Ulster University: More students announced for Derry campus

Ms McLaughlin said university expansion is key for the city and wider area.

“We really need to heighten our ambition and bring more students into Magee at speed in order to make it a viable university for a city the size of Derry,” she said.

In response to Ms McLaughlin, Mr Murphy said they have been “making significant progress on Magee”.

“The 150 students who came in last year were funded at risk by Ulster University and, to me, that demonstrates the university’s commitment to growth and expansion at Magee,” he said.

“That cost has now been covered by us, and it will allow for the recruitment of 500 students in total, including those who were taken in at risk. We have to be clear about that. The intention is to ramp that up.”

A taskforce was set up last year to look at expanding student numbers.

The expansion of Magee is seen by many in the north west as a key economic driver for the region.