Exeter named University of the Year

The University of Exeter is the Sunday Times' University of the Year Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Archive

The University of Exeter has won the accolade of Sunday Times University of the Year after having been pipped at the post four times before.

The university, which also has a campus in Falmouth, came seventh in the country as a whole. It was also top in the south west for the quality of its teaching.

The ratings are partly based on student experience, and this may be why Exeter finally made the grade. The Vice-chancellor made it his mission to look at feedback last year's undergraduates.

The Editor of The Sunday Times University Guide say's Exeter's success is richly deserved:

The University of Plymouth has made it into the Sunday Times top 50 for the first time Credit: ITV Westcountry

Plymouth University has more than 30,000 students, making it the largest in the region. It is fourth in the south west and has now broken into the top 50 nationally in the Sunday Times league.

It receive the Queen's Anniversary prize this year for its marine and maritime research and teaching.

The University College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth and University College Falmouth were placed 9th and 10th in the region in the league tables.

The Sunday Times University Guide 2013 will be published in this Sunday's newspaper.