Published: 13 December 2024
City St George’s, University London has made the top 10 in the England for social mobility. The University has also taken the top spot for social mobility in London- coming in 9th place overall.
The English Social Mobility Index (SMI), compiled by London South Bank University, measures higher education institutions’ ability to improve the life chances of students.
The SMI was first published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) in 2021 and City has been ranked in the top 10 in each year of the index’s existence, highlighting the social mobility of graduates.
The SMI ranks English universities registered with the Office for Students (excluding specialist institutions) by their contribution to social mobility, based on the social distance travelled by their graduates.
It combines access, continuation and graduation outcomes measures for undergraduate students. All modes of study are included, although apprenticeship students are necessarily excluded due to a shortage of comparable data.
This year, graduate salaries have been weighted by region to account for salary differences across the country.
On the findings of this year’s SMI, Professor Susannah Quinsee, Vice President (Digital and Student Experience) said:
Students are our greatest priority at City St George’s, and one of our key social responsibilities is to help them achieve greater social mobility.
- Professor Susannah Quinsee, Vice President (Digital and Student Experience) -
"Education has the power to transform lives. A large proportion of our student population come from financially underprivileged backgrounds and our ranking in the Social Mobility Index is testament to the dedication of our staff and students.
We are really proud of the work our staff do to support our students to succeed and the successes of our students."
Half of the University’s home undergraduate student population at City St George’s live in the bottom 40 per cent of England’s most deprived households.
Commuter students make up 64 per cent of home undergraduate students. Of the same cohort, 70 per cent of students are from backgrounds currently underrepresented in higher education.
In 2023-24, City St George’s provided over £2million through bursaries, hardship funds and other financial support to students from low-income households, care leavers, young careers, refugees/asylum seekers and young estranged students.
Professor David Phoenix, Vice-Chancellor of London South Bank University, who compiles the Index for HEPI, said:
The 2024 English Higher Education Social Mobility Index highlights once again that universities up and down the country are breaking down barriers to opportunity.
- Professor David Phoenix, Vice-Chancellor of London South Bank University. -
"The new Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson MP, has been clear that she expects higher education providers to play a stronger role in expanding and improving outcomes for disadvantaged student."