Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at Bailrigg in 1968. Lancaster expanded rapidly and now has the 11th highest research quality in the UK and is the 16th highest ranking research institution according to the latest Research Assessment Exercise. The university has an annual income of Pds. 177 million, 3,025 staff and 12,695 students. Along with the universities of Durham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York, Lancaster is a member of the N8 Group of research universities. Lancaster was ranked 7th in the 2012 Guardian University Guide, 9th in the 2012 Complete University Guide, 8th in the Times Higher Education Table and 9th in the 2012 Good University Guide.