The University of York has been named the "premier alternative" to the traditional academic centres of Oxford and Cambridge.

York came fifth in the latest league table of universities published by the Sunday Times and came second only behind Cambridge for its quality of teaching.

And it achieved the accolade despite having a lower staff to student ratio. It has at least a fifth fewer lecturers than the other five universities in the top six.

Cambridge came first in the table, Oxford second, followed by London's Imperial College of Science and Technology and the London School of Economics.

As the last two had specialist fields of activity, the survey concluded that York had become the principal broad-based rival to Oxford and Cambridge.

"York can now claim to be the premier alternative to Oxbridge," it said. "It has 30 departments, including all the sciences, with a broad sweep of arts, humanities and social science courses."

Only Cambridge had a higher percentage of top-rated departments.

Ten out of 11 departments assessed at York were rated excellent and research in psychology and computer science scored full marks.

Vice-chancellor Professor Ron Cooke said: "This is yet another accolade for York from an independent source.

"It is a testimony to the hard work of our staff in research and teaching - our emphasis on academic quality is paying enormous dividends."

Claire Ainsley, York students' union president, said: "York's credentials as a fine academic establishment are indisputable."

The study gives York University 91 per cent for teaching quality, 74 per cent for research quality, 8.3 per cent for unemployment of graduates, and 60 per cent of students achieve a 1st or 2.1.

It matches the conclusions of Government statistics last summer which put York ahead of Oxford in the university stakes.

The latest league table survey highlights York University's rapid rise to excellence. "The city of York rightly conjures up images of the medieval Minster, ancient city walls and cobbled streets," says the study. It is surprising, then, to learn that the city acquired its excellent university only in the 1960s.

It also stressed the excellent media section with two newspapers, a radio station, TV station and several magazines.

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