In 2000 the University of Luton was ranked 83 out of 93 British universities by "The Times" in their annual university ranking, rising to 72 out of 101 two years later. In 2004, the university's then high drop-out rate, and decision to allow students to progress on to their third year of their degree even if they fail to pass their first and second-year exams led the "Sunday Telegraph" to ask "Is this the worst university in Britain?" Luton's vice-chancellor responded by drawing attention to its teaching quality, which had been rated 14th out of 121 similar institutions the previous year by "The Times".