Russell Group

UK university heads met regularly in London through the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (CVCP). By the early 1990s leaders of the larger research universities had made a habit of holding pre-meetings at the nearby Hotel Russell; by 1994 these talks had moved towards formalisation, and the Russell Group was established that year, taking its name from the hotel.⁠[1][2]

The 17 founding members were the University of BirminghamUniversity of BirminghamThe University of Birmingham is a research university in Birmingham, England. It grew out of Mason Science College, founded by Josiah Mason in 1875, received its Royal Charter from Queen Victoria in 1900 and is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry, the University of BristolUniversity of BristolThe University of Bristol is a research university in Bristol, England, United Kingdom. It began as University College, Bristol, which opened in 1876, became a university under a royal charter in 1909 and is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry, the University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a university in Cambridge, England, United Kingdom. It gives 1209 as its founding date, is made up of Schools, Faculties, Departments and autonomous Colleges, and is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry, the University of EdinburghUniversity of EdinburghThe University of Edinburgh is a research university in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the Town Council in 1583, it is one of Scotland’s four ancient universities and a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry, the University of GlasgowUniversity of GlasgowThe University of Glasgow is a research university in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1451, it describes itself as the fourth oldest university in the UK, and it is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry, Imperial College LondonImperial College LondonImperial College London is a university in London, England, United Kingdom. Formed under a royal charter in 1907, it focuses on science, technology and medicine and is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry, the University of LeedsUniversity of LeedsThe University of Leeds is a research university in Leeds, England. It was founded in 1904, when King Edward VII granted its Royal Charter, and its roots go back to the Leeds School of Medicine of 1831 and the Yorkshire College of Science of 1874. It is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry, the University of LiverpoolUniversity of LiverpoolThe University of Liverpool is a research university in Liverpool, England. It grew out of University College, Liverpool, founded in 1881, became an independent university by royal charter in 1903 and is a founding member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry, the London School of Economics and Political ScienceLondon School of Economics and Political ScienceThe London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a specialist social science university in central London, founded in 1895 by members of the Fabian Society. It is known for research in economics, politics and social policy, and its alumni and staff include many Nobel laureates and national leaders.Open the full entry, the University of ManchesterUniversity of ManchesterThe University of Manchester is a research university in Manchester, England, formed in 2004 by combining the Victoria University of Manchester and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). It traces its origins to 1824 and is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry, Newcastle UniversityNewcastle UniversityNewcastle University is a research university in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom, whose legal name is the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. It traces its origins to a school of medicine and surgery founded in 1834, became an independent university in 1963 on separating from the federal Durham University, and was a founding member of the Russell Group in 1994.Open the full entry, the University of NottinghamUniversity of NottinghamThe University of Nottingham is a university based in Nottingham, England, United Kingdom. Its predecessor, University College, Nottingham, opened in 1881, and it became a university under a royal charter in 1948. It has overseas campuses in Malaysia and in Ningbo, China, and is a founding member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry, the University of OxfordUniversity of OxfordThe University of Oxford is a university in Oxford, England, where teaching existed in some form by 1096; it describes itself as the oldest university in the English-speaking world and is organised as a federal system of the university and dozens of self-governing colleges.Open the full entry, the University of SheffieldUniversity of SheffieldThe University of Sheffield is a research university in Sheffield, England, United Kingdom. It grew out of three predecessor institutions, the Sheffield School of Medicine (founded in 1828), Firth College and the Sheffield Technical School, received its royal charter as a university in 1905 and is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry, the University of SouthamptonUniversity of SouthamptonThe University of Southampton is a research university in Southampton, England, United Kingdom. Its predecessor, the Hartley Institution, opened in 1862, and it became a university under a royal charter in 1952. It is a founding member of the Russell Group and has overseas campuses in Malaysia and India.Open the full entry, University College LondonUniversity College LondonUniversity College London (UCL) is a university in London, England, United Kingdom. Founded in 1826, it is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry and the University of WarwickUniversity of WarwickThe University of Warwick is a research university in Coventry, England, United Kingdom. It received its royal charter in 1965 and is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry.⁠[1][2]

The Hotel Russell was built on Russell Square in London in 1898 to designs by Charles Fitzroy Doll; its name comes from the Earls Russell, the local landowners.⁠[1]

In 1998 Cardiff UniversityCardiff UniversityCardiff University is a research university in Cardiff, Wales. It opened in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire and is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry and King’s College LondonKing's College LondonKing’s College London is a research university in London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1829, it is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry joined the Russell Group.⁠[1]

In November 2006 the Russell Group announced that Queen’s University BelfastQueen's University BelfastQueen’s University Belfast is a research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1845 as Queen’s College Belfast, became an independent university in 1908 and is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry would become its twentieth member; Malcolm Grant was then its chair.⁠[3][1]

The same month it appointed Wendy Piatt, deputy director in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit and former head of education at the Institute for Public Policy Research, as its director-general, to take up the post the following January.⁠[3]

