eMoov's University Property Index: Durham Tops The University Property Investment League

- Durham tops the eMoov University Property Index

- The North, the Midlands and Scotland account for the top 10 Universities for property and course quality

- Only four London universities make the top 100

- 70% of Brits want to invest in a property to help their child get a foot on the property ladder

- A quarter (25%) of British home owners would prefer to purchase a property in a reputable university town

Research by the leading online estate agent, eMoov.co.uk, has identified the best locations in the country when investing in a university property, without breaking the bank in the process.

eMoov's University Property Index awards each university an index score calculated on how they perform against the average UCAS entry requirement in relation to the local average property price.

The North of England and Scotland dominate, accounting for eight of eMoov's top 10 scoring universities. With a UCAS entry level requirement of 547 points and an average property in the area costing £ 214,735, Durham tops the eMoov index with a score of 102.

Durham is joined in the top 10 by Strathclyde (2nd) with an index score of 96, Manchester (3rd) with a score of 90, Edinburgh (4th) at 89, Warwick (5th) with 84, Nottingham (6th) 84, Lancaster (7th) 83, Leeds (8th) 82, St Andrews (9th) 80 and Aberdeen (10th) 79.

The high price of property in the capital however has seen London's universities fair miserably. With 117 universities included in the study, 15 of the 17 that failed to make the top 100 are located in the capital.

Only four of London's universities managed to sneak into the top 100 by the skin of their teeth, however all are awarded a negative index score.

These were the Queen Mary University (94th) -30, the London School of Economics (96th) -37, East London University (96th) -37 and Kings College London (100th) -74.

The worst performing university in eMoov's University Property Index was the Imperial College London, despite having a UCAS entry level requirement of 568 points. The huge property prices in London SW7 give the university a cost per an entry point of £3,361, 368% more than the study average. This results in an eMoov Property Index score of -309%.

In the historic battle of Oxford vs Cambridge, Oxford comes out on top. Ranked 13th in eMoov's study, Oxford beats university rivals Cambridge by 6 places, with their neighbours to the north east only managing to place 19th. Despite having a marginally higher UCAS entry level, the average property in Cambridge costs over £100,000 more than in Oxford. That's £183 more for very UCAS point required to gain a place at the university.

A separate survey by eMoov, of 1000 UK homeowners, it found that a huge 70% of Brits would purchase a good investment property, in order to help their child that first foot on the property ladder. Of those surveyed, a quarter (25%) would prefer to invest in a property that was located in a reputable university town.

Founder and CEO of eMoov.co.uk, Russell Quirk, commented:

"Sending your kids off to university can be a joyful occasion for many parents and is often the first time they fly the nest to fend for themselves. What with the recent increase in university fees and the cost of living, it can also be an extremely expensive time for parent and student alike, as the debt begins to pile up.

This study shows which universities offer the best level of degree, but also an affordable property price, should you want to invest in a house for your child, or even as a uni-let for yourself.

Students are certainly an easy target where the high street letting agent is concerned and it is common practice for agents to strip them of their hefty deposits, for even the most minor of reasons. Not only does buying a university property avoid this but it also provides a future home should they stay in the chosen city for work, or a great money making opportunity renting to future students."

END

Contact

Stephen Jury
Head of Media
eMoov.co.uk
07725642533
Stephen.jury@emoov.co.uk

Notes to Editor

• Universities included within the study are compiled from the University League Table for 2016.
• The eMoov University Property Index is calculated by first finding how the university's UCAS entry requirement performs against the study average (357), resulting in a percentage difference to average. The average house price is then divided by this UCAS entry requirement to give the university a property price per a UCAS point. This property price per a point is then compared to the study average of £913 per a UCAS point resulting in a percentage difference. The university's performance against the average UCAS entry and average property price per a point in the study is then compared, to give the university its eMoov Index Score.
• The additional research for emoov was carried out by Opinion Matters between: 24/07/2015 & 31/07/2015. Sample: 1,016 parents of children aged up to 18
• Source of average house price: Zoopla Z-Index
• eMoov is the UK's most successful and recognised Online Estate Agent offering to sell properties for fees of just £595 inc VAT
• eMoov has sold over 4,500 properties since it launched
• eMoov are backed by VC firm Episode 1
• Russell Quirk is the founder of eMoov and widely recognised by the media for his expertise within the property market
• Russell is a third generation estate agent and after running the family business of 5 independent estate agents he sold them to start eMoov in 2010
• In 2014 eMoov won the allagents.co.uk Best Customer Service Award, testament to their approach of being the digital disruptor offering fantastic value and outstanding customer service
• Contact the eMoov media team on press@emoov.co.uk for exclusive interviews and property insight

We also have individual graphics for each of the top 10 ranking universities if required.