Cardiff Metropolitan University

(UWIC)

Overall ranking: Came 79th out of 126 in the Complete University Guide for 2016.

History: Its roots go back to 1865 when Cardiff School of Art opened its doors. Over the years it changed into the South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education. Became Cardiff Institute of Higher Education in 1990 and a university in 1996, changing its name to the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC). On 1 November 2011, the university officially became Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Address: Four campuses within three-mile radius of the centre of Cardiff.

Ambience: Upbeat and bustling. Offers courses with a career-focused edge. Cyncoed campus, housing teacher training, sport and the students union HQ, is in a posh suburb. Llandaff campus, home of health sciences and art and design, is next to the A48 and just a 10 minute walk from Llandaff village. Colchester Avenue campus is the current location for the Cardiff School of Management and the Celtic Suite, a restaurant which is open to the public and operated under supervision by students as part of their hospitality management training programme. It is just outside the city centre. Howard Gardens campus in the city centre is the 'alternative' one for art and design students. Cardiff is a friendly city with beaches, hills and nature paths nearby.

Who's the boss? Psychologist Professor Antony J Chapman, former senior vice-chancellor of the University of Wales.

Prospectus: Email courses@cardiffmet.ac.uk or download one here.

UCAS code: C20

What you need to know

Easy to get into? Committed to widening access. Courses ask for between 240 and 320 UCAS entry points. There are 3.8 applications per place on average.

Vital statistics: Part of the University of Wales since 1996, it has over 10,000 undergrads, 8,100 postgrads.

Added value: Hot for sport, health, teaching and art. Sporty student vibe and excellent facilities, including the famous National Indoor Athletics Centre as well as a National Lawn Tennis Association Centre and a sports centre to enable the disabled and able-bodied to train side by side. A recent investment of £50m in the Estates Strategy sees the construction of a range of state-of-the-art facilities, including a new home for the Cardiff School of Management at the Llandaff campus, a new Food Industry Centre building, a multi-purpose Campus Centre and a new £14m modern Cardiff School of Art and Design that opened in June 2015. This focus on Cardiff Met's estate will further enhance the student experience and improve research facilities.

The new and refurbished £14m state of the art accommodation was designed by award winning architects Austin-Smith: Lord. The building was recently awarded a prestigious regional RIBA award. Cardiff Met recently launched its new outdoor learning centre, situation within two hectares of woodland at the University's Cyncoed Campus to train teachers in outdoor education.

Teaching: 77th out of 126 for student satisfaction with teaching quality in the Complete University Guide.

Graduate prospects: 93rd out of 126 with 58.2 per cent finding graduate level employment.

Any accommodation? Yes. On the Cyncoed campus, expect to pay £135.50 per week for a catered single room, including food. A catered single en suite will set you back £148.50, and also includes food. A self-catered en suite single is £104.50 On the Plas Gwyn campus, prices start at £100.50 a week. Contracts are for 40 weeks.

Cheap to live there? Oh yes. Private rents in Cardiff are some of the cheapest in the UK, with some rents as low as £55 per week.

Transport links: Conveniently located on four campuses in the city of Cardiff, with excellent road links via the M4. Rail links and public transport provide access to shopping, nightlife and leisure activities. Students have free transport between all campuses and the city centre through Wales’ largest university bus service, the Met Rider.

Fees: £9,000 per year for full-time undergrads starting in September 2015.

Bursaries: The university offers a host of bursaries and scholarships, based on academic excellence, study area or financial background. For more information, see here.

The fun stuff

Nightlife: Energetic students' union owns its own city centre nightclub and bar. They even run the Epic Event Competition to encourage students to put on their own club nights, quizzes, fashion shows or other events at the union- the best event wins £500. Head to the city for even more fun and games in vibrant Cardiff.

Price of a pint: The average cost across Cardiff is £3.23 for a pint of lager.

Sporting reputation: Very good- 14th in the BUCS league of 145 universities and colleges.

Notable societies: Quirky options include the Kendo Society, a sort of Japanese fencing art.

Glittering alumni: Gareth Edwards, rugby player; Lynn Davies, Olympic Gold Medallist; Michael Buerk, newsreader; Owen Powell of Catatonia; Simon Fowler of Ocean Colour Scene; John Inverdale, TV presenter; Julien Macdonald, fashion designer; and Ryan Jones, captain of the Wales rugby team.

Alternative prospectus: See how current students rate various aspects of their university experience on The Student Room here, from courses and lecturers to accommodation, city life and the union.