A male and female student in Lancaster University library working and smiling

A highly ranked global university

Lancaster University is among the best in the UK. A top 15 university in the three major UK league tables, we are also highly ranked in international league tables such as the QS World Rankings.

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League tables can't tell you everything, but they're a good place to start. Out of over 120 UK Universities, we are consistently in the top 15 of the three main domestic league tables.

World university rankings

Lancaster is 146th out of more than 1,000 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2023. Lancaster is ranked 122nd in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022, up from 136th in 2021 - making Lancaster 15th out of the 101 UK universities included in the table.

Global Top 50 for International Outlook

Lancaster University has risen in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022. Listed as joint 122nd in the latest THE global league table, up from 136 last year, this is the University’s highest position yet in the table. Lancaster also came 49th in the global league table for international outlook.

Highly rated research at Lancaster

Lancaster is a research-intensive university and our results in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 confirm our position in delivering world-quality research.

An experiment in the ultra-low temperature laboratory in Isolab

World-class research at Lancaster

In the REF 2021 Lancaster delivers world-quality research, with 91% of our research independently rated as 'internationally excellent' or 'world leading' including 46% rated in the highest category of 4*.

REF 2021
An experiment in the ultra-low temperature laboratory in Isolab

Highly rated research environment

99% of Lancaster’s overall research environment is rated world leading or internationally excellent. This includes areas such as research support, training and facilities.

REF 2021
An accounting and finance student sat in front of computer screens

Growing research income

Since the last REF was completed in 2014, Lancaster has doubled its grant capture. We have also grown in scale with more than 50% more staff submitted than in 2014.

REF 2021
Students walk across the square in front of the Charles Carter building.

Five star ratings from QS

Lancaster University has been awarded five stars for overall performance in a prestigious new QS rating. QS Stars is a rating system that assesses universities against best practices and was developed by leading higher education insight specialist QS Quacquarelli Symonds. Lancaster’s QS Stars evaluation features five-star ratings for all seven individual categories – teaching, employability, internationalisation, research, facilities, subject ranking and environmental impact.

QS World Rankings

QS Gold rated for Environmental Impact

We have been awarded a Gold rating for Environmental Impact as part of the QS World University Rankings 2022. Assessing research related to six of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the QS has awarded institutions around the world with medals based on their focus on environmental impact. The gold-rated SDGs are affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water and life on land.

QS World University Rankings 2022
Two students at the Ecohub, surrounded by trees and plants.

Student Crowd awards

The Student Crowd website compiles reviews submitted directly by students.

5th best UK university for value for money

Awarded for the University's excellent Collegiate system, continuing investment in facilities and for its IT provision.

8th best UK university for Wi-Fi and Internet

Whether you are in your room, library, lecture theatre or enjoying a latte in one of several campus Costa outlets, Lancaster University’s versatile wireless network always allows for total connectivity.

14th best UK university for job prospects

By the time you leave Lancaster University, you should have much more than a degree. You could also have experiences, skills and a good idea of where you're heading.

16th best UK university for Campus and Facilities

Lancaster University offers a variety of well-equipped learning centres, shops, social venues, sports facilities, study spaces and an impressive 560 acres of beautifully lush parklands for students to enjoy.

Award-winning accessibility

Lancaster University has been named NEON Higher Education Institution of the Year 2021. The NEON Awards celebrate the transformative power that HE can have and recognise key achievements in the widening access to applicants. We deliver an innovative and progressive programme of activities for Widening Participation students from primary school through to the workplace.

NEON Awards

Satisfied students

Lancaster University has been given an overall satisfaction score of 83.6% in this year’s National Student Survey (NSS), ranking 1st in the North, 8th in England and 11th in the UK when compared to other universities.

National Student Survey results 2022

Award-winning accommodation

Our Accommodation has been named Best University Halls for the eighth time since 2010 at the UK's prestigious National Student Housing Awards. We offer almost 7,000 bed spaces for undergraduates, postgraduates and families.

National Student Housing Awards

Why Lancaster?

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