The first category comprises the old, traditional universities, the majority of which are now part of what is called the “Russell Group” universities. The Russell Group has 24 members and is an association of universities committed to raising standards and carrying out research. Examples of universities in this top tier are Oxford, Cambridge, the London School of Economics, Nottingham, Birmingham and Sheffield. Interestingly, a number of the Russell Group universities, including Manchester and Liverpool, were originally known as “red-brick universities” due to their locations in the industrial cities. The term was derogatory at first, but these institutions are now among the very best in the UK. The universities of the Russell Group all have very strong reputations and their graduates are highly regarded around the world.