East Anglia, University of (UEA)

East Anglia, University of (UEA)

Age: 44

History: Child of the 60s and still growing. The Faculty of Health in particular has been an area of major growth in recent years.

Address: University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ

Ambience: Bold late 20th-century architecture boasts award-winning designs by Denys Lasdun, Lord Foster and Rick Mather. Concrete jungle softened by setting of 320 acres of parkland. The campus has seen a recent £3.8m extension to the Sportspark, completion of the new INTO University of East Anglia which incorporates teaching and accommodation facilities for over 400 students. The new Academic East is also due for completed by September 2009. This will include of a new 300 seat lecture theatre, seminar rooms and a large “break-out” space for student projects. The 'Golden Triangle' between the University and the town has a friendly, student feel.

Vital statistics: 10988 undergrads. University has a good academic reputation and has spawned experts in fields as disparate as creative writing and environmental sciences. An emphasis on inter-disciplinary study means students can fashion their degrees to suit their interests. Access courses bring in undergraduates without traditional A-levels.

Added value: Creative writing MA taught by a group of well-known writers including Andrew Cowan, Giles Foden and Lavinia Greenlaw. Strong links with other writers, such as: Rose Tremain, Doris Lessing, Graham Swift and Salman Rushdie. On the doorstep is Norwich Research Park, one of Europe's biggest collections of bio-technologists working in health and microbiological research. University has its own art gallery - the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts - free to students and staff.

Easy to get into? No. Entry requirements range from 240-360 points.

Glittering alumni: Writers Ian McEwan and Kazuo Ishiguro, explorer Benedict Allen; meteorologist Penny Tranter; Nobel prize-winning cancer researcher Sir Paul Nurse; actor Jack Davenport, film director Gurinder Chadha and Radio One DJ Greg James.

Transport links: Two hours by road and rail to London (trains every half-hour taking just under two hours). Take a 40-minute flight from Norwich Airport to Amsterdam and the world's your oyster. Or get to Stansted in 90 minutes.

Who's the boss? Professor Edward Acton is the vice-chancellor.

Teaching: Came 7th out of 113 in the National Student Survey.

Research: Placed 32nd out of 113 in the research assessment exercise.

Overall ranking: Came 32nd out of 113 in the Complete University Guide.

Nightlife: Bustling both on and off campus. Two union venues, LCR on campus Waterfront (in the city) with a top live music scene. Norwich has a pub for every night of the year. We have been voted the best student music venue in the country by the Virgin Alternative Music Guide.

How green is it? A new biomass energy centre on campus is almost complete. This will enable the university to generate about 90 per cent of its electricity load and heat load. With the application of new technology it will contribute to the reduction of the university's carbon emissions by 60 per cent of its 1999 levels - some 40 years ahead of Government targets.

Any accommodation? It offers over 3500 fully-furnished, centrally-heated study bedrooms grouped around a shared kitchen. Over two thirds of our rooms are en-suite, with own shower, toilet and washbasin. Many of these are new or recently refurbished. You'll pay from £50 to £96 per week for university accommodation (self-catering).

Cheap to live there? Very - private rents are around £50 a week.

Sports ranking: Average - came 67th out of 144 in the BUCS league.

Prospectus: 01603 591515; www.uea.ac.uk/admissions

UCAS code: E14