University of Manchester is the 19th best in country

THE University of Manchester has once again been named the second best in the north west – and 19th in the country.

The institution was pipped to top spot by Lancaster University in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019.

Manchester also returns to the UK top 20 after a lengthy absence, previously hovering around the top 30 mark in recent years. It comes after the university reached its highest-ever position in the Academic Ranking of World Universities last month.

The Times’ guide provides rankings for British unis using data published in the past two months. The Sunday Times recorded increases in rankings for the university’s degree completion rate, staffing levels, spending on student facilities and services, and proportion of top-class degrees awarded.

The university still remains closer to the bottom than the top of the rankings for student satisfaction when it comes to teaching quality and student experience. Yet improvements elsewhere helped lift it six places to rank 19 this year.

A university spokesman said: “This is positive news and comes shortly after the university has reached its highest ever position of 34th in the respected global Academic Ranking of World Universities.

“Both of these results show that the university’s commitment to teaching which is informed by world-leading research.”