Another year has passed, but the results have stayed the same: the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Oxford has pulled off a clean sweep of the top spots in three national newspapers' student guides.

Oxford is ranked as the best university in the land in The Times Good 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ Guide, which is published this week, for the eighth year in a row.

In second place is the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Cambridge, followed by Imperial College London, the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of St Andrews, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ College London and the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Warwick.

The results follow Oxford's success in The Guardian and The Independent's tables, where - as last year - the university was also ranked in first place.

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However, Cambridge was ahead of Oxford in more than half of The Times' 62 subject tables, the first to include the results of the 2008 research assessment exercise.

Among the biggest climbers this year are the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Liverpool, up from 34th to 28th place, the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Leeds, from 31st to th, the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Sheffield, from 22nd to 18th, and the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ Edinburgh, from 18th to 14th.

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The 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Exeter has recorded impressive gains, climbing from 28th place in 2006 to enter the top ten this year in ninth position.

Since 2007, The Times' table has been compiled by Exeter Enterprises Ltd, a spin-off of the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Exeter. The Times said the table was verified independently.

The 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of the West of Scotland, along with three others, declined to let its data be used.

John O'Leary, editor of The Times' guide, said: "No one can predict the eventual impact of the recession, but it is highly likely that a university degree will become more important than ever."

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rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.