London South Bank University - In Depth

Founded: 1970 as South Bank Polytechnic, from 6 colleges of further education; university status 1992.

Site: Southwark Campus, central south London (near Elephant & Castle); plus 2 devoted to nursing education, Essex Campus at Harold Wood and East London Campus at Whipps Cross.

How to get there: Elephant & Castle, London Bridge and Waterloo stations, plus many bus routes. For nursing sites, trains from Liverpool Street Station to Harold Wood and Wood Street respectively.

Awarding body: London South Bank University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BEng, BSc. LLB.

Length of courses: 3 or 4 years.

Library & information services: 1 main library: 280,000 volumes and other catalogued items; 29,500 bound volumes of periodicals and some 2200 subscriptions to periodicals; 1400 study places. Specialist collections in education, law, computing and the built environment. Annual expenditure on information provision, £63 per (FTE) student. Separate IT system, open 12 hours/day. Approx 1000 machines with internet access, many with access to library (ratio students to workstations 10:1). Specialist IT support staff available; all new students inducted to library and information services; IT skills courses.

Other learning facilities: Language lab. Microcomputers in departmental computing labs. Learning Resource Centre.

Study abroad: Some students spend a period abroad. Formal exchange links with EU universities and colleges open to non-language students.

Careers: Information and counselling.

Student advice & services: Housing service, professional counsellors, chaplain, visiting medical officers, nursery. Amenities: Shops, bars, food outlets.

Sporting facilities: Sports complex at London Road with sports hall, gymnasium and fitness suites; 21-acre sports ground at Dulwich.

Accommodation: University accommodation for 75% of first year students who want it, in 4 halls within 10 minutes' walk of main campus. Approx 1400 self-catering places, £71-£89 per week, contracts for 39 weeks. Most students live in privately owned accommodation for whole course; rent £70-£85 pw. 60% of first degree students live at home.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £7500 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term-time work: University allows term-time work for full-time students (some 25% believed to work). University jobshop. Summer work (admissions) available on campus.