Brunel University

Age: 45

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. 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. A £300m building programme is now complete, including new sports facilities, refurbished biomedical and sports sciences labs, bigger and better catering and social amenities, more accommodation, new teaching facilities for education, design, and health and social care, an extended library, and a high-tech assistive technology centre.

Vital statistics: Around 15,500 students, more than 10,000 of whom are full-time undergrads. 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: Employability. Home of the thick sandwich course: four years, including a period of work experience, though three-year full-time now available in all subjects. Hot for sport. 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.

Easy to get into? Courses ask for between 260 and 340 UCAS entry points. Seven applications per place. Around 14 per cent come through clearing.

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.

Transport links: Uxbridge is at the end of the Metropolitan Line and is within striking distance of the Capital, Heathrow and the national motorway system.

Who's the boss? Professor Chris Jenks, vice-chancellor and principal.

Teaching: 104th out of 116 for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide.

Research: 58th out of 115 in the Research Assessment Exercise.

Overall ranking: 50th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

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

How green is it? Not bad - came 50th out of 138 universities graded by People & Planet for their 'Green League 2011', an assessment of environmental performance.

Any accommodation? Yes, starting from around £90 per week for a standard room and £116 per week for en-suite rooms. Studio flats are available for co-habiting couples for £174 per week.

Cheap to live there? Better than you'd expect for London. Private rents are around £95 a week.

Sports ranking: 24th in the BUCS league table.

Fees: £3,375 per year for undergrads starting in 2011. Brunel is proposing to charge £9,000 per year for most of its undergrad degree programmes starting in September 2012.

Bursaries: There is a £1,000 per year bursary available to undergraduates who receive the full maintenance loan, as well as various academic and extra-curricular scholarships and awards.

Prospectus: 01895 265 599; www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/prospectus

UCAS code: B84