University Campus Suffolk (UCS)

History: Created in 2007, University Campus Suffolk (UCS) is one of the newest higher education institutions in the UK, building on the strengths of the Universities of East Anglia and Essex, its sponsoring institutions.

Address: The main hub is in Ipswich, but students are based across five further sites: Bury St Edmunds, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Otley and Suffolk New College.

Ambience: This model of a new cutting-edge campus and network of learning centres is big and bold and focuses on innovation, enterprise and accessibility. Central to the creation of UCS is the development of the Ipswich campus, a phased development which will grow and develop over the next five to ten years.

Who's the boss? Professor Mike Saks took hold of the reins at the very end of 2009.

Prospectus: 01473 338 833 or request a prospectus here.

UCAS code: S82

What you need to know

Easy to get into? You'll need around 200 UCAS points for a foundation degree and 280 points for honours degrees on average. Interviews and portfolios may be necessary for some.

Vital statistics: UCS has over 4,000 full-time students, with numbers rocketing year-on-year. 2:1 female to male ratio.

Added value: Some great places to study. The landmark Waterfront building in Ipswich opened in September 2008 and offers students access to state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities, including a learning resource centre with over 50 iMac computers. The Great Yarmouth Centre is located at the site of Great Yarmouth College and has a library and resource centre. The friendly coastal town of Lowestoft is Britain's most easterly town, providing a mixture of expansive award-winning beaches, rich maritime heritage and links to the Norfolk Broads. The Otley Centre is located at the site of Otley College, situated just eight miles outside Ipswich. In contrast to the urban environment of the town, this area has some stunning villages and miles of rolling countryside.

Any accommodation? Yes - a 600 bedroom accommodation block opened in September 2010. 590 students can be housed at Athena Hall. Click here for more on university housing.

Cheap to live there? It can get pricey. A room in a shared flat will cost you anywhere between £70 and £95 per week.

Transport links: The new Ipswich Campus is located on the waterfront, situated a few minutes walk from the centre of the county town. Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds are just off the A14; Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft are near the A12. Otley is off the A140.

Fees: For EU and UK students, fees are £7,500 per year for foundation courses and £8,500 for undergrad degrees for 2014 entry. International students pay £9,000 for classroom-based, and £10,500 for laboratory-based undergraduate courses.

Bursaries: £1,000 per year for students starting an undergraduate degree programme in 2014/15. For information on this scheme and other financial fancies, click here.

The fun stuff

Nightlife: In Ipswich, bars and restaurants located along the waterfront give a trendy feel to an already vibrant area. The town offers a good range of facilities, whether you like socialising in cafés, restaurants and bars with friends, walking through the medieval streets and country parks, or making the most of the multi-screen cinema and leisure complex. The students' union will provide a calendar of events throughout the year.

Sporting facilities: Located within the snazzy 'Blue' building is a new fitness room called Adrenaline. Sports staff are on hand to help with personal exercise programmes and also run regular fitness classes. UCS is developing a multi-purpose sports area after being awarded Olympic legacy funding from Sport England's 'Inspired Facilities Fund'.