BOURNEMOUTH University has jumped 11 places in this year’s Complete University Guide.

The university, which has more than 17,000 students, has been ranked the 54th best nationally.

The league table, which is published annually, uses various measures such as staff-to-student ratios, facilities spending and graduate prospects to calculate the final league positions.

The university says its rise to 54th place, up from 65th last year, reflects BU’s ambition to become a top 50 university by 2018.

Professor John Vinney, vice-chancellor of Bournemouth University, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Bournemouth University has rocketed 11 places in this year’s Complete University Guide rankings to 54th in the UK.

“It is an excellent reflection of the hard work and commitment of the whole of the BU community and of our continued investment in academic and professional talent.

“Over the past year we have also been busy transforming our two campuses to ensure that we have world-class facilities as we pursue our ambition of becoming a top 50 university.”

As well as climbing the national table, Bournemouth University also rose in the South West rankings.

It has been ranked the fourth best university in the South West, based on final league table position, behind Exeter, Bath and Bristol, which came in at 11th, 12th and 15th respectively.

BU was among 11 universities to climb by ten places or more in the Complete University Guide table.

Dr Bernard Kingston, principal author of TheCompleteUniversityGuide.co.uk, said: “UK students seem to be getting a better deal for their higher tuition fees in almost every area.

“It remains to be seen how far this trend can continue but in the short team at least, students are benefitting from spending on facilities that affect them directly.

“There is significant evidence that universities’ efforts to develop employability skills have had a knock-on effect on graduate prospects.”