(Image: Newsquest)
The University of York has been ranked among the top 10 safest in the UK.
It came joint seventh with Lancaster University in the UK University Safety Index, published by security specialist ID Card Centre.
The ranking considers crime rates in the surrounding area, student perceptions gathered from Google reviews and the National Student Survey, and campus security measures such as 24/7 staffing, ID-controlled access, safety apps, and anonymous reporting systems.
However, the report notes that campus security is now so consistent across the sector that it barely distinguishes top universities from those further down the list.
Ben O’Brien of ID Card Centre said: "With searches for 'safest university' up by hundreds of per cent this year, it's clear safety has become a genuine factor in where students choose to study, alongside course quality and cost of living.
"The encouraging news from our research is that UK universities are getting the basics right; the vast majority now have round-the-clock security and controlled access as standard.
"We hope this index helps students and parents weigh up safety alongside everything else when making that decision."
Ulster University took the top spot in the index, followed by the University of the Highlands and Islands.