Lancaster has retained its crown as the top university in North West England in the Complete University Guide 2025.

The University scored highly in a number of individual subjects including Social Work – ranked number one in the UK – while Architecture made its first appearance in the Guide going straight in at number seven.

Lancaster also maintained a high national position – ranking 11th out of 130 universities across the UK.

• Social Work – ranked number 1
• Communication and Media Studies – ranked number 2
• Biomedical Sciences – ranked number 3
• Linguistics – ranked number 3
• Drama, Dance and Cinematics – ranked number 4
• Italian – ranked number 4
• Creative Writing – ranked number 6
• Architecture – ranked number 7
• Art and Design – ranked number 7
• French – ranked number 7
• Marketing – ranked number 7
• German – ranked number 8
• Physics and Astronomy – ranked number 8
• English – ranked number 10
• Sports Science – ranked number 10

Professor Wendy Robinson, Lancaster University Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, said: “It is fantastic to see Lancaster retain its position as the top-ranked university in the North West, and to also maintain a good position among the best institutions in the UK.

“From our cutting-edge research and wonderful teaching, to our vibrant campus and welcoming atmosphere, Lancaster is an excellent university which constantly seeks to enhance and enrich our overall student experience, with a holistic approach to their learning and personal growth.”

The Complete University Guide league table is based on ten measures: entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, research intensity, academic services spend, spending on student facilities, continuation, student-staff ratio, graduate prospects – outcomes, and graduate prospects – on track. It includes 130 institutions.