Cumbria, University of

University of Cumbria

Age: Four

History: An amalgamation of St Martin's College, Cumbria Institute of the Arts, and the Cumbrian campuses of the University of Central Lancashire.

Address: Most of the campuses are located in north-west England, at Carlisle, Penrith and Lancaster, with other sites in Barrow and Whitehaven. The university even has a specialist teacher-education centre in Tower Hamlets, London. Each campus is still awaiting a full programme of refurbishment.

Ambience: Describes its mission as allowing students to 'achieve their personal and professional potential wherever they study' – fitting, really, because of the distances between each campus. They are also committed to learning which is 'innovative, flexible and student centred' and which uses the latest technology. An eclectic mix of students is promised, and the university aims to meet the needs of both full and part-time.

Vital statistics: 6,805 full-time and 4,335 part-time students across undergraduate, postgraduate, foundation, and professional development courses.

Added value: Has already forged strong links with the four FE colleges in Cumbria (Lakes Colleges, Furness College, Carlisle College and Kendal College).

Easy to get into? Depends on the course - honours degrees ask for anything between 220 and 300 UCAS points.

Glittering alumni: They'll no doubt be hoping for some in the near future.

Transport links: Lancaster is just off the M6, its campus 20 minutes from the city's main train station, which is handily situated on the main west coast line between London and Glasgow. The three Carlisle campuses are all within walking distance of the city's mainline train station. Penrith is similarly accessible, just off the M6 and with its own mainline station. And if you're studying at the Professional Development Centre in London, you'll find it near Mile End tube station on the Central Line.

Who's the boss? Professor Graham Upton.

Teaching: Ranked 107th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Research: Came last out of 115 in the Research Assessment Excerise - but it's early days. Current research on image perception is seeking to enhance the reliability of diagnoses from medical images such as x-ray and ultrasound.

Overall ranking: 86th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Nightlife: Depends where you're based. Ambleside caters for the quiet-pint-in-a-local-pub brigade, while Carlisle is stuffed full of cultural pursuits: a theatre-goers delight. Lancaster, on the other hand, has a lively club scene and some live music venues.

How green is it? Not great. Came 110th out of 138 in The People and Planet Green League 2011.

Any accommodation? Yes. There are around 1,000 study rooms available across the campuses. Most students will have their own study bedroom and share a kitchen, lounge and bathroom. Many are en-suite. Prices range from £74 to £95 per week.

Cheap to live there? Yes – the North West is a relatively inexpensive part of the country. Costs vary according to the accommodation, but expect to pay anywhere between £50 and £60 per week for a shared flat in Lancaster, Carlisle and Penrith.

Sports Ranking: 113th in the BUCS league.

Fees: £3,375 for full-time undergrads starting in 2011. The university plans to charge £8,400 per year as of 2012.

Bursaries: A Cumbria Bursary of up to £700 per year is offered to eligible students. A scholarship of £1,000 is also available to students showing excellence in certain areas. For more details visit the university's finance page.

Prospectus: 0845 606 1144; www.cumbria.ac.uk

UCAS code: C99