Nottingham Trent University
A large, career-focused Nottingham university that puts at least eight weeks of work-like experience in every degree.
- Students
- 36,005
- International
- 25%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 15.0:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £18,400
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1843
About NTU
Nottingham Trent University traces its origins to the Nottingham Government School of Design, which opened in a rented house on Heathcote Street in 1843. Trent Polytechnic was created in 1970, renamed Nottingham Polytechnic in 1989, and received university status as Nottingham Trent University in 1992. With over 40,000 students and staff across five sites, it is one of the UK's largest universities.
Teaching is organised into seven academic schools: Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences; Architecture, Design and the Built Environment; Nottingham Business School; Nottingham Law School; Nottingham School of Art & Design; Science and Technology; and Social Sciences, plus the Nottingham Institute of Education. Students study at the City Campus in central Nottingham, the Clifton Campus, the 500-acre Brackenhurst estate, NTU London in Whitechapel and a hub in Mansfield.
NTU's selling point is employability: every course includes at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience, and many offer a paid sandwich placement year. Typical offers for 2027 entry are 104-120 UCAS points from up to four qualifications, with contextual offers 8 points lower, so it suits students who want a big, sociable university with practical, professionally accredited degrees.
Shaping Futures
University motto
Why students choose NTU
Every NTU course includes at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience, backed by an Employability Promise that lasts three years after graduation.
Nottingham Law School runs NLS Legal, which NTU describes as the only on-campus teaching law firm at a UK university.
Fashion Design students work on live briefs with brands such as Paul Smith, Barbour and AllSaints and can exchange to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
First-year accommodation in Nottingham is guaranteed for new full-time students who meet the terms.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
NTU does not publish an overall offer rate. Offers are expressed in UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications, and NTU makes contextual offers (usually 8 points lower) based on UCAS information about your background; it does not make contextual offers in Clearing.
Typical entry requirements
| UCAS Tariff (A-levels, BTECs, T Levels, EPQ) | 2027 standard offers: 120 points for Law LLB, Psychology BSc (128 with sandwich placement) and Architecture BArch (two qualifications must be A-level equivalent); 120 for Computer Science BSc including an IT, Maths or Science subject at grade C; 112 for Fashion Design BA, Business BA and Zoology BSc (with A-level Biology grade C) |
|---|---|
| Contextual offer | Usually 8 points lower, e.g. 112 for Law, Psychology (full-time), Computer Science and Architecture; 104 for Fashion Design and Business |
| International qualifications | NTU accepts equivalent qualifications, including the International Baccalaureate; requirements are listed by country |
| English language | IELTS 6 For Student visa applicants: IELTS 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each component for most Nottingham School of Art & Design courses (6.5 for fashion management and marketing courses); IELTS 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component for Nottingham Business School and Architecture, Design and the Built Environment; higher for Journalism (7.0) and Nursing (6.5 with 6.0 in speaking and writing). |
Deadlines
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Deadline for equal consideration for September 2027 entry.
- UCAS last date before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time
Applications received after this are entered into Clearing, which opens on 2 July 2027; places depend on availability.
UCAS dates for 2027 entry. NTU also publishes guidance on late applications after the January deadline.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS with a personal statement and a reference. Some creative courses ask for a portfolio and some professional courses interview. International students can apply via UCAS or directly, and must make an advance tuition payment as part of their offer conditions.
What admissions looks for
- UCAS Tariff points at the standard offer from up to four qualifications, with any named subjects (for example IT, Maths or Science for Computer Science, Biology for Zoology).
- For Psychology, an interest in why people behave as they do, some understanding of the discipline and interest in research and data; ideally no more than one performance or creative A-level.
- A personal statement that shows interest in your subject, your ambitions and experiences that prepared you.
- For art, design and some professional courses, a portfolio or interview performance.
Tips for applying to NTU
- 1 Use NTU's UCAS Tariff calculator: offers count points from up to four qualifications, so an EPQ or a fourth A-level can help you reach the offer.
- 2 Check whether you qualify for a contextual offer, which is typically 8 UCAS points below the standard offer.
- 3 If you want a placement year in Psychology, apply to the sandwich route (C801), which has a higher offer (128 points).
- 4 International applicants can apply for NTU International Scholarships once they hold an offer; awards range from £2,000 to 50% off first-year fees.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
Eligible UK students with household income of £27,500 or less received an automatic NTU Bursary of £750 a year (September 2026 entry), plus a £170 Opportunity Bursary; care leavers and estranged students can get £1,000 a year. International students can apply for NTU International Scholarships once they hold an offer, from £2,000 up to 50% off the first-year fee, and undergraduate Excellence Scholarship holders also get £3,000 off each later year.
