The university of Ulster at Coleraine was founded in 1968 and is located on the Cromore Road in…read moreColeraine. This town is part of the 'triangle area' which comprises Coleraine, Portstewart and Portrush which are located on the North Coast of the country. The university is accessible by foot, car, bus and train. Public transport services the university daily, seven days a week. The uni is about 25 miles from Derry and 50 odd miles from Belfast.
It is set in 312 acres of woodland and parkland greenery. It's an extremely beautiful, countryside located university. In the Halls you'll often be greeted in the morning by rabbits bouncing past the windows or squirrels running up and down the trees. Within the grounds there is a beautiful Daffodil garden and Millennium Arboretum. The uni is also proud to feature a 56 metre tall wind turbine , ensuring its name as a green campus.
There are over 5000 student currently at the uni which is extremely popular for students wanting a relaxed but professional atmosphere in which to study. In 2008 a new £3.5 million Learning Resource Centre (LRC) was opened. This brand spanking new computer facility unit kept the uni up to date with the times and meant a refurb of the old library in to a modern day learning centre. For the arts, the Riverside Theatre in located within the grounds. This regularly shows plays, dramas, concerts and shows throughout the year. Sports wise, there is an excellent gym facility and sports grounds which include; a strength and conditioning Suite, a multi purpose sports hall, three squash courts, a steam room, the Pavilion, four artificial grass tennis courts, six football pitches (one of which is floodlit), Gaelic sports pitches, a synthetic hockey pitch, three rugby pitches and a cricket pitch. Also available are the Student Health Service, Chaplaincy services, a very good Crèche and playgroup (in which the kids are very well looked after by a team of qualified staff).
For students and staff alike, there are a number of shops on campus including the (small but excellent!) student union, the S.U. shop and cafeteria, a hairdresser, a bank, a coffee and newspaper shop, a supermarket and Post Office. Food wise there's the Bridge Biz deli, The Streat, a Spar supermarket and University run canteen as well as the S.U. bar and upstairs café.
Coleraine halls of residence provide rooms for a total of 888 people. 479 of which are on campus, the other 409 bed spaces are located off campus. For non uni run accommodation the local towns provide a plethora of housing styles for you to choose from, all very competitively priced.
I 'studied' *ahem* for three years for my degree and I had SUCH craic whilst I was here. I came out with a 2.1 so they must be doing something right. Highly recommended, less old fashioned than its Q.U.B. counterpart and much better fun!
