Sheffield Hallam University

Sheffield Hallam University

Age: 19, if you begin counting from when it became a university.

History: Can trace its history back to 1843, with the establishment of Sheffield School of Design, which was one of the many educational institutions that came together over 150 years to become Sheffield Hallam University. The college of art merged with college of technology to become a Sheffield Polytechnic in 1969, absorbing sizeable training colleges in the Seventies. Became a university in 1992.

Address: Two campuses, one in the city centre and the other less than two miles away on the vibrant and popular Ecclesall Road.

Ambience: University and city have undergone multi-million pound transformation. New health and wellbeing, engineering and IT buildings and an atrium where students and staff socialise. In 2008 the university moved its art and design students to the City Campus and housed them in new, state-of-the-art accommodation in the heart of the Cultural Industries Quarter. City centre boasts Millennium Gallery and the winter gardens.

Vital statistics: Was one of the first three polys to be established, now has almost 30,000 students including around 19,000 full-time undergraduates. Strong links with business and industry. The highest number of sandwich courses in England. Many courses are applied rather than theoretical, devised in cooperation with industry.

Added value: Development of the estate continues, with almost £100m already spent on teaching and learning facilities and half as much again earmarked for the next four years. Award-winning library at the city campus with more than 1,600 computers. Students' union is housed in the iconic former National Centre for Popular Music.

Easy to get into? Between 160 and 320 UCAS entry points required. Mature students can be assessed on experience rather than certificates. For metalwork and jewellery, admission depends on high standard of creativity and skill.

Glittering alumni: Nick Park, animator of Wallace and Gromit; Bruce Oldfield, fashion designer; Richard Caborn MP; David Mellor, international designer and cutlery maker; Martin Narey, chief executive of Barnardo's; Howard Wilkinson, former technical director at the Football Association.

Transport links: Next to the city's bus and railway station, close to airport.

Who's the boss? Professor Philip Jones, who became the new vice-chancellor in August 2007 after the retirement of Professor Diana Green. He joined Sheffield Hallam from Durham University, where he was deputy vice-chancellor and sub-warden.

Teaching: 94th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Research: 82nd out of 115 in the Research Assessment Exercise.

Overall ranking: Came 62nd out of 114 in the Complete University Guide.

Nightlife: An on-campus club venue, 20-plus clubs in the city. More than 500 pubs and loads of cafés. Good theatre at the Crucible and Lyceum.

How green is it? Decent - finished 27th out of 142 universities graded by People and Planet for its 'Green League 2011', an assessment of environmental performance.

Any accommodation? Yes, rooms in halls cost from around £75 to £125 per week.

Cheap to live there? Yes indeed. A typical flat rental in the private sector could cost you as little as £55 per week.

Sports ranking: 30th in the BUCS league table.

Fees: £3,375 per year for full-time undergrads starting in 2011. Hallam is proposing to charge £8,500 per year as of 2012.

Bursaries: £700 per year for students in receipt of a full maintenance grant in 2011. There is also a bursary of £300 per year to students who have previously studied at one of the university's partner colleges.

Prospectus: 0114 225 5555; www.shu.ac.uk

UCAS code: S21