UKOLN UK Web Focus

Results of Survey of UK HE 404 Errors



The list of links in Higher Education Universities and Colleges was taken from http://www.hesa.ac.uk/links/he_inst.htm

The 404 error messages produced by these Web sites was analysed in June 1999. A summary of the findings is given below. An accompanying article has been written. A brief summary is given at the bottom of this document.

  1. Aberdeen, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Simple page with links to home page, search page and contact details.
    Note error using IE5
  2. Abertay, Dundee University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), but no extra functionality
  3. Aberystwyth, University of Wales
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), but no extra functionality
  4. Anglia Polytechnic University
    Result - 1 June 99: 403 error message, generated by system
  5. Aston University
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), but no extra functionality
  6. Bangor, University of Wales
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  7. Bath Spa University College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  8. Bath, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Simple page with links to home page and search page.
    Note error using IE5
  9. Belfast, The Queen's University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links. Displays fragment of invalid URL.
    Note error using IE5
  10. Birkbeck College
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), with link to search page. Does not display invalid URL.
  11. Birmingham,The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), with link to home page, search page and referring page. Display (variation of) invalid URL.
    Note error using IE5
  12. Bishop Grosseteste College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links. Displays fragment of invalid URL.
    Note error using IE5
  13. Bolton Institute of HE
    Result - 1 June 99: 403 error message, generated by system
  14. Bournemouth University
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links. Displays fragment of invalid URL.
    Note error using IE5
  15. Bradford, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), with link to search page, sitemaps and home page. Displays fragment of invalid URL.
  16. Bretton Hall College of HE
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links. Does not display invalid URL.
    Note error using IE5
  17. Brighton, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links. Does not display invalid URL.
    Note error using IE5
  18. Bristol, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), with link to search page and home page. Displays invalid URL.
  19. Brunel University
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), with link to search page. Provides advice. Does not display invalid URL.
  20. Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College
    Result - 1 June 99: Display "Forbidden" message.
    Note error using IE5
  21. Cambridge,The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links. Does not display invalid URL.
    Note error using IE5
  22. Canterbury Christ Church University College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links. Does not display invalid URL.
    Note error using IE5
  23. Cardiff, University of Wales
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links. Does not display invalid URL.
    Note error using IE5
  24. Cardiff, University of Wales Institute
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links. Does not display invalid URL.
    Note error using IE5
  25. Central England in Birmingham, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links. Does not display invalid URL.
    Note error using IE5
  26. Central Lancashire, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  27. Cheltenham and Gloucester College of HE
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message. Gives advice and link to sitemap
  28. Chester College of HE
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with link to referrer page.
    Note error using IE5
  29. Chichester, University College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
  30. City University
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message. Gives advice and link to entry point. Has details of server status and pages now unavailable. Also has embedded search box. Good example
  31. College of Guidance Studies, The
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  32. Coventry University
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  33. Cranfield University
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), with report form. Also has link to search page. Good example
  34. Dartington College of Arts
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  35. De Montfort University
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), with report form. Also has link to previous page. Good example
  36. Derby, University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  37. Dundee, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), with link to search service and home page.
  38. Durham, University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message with advice, but no links. Gives URL fragment.
  39. East Anglia, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), with link to search service and home page. Well-designed. Does not display invalid URL.
  40. East London, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  41. Edge Hill College of Higher Education
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  42. Edinburgh College of Art
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  43. Edinburgh, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), with link to search service, home page and comments form. Well-designed, containing navigational bar. Displays invalid URL.
  44. Essex, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  45. Exeter, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  46. Falmouth College of Arts
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  47. Glamorgan, University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  48. Glasgow Caledonian University
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  49. Glasgow School of Art
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  50. Glasgow, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  51. Goldsmiths College
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), with link to search service, home page and referring page (doesn't work?). Does not display invalid URL.
  52. Greenwich, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  53. Harper Adams University College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links. Default message (Note invalid domain in original list).
  54. Heriot-Watt University
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  55. Hertfordshire, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  56. Huddersfield, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  57. Hull, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  58. Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  59. Institute of Education
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  60. Keele, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), with link to search service, home page, sitemaps and help information. Displays invalid URL. Succinct page. Good example
  61. Kent at Canterbury, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  62. Kent Institute of Art & Design
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  63. King Alfred's College, Winchester
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  64. King's College London
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo), with link to search service, home page, sitemaps and help information. Well-designed, with navigational icons. Does not display invalid URL. Good example
  65. Kingston University
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  66. Lampeter, The University of Wales
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  67. Lancaster, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  68. Leeds Metropolitan University
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including logo) but no links and little additional information.
  69. Leeds, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  70. Leicester, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  71. Lincolnshire and Humberside, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  72. Liverpool Hope
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  73. Liverpool John Moores University
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  74. Liverpool, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  75. London Business School
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message, with link to home page
  76. London Guildhall University
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  77. London Institute, The
