Strathclyde, University of

University of Strathclyde

Age: 214

History: The University of Strathclyde began in 1796 when John Anderson, professor of natural philosophy at Glasgow University, left instructions in his will for "a place of useful learning" - a university open to everyone.

Address: Two campuses: John Anderson, in the trendy Merchant City area in Glasgow's city centre; and Jordanhill, four miles away in the West End.

Ambience: Offers courses which are relevant to industry and commerce and there's a strong social scene. City centre campus is urban and mainly modern and there are landscaped gardens on the site of the former Rottenrow hospital. Jordanhill is parkland, lovely in summer and great for sport.

Vital statistics: Has 13,000 undergraduates and around 7,000 postgrads. The majority of students - 70 per cent - come from the local area, although students from more than 100 countries are also on campus.

Added value: Every student can take classes in entrepreneurship, covering business start-up and development. Most departments offer at least one study abroad option. The university has its own student employment service to help them make ends meet. They have a good relationship with industry for science, engineering and business students.

Easy to get into? Not particularly. Entry requirements are given in grades rather than UCAS tariff points, with many courses, such as business and economics, asking for AAA at A-level or AAAA at Scottish Highers. The university is keen on widening access and adult returner students are encouraged to apply.

Glittering alumni: Elish Angiolini QC, Scotland's Lord Advocate; James Boyle, chief of the Scottish Arts Council; writers Andrew O'Hagan and Denise Mina; Craig Brown, former Scotland football manager; Tom Hunter, entrepreneur.

Transport links: City centre campus served by nearby train, subway and bus stations. Jordanhill served by bus and trains and there is a shuttle bus between the city centre campus and Jordanhill eight times a day. 20-minute drive to the airport.

Who's the boss? Professor Jim McDonald is principal and vice-chancellor.

Teaching: Came 47th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Research: Came 45th out of 115 in the latest Research Assessment Exercise. More than 90 per cent of staff achieved the top two ratings of 4 or 5. Awarded the top grade 5 in pharmacy and other subjects allied to medicine, bioengineering, applied mathematics, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, law, politics, accounting and finance, and English.

Overall ranking: Came 40th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Nightlife: The union has six bars, and has a reputation for kick-starting local bands. Glasgow's nightlife and club scene are legendary and Strathclyde is right in the thick of it.

How green is it? Not great, but improving – came 63rd out of 142 universites graded by People and Plant for its 'Green League 2011', after being placed at 121st last year.

Any accommodation? Yes, there are 1,975 places in university-owned student residences. Rents start at £73 per week for a self-catered room.

Cheap to live there? Yep. Average rents locally are around £65 per week.

Sports ranking: 49th in the BUCS league table.

Fees: Scottish and EU students do not have to pay any fees. Students from England, Northern Ireland and Wales are charged a standard Scottish tuition fee, which for 2011/2012 is £1,820 per year. Fees for 2012/2013 are yet to be decided, but it is expected they will rise by the rate of inflation.

Bursaries: A number of scholarships are available to new undergraduates based on various criteria. See the website for details.

Prospectus: 0141 548 2762; www.strath.ac.uk

UCAS code: S78