THREE North-East universities have been rated among the top 10 in the UK for offering the best quality of student life.

While Loughborough University topped the poll, followed by Bath, Durham University was placed third and Newcastle fourth.

Northumbria University, which is based in Newcastle, was placed seventh in a survey based on student satisfaction, employment rates and social life.

The annual Lloyds Bank Quality of Student Life survey uses existing data to rate universities on areas such as course satisfaction, accommodation costs, employment and earnings of graduates, social life - including the numbers of pubs and bars in the area, and sports facilities.

A breakdown of the categories shows that Bath and Keele have the highest course satisfaction rates at 93 per cent each, while Northumbria has the cheapest institution-owned or sponsored accommodation.

Sheffield comes top in the social life category, students from the London School of Economics and Political Science have the highest average earnings six months after finishing their degree at £27,388 and Loughborough has the best sports facilities, the survey found.

Dundee has the cheapest shops, bars and other amenities, Manchester has the most pubs and bars and the areas around the universities of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon had the lowest crime rates.