A "buzzy" dimension - not ancient, not new but with the best of both worlds and the worst of neither. Quality of life and an enviable cost of living - plenty of personal space, a friendly atmosphere, easy escape routes to the hills and the sea, and prices to suit shallow pockets. Five minutes walk will take you to the High Street shops, theatres, galleries, the highly successful Dundee Contemporary Arts centre which houses the University's Visual Research Centre, and a variety of pubs. On the other hand you may prefer to spend lunch time on campus visiting the swimming pool, sports centre, concerts, exhibitions, lectures, free language classes... Dundee itself claims to be "Scotland's University" - with more students per head of population than elsewhere.

The University of Dundee is growing fast in both size and reputation. Broadly-based, it has performed extremely well in both teaching and research assessment exercises, has spawned a range of spin-out companies to exploit its research and has a model wider-access programme. Distance learning - especially in medical related areas - is burgeoning right across the world and now accounts for one in six students. An ambitious project to explore the creation of an international virtual medical school involving all five Scottish medical schools is led by Dundee.

The University received the prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize for higher education institutions in 1998, has three of the 20 most cited scientists in the UK - the only Scottish university included - and three "biomedical" knights.

University of Dundee has nearly 12,500 Students (including 2,000 part time and 1,700 distance learning) across six faculties. Some 67% are from Scotland 20% from elsewhere in the UK, 5% from other EU countries and 8% from outwith the EU. It has traditionally been popular with Northern Ireland students who currently make up around 8% of the student body. Mature students account for about 20%.

Highest profile areas are the life sciences and medicine where world class research into areas such as cancer and diabetes is yielding results. Also art and design where the faculty of Duncan of Jordanstone College has won itself an international reputation