Liverpool Hope University

Age: Six

History: Roots lie in three teacher-training colleges. The Anglican, S. Katharine's College opened in 1844, and the Catholic, Notre Dame College and Christ's College followed in 1856 and 1965 respectively. In 1980, the colleges combined to form Liverpool Institute of Higher Education which then became Liverpool Hope in 1995. Hope won the right to use the university college title in 2003, and then became a university in 2005.

Address: The main campus, Hope Park in Childwall, is three miles from Liverpool city centre. The Creative Campus, home to the faculty of arts and humanities, is a short walk from the city centreat the junction of Islington and Shaw Street.

Ambience: A close-knit university with a strong Christian ethic: students study in one of four faculties. The only ecumenical university in Europe, Hope Park is a leafy 30-acre landscaped campus, with a mix of building styles. The grade two listed Cornerstone building, at the Creative Campus is an imposing example of 19th century architecture transformed by an award-winning and sensitive restoration into a 21st century centre for learning.

Vital statistics: A small university with around 4,500 full-time undergrads, over 2,000 part-timers and around 1,700 postgrads. Almost a third of the undergrads are over 21, and there's a strong Irish contingent. Teacher-training is strong, as are business, sport studies, psychology and performing arts.

Added value: Plas Caerdeon Outdoor Education Centre in North Wales has flexible, modular courses. The size of the university allows for a real community feel amongst the students. The Gateway to Hope building, dedicated to student services, opened in June 2007. The Capstone opened in 2010, a £7.5m development, housing the Hope Theatre, which boasts "perfect" acoustics.

Easy to get into? Offers range from between 260 to 300 UCAS points depending on programme, although all BAs ask for at least 300 points.

Glittering alumni: Lord Alton of Liverpool; playwright Willy Russell; Lord Mayor of Liverpool and former council leader Mike Storey CBE; athlete Diane Allahgreen.

Transport links: Easy access to M62 and airport; good for trains, coaches and ferries. A bus shuttles between the two main university sites.

Who's the boss? Professor Gerald J Pillay is the university's first ever vice-chancellor. He was born in the former British colony of Natal in South Africa, but is a citizen of New Zealand.

Teaching: Scored 76 per cent in the National Student Survey for student satisfaction.

Research: Averaged 1.45 in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, equivalent to 111th out of 115 universities in the Independent’s Complete University Guide.

Nightlife: Bars on campus, DJs, comedy nights and film club. Smithdown Road, where many students live, is also a popular spot and you’re spoilt for choice in the city centre.

How green is it? Poor - came 120th out of 138 universities graded by People and Planet for their 'Green League 2011', an assessment of environmental performance.

Any accommodation? Yes. Accommodation at Hope Park costs between £78 and £104 per week. Halls at the nearby Aigburth Park are £78 and £88 per week, while those studying at the Creative Campus pay £85 per week.

Cheap to live there? Wallet-friendly. Local rents average £65 per week.

Sports Ranking: 104th in the BUCS league table.

Fees: £3,375 per year for full-time home undergrads starting in 2011. Hope plans on charging £8,250 per year as of 2012.

Bursaries: A means-tested bursary of £500 per year is available to full-time home undergrads who have a annual family income of less than £39,333. There are also a number of scholarships based on excellence in academia, sport and performing arts, and one for students from partner schools and colleges. For more details, visit the website.

Prospectus: 0151 291 3111; www.hope.ac.uk

UCAS code: L46