SCOTLAND'S oldest university has been ranked the third best in the UK behind Oxford and Cambridge, according to a new league table.

The Complete University Guide 2018 ranks St Andrews top in Scotland and third in the UK - its highest ever place.

As a nation, Scotland outperformed the other UK countries in three of the key measures used to rank universities with higher scores in entry standards, the quality of degrees and graduate prospects.

Edinburgh University came second in Scotland and 23rd in the UK followed by Heriot-Watt University, in Edinburgh, and Dundee in 28th and 35th place respectively. Glasgow University slipped into fifth place in Scotland and 36th in the UK after a fall of seven places.

Other Scottish institutions which gained places included the universities of Aberdeen, Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonian, Queen Margaret and West of Scotland.

Professor Sally Mapstone, principal of St Andrews, welcomed the rankings, but hinted at the importance of financial support from the Scottish Government for continued high performance.

She said: "This all-time high is a great endorsement of what St Andrews stands for. Our values are those of a small, Scottish, and highly international university. We are outward looking, inclusive, and focused on excellence.

“We see teaching quality and research excellence as commensurate, and we provide them in an environment that is beautiful, friendly, and enriching.

“That Scottish universities have done so well in three of the key measures here is notable. Brexit and its consequences notwithstanding, Scottish universities will strive to continue to out-perform, and we look for meaningful support to enable us to do so.”

Dr Bernard Kingston, chair of The Complete University Guide.co.uk, added: "It is ten years since we launched our university league tables and they have proved their accuracy, independence and robustness over the decade.

“This year there is a considerable degree of stability at the upper end of the league table, as in the past. This stability, while it may not attract the headlines, demonstrates that the rankings fulfil our principal objective – to provide credible and freely accessible information for individuals seeking a university place."