BOSSES in charge of the University of Cumbria say they are disappointed that their ranking in The Times Good University Guide has not improved on last year.

The university, which has bases in Carlisle, West Cumbria, Ambleside, Barrow and Lancaster, has finished 11th out of 12 centres in the north west of England.

In the national tables Cumbria finished 119th, the same as last last year’s study.

Lancaster University with a national ranking of nine was found to be the top higher education centre in the north west.

Professor Julie Mennell, the University of Cumbria’s vice chancellor, said: “We are disappointed that our overall position has not improved from last year. However, this is not unexpected, improvements and achievements made over the last year, such as our very positive graduate employability outcome, will take time to feed into these nationally compiled results.

“We are making considerable investment in services and resources that will enrich the student experience in a variety of ways. Our focus remains on widening participation, encouraging those students with no previous family experience of higher education to achieve in their chosen course and ultimately to gain employment as a result, an area in which we enjoy considerable success – second in the sector for results published this year.

“This programme of improvement will enhance the learning and living experience of our students and will see us investing over £20m in estate and resources.”