Lancaster University is the number one university in the North West, according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

It took the top spot in the same year it took overall gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, which encourages and recognises high-quality teaching and student outcomes in higher education.  

It is working on one of the largest laboratories to focus on digital threats and cybersecurity in the region. 

The University of Liverpool rose from 29th to 23rd to beat the University of Manchester, which slipped from 23rd to 27th year on year.  

According to the guide, Manchester Metropolitan University, one of the UK’s largest universities, is the runner up for the Sustainable University of the Year 2025 award, and is ranked 46th nationally making the top 50.

Helen Davies, editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said:  “The best universities, whether they were founded in the 15th century or 2005, are local and global powerhouses of intellectual thought and creativity, from the arts to science, that can power economic regeneration and lead the way to a better life.

"But what and where to study — and how to pay for it, has never been tougher. This is where our comprehensive guide can help. 

“This year we have tweaked our methodology to keep up with contemporary concerns around climate change and careers and have added in a sustainability metric, teaming up with People & Planet, and boosted the weighting of graduate prospects.  

“The higher education sector is facing unprecedented challenges from debates on free speech to financial stability, but it is important to remember the force for good that going to university can be.

"See how the universities compare subject by subject, a guide on campus life, and what scholarships and bursaries may be on offer online.” 

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 provides the definitive rankings for UK universities and the most comprehensive overview of higher education in Britain, making use of the latest data.

It features everything you need to know about applying to university and detailed online profiles for 134 universities covering research reputation to campus facilities, scholarships and bursaries, and nightlife. 

A 96-page supplement will be published with The Sunday Times on September 22.