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THE INTRODUCTION to your university league tables (THES, May 23) draws attention to the anger engendered by The Times's attempt to rank universities. You refer to the exclusion of certain postgraduate institutions and of the Open University. Birkbeck College was also omitted, despite its high research standing, because it offers undergraduate degrees solely part-time. You, like The Times, are disseminating an outdated view.

Many students choose to study part-time while they continue working, rather than accumulate large debts by studying full-time. It is time that the appeal and value of part-time education was given equal status to its full-time counterpart. I hope this omission will be rectified in future tables.

Professor R. Evans

Acting master, Birkbeck College London