Lancaster University has once again been named the top university in the North West, after retaining its strong position in the latest Complete University Guide league tables.
The Lancaster institution ranked 10th overall in the UK, maintaining its place in the top 10 as the guide assessed 164 universities across the country using a range of measures including student satisfaction, research quality and graduate prospects.
The annual rankings, released this week, are designed to help prospective students compare institutions, with the main table based on 10 key indicators such as entry standards, continuation rates and student-staff ratios.
Regional tables are also published to help those looking to study closer to home.
A total of 12 universities in the North West featured in this year’s list, highlighting what the guide described as strong regional performance and "pockets of excellence" across a number of subject areas.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen Decent said: "Since returning to Lancaster University as Vice-Chancellor, I have been struck by so much that makes our university special, from our beautiful campus and vibrant Colleges to our deep commitment to sustainability and academic excellence.
"Lancaster's ongoing success story is written by the dedication and care of our staff, who are determined to provide the best possible research and teaching environment for our students.
"I am thrilled to see that we are yet again among the top ten universities in the UK and the best in north-west England. Congratulations to our wonderful staff!"
While Lancaster led the way overall, other Lancashire universities also recorded notable results.
Edge Hill University, in nearby Ormskirk, saw significant climbs in subject rankings, rising 10 places to third in the UK for Tourism, Transport, Travel and Heritage Studies, while also moving up to seventh for Social Work.
Elsewhere, Manchester Metropolitan University also performed strongly in the same tourism-related subject area, ranking eighth nationally, underlining the strength of specialist teaching across the North West.
The guide emphasised that subject-level performance remains an important factor for students to consider, with some universities outperforming their overall rank in particular disciplines.
Across the UK as a whole, the University of Cambridge held onto the top spot, followed by the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics, the University of St Andrews and Imperial College London.
Professor Amanda Chetwynd, chair of the Complete University Guide advisory board, praised the region’s universities, saying: "Congratulations to Lancaster University for retaining the top spot in this year's North West rankings and to all universities in the region for supporting their students to achieve their ambitions.
"Our methodology reflects what students care most about – teaching quality, student satisfaction and graduate outcomes."
She added that this year’s results show university access is becoming more flexible, with more institutions widening entry requirements while maintaining strong outcomes for graduates.
Read more
The data also suggests improving student retention, with continuation rates rising to 91.1 per cent this year, while around 72 per cent of graduates move into professional roles or further study within 15 months of finishing their courses.
The findings come as thousands of students consider their university choices or prepare to explore Clearing options later this year.
How Lancashire universities fared
- Lancaster University – ranked first in the North West (UK rank 10, no change)
- Edge Hill University – ranked fifth in the North West (UK rank 58, down one place)
- University of Central Lancashire – ranked 10th in the North West (UK rank 90, down four places)
Share