Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Nottingham Trent is a big, busy university with its main City Campus right in the middle of Nottingham. Clifton Campus sits on the southern edge of the city, and Brackenhurst is a rural campus near Southwell, with its own halls. Most first years live in halls in or near the city centre.
Nottingham is one of the cheaper places to be a student, and NTU's own halls start at under £100 a week. The catch is scale: with around 35,000 students, you need to make an effort to find your people. Check which campus your course is on before you choose where to live.
Known for
Nottingham Trent University is 9th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 57.9, above the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Lancaster University | 58.6 |
| 8 | Swansea University | 58.5 |
| 9 | Nottingham Trent University | 57.9 |
| 10 | Leeds Arts University | 57.3 |
| 11 | University of Bristol | 57.3 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
5th of 124 · Social Score 72.2
5th of 124 · Inclusion Score 77.5
11th of 124 · Nightlife Score 71.9
19th of 124 · Innovation Score 65.8
21st of 124 · Sustainability Score 64.1
22nd of 124 · Societies Score 63.9
34th of 124 · Balance Score 48.7
38th of 123 · Happiness Score 52
41st of 124 · Freshers Score 60.1
48th of 122 · Careers Score 34
52nd of 124 · Employability Score 32.8
55th of 124 · Value Score 48.3
56th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 52.4
56th of 124 · Affordability Score 55.7
79th of 124 · Safety Score 37.2
Nottingham as a student city
Ranked 9th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 61.6.
Nottingham Trent University appears in 60 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering | 3rd | of 58 | 147 |
| Linguistics | 2nd | of 27 | 89 |
| Human Resource Management | 5th | of 58 | 142 |
| Costume Design | 1st | of 10 | 50 |
| Economics | 10th | of 85 | 164 |
| Forensic Science | 4th | of 31 | 99 |
| Zoology | 5th | of 37 | 110 |
| Journalism | 8th | of 59 | 133 |
| Real Estate | 3rd | of 22 | 85 |
| Politics | 11th | of 78 | 150 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Nottingham Trent Students' Union is based on Shakespeare Street at City Campus and runs societies, sport, freshers' events and advice services. NTU and the University of Nottingham compete in an annual Varsity series. Nottingham itself has a big student population, so there's plenty going on, from bars and clubs to gigs and the Lace Market area. The university says Nottingham is in the cheapest region of England to be a student, according to the National Student Money Survey 2026.
University halls cost £98.84–£230.16 per week (NTU accommodation, 2026/27, including bills and internet; usually 44-week contracts) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
NTU says: "If you're an undergraduate or postgraduate applicant at NTU, your first year of accommodation in Nottingham is guaranteed." The offer may be in NTU-owned, partner (UPP-managed) or private accommodation and covers new full-time students starting in September. It doesn't apply to single-semester students, people seeking family accommodation, students under 18 at the start of their contract, or students at NTU London or NTU Mansfield. If you decline your offer or don't accept it in time, you lose the guarantee.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Maltings | City (off-campus) | shared bathroom | £98.84/wk | The cheapest NTU/UPP option. About 30 minutes by bus to City Campus, with a free travel pass included. |
| College Drive | Clifton Campus | shared bathroom | £100.94/wk | NTU-run, right on Clifton Campus. |
| Norton Court | City (off-campus) | en-suite available | £120.33/wk | UPP-managed. About 20 minutes by bus to City Campus. |
| Brackenhurst En-suite | Brackenhurst Campus | en-suite | £134.05/wk | NTU-run halls on the rural Brackenhurst campus near Southwell. |
| Gill Street North | City Campus | en-suite available | £150.43/wk | UPP-managed, on City Campus. |
| Hampden | City Campus | shared bathroom | £154.84/wk | UPP-managed, on City Campus. |
| Peverell | Clifton Campus | en-suite available | £181.93/wk | UPP-managed, on Clifton Campus. |
| Byron Residence | City Campus | en-suite available | £189.84/wk | UPP-managed, on City Campus. Limited rooms for 2026/27. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Nottingham's best-known student area, west of the city centre, packed with shared houses.
Right next to City Campus, so a short walk to lectures.
North of the centre, usually a bit cheaper, with tram links into town.
Further north, quieter and more residential, with its own high street.
Top tip
Book through NTU's accommodation portal once you have an offer. The university says no deposit is needed for NTU bookings. The listings show which halls have rooms left, and the cheapest NTU/UPP halls are marked 'limited' early. Check which campus your course is on: some City halls are 20–30 minutes by bus, while Clifton and Brackenhurst have their own halls. Private halls on the same search are contracted directly with the provider, so read their terms carefully.
Nottingham is one of the cheaper student cities, and NTU's own figures back that up. For 2026/27, NTU accommodation costs £98.84–£230.16 a week including bills and internet, on contracts that are usually 44 weeks. The university suggests budgeting £35–£50 a week for food and housekeeping. An annual bus pass is £349, but some halls include one free.
Getting around
City Campus is in the city centre, so most city halls are walkable. Nottingham City Transport buses and the NET tram link the centre with Clifton and the suburbs. NTU lists a student bus single at £2.50 and an annual bus pass at £349 (free with selected NTU halls). A student tram single is £3 and an annual tram pass £365.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
Nottingham Trent University is 9th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 57.9. Its strongest results are for social life (5th), inclusion (5th), nightlife (11th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, Nottingham Trent University places highest for Civil Engineering (3rd of 58), Linguistics (2nd of 27), Costume Design (1st of 10), Real Estate (3rd of 22). Across our awards, it also stands out for social life.
Yes. New full-time undergraduates and postgraduates starting in September are guaranteed first-year accommodation in Nottingham. It could be NTU-owned, UPP-managed or private, and you lose the guarantee if you turn down the offer or miss the deadline. NTU London and NTU Mansfield students aren't covered.
For 2026/27, NTU accommodation costs £98.84–£230.16 a week, including bills and internet. Contracts are usually 44 weeks. The cheapest halls, such as The Maltings, are a bus ride from campus.
It depends on your course. NTU has City Campus in the city centre, Clifton Campus on the southern edge of Nottingham, Brackenhurst Campus near Southwell, NTU in Mansfield and a London campus. Check your course page before choosing halls.
No. They're two separate universities in the same city. NTU's main campus is in the city centre, and the two universities compete in the annual Nottingham Varsity series.
It's one of the cheaper options. NTU points to the National Student Money Survey 2026, which named the Midlands the cheapest region in England to be a student. NTU suggests about £35–£50 a week for food and housekeeping.
Not if you live near City Campus, which is walkable from most city halls. If you're at Clifton or in a hall further out, a student annual bus pass costs £349, and some NTU halls include one for free.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
