NEWCASTLE'S famous night-life is a big draw for students across the country.

The city's reputation as the North-East's party capital is spreading among the nation's undergraduates.

Newcastle University is rated second for nightlife, after Leeds University, in an alternative guide for students.

It also rates eighth in the top ten for the attractiveness of females in the Red Mole website guide.

York University is rated best for the quality of its teaching.

Angus Eagles, of Red Mole, said: "Red Mole provides the definitive guide for students. We don't include any quality-of-the-library or research facilities nonsense.

"But we do tell you how good the nightlife is, how fit the talent is, and how the student union compares to other universities. That's what really matters.