Top assets (thousands)

Cambridge �1,230,757 Oxford �807,435 Edinburgh �685,999 Glasgow �407,517 Birmingham �406,199 Source: THES

Cambridge is well ahead of its traditional rival, with assets of more than �1.2bn compared to Oxford's �800m.

It also has greater reserves - �375m against Oxford's �267m, the survey by the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) found.

In liquid cash terms though, there is just �23,000 separating the ancient seats of learning - Cambridge had �124.184m and Oxford �124.161m.

Edinburgh University comes third in the THES asset table with �164m.

Second in the reserves table - and in front of Oxford - comes Birmingham University with a �268m cash pile.

Prince's university

St Andrews University - where Prince William will take up a place this autumn to study for a degree in History of Art - is bottom in terms of how long a university would survive without public grants.

Top reserves (thousands)

Cambridge �375,187 Birmingham �267,197 Oxford �264,329 King's College London �113,343 Manchester �108,299 Source: THES

It would be able to keep going for just 27 days before running out of money, the THES survey suggests.

In terms of assets, Surrey University was the fastest grower even though it only became a university in 1966.

Its reserves top �100m and it has endowments worth more than �61m, the THES says.