Middlesex University

Middlesex University (Steve Cadman)

Overall ranking: Placed 89th out of 126 in the Complete University Guide for 2016.

History: Roots go back to the teaching college of St Katherine's in Tottenham, which opened in 1878; and to the Hornsey College of Arts and Crafts, which started in 1882. Almost 100 years later Middlesex Poly was created by marrying Enfield and Hendon colleges of technology and the Hornsey College of Art. It became Middlesex University in 1992.

Address: The University has recently moved all UK teaching onto one flagship campus in Hendon, north London. It also has international campuses in Dubai, Mauritius and Malta.

Ambience: The Hendon campus is close to central London but sits comfortably in a more suburban setting offering a real campus feel while being a short tube ride away from the centre of one of the world's most dynamic cities. Middlesex has recently opened ‘The Grove’, an £80m centre for creative courses, which heralded the arrival of the University’s art, design, media and performing arts students on the campus.

Who's the boss? Economist Professor Michael Driscoll, who is keen on promoting equal opportunities, has been the vice-chancellor since 1996.

Prospectus: 020 8411 5555.

UCAS code: M80

What you need to know

Easy to get into? Welcomes students with a variety of experience and qualifications. Courses generally ask for 260 to 320 UCAS tariff points.

Vital statistics: Around 40,000 students worldwide, and over 19,000 in the UK. 15,200 are undergrads studying in the UK, with one third of the total being mature students.

Added value: Well known for programmes with direct entry into the professions, such as nursing and teaching. Strong Hornsey College of Art heritage informs art and design courses and the University is also highly rated for its performing arts provision. Middlesex recently launched its largest ever academic recruitment drive, bringing in big name academics from artist Sonya Boyce to journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, and welcoming new expertise such as the highly regarded European Human Rights Advocacy Centre.

Teaching: Ranked 60th out of 126 in the Complete University Guide.

Graduate prospects: 102nd out of 126 with 56.4 finding graduate level employment.

Any accommodation? Yes- the average cost of one of the university's 940 rooms in halls is between £121 and £139 per week on a 40-week contract, with all rooms single, and offering wireless internet.

Cheap to live there? Not particularly. Expect to pay at least £100 per week to live in a shared flat on the fringes of north London. The average is £100 to £150 for private accommodation, with plenty of places to rent close to the campuses.

Transport links: Underground, overground and London buses.

Fees: £9,000 per year for full-time home and EU undergrads starting in 2014. Overseas students pay more.

Bursaries: A wide variety of scholarships and bursaries are available, including the National Scholarship Programme that aids students from families with a household income of less than £25,000. See here for more details and to check your eligibility.

The fun stuff

Nightlife: The university hosts an eclectic mix of themed events at ‘The Forum’ on the Hendon Campus. North London is vibrant and varied with places like Camden Town or Upper Street, Islington which are thriving social hubs with dozens of music venues, cafes, clubs and bars.

Price of a pint: £3.65 is the average across London so drinks won't be cheap there, but the union boasts some great deals, so don't fret too much over the cost of your social life.

Sporting reputation: Not hugely sporty- 77th in the current BUCS league.

Notable societies: Great entertainment group, StreetBlaze, which performs everything from hip-hop to pop and street. Enjoy some latino vibes with Salsa Society, or create your own society with ten friends to match your personal interests.

Glittering alumni: Actors Dame Helen Mirren, Zoe Wanamaker, Johnny Vegas, and Freema Agyeman; musicians Ray Davies and Alison Goldfrapp; politicians Nick Harvey and Kim Howells; novelists James Herbert and Andrea Levy; artist Anish Kapoor; fashion designer Vivienne Westwood; Hollywood film director Mike Figgis.

Alternative prospectus: Find out more about life at Middlesex and join in with discussions on The Student Room here. Former, current and prospective students can help you decide if it may be the university for you.