STAFF at the University of Huddersfield are feeling on top of the world.

And they mean that literally, because they have just been voted number one in a global survey which asked international students to rate their learning and living experiences.

Some 48,000 students voted and Huddersfield emerged head and shoulders above the rest of the field, scoring 87.4%, almost five percentage points ahead of all other universities rated.

It was rated both number one in the UK and number one in the world.

The survey was the highly regarded International Student Barometer (IBS) carried out by the International Graduate Insight Group, an independent benchmarking and consultancy service for education.

The summer 2011 survey covered UK Higher Education institutions, with 31,000 responses from international students, and 65 international HE institutions, with more than 40,000 responses.

The ISB is an online survey, run since 2005, which covers three key aspects of the student experience: learning, living and support.

Students are asked more than 60 questions.

They are asked for their views on issues such as course organisation, expert lecturers, library and technology facilities.