THE University of Worcester has hit back at its rating in this year's Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.

This year's guide, which was revealed on Sunday, showed that the university had fallen 12 places to 102nd this year, compared to 90th in last year's guide.

In a statement released this week, a spokesman said: "“Naturally, we are disappointed that our league table position does not reflect the reality of the university’s success, but we are determined to continue with our strategy which has seen Worcester earn an outstanding reputation for combining inclusion with quality.

"“There is much debate among universities about the various league tables. The comprehensive national Research Excellence assessment was last published in 2014 and Worcester was the most improved university in the UK for research power.

“This year the debate about the practical usefulness of these tables has intensified following the publication of the Teaching Excellence Framework results. In this comprehensive national assessment Worcester earned a silver score, ahead of many other universities, including such long-established and well-known institutions as the universities of Southampton and Liverpool as well as the London School of Economics."

The spokesman said that among the factors dragging it down in the league table is that many graduates get jobs as nurses, midwives and teachers, and the public sector pay cap has meant the relative earnings of graduates in these fields have declined.

“In the most recent National Student Survey, nine of the university’s courses scored 100 per cent satisfied rating from final year students. Worcester scored higher than the national average with overall satisfaction at 84.4 per cent compared to 84.1 per cent nationally. Twenty of Worcester’s courses earned a 90 per cent or above satisfied rating from students."

In its entry for the Henwick-based university, the guide notes that the numbers of students starting degrees are at record levels, up by nearly a quarter since the first year of £9,000 fees.

There are now about 10,500 students, and a several new degree courses are taking their first undergraduates this autumn, including five master’s courses in biological sciences.