All eight of the N8 Research Partnership universities have been named in the ranking of the 200 best universities in Europe.
The University of Manchester scored well enough to hit the top 20 based on the data and methodology used to compile the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-2016.
The Universities of Durham and Sheffield both placed inside the top 50 with Lancaster, York, Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle University also well-placed in the list.
Institutions were measured on their teaching environment, research environment, citations (research influence), industry income and international outlook.
Dr Peter Simpson, N8 Director, said:
“The ranking aims to provide an international view of performance and the N8 universities measure up very well against national and international counterparts. Having all our partner universities on the list reflects the strength and breadth of expertise and excellence that exists across the N8 partnership.”
The N8 universities helped the UK to top the rankings taking nearly a quarter of places (46), followed by Germany as the second most represented nation with 36 of the institutions in the list.