Gloucestershire University - In Depth

Founded: 1990 as Cheltenham & Gloucester College from two education colleges; university status 2001.

Site: Three campuses in Cheltenham; new campus in Gloucester (9 miles away), 5 mins drive from centre.

How to get there: Train, coach, M5 motorway, Birmingham and Bristol airports.

Special features: Voluntary C of E foundation.

Academic features: Modular structure for most undergraduate courses. Links with industry and commerce.

Awarding body: Gloucestershire University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BEd, BSc.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years (with work placement).

Library & information services: 350,000 volumes, 1900 periodical titles. Annual expenditure on information provision, £66 per (FE) student. IT service converged with library; learning centre on each campus. 300 points with Internet access (ratio 1:12 workstations to students). IT facilities open 11-12 hours/weekday (4-7 weekends); basic IT support during opening hours, specialist support 8 hours/day. Induction video and introduction to learning centres for all new students; on-going programme of IT courses on eg Word, Excel, email.

Other learning facilities: TV and film, journalism, dance and drama studios; language laboratories.

Specialist collections: College archives from 1847; Dymock poets archive; Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Library; history of sport collection; slide collection of fine art and fashion.

Study abroad: Formal exchange links with a number of European universities/colleges, all open to non-language specialists.

Careers: Information and advisory service; drop-in sessions; computer guidance system.

Student advice & services: Counsellors; medical officer and nursing staff; chaplains.

Sporting facilities: Sports centre includes 25m swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, physiology and biomechanics laboratories; 17 acre playing fields.

Accommodation: 55% of first years in university halls. 1000 self-catering places available, £65-£80 per week (Sept-July). Some students live in privately owned accommodation for their whole course: rents £48-£55 pw for self-catering.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £6200 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term-time work: College allows term-time work; 60+% believed to work. Some work available on campus in SU bar, catering, registry, libraries; SU employment agency helps find work off-campus.

Financial help: Total available £296,000 government funds (awards £100-£3500, average £300): also some university bursaries. Apply for help to Student Finance Officer Tel: 01242 536272, Fax: 01242 531028, email: finsupport(at)glos.ac.uk.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £8000 pa (classroom), £9000 (lab/studio).