Sunderland, University of

Overall ranking: Came 110th out of 124 in the Complete University Guide.

History: Formed when the school of science and art merged with a technical and a teacher training college to become one of the UK's first polytechnics. Became a university in 1992.

Address: Two campuses scattered across the Tyne and Wear conurbation.

Ambience: Super keen on widening participation and attracting local students. The award-winning Sir Tom Cowie campus, a contemporary glass, wood, and concrete affair, sits on the banks of the River Wear.

Who's the boss? Town planner Professor Peter Fidler is vice-chancellor and chief executive.

Prospectus: 0191 515 3000 or order one online here.

UCAS code: S84

What you need to know

Easy to get into? Yes. Students come with various qualifications from A-levels to GNVQs and HNDs. Courses take anything from 80 to 260 UCAS entry points (although the average is 270) and the access scheme offers places to mature students without A-levels.

Vital statistics: Almost 17,000 students including over 7,000 full-time undergrads and 2,000 postgrads.

Added value: Strong links with local industry, especially Nissan and the Software City initiative. Sir Tom Cowie is home to a £20m media arts centre. National and international partners include Yahoo, BT and Sony. Glass and Ceramics students work and study at the National Glass Centre. CitySpace sports and social centre plus a £7.5m science complex. Redevelopments happening left, right and centre.

Teaching: 19th out of 124 for student satisfaction with teaching quality in the Complete University Guide.

Research: 96th out of 124 in the Research Assessment Exercise.

Graduate prospects: 122nd out of 124 with 42.7 per cent finding graduate level employment.

Any accommodation? Yes and it's cheap. Five halls all located within 1.5 miles of the city centre. A free campus bus service links all centres to both campuses and there is free parking for students with cars. The cost ranges from £69.86 per week to £127 per week for a self-contained studio flat. Standard en-suite rooms with a river view go for £89.98 per week.

Cheap to live there? Indeed. Expect to pay as little as £65 per week if renting privately.

Transport links: Good train links around the north-east. Coaches carry you cheaply to many destinations. Inter-campus travel on Metro Link and free campus bus service.

Fees: Sunderland charges £7,000 to £8,500 for full-time home and EU undergrads starting in 2013.

Bursaries: National Scholarship Programme to help those from families with household incomes below £25,000 per year. The Get There scholarship offers either free travel for the first year on buses and the metro or £500 off university accommodation. Further financial support is also available- see here.

The fun stuff

Nightlife: Cheap and cheerful thrills of the pub and club variety in town. Campus Academy nightclub is the main students' union nightspot.

Price of a pint: £2.65 on average in Sunderland but even cheaper lagers, spirits and wines are available in the union. Student club nights are wallet-friendly here too.

Sporting reputation: 92nd out of 148 universities and colleges in the BUCS 2012/13 league table.

Notable societies: DJ Society is popular with those wanting to try something cool and new, while the Formula Student Motorsport Team prepares and races cars in an annual student competition at Silverstone.

Glittering alumni: Children's writer Allan Ahlberg; 'Horrible Histories' author Terry Deary; film director Tony Scott.

Alternative prospectus: See how current Sunderland students rate aspects of their university experience, from accommodation and facilities to nightlife and eye candy, on What Uni? here.