The members of the Russell Group of research-led institutions are: Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, King's College London, London School of Economics, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Sheffield, Southampton, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Warwick, Imperial College, University College London and Manchester.

BBC: Newcastle University, a member of the elite Russell group

Exeter University has now joined Imperial College, London, and the University of Cambridge in stating its intention to charge maximum fees from September 2012.

BBC: Wales could spend ?2.3bn on student grants in 9 years

Scientific instruments would be supplied by Imperial College London, Birmingham University and the Mullard Space Science Laboratory.

BBC: UK seeks to go it alone in space

In common only with Boston, London has two universities (Imperial College and University College) in the world's leading 20, so its universities are a draw too.

ECONOMIST: Move over, Brits

Dr Magiorkinis, who did the work in collaboration with the University of Athens and Imperial College London, said the model had helped build a "solid argument" to improve early diagnosis and antiviral treatment in drug users.

BBC: Spread of hepatitis C pinpointed

Other theorists, such as Georgi Dvali of New York University and Joao Magueijo of Imperial College, London, say a changing alpha might come from a hitherto unknown force of nature that could modify the law of gravity.

ECONOMIST: Fundamental physics

Imperial College London fell from fifth to sixth place, while University College London, the last in the UK to make the top 10, rose from ninth to seventh place.

BBC: US and UK universities 'dominant'

Aston, Bath, Belfast Queens University, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, London Imperial College, London King's College, London School of Economics, London University College, Loughborough, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton, St Andrews, Strathclyde, Warwick and York.

BBC: Students fear harsh jobs market