Official figures issued by the Higher Education Funding Council show that the University of Hull has one of the best records for student retention of any UK university.

The University has been placed fifth out of more than 160 higher education institutions for its student completion rates in the regular ‘benchmarking’ exercise carried out by the Funding Council.

Hull was given a benchmark ‘drop out’ rate of 12% but in fact achieved a rate of only 5%. The figures are based on students entering higher education between 1998 and 2000.

The University also achieved or exceeded its benchmarks in other key areas. With a benchmark level of undergraduates drawn from state schools set at 84%, the actual figure achieved was 89%.

The University also achieved a benchmark of 24% of students entering from economically ‘poorer’ backgrounds.

The funding councils give each institution targets calculated on the basis of the academic backgrounds of the students they accept.

The figures were welcomed within the University as reflecting success not only in the area of teaching but also in the provision of support to students from differing educational and social backgrounds.

The University said: ‘We pride ourselves on being one of Britain’s friendliest universities and we hope that is reflected in the support services we provide for our students to enable them to pursue their studies in what can sometimes be difficult personal and financial circumstances.’