Bath University - In Depth

Founded: 1894, as Merchant Venturers' Technical College; full university status 1966.

Site: Campus 1 mile from Bath city centre.

How to get there: By train to Bath Spa station (London Paddington 90 mins, Bristol 15 mins), or coach: bus from railway and bus stations (18/418). Close to the M4, then A4 and A36 to Claverton Down; easily accessible from Bristol and Heathrow airports.

Academic features: Most students are on sandwich degrees; possible to include a language in most courses.

Awarding body: Bath University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BSc, BEng, MEng, MArch, MPharm.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years (sandwich, MPharm, MEng); 5 years (MEng sandwich).

Library & information services: 450,000 volumes, 2200 periodicals, 1000 study places, 18,000 course books on short loan. Annual expenditure on information provision, £133 per (FTE) student. IT and library services separate, both open 24 hours/day. Ratio 1:6 workstations to students; 400 PCs in Learning Centre open 24 hours/day and others in departments - all PCs with access to library and internet. IT support by email, telephone, or walk-in help desk. IT skills courses outside teaching hours.

Study abroad: 10% spend time abroad. Erasmus links with large number of european universities and colleges in many subjects.

Student advice & services: Counsellor, doctors, psychiatrist, chaplain, dentist, learning support manager. Some accommodation for disabled students; nursery (£15 per day).

Amenities: Bookshop, banks, general shop (SU), supermarket, travel agency, post office, newsagent, hairdresser, cafes, bar, food court,/plus SU-run Melting Pot Cafe.

Sporting facilities: Indoor and outdoor tennis courts, sports hall, 2 swimming pools (1 olympic), running track, astro-turf floodlit pitches.

Accommodation: All first years in university accommodation, 33% of all students. 2200 self-catering places available, mostly on campus, £56-£95 per week, for term-time or longer (2 meal/day plan an option in 1 hall, £83 pw). Students live in privately owned accommodation other years, rents £60-£75 pw for self-catering. 5% of first degree students live at home.

Living expenses budget: No university-recommended minimum.

Term-time work: University understands necessity for term-time work for some full-time students (20% believed to work). Student Job Shop helps find part-time and holiday work, including in bars, offices, library, registry, conferences office on campus; help for work off campus and sandwich placements.

Financial help: Total available £279,000 government funds, 200 students helped (priority given to single parents or carers, mature students, disabled and final year students); £30,000 university funds, 15 students helped.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £8250 pa (classroom), £10,550 (lab).