The league table focuses on the quality of teaching, student satisfaction and employability.

The overall Guardian league table is accompanied by subject rankings, with Lancaster scoring highly across a range of disciplines:  Accounting and Finance 2, Social Work and Mechanical Engineering both 3, Physics, Geography and Environmental Studies and History all 5, Business, Management and Marketing and Criminology both 6, Drama and Dance 7, Sociology and Media and Film Studies both 8 and Chemical Engineering 9.

The Guardian says these are “the aspects of university life that matter most to students...We keep our eye firmly on what universities can do for you.”

Universities are ranked according to: spending per student; the student/staff ratio; graduate career prospects; what grades applicants need to get a place; a value-added score that compares students’ entry qualifications with their final degree results; and how satisfied final-year students are with their courses, based on results from the annual National Student Survey (NSS).

This successful result follows a high score in the Complete University Guide 2018 where Lancaster is also ranked 9th.  The University is also placed 9th in The Times/Sunday Times University Guide 2017.