Brunel University

Overall ranking: 44th out of 124 in the Complete University Guide for 2014.

History: Its origins date from the last century as Acton and Shoreditch technical colleges. In 1995 it ate up the West London Institute of Higher Education.

Address: The university is now located on one Uxbridge campus in west London, which has been redeveloped to accommodate academic departments previously based at four other sites.

Ambience: The Uxbridge Campus has mellowed since Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange was filmed there. 60s brutalist architecture has been softened by inspired landscaping, acres of flowers and mature trees.

Who's the boss? Professor Chris Jenks is vice-chancellor and principal. He was previously head of Brunel's research strategy and professor of sociology at Goldsmiths.

Prospectus: 01895 265 599 or order, download and view it online here.

UCAS code: B84

What you need to know

Easy to get into? Most courses ask for between 260 and 340 UCAS entry points which normally come from at least three A-level passes. Seven applications per place. Around 14 per cent come through clearing.

Vital statistics: Around 10,000 full-time home and EU undergrads plus 3,000 overseas students. Originally specialised in science and technology, but now offers courses across the board. Eight schools: arts; business; engineering and design; health sciences and social care; information systems, computing and mathematics; social sciences; law; sport and education; plus special research institutes. A science park with 13 companies is based on campus.

Added value: Investment in building over the past decade is now over £400m. The £30m flagship Eastern Gateway Building opened in July 2012 to provide teaching and research facilities, an art gallery and a new home for Brunel Business School. Sports facilities include a new £6.5m outdoor sports complex and a £7m indoor athletics and netball centre, a multi-purpose sports hall, national-size basketball court, two rugby pitches, two football pitches, plus floodlit cricket pitch and tennis courts. The university library has recently been doubled in size. Has the country's first university-based research centre in the education of able children. Home of the thick sandwich course: four years, including a period of work experience, though three-year full-time is now available in all subjects.

Teaching: 38th out of 124 for student satisfaction with teaching quality in the Complete University Guide.

Research: 57th out of 124 in the Research Assessment Exercise.

Graduate prospects: 81st out of 124 with 57.1 per cent finding graduate level employment.

Any accommodation? Rent rates for 2013/14 start at £98 for a standard room and range to £186.97 for a studio flat. En-suites cost £125.02 and all prices are per week.

Cheap to live there? Better than you might expect for London at between £80 and £95 per week for a privately-rented room.

Transport links: Uxbridge is at the end of the metropolitan line, within striking distance of the capital, Heathrow and the national motorway system.

Fees: £9,000 per year for most of its full-time home and EU undergrad degree programmes. International fees are split into three bands depending on course, ranging between £12,000 and £15,000 per year.

Bursaries: With over 700 scholarships are being introduced for 2013, one in five applicants who join the university next year will receive financial support. Academic excellence scholarships for students who achieve AAA at A-level, plus a range of means-based grants. See here for further details.

The fun stuff

Nightlife: Several student union bars. Clubbing most nights at The Academy (600 capacity) plus comedy and theatre.

Price of a pint: We're still in London so it's not going to be cheap, but you should find a pint for around £3.20 in Uxbridge.

Sporting reputation: Fairly sporty- ranked 27th in the BUCS league for 2012/13.

Notable societies: Circus, fashion, live music and poker offer just a taste of the wide range of options. Plenty of sports clubs too of course.

Glittering alumni: Jo Brand, comedienne; Lee Mack, comedian; Patricia Hodge, actress; sports stars include Heather Fell, Montell Douglas, Audley Harrison, James Cracknell and Kelly Sotherton.

Alternative prospectus: Check into The Student Room to chat with former, current and prospective students about what life at Brunel University is all about.