University of Nottingham

University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham is a prestigious university, situated in the city of Nottingham. Part of the Russell Group, it has eight campuses, two of which are located in China and Malaysia. Glance at the university league tables and you’ll see evidence of its calibre. The Guardian ranked Nottingham as one of the top 20 universities in the UK in 2012 and it came 15th in The Sunday Times University League table.

The University as we know it today was established in 1948. With high entry standards, excellent teaching and research, it’s one of the most popular universities in the UK. Don’t just take our word for it: in 2011, it received a staggering 49,000 applicants for 5,500 undergraduate places. That’s around nine applicants for each place.

The University of Nottingham never misses a chance to boast of its most famous alumni, D.H. Lawrence (although strictly speaking, he attended University College Nottingham, the predecessor to the current university). It has educated numerous high-profile CEOs of companies such as National Grid, UBS, Citigroup and Vauxhall Motors. Tim Martin, chairman of that student haven, Weatherspoons, also attended Nottingham. Throw in actress Ruth Wilson; the head of MI6, Sir John Sawyers; media whizzes Matthew Bannister and Jeff Randall; and you have a pretty impressive collection of past alumni. 

University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham’s main campus is University Park, which is spread over 330 acres and modelled as a ‘garden’ campus with its own lake. It’s one of the largest campuses in the country, a place where period buildings nestle up to modern architecture and state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities. It has the bulk of the student accommodation, teaching departments and sports facilities, as well as a Lakeside Arts Centre and the Portland Building, home to the Students’ Union, shops, banks, bars and restaurants.

Near University Park is the Jubilee Campus, opened in 1999. The University of Nottingham’s second campus located in Nottingham, it is home to the Schools of Education, Contemporary Chinese Studies and Computer Science, as well as Nottingham University Business School.

Just outside Nottingham, surrounded by countryside, is the Sutton Bonington Campus. Fittingly, considering its rural location, this is where the School of Bioscience and School of Veterinary Medicine and Science are located.  Even further away from Nottingham are the Semenyih Campus in Malaysia and the Ningbo Campus in China.

But what about Nottingham itself? Nottingham is perhaps most famous for Robin Hood, a fact shoved in your face in almost every street corner in the city centre. It’s both beautiful and ugly at the same time: pockets of beautiful medieval architecture survive amidst an encroaching urban jungle.

Shopping wise, there’s your usual shopping centre, and less usual boutiques and independent shops. Local lad fashion designer Paul Smith opened his first shop here, and it still remains, flanked by Vivienne Westwood and various other trendy shops, bars and clubs that make up the area of Hockley, christened “the Soho of Nottingham”. Culture vultures are well catered for with famous independent cinemas, a strong and vibrant music scene, and plenty of theatres, galleries and museums.

University of Nottingham

All University of Nottingham accommodation for undergraduates is either on or within easy walking distance of the campus. All new undergraduates are guaranteed housing, whether this is in the university managed and owned catered residences at University Park or Jubilee Campus, or part and self-catered accommodation at Sutton Bonington, Broadgate Park, Raleigh Park or St Peter’s Court.

There are around 8,000 rooms available, around half of which are self-catered. University of Nottingham accommodation can cost anything between £3,400 and £5,500 for the academic year (31 weeks). Non-university first year student accommodation is available for 44 to 51 weeks and costs between £3,700 and £6,900. 

University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham will be charging £9,000 in tuition fees for all home and EU students. The tuition fees don’t have to be paid upfront and the University has put together a very generous package of non-repayable bursaries and scholarships for students from low income households. If you’re confused about tuition fees and whether you can afford university, read our guide to the tuition fee rise. 

University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham estimates that the average student’s living costs will be around £7,200. Obviously, living expenses will vary student to student with some expecting to spend more, and others less. 

University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham offers a Core Bursary for students with a household income of £42,600 or less. Those at the top end of the income scale will receive £750, whilst those with the lowest household incomes will receive £3,000 a year. As part of the National Scholarship Scheme, the University of Nottingham will be providing fee waivers of at least £3,000 to those on foundation-year courses or care leavers with a residual income of up to £25,000.

The University also provides some Childcare Support Funds and Nottingham Potential Bursaries for eligible students. 

University of Nottingham

If you’re after great nightlife, Nottingham is the place to be. It’s got a strong alternative scene and plenty of other more commercial venues. The University of Nottingham Students’ Union runs one bar with cheap drink and food, with pints at around £2.40 and some spirits for as low as £1.50 for a single. It has its own function room, The Den, too. Really though, nightlife starts as soon as you step off campus. 

Nightlife in Nottingham is concentrated around the Lace Market, Hockley areas and the waterfront. There’ll you find a mixture of swanky cocktail bars, quirky venues and big super clubs. There’s the obligatory Oceana, Gatecrasher and Lizard Lounge, whilst Mode Lounge Bar and Club puts a respectable student night. Get your ‘boutique’ clubbing kicks at Pandora’s Box, whilst indie kids and leather-clad rock lovers can party at the rock haven that is Rock City, or catch a few tunes at the excellent The Rescue Rooms or The Bodega Social Club.

Non-alcohol fuelled nightlife entertainment can be found at various theatres and cinemas across the city and there’s even a late-night tea shop. 

University of Nottingham

If you’re looking for student societies, the University of Nottingham has them by the bucket load. The Students’ Union has over 200 societies, from Song Writing Society and People and Planet to Rave Soc to Film Making Society.

For your sporting kicks, there are plenty of sports clubs run by the Athletics Union and the University of Nottingham competes in over 45 different sports against other universities each week.

The University has extensive sports facilities with a sports centre, a well-equipped gym, pitches and a swimming pool on the University Park Campus. Sports facilities aren’t just confined to the main campus: the Jubilee Campus has its own sports centre too, whilst Sutton Bonington offers a large sports hall, a gym, dance studio, bouldering wall, various pitches and three tennis courts. 

University of Nottingham

Following the trend for renaming Freshers’ Week, the University of Nottingham has gone out on a real limb christening the first week of the academic year WeekOne. Really, it’s no different from any other freshers’ week. Freshers’ Fayre? Check. Themed parties? Check. Big finale? Check. Freshers scrabbling for tickets? Check.

That’s right, most night time events, such as the Finale (headliners in 2011 included Pendulum, Modestep and Tinchy Stryder), sell out pretty quickly. So if we can impart one piece of advice for “WeekOne”, it’s get your tickets early. 

University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham’s Careers and Employability Service is there to help you explore job options, improve your employability and fine tune your CV and job applications. They run a jobshop and organise events to help you hobnob with graduate employers.