The University is spread across 15 sites and is colloquially known as the 'University of the North Circular' due to their locations near to the major ring road. Some of the campuses are important architecturally, especially Trent Park, a palatial mansion set in a 400 ha country park.
Middlesex University has an extremely diverse student body, over 25,000 strong, with a large proportion of overseas students. In common with most ex-polytechnics it concentrates on teaching, although research is carried out as well.
It has been awarded the The Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Further and Higher Education three times.