Oxford University has been named best in the country for the first time, in a national league table.

The university beat its ancient rival Cambridge to secure the top spot in the annual table, compiled by the Times newspaper.

It is the only time in the tables' nine-year history that Oxford has out-performed Cambridge in the ranking -- which is based on teaching, student performance, research, staffing and facilities, and graduate employment.

Oxford's new-found supremacy has been attributed to increased spending on libraries, computers, and other student facilities, the ratio of staff to students, and the international prestige of its research.

Oxford Brookes University has also welcomed the table, which ranked the institution as the best new university. Brookes was ranked in 51st place -- beating all former polytechnics, and some well-established 'old' universities such as Bradford, Bangor and Goldsmiths College, London.

It is the seventh year running that Brookes has held the position of best new university, though it has slipped three places in the overall tables since last year.

The Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, Dr Colin Lucas, said: "Oxford's premier position is tribute to the high standard, hard work and powerful performance of staff and students across the university. I hope that it will encourage more bright students, whatever their background, who want to aim for the top, to apply for Oxford."

Prof Graham Upton, the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes, said: "This is great news. Oxford now has the best of the new and the best of the old. What shows up is the quality of teaching and learning, which is clearly a strength of the university."