A NORTH Lancashire university has topped the regional slate in an authoritative university league table for another successive year.

Lancaster was once again placed as the highest-ranked university in the North West and has retained its position in the top ten universities nationally, according to the guide.

The University of Cumbria, on the other hand, was ranked in 11th position out of the 12 regional universities.

Lancaster boasts a 93 per cent course completion rate among its current cohort of students, while 82.9 per cent of students at the University of Cumbria were found to have completed their degree

The new edition of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021 was published as a 96-page free supplement in this weekend's paper.

It provides the definitive rankings for UK universities and the most comprehensive overview of higher education in Britain - including profiles on 135 universities and the definitive UK university rankings, making use of the latest available data published in the past two months.

Top in the region, Lancaster opened a campus in Leipzig, Germany, in January, which welcomed its first degree students in September.

Hundreds of Lancaster students also spend part of their course in America, Asia, Australia or Europe and the institution has a campus in Ghana and a joint institute in China.

It won International University of the Year in 2018 for its role in promoting British higher education abroad and for the opportunities it provides overseas for its own students.

Its campus on the city outskirts has had significant recent investment. A three-floor library extension is due to open in January 2021 and there is a new sports hall and Health Innovation campus.

Commenting on his/the institution's recognition in this year's rankings, Professor Andy Schofield, Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, said: "I am delighted to see Lancaster University ranked best in the North West and again another top ten UK ranking.

"It is a testament to the world-class research and teaching that my colleagues at Lancaster provide and further evidence that this is a brilliant place to study, to research and to work and is a beacon of excellence in the region."

The University of Cumbria was contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.