The University of Gloucestershire has risen nine places in the The Guardian University Guide for 2019.

It places the university at equal 55th out of 121 universities nationwide. It also reveals that the university ranks in the top 10 in the UK for criminology (6th) and film production & photography (9th), and in the top 20 for sports science (20th) subjects.

The rankings are based on a combination of different indicators, including student satisfaction with teaching and courses, employment prospects after graduation, the ratio of students to staff, the qualifications achieved by students on entry to the university, and expenditure per student.

The university, with three campuses across Gloucester and Cheltenham, achieved an improved position on seven of the indicators, as well as in overall score. On the new measure of "continuation" (which tracks students from entry to graduation and employment), the university was ranked equal 42nd out of 121 universities in the table.

These latest rankings come just a month after the university achieved two top ten places in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey (equal 7th for good personal relationships with teaching staff, and equal 10th for high quality staff/lectures), and two top 20 places in the WhatUni Student Choice rankings (Courses and Lecturers -14th and Student Support - 17th), both based on direct feedback from students.

Vice-Chancellor, Stephen Marston, said: "This is excellent news for the University of Gloucestershire. The Guardian league table is the one that puts most focus on the quality of teaching and learning, student satisfaction and job outcomes, so we are delighted that the University's commitment to continual improvement in these areas is reflected in these rankings.

"The University is continuing with its multi-million pound investment in improved facilities for students at its campuses in Cheltenham and Gloucester.

"Our 800-bed student village at Pittville in Cheltenham opened last September, and this September will see the opening of the new Business School and Growth Hub at Oxstalls campus in Gloucester, alongside new sports facilities, and new purpose-built student accommodation in the City at Blackfriars.

"In Cheltenham, a brand-new design centre and further industry-standard technical facilities for the Media School will open at Park campus for the new academic year in September.

"Students are understandably becoming more demanding of the quality of experience they can expect at university, alongside the likelihood of good job opportunities when they leave.

"We are delighted that these latest results show that the university is making real progress in living up to these expectations and achieving our ambitions to provide our students with outstanding learning and a rich and fulfilling experience while they are at university experience, while also equipping them with a great foundation for their future careers."

Punchline welcomes the university's improved position and looks forward to it rising still further in the ranking. Under the stewardship of Stephen Marston, the University of Gloucestershire has built strong ties with local businesses and is investing heavily in the county. The soon to open new Business School in Gloucester is an excellent example of this.