Manchester Metropolitan University

Age: 187 or 19, depending on when you start counting.

History: Started out as Manchester Mechanics' Institution. Merged with colleges of art, commerce and technology to become Manchester Poly in 1970, gobbling up a college of education and two institutions of higher education on way.

Address: Five campuses spread out across the city centre and suburbs, plus two in the Cheshire countryside.

Ambience: Young, groovy - many students pick MMU for its party-friendly atmosphere.

Vital statistics: One of the largest universities in the UK, with around 34,000 students, of whom approximately 27,000 are undergraduates. It has one of the largest business schools in the country. University is centred on the biggest educational complex in Western Europe, including the HQ of Manchester University. It is the largest public sector provider of accountancy training in the North West.

Added value: A £300 million investment programme is now under way to develop the campus. Brilliant sports facilities. Best outdoor facilities are at Crewe and Alsager. The MMU Cheshire Consortium was included in the official London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Pre-Games Training Camp Guide as a multi-sport venue. A a £300 million investment programme is currently underway to provide new teaching and learning facilities as the university undergoes the largest physical change to its estate since its foundation and consolidates from seven to two campuses.

Easy to get into? Varies: entry requirements range from 80 to 320 UCAS points, depending on the course. MMU also takes mature students, without traditional A-levels, from access courses.

Glittering alumni: Steve Coogan, comedian; Julie Walters, actress; Mike Turner, former chief executive BAE Systems;Richard Griffiths OBE, actor; Bernard Hill, actor; Gethin Jones, TV presenter; Peter Saville, graphic designer, art director and co-founder of Factory Records; Marsha Thomason, actor, Lost; Terry Christian, TV and radio presenter; Mick Hucknall, singer; L S Lowry, artist; Gruff Rhys, musician, Super Furry Animals; John Thomson, actor; Richard Woolfe, former controller for Channel Five; Mark Cueto, rugby player, Sale Sharks and England; Gordon Taylor, chief executive, the Professional Footballers’ Association.

Transport links: Modern tram system. Big airport on the doorstep. Crewe and Alsager are close to rail and motorway links.

Who's the boss? Professor John Brooks, vice-chancellor. A big supporter of educational opportunity for all, nationally, he has been appointed to the Board of Universities UK and is chair of the Equality Challenge Unit.

Teaching: Came 109th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Research: Came 73rd out of 115 in the Research Assessment Exercise.

Overall ranking: Ranked 93rd out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Nightlife: Much merrymaking at main All Saints students' union building, which contains two large and noisy bars and has a packed programme of club and dance nights.

How green is it? Good - finished 17th out of 138 universities graded by People and Planet for their 'Green League 2011', an assessment of environmental performance. It has climbed steadily since it hit 90th place in 2007.

Any accommodation? Yes, a choice of seven different halls. Room rents range between £80 and £112 per week.

Cheap to live there? Quite. A room in a shared flat in Manchester will cost you between £50 and £65 per week.

Sports ranking: 71st in the BUCS league.

Fees: £3,375 per year for full-time home undergrads starting in 2011. MMU are planning to charge up to £9,000 per year as of 2012, with the majority costing £8,000 per year.

Bursaries: All undergrads paying tuition fees and in receipt of the maximum maintenance grant will receive a bursary of at least £338 per year.

Prospectus: 0161 247 6969; www.mmu.ac.uk

UCAS code: M40