Lancaster University (legally The University of Lancaster) is a public research university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established in 1964 by royal charter, as one of several new universities created in the 1960s. The university was initially based in St Leonard's Gate in the city centre, before starting a move in 1967 to a purpose-built campus at Bailrigg, to the south. The campus buildings are arranged around a central walkway known as the Spine, which is connected to a central plaza, named Alexandra Square in honour of its first chancellor, Princess Alexandra. Lancaster is a residential collegiate university; the colleges are weakly autonomous. The eight undergraduate colleges are named after places in the historic county of Lancashire, and each has its own campus residence blocks, common rooms, administrative staff and bars. Lancaster is ranked in the top thirteen in all three national league tables, and received a Gold rating in the Government's inaugural (2017) Teaching Excellence Framework. The annual income of the institution for 2021/22 was £357.9 million of which £48.1 million was from research grants and contracts, with an expenditure of £402.9 million. Along with the universities of Durham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York, Lancaster is a member of the N8 Group of research universities. Elizabeth II, Duke of Lancaster, was the visitor of the university. The current chancellor is Alan Milburn, since 2015. History Between 1958 and 1961 seven new plate glass universities were announced, including Lancaster. The choice of Lancaster as the site of the fourth new university was announced on 23 November 1961 in a written answer in the House of Commons. The university was established by royal charter in 1964. The charter stipulated that Princess Alexandra of Kent be the first chancellor. She was inaugurated in 1964. The ceremony also saw the granting of various honorary degrees to dignitaries including the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson. Princess Alexandra retired as chancellor in 2004 and was the longest serving chancellor of any British university. On her departure, she gave approval for the Chancellor's Medal to be awarded for academic merit to the highest-performing undergraduates and postgraduates. Each year presentations are made to up to five graduates of taught masters' courses and up to six to the highest-performing undergraduates. The university accepted its first students in October 1964 and there were initially 13 professors, 32 additional members of teaching and research staff, 8 library