Ulster, University of

University of Ulster

Age: 43, from the birth of the New University of Ulster, or 27 since the merger with Ulster Poly.

History: Origins date from Magee College in Londonderry and Derry, founded in 1845. The Belfast campus has its roots in the College of Art and Design (1849) and the New University of Ulster and Ulster College date from 1968 and 1971 respectively. The University of Ulster was established in 1984.

Address: Four very different sites, spread across Northern Ireland, up to 72 miles apart.

Ambience: Depends on the campus. Belfast – housing art and design, architecture and law – is the smallest site, while the attractive Magee campus – offering law, drama, and computing – is in Derry. Coleraine, the university's HQ, which runs courses from media studies to marine science, is a small, quiet market town a few miles from the lovely Antrim coast and the seaside towns of Portrush and Portstewart. Jordanstown is currently the largest site, although there are major expansion plans for the Belfast and Magee campuses.

Vital statistics: Over 25,300 students - the largest university in Ireland. Students from private schools are hard to find, while mature students account for 21 per cent of full-time undergraduates.

Added value: The university has embarked on a development programme of £500m over the next 10 years. The Office of Innovation runs a range of initiatives to create strong links with business and industry. Has partnerships with other education providers, locally, across Northern Ireland and around the world.

Easy to get into? Varies. Between 160 and 340 UCAS entry points required, depending on the course.

Glittering alumni: James Nesbitt, actor; Brian Keenan, Beirut hostage and author; Kate Hoey, MP; Omad Djalili, comedian.

Transport links: Trains and buses connect Coleraine, Jordanstown, Belfast and Derry. There is a good Sustrans cycle network in Northern Ireland. Three airports nearby.

Who's the boss? Professor Richard Barnett, vice-chancellor, who was appointed in April 2006.

Teaching: 85th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Research: 43rd out of 115 in the Research Assessment Exercise.

Overall ranking: Came 52nd out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Nightlife: Plenty of pubs and clubs in Londonderry. Social life for Coleraine students is mainly in the seaside towns of Portrush and Portstewart. Both the Belfast and Jordanstown campuses are close to the nightlife of the city.

How green is it? Good – came 19th out of 142 universities graded by People and Planet for its 'Green League 2011'. This is a vast improvement on last year's position, when it came in at 104th.

Any accommodation? Yes. Rooms in halls of residence range from £55 per week for a basic room, to £101 for an 'enhanced' room.

Cheap to live there? About average. Most students pay between £75 and £85 per week for a room in a shared flat.

Sports ranking: 127th in the BUCS league table.

Fees: £3,375 per year for full-time home undergrads. Fee plans for 2012 are yet to be confirmed.

Bursaries: Up to £800 per year for full-time students enrolling in 2011 that have an annual household income of up to £19,203.

Prospectus: 02890 366 251, or online at http://prospectus.ulster.ac.uk

UCAS code: U20