North West
The North West of England is home to 14 universities centred in the major student cities of Manchester and Liverpool. The region combines leading research universities with strong modern institutions and specialist colleges including the Royal Northern College of Music and The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. With vibrant music and arts scenes, passionate football culture, and lower living costs than southern England, the North West offers an outstanding student experience alongside academic excellence.
QUICK GUIDE:
Sort the table below by badges to find universities that excel in those areas. Each in the table represents a university strength. Hover or click over any badge to see what it means.
FILTER BY BADGE:
University | Badges | |
|---|---|---|
University of Liverpool | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 7 |
Lancaster University | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
| 6 |
Royal Northern College of Music | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Specialist Institution
Criteria: Focused expert teaching in a specific field
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 6 |
The University of Manchester | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 6 |
Edge Hill University | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
| 4 |
Liverpool Hope University | High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Student Favourite
Criteria: 4 percentage points or more above benchmark in NSS categories T1 or T2
| 4 |
Liverpool John Moores University | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
| 4 |
Manchester Metropolitan University | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
| 4 |
The Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Specialist Institution
Criteria: Focused expert teaching in a specific field
| 4 |
University of Bolton | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
| 4 |
University of Central Lancashire | High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
| 4 |
University of Salford | High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
| 3 |
University of Chester | High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
| 2 |
University of Cumbria | High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
| 2 |
How Badges are Awarded:
How to use our website:
Data Source:
Last Updated: January 2025 | Our Data Sources: TEF, NSS, REF 2021
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