    Result - 1 June 99: Issues redirects to main entry point.
  78. London Institutes and activities, University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  79. London School of Economics and Political Science
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  80. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  81. Loughborough University
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (with University logo) but little additional information.
    Note error using IE5
  82. Luton University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  83. Manchester Institute of Science & Technology
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  84. Manchester Metropolitan University, The
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  85. Manchester, The Victoria University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  86. Medicine, University of Wales College of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  87. Middlesex University
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message, but no links. Does not display invalid URL.
  88. Napier University
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  89. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  90. Newman College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  91. Newport, University College of Wales
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (with University logo) but no links. Does not display invalid URL.
  92. North East Wales Institute of Higher Education
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  93. North London, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (with University logo). Contains navigational bar. Does not display invalid URL.
  94. North Riding College Higher Education Corporation
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  95. Northampton, University College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  96. Northern College of Education
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  97. Northern School of Contemporary Dance
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  98. Northumbria at Newcastle, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  99. Norwich School of Art and Design
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  100. Nottingham Trent University, The
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  101. Nottingham, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  102. Open University The
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (with University logo). Message states that site is being redesigned. Links to home page and search engine. Does not display invalid URL.
  103. Oxford Brookes University
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (with University logo). Links to home page. Embedded search boxes. Does not display invalid URL. Good example
  104. Oxford, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Slighly tailored message. No links. Displays invalid URL.
    Note error using IE5
  105. Paisley,The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  106. Plymouth, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  107. Portsmouth, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  108. Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  109. Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  110. Reading, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (including University logo) with links to home page, search page and email form (with animated GIF).
  111. Ripon and York St John, The College of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  112. Robert Gordon University, The
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  113. Roehampton Institute of HE
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  114. Royal Academy of Music
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  115. Royal College of Art
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message with link to home page.
  116. Royal College of Music
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  117. Royal Holloway and Bedford New College
    Result - 1 June 99: 404 error message, generated by system
  118. Royal Northern College of Music
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with referrer link.
    Note error using IE5
  119. Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, The
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with referrer link.
    Note error using IE5
  120. Royal Veterinary College, The
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with referrer link.
    Note error using IE5
  121. Saint Andrews, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with referrer link.
    Note error using IE5
  122. Saint George's Hospital Medical School
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  123. Saint Mark and St John, College of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  124. Saint Martin's College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  125. Saint Mary's College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  126. Salford, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (containing University logo) and navigational bar. Link to search engine. good example.
  127. School of Oriental and African Studies, The
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  128. Scottish Agricultural College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  129. Sheffield Hallam University
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message with links to home page and search page. Does not display invalid URL.
  130. Sheffield, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  131. South Bank University
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  132. Southampton Institute
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  133. Southampton, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (containing University logo) and navigational bar. Link to search engine. Displays invalid URL. Good example
  134. Staffordshire University
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  135. Stirling, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with referrer link.
    Note error using IE5
  136. Strathclyde, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  137. Sunderland, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  138. Surrey Institute of Art and Desig n
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links. Sends cookie.
    Note error using IE5
  139. Surrey, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with referrer link.
    Note error using IE5
  140. Sussex, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  141. Swansea Institute of Higher Education
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  142. Swansea, University of Wales
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  143. Teesside, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  144. Thames Valley University
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored page (with University logo) and link to home page.
  145. Trinity and All Saints College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with referrer link.
    Note error using IE5
  146. Trinity College of Music
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  147. Trinity College, Carmarthen
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  148. Ulster, University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (containing University logo) and navigational bar. Link to search engine. Does not display invalid URL. Good example
  149. University College London
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  150. Warwick, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message and navigational bar. Link to search engine and site map. Does not display invalid URL. Good example
  151. Welsh College of Music and Drama
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  152. West of England, Bristol, University of the
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (containing University logo) and navigational bar. Link to search engine. Link to "previous page" (Javascript). Does not display invalid URL. Good example
  153. Westhill College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with referrer link.
    Note error using IE5
  154. Westminster College
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (with University logo) and link to home page.
    Note error using IE5
  155. Westminster, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: Tailored message (containing University logo) and navigational bar. Link to search engine. Does not display invalid URL. Good example
  156. Wolverhampton, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  157. Worcester, University College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  158. Writtle College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  159. Wye College
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5
  160. York, The University of
    Result - 1 June 99: System generated message, with no links.
    Note error using IE5

