University of Ulster

The University of Ulster (UU) is a multi-site university located in Northern Ireland and is the largest single university on the island of Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland. The University has four campuses, in Belfast, Coleraine, Derry, and Jordanstown, and a fifth virtual campus, Campus One. The administrative headquarters are at the Coleraine Campus. The virtual campus delivers online programmes, mostly at the graduate level. The University of Ulster has notched up a series of recent successes, with rising demand for places and a thriving development programme. A record number of applications in 2004-05 kept the University of Ulster in the top 10 of the UK's most popular universities.

History

The University was created in 1984 by the merger of the New University of Ulster (1968, Coleraine) and Ulster Polytechnic (1971, Jordanstown). This was the first, and to date only, merger in UK higher education whereby what is now called a plate glass university merged with what would now be a post-1992 university; the merger occurred primarily because the university struggled to attract students whilst the polytechnic was successful.

The New University of Ulster incorporated Magee College founded in 1865 in Derry. Magee College was a college of the Royal University of Ireland from 1880 and later became associated with the University of Dublin when the Royal University was dissolved in 1908 and replaced by the National University of Ireland. In 1953 Magee College broke its links with Dublin and became Magee University College, it was hoped that this university college would become Northern Ireland's second university after Queen's University of Belfast, however this did not happen and instead it was subsumed into the New University.

Academic

The University's course provision is the largest in the island of Ireland covering arts, business, engineering, information technology, life and health sciences, management, and social sciences. Courses have a strong vocational element and the majority include a period of industrial or professional placement.

The University of Ulster has a strong reputation for innovation. In order to create new pathways into higher education the University of Ulster initiated it's Online Distance Learning (ODL) project called Campus One. The Campus One programme provides an alternative mode of study, with a range of courses available online to students all over the world. Campus One courses range from full postgraduate programmes, professional development and continuing development courses; through to short business-focused courses all offered over the Internet.

The University contributes a higher than national average to local research and development activity and has a strategic research focus.

The University of Ulster is particularly strong in the field of biomedical sciences, and a Centre for Molecular Biosciences located at Coleraine, is one of the major projects developed by the University. The Biomedical Sciences department obtained 5* ratings as well as being joint first in the UK, following the UK â€" wide Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in 2001. It was the only UK university to retain a 5* rating for biomedical sciences in the 2001 RAE - part of a performance that saw significant improvement and consolidation of the 1996 results.

A 5* research rating was also awarded in the field of Celtic studies.

The University is a leading partner in the Northern Ireland Science Park development, with Science Park sites at the Coleraine and Magee campuses, and in Belfast. There are also Innovation Centres at Coleraine and Magee which provide incubation support to developing spin-out and spin-in companies.

Faculties

The faculties of the University (and the dean of each faculty listed after), are:
*Faculty of Arts, Professor Bob Welch
*Faculty of Business and Management, Professor Robert Hutchinson
*Faculty of Engineering, Dr Richard Millar (Acting)
*Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Professor Hugh McKenna
*Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Ann Moran

Locations

The University of Ulster currently maintains 5 sites across Northern Ireland.

University of Ulster at Coleraine

Coleraine

Main article : University of Ulster at Coleraine

The Coleraine campus (UUC) is the administration headquarters of the University and is the most traditional in outlook, with a focus on science and the humanities. The Coleraine campus includes the only optometry school in Northern Ireland and is indeed only one of two on the island of Ireland. The Coleraine campus is situated on the banks of the River Bann with views to the beautiful North Coast and County Donegal hills.

=Portrush Site

=The Portrush site is part of the Coleraine Campus; it is home to the School of Hotel, Leisure and Tourism. Portrush is a town just north of Coleraine on the beautiful North Coast of Northern Ireland.

Jordanstown

The Jordanstown campus (UUJ) is located near Jordanstown, just outside Belfast and concentrates on engineering, health and social science. The 114-acre UUJ campus is set in a leafy suburb just seven miles from Belfast city centre and situated at the foot of the Antrim Hills overlooking Belfast Lough. UUJ is home to the Sports Institute for Northern Ireland and has a range of Sports facilities. The Buildings are mostly situated around a central Mall. It has on site shops and services. A number of high-demand undergraduate courses at UUJ have extremely high entry requirements such as Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Law, Sport and Exercise Science/Sports Studies and Radiography.
*Campus Website

University of Ulster at Magee

Magee

The Magee campus (UUM) in Derry is a mixture of historic and new buildings near the city centre. The Magee campus was initially a college of the Royal University of Ireland (see History). Current development of the University is focusing mainly on the Magee campus. Once the poor relation of the university, confined to adult education, Magee is now a thriving centre. Over the next two years, student numbers are expected to grow to about 7,500, including part-timers, with new schools of performing arts, computing and electronics, as well as improved provision for education, nursing and Irish studies. The Institute for Legal and Professional Studies will allow graduates to train as barristers and solicitors. The historic Foyle Arts Centre has become part of the university and the idea of a cross-border postgraduate medical school to serve the north-west of Ireland has been discussed. Florence Nightingale visited the campus on May 31, 1867 and signed the guestbook. The US owned Northbrook Technology owns a facility on the campus.
*Campus Website

Belfast

The Belfast campus (UUB) is the University's home of the School of Art and Design, and is currently undergoing major redevelopment. The Building is situated in the Cathedral Quarter of the City. This is becoming a fashionable area of the city which has been developing rapidly in recent years. There are many social and cultural activities in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. Southern Belfast, where most student accommodations are found, has excellent, yet moderately-priced, restaurants, pubs, theaters and shops. Students at the Belfast campus can use the fine recreation facilities at the larger Jordanstown campus. Transportation between the two sites is quick and frequent. Total enrollment: 1,100 students.
*Campus Homepage

Campus One

Campus One, the online campus of the University of Ulster, is now in its fifth year. Campus One has a well established international reputation for quality and has recently been awarded funding of over Â£1.5 million to form part of a national network of Centres of Excellence for Teaching and Learning (CETL). This funding has been granted in recognition of the University's commitment to developing innovative e-learning services and systems.

Campus One is dedicated to delivering flexible learning opportunities that allow students to pursue educational qualifications and personal and professional development in a way that fits in with their own lifestyle. The commitment to lifelong learning ensures high quality courses with interactive learning opportunities, access to dedicated academics and excellent student support.

Campus One courses range from postgraduate programmes to short courses in a variety of subject areas.
*Campus One Website