Universities are top of the class
LANCASTER University is ranked as the North West’s top university, finishing ninth for the second year in a row in TheCompleteUniversityGuide.co.uk’s 2017 league table.
Lancaster’s closest rival in the region is the University of Manchester, which itself climbed three places to rank 25th. Manchester and Lancaster are joined in the top 50 UK universities by just one other institution from the North West – the University of Liverpool, which is up one place to 38th.
Manchester Metropolitan University has recorded one of the UK’s biggest jumps, rising 16 places from 73rd to 57th.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Malcolm Press said: “I warmly welcome this latest affirmation of our approach to the student experience at Manchester Metropolitan University. It is a deserved reflection of my colleagues’ dedication and commitment to our students.
“Higher education is a transformative opportunity for young people, and we are committed to ensuring that we continue to listen to our students, offering them innovative and flexible degree programmes, including degree apprenticeships, that respond to their developing needs in a fast-paced and ever-changing world.”
Liverpool Hope University climbs 14 places to 83rd and Edge Hill University is up 11 places to 71st.
The North West also has a couple of significant fallers, as the University of Cumbria is down 10 places to 121st and the University of Central Lancashire drops eight places to 99th.
Cumbria finds itself just above the University of Bolton (122nd), while Central Lancashire is not too far below the University of Salford (95th) and the University of Chester (94th).
In separate listings covering 70 subjects, Lancaster make the top 10 for 18 of the 34 subjects it offers. Manchester also features in 18 top 10s, with Liverpool listed in four; Manchester Metropolitan in three; Chester in two; and Liverpool John Moores University, Central Lancashire and Cumbria all in one apiece.
Dr Bernard Kingston, principal author of TheCompleteUniversityGuide.co.uk, said: “There is a considerable degree of stability at the upper end of the league table this year.
“While dramatic changes may be newsworthy, this stability indicates that the rankings are robust and credible for young people seeking a university place – our primary purpose.”