Summary

Comment No. Website
Tailored message (displayed correctly in IE5) 36 (22.5%) Abertay, Aberystwyth, Aston, Birkbeck, Bradford, Bristol, Brunel, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of HE, City, Cranfield, DMU, Dundee, Durham, UEA, Edinburgh, Goldsmiths, Keele, KCL, LMU, London Business School, Middlesex, Newport, University of North London, Open University, Oxford Brookes, Reading, Royal College of Art, Salford, Sheffield Hallam, Southampton, Thames Valley, Ulster, Warwick, UWE, Westminster,
Tailored message (but problem in IE 5) 5 (3%) Bath, Birmingham, Loughborough, Oxford, Westminster College
Server default (which causes problems with default setting in IE 5) 114 (71%) Aberdeen, Bangor, Bath Spa, Belfast, Bishop Grosseteste College, Bournemouth, Bretton College, Brighton, Cambridge, Canterbury Christ Church University College, Cardiff, Cardiff, University of Wales Institute, UCE, Central Lancashire, Chester, Chichester, University College, College of Guidance Studies, Coventry, Dartington College of Arts, Derby, University of EastLondon, Edge Hill College, Edinburgh College of Art, Essex, Exeter, Falmouth College of Arts, Glamorgan, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Greenwich, Harper Adams UniversityCollege, Heriot-Watt University, Hertfordshire, Huddersfield, Hull, Imperial College, Institute of Education, Kent, Kent Institute of Art & Design, King Alfred's College, Winchester, Kingston, Lampeter, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, Lincolnshire and Humberside, Liverpool Hope, Liverpool John Moores, Liverpool, London Guildhall University, University of London, LSE, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Luton, UMIST, MMU, Manchester, University of Wales College of Medicine, Napier, Newcastle, Newman College, North East Wales Institute of Higher Education, North Riding College Higher Education Corporation, University College Northampton, Northern College, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, UNN, Norwich School of Art and Design, NTU, Nottingham, Paisley, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Queen Margaret University College, Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication, Ripon and York St John, RGU, Roehampton Institute of HE, Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Royal Veterinary College, St Andrews, Saint George's Hospital Medical School, Saint Mark and St John, Saint Martin's College, Saint Mary's College, School of Oriental andAfrican Studies, Scottish Agricultural College, Sheffield, SBU, Southampton Institute, Straffordshire, Stirling, Strathclyde, Sunderland, Surrey Institute of Art and Design, Surrey, Sussex, Swansea Institute of Higher Education, Swansea, Teeside, Trinity and All Saints College, Trinity College of Music, Trinity College,Carmarthen, UCL, Welsh College of Music and Drama, Westhill College, Wolverhampton, Worcester, University College, Writtle College, Wye College, York
Issues Redirect 1 (0.6%) London Institute
Mis-configured server 4 (2.5%) Anglia Polytechnic University, Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, Bolton Institute of HE, Royal Holloway and BedfordNew College