Nottingham University's reputation as the most popular destination for students has been given a double boost.

A new alternative guide has voted Nottingham the Number One choice for students.

And figures released on Friday confirm that the university is attracting more applications from potential students than any other.

A spokesman for the university said: "We have a lot to offer across the board."

The guide is drawn up with student input

Nottingham is named as the best destination for students in the Virgin 2003 Alternative Guide to British Universities - beating 2001 winner Sheffield into third place, and Leeds into second.

The handbook, out next month, is drawn up after consultation with students across the country.

It rates universities according to their social scene, club activities, degree results, graduation employment and course completion rate.

Nottingham scores a total of 93.7% across the five categories, gaining top marks for its social scene.

Oxford comes overall sixth, ahead of Cambridge at number 11.

Bottom of the league is the University of Lincoln.

And latest figures released by the University and College Admissions Service (Ucas) confirm Nottingham has got more applications than any other in the country for the coming academic year.

The Ucas figures show a 17% increase in applications from last year.

Nottingham's director of public communications Philip Dalling said: "The city itself is an attraction, and so is the campus.

"But the bottom line for potential students is the quality of the courses on offer."