Imperial College Main Campus - Student Life

Housing: Never cheap but shared rooms cheaper. Small chance of married quarters. For private accommodation, look in Loot and ask Accommodation Office.

Eats: Union runs Da Vinci's cafe/bar, burger bar, pizza bar, refectory and DeciBels Baguette bar. Meal on campus from £1.50 (curry); at the Stock Pot (King's Road) from £4.

Drink: Many bars - 3 union, cocktail, college bars; others at both medical campuses. Pint from £1.50+. Southside bar cheap. London Pride good local brew.

Nightlife: Weekly free theme discos (usually sell-outs), bands, quizzes, comedy, cocktail and bar nights. Many free gigs/exhibitions in London (pub gigs good value). La Scandals popular club. Union cinema (large screen).

Locals: Reasonably friendly.

Sports: Sport generally cheap; campus sports centre for eg swimming, squash, weights. Grounds at Heathrow, Teddington and Cobham.

Travel: A-Z London essential! Car parking near to impossible. Good for bikes, tubes and buses. STA branch on campus; expedition fund available.

Financial help: Access fund arranged by College (rarely used up).

Jobs: Term-time work easy to get. SU employment service, Job Shop. Good prospects for holiday jobs, temping or in the City.

Best features: Social life; brilliant degree.

And worst: Undeserved 'geeky' image.

Informal name: IC.

More info: Call ICU President, Tel 020 7594 8060, website www.su.ic.ac.uk

Past students: H G Wells, Sir Lewis Casson, Sir Granville Bantock, Joan Ruddock MP, Sir John Egan, Sir Alexander Fleming, Thomas Huxley, Dr David Livingstone, Raj Persaud, Francis Wilson, Brian May, Trevor Philips.