Manchester Met University - Student Life

Housing: Hall space guaranteed for 1st years. Private rented accommodation through Manchester Student Homes (www.msh.man.ac.uk), run jointly with other city universities.

Eats: SU bar has good quality food.

Drink: Union bars cheap: subsidised beer. City centre, Castlefield, Rusholme, Fallowfield, Didsbury and Chorlton are some of the best places to go.

Nightlife: Nightly events at The Union @ 99 Oxford Road, including weekly films, club nights (Double vision, Club 99, Rock kitchen, Breakout and Funkalicious), comedy and cabaret nights. Off campus, Manchester has everything.

Locals: OK. Best to avoid dark alleys and Moss Side.

Sports: Playing fields; Commonwealth games swimming pool. Sugden sports centre and Didsbury gym close by.

Travel: Buses frequent along Oxford Road corridor, also good for taxis. Recently extended Metrolink tram service excellent.

Jobs: SU specialises in getting good quality, relevant part-time jobs for its members through STEAM student jobshop located on the ground floor of The Union@ 99 Oxford Road.

Annual living costs: The minimum amount students say you need to live on each year (covering all living expenses but excluding tuition fees) is £8700 (in uni accommodation), £6000 (in private accommodation).

Best features: The union, its nightlife. And worst: Split site.

Good news: New Commonwealth Games Aquatics Centre.

More info: Look at website: www.mmsu.com or contact MMSU President on Tel: 0161 273 1162, Fax: 0161 273 7237, email: s.u.president(at)mmu.ac.uk

Past students: L S Lowry (painter), Ossie Clark (fashion designer), Julie Walters (actress), Bryan Robson (footballer), Mick Hucknall (lead singer of Simply Red), Steve Coogan (comedian).