Lancaster University, provides degree-level education in Blackpool in partnership with Blackpool and the Fylde College and has held the number one spot since 2007 but in the new rankings, it has dropped two places to third position.

Lancaster University bosses have issue a statement after losing the North West top spot in The Sunday Times Good University Guide.

For the first time in 19 years, The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027 did not name a Lancashire university as the best in the North West.

Lancaster University, provides degree-level education in Blackpool in partnership with Blackpool and the Fylde College and has held the number one spot since 2007 but in the new rankings, it has dropped two places to third position, behind both the first place University of Liverpool and second place University of Manchester.

After our 3 Lancashire universities all dropped in the rankings, we approached them for comment...After our 3 Lancashire universities all dropped in the rankings, we approached them for comment... | various

placeholder image — After our 3 Lancashire universities all dropped in the rankings, we approached them for comment...After our 3 Lancashire universities all dropped in the rankings, we approached them for comment... | various

Nationally the university also saw it’s standing drop, now sitting at number 26 in the national ranking, down 11 places from 15 in 2026.

Lancaster University’s 2026 accolade of ‘University of the Year in the Northwest’ was also given to the University of Manchester this year, with the University of Liverpool being named runner-up.

Having approached Lancaster University about its noteworthy drop, a spokesperson highlighted the university’s strengths while reaffirming its commitment to improving the student experience.

They said: “Students at Lancaster University receive excellent teaching in a research-intensive environment. Lancaster University is ranked in the world’s top 200 universities in the QS World University Rankings. The University holds a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and is ranked in the top ten in the Complete University Guide 2027.

“League tables are important and provide one measure of performance, alongside student feedback and other sources of evidence. As in previous years, teams across the University will be reviewing student feedback throughout the year to identify areas for improvement and opportunities to further enhance the student experience.”

The University of Lancashire, formerly known as the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) also saw its North West and national positions fall in The Times rankings.

The university, which has campuses in Preston and Burnley, dropped from 9th best in the North West in 2026 to 10th best in 2027.

Nationally, it fell from 93rd to 100th.

The university was approached for a comment but did not provide one.

Lancashire’s other university, Ormskirk based Edge Hill University retained its 2026 position as 6th best in the North West but it fell seven places nationally from 63rd to 70th.

They did not wish to comment on the rankings.

To read more about how the North West universities fared in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027, check out our full story here.

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027 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 133 universities, covering research reputation, campus facilities, scholarships and bursaries, and nightlife.

A fully searchable website with 70 subject tables, full interactive tables and additional features is available here: thetimes.com/gooduniversityguide