Universities are tops

The Preston-based university is the fifth highest riser nationally and is now ranked joint fifth out of 12 North West universities with eight subject areas featured in the top 20.

Vice-chancellor Professor Mike Thomas said: “It is a testament to the commitment of staff and our focus on transforming the lives of our students.

“This year we have a good number of subjects ranked in the national top 20, with eight making the list, that is double the figure we had last year.”

Lancaster University dropped from eighth last year to ninth nationally, the same position it holds in the Complete University Guide 2018 and The Times/Sunday Times University Guide 2017.

Edge Hill University has risen eight places to 56th and has a top three position in the North West.

The table also ranks Edge Hill top in the North West for law and education programmes and second in the region for nursing and midwifery.

Dr John Cater, Vice-Chancellor said: “It is fantastic to see Edge Hill ranking so highly in the Guardian’s comprehensive league tables, which consider the aspects of University life that matter most to students.

Edge Hill was identified as the top modern diversified University in this year’s Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey, also retaining its place as best in the North West.

The Lancaster-based University of Cumbria, the county’s newest university, is ranked 117th.