit for your lifestyle, the campus ambience that resonates with you, and the kind of student community you want to be part of. Some students might prioritise affordability and consider tuition fees as a deciding factor. Others might look at the career opportunities and industry connections a university can offer, which can be crucial for your future job prospects. The location of the campus, its facilities, and even the cultural vibe of the university are all significant factors that can influence your decision.

Both universities bring something valuable to the table, the decision ultimately comes down to your personal academic goals.

Next time you see those billboards in Petaling Jaya, you’ll have a better understanding of what each university is claiming—and why. And who knows? You might just find yourself in a lively debate with your friends about which one truly deserves the number 1 spot.