The University was founded in 1968 as the New University of Ulster. The Coleraine campus is situated on the banks of the River Bann with views to the Causeway Coast and the hills of County Donegal. The campus is located just north of the market town of Coleraine in County Londonderry and near to the coastal resorts of Portstewart and Portrush. Together these three towns make up an area known as th
e 'Triangle'. The campus is also a short drive from the spectacular Causeway Coast; one of the most scenic stretches of coastline in Europe. The Causeway Coast is an area of outstanding beauty, which boasts the Giant's Causeway (UNESCO World Heritage site), the oldest whiskey distillery in the world (Old Bushmills Distillery), blue flag beaches and championship golf courses. There are also ample opportunities for hiking, fishing and boating. The towns of Portstewart and Portrush are where most students reside and where the nightlife and entertainment is centred. These lively towns have plenty of pubs and clubs attracting tourists and students alike. The campus is situated on 300 acres (1.2 km2) of parklands with landscaped grounds that include tranquil garden areas and a well-developed arboretum. Within this most attractive landscape lie up-to-date, custom-built facilities for teaching, learning and research. These core activities are supported by extensive residential, catering, sporting and cultural facilities, including the Riverside Theatre, Coleraine, the third-largest professionally built theatre in Northern Ireland. UUC currently has over 5,050 students (undergraduate and part-time postgraduate, and part-time full-time and part-time) and around 1,300 employees, making it by far the largest economic and institutional entity in the north of the province.
