St Andrews, rated third last year, is now in fourth place while Warwick is fifth. UCL, Durham, Lancaster, Bath and Exeter make up the top ten. All of the public English universities in the Guardian's top 20 will charge the maximum fee of £9,000 for new undergraduates from this September, except for the LSE which will charge £8,500.
The Guardian's annual league table ranks every university in the country according to the its unique formula that takes into account spending per student; a university's student/staff ratio; graduate career prospects; what grades applicants need; a value-added score that compares students' entry qualifications with their final degree results; and how happy final-year students are with their courses, based on the annual National Student Survey. The overall league table is also accompanied by rankings showing how universities perform across the major subject areas.
The publication of the league table in the Guardian University Guide for 2013 is hosted on the Guardian's new online hub for students - Guardian Students.
The new website provides students with their own dedicated space on guardian.co.uk for the first time, and features:
• The latest news and policy changes that impact students, in addition to in-depth features and packages
• Live chat sessions with experts to help young people choose a course and secure a place
• Profiles of every university in the country with an insight into what the student experience is like at each institution
• Details of every subject on offer in higher education
• The latest information on fees and bursaries
• The Guardian's popular 'blogging students' series, a platform through which our ever-growing network of student bloggers have their say on the pressing issues of life on campus
• Regular competitions
Judy Friedberg, the Guardian's universities editor, said: "Being a student has never been as complicated as it is for those starting university this year. Fees have shot up with a repayment system that is shrouded in mystery for many students and their parents. With a wider range of options than ever before, and youth unemployment at record levels, students are looking at courses in a new way and asking themselves whether this is really the best path to a future career.
"Our new Guardian Students site aims to help them answer that question, offering up-to-the-minute advice and a place for students to talk through all the issues that concern them. They'll find campus news, fees and careers advice, university league tables and discussions on everything from coping with exams to managing their Google footprints. Ultimately we want to help young people - and their parents - to make the best decisions they can for their future."