- Over 1,400, to students from more than 80 countries
- NTU International Scholarships awarded last year
- 50% or 25% off first-year fees, plus £3,000 off each later year for undergraduates
- NTU Excellence Scholarship (international)
- £750 a year
- NTU Bursary (UK, household income £27,500 or less, 2026 entry)
Academics
Academic calendar: Academic year starting in September; many courses offer a sandwich placement year
Law (LLB)
Taught in Nottingham Law School, one of the UK's largest law schools, with its on-campus teaching law firm NLS Legal; 120 UCAS points.
Fashion Design (BA)
Live briefs with brands such as Paul Smith and Barbour, and exchanges with FIT New York and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Architecture (BArch)
RIBA-validated; NTU reports it is top 3 in England for graduates in graduate-level jobs 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2022/23).
Psychology (BSc)
BPS-accredited, with an optional sandwich placement and NTU ranked 1st in the UK for psychology offer acceptances (UCAS 2025).
Computer Science (BSc)
BCS-accredited with a shared first year across the computing cluster and an optional paid placement year.
Zoology (BSc)
Taught at the Brackenhurst Campus, a working farm and wildlife site whose Animal Unit houses more than 250 animals from over 70 species.
Research
- In REF 2021, 80% of NTU's Computer Science submission was rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
- NTU was ranked the second most sustainable university in the world in the 2024 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings.
- NTU hosts Support Through Court's National Services, giving law students work experience on its helpline.
Schools & faculties
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences
- School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
- Nottingham Business School
- Nottingham Law School
- Nottingham School of Art & Design
- School of Science and Technology
- School of Social Sciences
- Nottingham Institute of Education
NTU was voted top 5 in the UK for employability by students (Uni Compare 2027); its Architecture graduates are 4th in the UK for graduate-level jobs 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2022/23).
Student life
NTU is a big, sociable university: the City Campus sits in central Nottingham around the Newton and Arkwright buildings and an award-winning Students' Union, Clifton Campus is a few miles south with its own community, and Brackenhurst is a rural estate for animal and land-based courses. The Daily Mail University Guide 2026 named NTU Sports University of the Year, and there are more than 60 sports clubs. It has the highest number of students with a declared disability in the UK, and over a third of students come from the East Midlands.
- Over 60 sports clubs; Sports University of the Year (Daily Mail University Guide 2026).
- Voted 5th in the UK for student life by students (Uni Compare 2027).
- NTU says it has invested more than £450 million in its campuses over the past 15 years.
- NTU Arts runs an extracurricular arts programme for students and the public.
Housing. First-year accommodation in Nottingham is guaranteed for new full-time undergraduates starting in September, subject to terms (for example, it excludes students under 18, single-semester students and those at the London or Mansfield sites).
Location
Nottingham is a mid-sized city in the East Midlands with two universities and a large student population. NTU says the Midlands is the cheapest region in England to live as a student (National Student Money Survey 2024); its guide suggests £30 to £50 a week for food and £135.80 to £241.15 a week for university-allocated rooms including bills (2024/25 figures). Trams and buses link the City and Clifton campuses.
Nearest airport: East Midlands Airport (EMA)
Notable alumni
- JG Jonathan GlazerFilm director (Under the Skin, The Zone of Interest); graduated in theatre design
- VD Varun DhawanHindi film actor; business studies graduate
- MB Matt BerryActor, writer and comedian; BA in contemporary arts, 1999
- HB Hazel BlearsFormer Labour Cabinet minister; law degree from Trent Polytechnic
- MG Mary GillickSculptor who designed the effigy of Elizabeth II used on British coins from 1953; studied at the Nottingham School of Art
- SK Samson KambaluMalawian artist who made the Fourth Plinth sculpture Antelope; MA in Fine Art
- SS Sonali ShahBroadcaster; studied broadcast journalism
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for Nottingham Trent University?
Most 2027 offers are between 112 and 120 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications, for example 120 for Law, Psychology and Computer Science and 112 for Fashion Design and Business. Contextual offers are usually 8 points lower.
What is NTU's acceptance rate?
NTU does not publish an overall offer rate. Offers are based on UCAS Tariff points, with some courses also using portfolios or interviews.
How much are NTU's fees for international students?
For September 2027 entry, international undergraduate fees are £18,400 a year for most subjects and £19,150 for Art & Design, Business and Science and Technology courses in London. Scholarships range from £2,000 to 50% off the first-year fee.
When is the NTU application deadline for 2027 entry?
Apply through UCAS by 13 January 2027 for equal consideration. Applications up to 30 June 2027 may be considered if places remain; after that they go into Clearing.
Does NTU guarantee accommodation?
Yes, first-year accommodation in Nottingham is guaranteed for new full-time students starting in September, subject to terms such as accepting the offer in time.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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