On February 6, 2007, The Russell Group of Universities was incorporated as company number 06086902, a private company limited by guarantee without share capital, with its registered office in London and its nature of business recorded as other business support service activities. The vice-chancellors and principals of the member universities are its directors.⁠[4][1]

Wendy Piatt led the Russell Group from its formation as an organisation in 2007, with the title Director General and Chief Executive.⁠[5]

On March 12, 2012, it was announced that Durham UniversityDurham UniversityDurham University, legally named the University of Durham, is a research university in Durham, North East England, and a member of the Russell Group. Founded under an 1832 Act of Parliament and granted a Royal Charter in 1837, it describes itself as England’s third oldest university and has a collegiate system in which all students belong to one of 17 colleges. Its current Vice-Chancellor and Warden is Karen O’Brien and its Chancellor is Fiona Hill; it had 21,588 students in 2023/24.Open the full entry, the University of ExeterUniversity of ExeterThe University of Exeter is a research university in Exeter, England, United Kingdom, with campuses in Exeter and Cornwall. It traces its roots to a School of Art founded in Exeter in 1855, became a university under a royal charter in 1955 and joined the Russell Group in 2012.Open the full entry, Queen Mary University of LondonQueen Mary University of LondonQueen Mary University of London is a research-intensive university in London, United Kingdom, formed from four historic institutions, the oldest of which, the London Hospital Medical College, was founded in 1785. It is a member of the Russell Group.Open the full entry and the University of YorkUniversity of YorkThe University of York is a collegiate research university in York, England, United Kingdom. It was incorporated by royal charter and admitted its first students in 1963, and it joined the Russell Group in 2012.Open the full entry had accepted invitations to join the Russell Group, raising its membership to 24; all four left the 1994 Group to do so. Michael Arthur was then chair and Wendy Piatt director general.⁠[6][7]

The four new members’ membership took effect on August 1, 2012.⁠[8]

In 2013 the Russell Group provided the academic advisory board for the government’s review of A-levels.⁠[1]

Wendy Piatt stood down in February 2017 after ten years in the role. From February 2, 2017, Tim Bradshaw, previously Head of Policy for Research and Innovation and then Director of Policy, served as Acting Director.⁠[5][9]

On October 30, 2017, the Russell Group announced that Tim Bradshaw had been confirmed as Chief Executive following an open recruitment process. He had joined the organisation in 2012 from the CBI, where he was a head of group leading work on industrial strategy, manufacturing, and science and technology policy.⁠[10]

On July 3, 2023, the Russell Group published principles on the use of generative AI tools in education, developed by member universities and AI experts. The five principles are that universities will support students and staff to become AI-literate; staff should be equipped to support students to use generative AI tools effectively and appropriately; universities will adapt teaching and assessment to incorporate the ethical use of generative AI and support equal access; universities will ensure academic rigour and integrity is upheld; and universities will work collaboratively to share best practice as the technology and its application in education evolves.⁠[11]

On January 21, 2026, the Russell Group announced the appointment of Libby Hackett as its next Chief Executive from May 2026, succeeding Tim Bradshaw. Hackett had been the inaugural chief executive of the Australian Public Policy Institute since 2021, was earlier the inaugural chief executive of University Alliance (2009–2014) and before that served as Director of Research at the Russell Group.⁠[12][13]

In August 2026 Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, succeeded Chris Day as the Russell Group’s tenth Chair; Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Leeds, is Deputy Chair.⁠[14][15]

The nine Chairs before Evelyn Welch were Colin Lucas (2000–2003), Michael Sterling (2003–2006), Malcolm Grant (2006–2009), Michael Arthur (2009–2012), David Eastwood (2012–2015), David Greenaway (2015–2017), Anton Muscatelli (2017–2020), Nancy Rothwell (2020–2023) and Chris Day (2023–2026).⁠[14]

The Russell Group describes itself as representing 24 leading universities across the UK, advocating for their economic, societal and cultural contributions and creating the conditions for them to maximise their public benefit; its members are spread across every region and all four nations of the UK. It lobbies government, produces research and promotes its members.⁠[16][1]

The Russell Group states that all its members are ranked in the global top 200 of the QS World University Rankings 2027; that its universities employed more than 200,000 staff, including more than 110,000 academic staff, in 2024/25; and that 91% of their submissions to REF 2021 were rated “world-leading” or “internationally excellent.” A 2024 study by London Economics estimated that their research, innovation and new businesses generate £37.6 billion a year for the UK economy.⁠[16]

As of November 2026, the Russell Group has 24 member universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; 17 are founding members from 1994 and the other seven joined in 1998, 2006 and 2012. The table gives each university’s city and the year it joined the Russell Group.⁠[17][1][1][2]

Russell Group: Official website: https://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/ (opens in a new window).⁠[18]

X: Public account: https://x.com/russellgroup (opens in a new window).⁠[18]

LinkedInLinkedInLinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and others, launched in 2003, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; after Microsoft acquired it for approximately $26.2 billion in 2016, it became a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary. Its revenue comes from membership subscriptions, advertising, and recruitment solutions.Open the full entry: Public profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/russell-group-of-universities/ (opens in a new window).⁠[18]