Brunel University

Brunel University's 1960s Lecture Centre (flickr: TheOnlyMoxey)

Overall ranking: 49th out of 126 in the Complete University Guide for 2016.

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 Julia Buckingham, former pro-rector for education and academic affairs at Imperial College London, took the helm from professor Chris Jenks in October 2012.

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 300 and 340 UCAS entry points which normally come from at least three A-level passes. Students also generally need a minimum of five GCSE at C or above, including in English and maths.

Vital statistics: Over 9,500 full-time home and EU undergrads plus nearly 3,000 overseas students. Originally specialised in science and technology, but now offers courses across the board. Three colleges, consisting of business, arts and social sciences; engineering, design and physical sciences; and health and life sciences.

Added value: Investment in building over the past decade is now over £400m. 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: 20th out of 126 for student satisfaction with teaching quality in the Complete University Guide.

Graduate prospects: 87th out of 126 with 59.5 per cent finding graduate level employment.

Any accommodation? Rent rates for 2015 start at £102 for a standard room and range to £219.94 for a studio flat. En-suites cost £130 and all prices are per week.

Cheap to live there? Better than you might expect for London at between £85 and £90 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.

Bursaries: Brunel boasts several scholarships and bursaries. Click here for more information.

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 39th in the BUCS league for 2014/15.

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.