Overall Lancaster is ranked joint 22nd with an average score of 66.5. Last year Lancaster was 33rd, and in 2005 was 58th.

17 subjects at Lancaster are now ranked in the top 20 across all UK universities.

Courses were rated against criteria including teaching quality as rated by students, spending per student, staff/student ratio and job prospects.

Professor Amanda Chetwynd, Lancaster University’s Pro Vice Chancellor for colleges and the student experience, said: “We are delighted with our improvement in the Guardian league tables and it is especially important that the student feedback has been very positive and has contributed to Lancaster’s position.

"Our own recent student survey showed that the excellent teaching and the £200 million investment in our campus has contributed to a high level of overall satisfaction with their university experience.

"Over 80% of all students surveyed rated the Lancaster experience as excellent or good. Students rated the college system, departments, accommodation and the campus setting as things that they particularly liked."

Subjects as listed in the University Guide - supplement in Guardian, 2nd May 2007, also on line http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide2008/0,,2027789,00.html

American Studies 6th
Art & Design 7th
Computer Sciences & IT 7th
Culture, Media and communication studies, 20th
Economics 9th
Engineering mechanical 4th
English 16th
Law 17th
Management 8th
Maths 11th
Philosophy 13th
Physics 19th
Psychology 16th
Religious Studies 18th
Social work 6th
Sociology 15th
Theatre Studies 10th

The Guardian reported that: " Academic standards at the university are high - the physics department in particular."