University of Nottingham, UK

Ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK and top 100 worldwide, NU  is an outward-looking institution which has established bricks-n-mortar campuses in China and Malaysia

Founded in 1881 as a civic college, the University of Nottingham (NU) is routinely ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK and top 100 worldwide. The Times Good University Guide 2009 ranks NU ninth in the UK while Shanghai Jia Tong University, China rates it 73 in its 2010 league of the world’s top 500 universities. Moreover in the latest Research Assessment Exercise, an independent review of research activity in the UK, more than 90 percent of NU research was rated as inter-national quality. Currently 32,044 students including 8,428 from 150 countries are enroled in its three UK campuses.

A progressive outward-looking institution of higher education with global aspirations, NU is also the first British university to establish bricks-n-mortar campuses abroad. Under a strategic plan to internationalise its operations, NU established a Kuala Lumpur campus in 2000 followed by another in China in 2004. The China campus is located within the Higher Education Park in Ningbo on 140 acres of landscaped parkland, with a lake and its own version of Nottingham’s fam-ous Trent Building. Currently 4,500 and 3,224 students are enroled in its China and Kuala Lumpur campuses respectively. In addition to its foreign campuses, NU has academic links with more than 320 partner universities in 40 countries offering students a wide choice of study abroad opportunities.

“The University of Nottingham shares many characteristics of the world’s great universities. However, we are distinct not only in our key strengths but in how our many strengths combine: we are financially secure, campus-based and compre-hensive; we are research-led and recruit top students and staff from around the world; we are committed to internationalising all our core activities so our students can have a valuable and enjoyable experience that prepares them well for the rest of their intellectual, professional and personal lives,” says Prof. David Greenaway, vice chancellor of the university.

Nottingham. A neat cosmopolitan city (pop.300,000) hosting a large student population, Nottingham boasts an impressive list of citizens starting with the world’s first famous outlaw Robin Hood, three literary giants — Lord Byron, D.H. Lawrence and Alan Silitoe. Nottingham also boasts a remarkable network of Anglo-Saxon tunnels and caves and the Nottingham Castle. Art galleries, theatres, cinemas and musical venues regularly host concerts and other live music events. Parks and open green spaces abound with the Green Flag Award-winning Arboretum Park, just a few minutes walk from city centre.

Nottingham offers excellent conn-ectivity — London is just 90 minutes by train and the nearby East Midlands airport provides connections to destinations across Europe.

Campus facilities. Nottingham U is spread across three campuses in the eponymous city. Its main University Park campus, dotted with period buildings, is set amidst 330 acres of rolling parkland fringing a boating lake. This campus hosts a majority of the university’s academic departments with state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities, the students’ union, a well-equipped sports centre, four libraries, a museum, art gallery and two theatres. Shops, bars, cafes and banks are also numerous. Located adjacent to University Park within the Queen’s Medical Centre is NU’s medical school.

A mile from University Park is the Jubilee campus which hosts the schools of computer science, contemporary Chinese studies and education, business school, teaching and research buildings, libraries and the International Office. A free shuttle bus service links the two campuses. The university’s third Sutton Bonington campus is set in the scenic south Nottinghamshire countryside and hosts veterinary medicine and biosciences students. Facilities include plant and food science buildings, stables, laboratories, a library and farm and dairy centre.

The University Park, Jubilee and Sutton Bonington campuses offer extensive sports facilities such as swimming pools; fitness centres; floodlit 3G and sand-based pitches; outdoor football and rugby pitches; a cricket square; squash, badminton, tennis, netball and basketball courts; a snooker room and climbing wall. Moreover the NU Students Union runs more than 190 societies, 75 sports clubs and a thriving volunteer centre, which offer an extensive range of year round extra-curricular activities.

In addition to its three campuses in the UK, NU boasts campuses in Malaysia (estb.2000, Kuala Lumpur) and China (2004, Ningbo).

Admission. Entry into all undergraduate study programmes in the UK is managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). International students are required to apply online through the UCAS web-site www.ucas.com. The university’s UCAS code is N84. Students applying for postgraduate and doctoral progra-mmes must apply directly to the university.

The minimum eligibility criterion for admission into NU’s undergrad progr-ammes is successful completion of class XII/Plus Two. In addition, foreign students must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting IELTS or TOEFL test scores. Students who don’t qualify for admission have the option of enroling in a foundation course at the university. For a September 2012 entry, the application deadline for admission into medicine and veterinary medicine programmes is October 15 while it is January 15, 2012 for all other study programmes.

For further information contact The International Office, The University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, Nottingham, NG8 1BB, UK. Tel: +44 (0)115 951 5247; e-mail: international-office@nottingham.ac.uk; website: www.nottingham.ac.uk.

Accommodation. International students are guaranteed on-campus housing for the full duration of their three-year undergrad degree programme. University accommodation comprises catered halls and self-catered residences. There are 14 catered halls of residence, with 12 sited on University Park. In addition seven self-catered housing facilities are located on all three campuses. There’s also a wide variety of private rented accommodation available in Nottingham city.

Degree programmes. NU offers an extensive range of bachelors, Masters and doctoral programmes across five faculties (see box).

Summiya Yasmeen