Lancaster University is once again in the top 15 universities in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2026, ranked 14^th out of 123 institutions. The table also sees Lancaster positioned higher than 16 Russell Group Universities, and maintain the top spot in north-west England.

Nine subject areas ranked in the top 10 in the UK in the Guide, including two in the top five. These are: Creative writing (3); Biomedical science (4); Marketing and public relations (6); English (7); Product design (7); Physics (7); Social Work (7); Chemistry (7); Sociology and Social Policy (9).

The Guide also shows that 88.2% of students* said they were satisfied with the teaching they received at Lancaster.

Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Rebecca Lingwood said: “I am delighted to see Lancaster retain its position in the national top 15 institutions, and highest ranked position in the north-west of England.

“Lancaster prides itself on its outstanding teaching and world-class research, and it is great to see that we have performed particularly well in the ‘satisfied with teaching’ category, reflecting the quality of student experience here.”

Lancaster was also recently placed in the top 10 in the Complete University Guide 2026, and holds a Gold standard for teaching in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework.

*This measure of satisfaction relates to those students that completed the National Student Survey.