THE University of Bradford has risen eight places in a prestigious annual guide to the best British Universities.

Bradford is now ranked sixth in the Yorkshire region and fourth for Graduate Prospects, according to the 2015 Times and Sunday Times Good University guide to be published this weekend.

It has risen from 84 to 76 in the national table, with 72.4 per cent of graduates in professional jobs or at graduate level study and a satisfaction rating of 79.3 per cent.

Measured on the employment success of its graduates alone, Bradford is fourth in the regional list of ten universities behind Sheffield, Leeds and York, while Leeds Metropolitan is at the bottom of that list with a score of just 55.6 per cent.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian Cantor welcomed the eight-place increase.

He said: “These rankings highlight our commitment to the highest standards of academic excellence and further strengthen our position as the Technology University of the North.

“We believe in delivering professional and vocational courses with great job prospects for our graduates and applied research with great impact on people’s health, wealth and wellbeing worldwide.

"As these rankings prove, we have a tremendous record for graduate employability.

“We will continue to drive forward improvements to deliver our vision of Making Knowledge Work.”

Recent improvements at the University include a £1.5 million technology laboratory, opened as part of its push to cement its position as a world leader in technology courses.

The lab covers 13 fields of engineering and contains equipment such as 3D printers and machinery to test micro vibrations.

Bradford Council said the University's success was playing a vital role in the ongoing regeneration of the city.

The Council's executive member for education, Councillor Ralph Berry, is a graduate of the university, where he studied social work and now sits on its governing body.

He said: "This is brilliant news for the university which is a very effective institution and I can't overemphasize its importance to the regeneration of the city.

"They've really been working very hard and it brings such valuable people into the city because of its strong employment record and vocational base.

"The university has never been more connected to the strategies of the city than it is now," said Cllr Berry.

"Basically, I came up from South London to Bradford University and stayed," he added proudly.

In the Yorkshire Top Ten, the University of York tops the list, with the University of Leeds in second, University of Sheffield third, Hull fourth, Sheffield Hallam firth, followed by Bradford, with Huddersfield seventh, York St John eighth, Leeds Trinity ninth and Leeds Metropolitan tenth.