Roehampton University - In Depth

Founded: As Roehampton Institute in 1975, from the merger of four Victorian colleges: Digby Stuart. Froebel Institute, Southlands and Whitelands College; became part of Surrey University in 2000; university status 2004.

Site: 2 sites: Roehampton Lane Campus (Digby Stuart, Froebel and Southlands); Whitelands Campus (10 mins' walk from main campus).

How to get there: To Barnes station (15 mins' walk), Hammersmith or Putney Bridge tube stations: all connect by bus to campus.

Academic features: Most degrees are combinations of 2 subjects (over 700 possible combinations).

Awarding body: Roehampton University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA. BA(OTS), BSc, BMus.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years (with study abroad or languages).

Library & information services: Library at each site; total of 400.000 volumes, 1500 periodicals, 840 study places.

Specialist collections: Early childhood and children's literature archives. Annual expenditure on information provision, £63 per (FTE) student. Library, IT and media facilities incorporated into 2 learning resource centres. 225 workstations with access to library and internet (ratio 1:27 students), 110 workstations available 24 hours a day. Help desks, technician support: talks, tours, induction packs and software training.

Study abroad: 1% of students spend a period abroad. 60 european exchange links (many open to non-linguists) and others in USA and Australia.

Careers: Counsellor on site.

Student advice & services: Welfare officer, doctor, medical centre, counsellors, chaplains, dyslexia support unit.

Amenities: SU building at each site, recreation officer.

Sporting facilities: Facilities in and near colleges for wide variety of sports.

Accommodation: 65% of first years in Roehampton accommodation, 20+% of all students. 1600 places available at either £75-£90 per week (including fuel and 12 meals a week) or £68-£75 pw for self-catering (up to £90 pw ensuite); 38 week contracts. Students live in privately owned accommodation for 2+ years, average £75 pw self-catering plus bills.

Living expenses budget: No university-recommended minimum.

Term-time work: University allows term-time work for full-time students. Some work available on campus in bars, catering, office, library, conferences etc (students employed wherever possible); also SU employment service helps find work off campus.

Financial help: Total available £500,000 government funds, including childcare bursaries.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees if publicly funded (eg eligible for a student loan), otherwise £1400 (classsroom based), £2040 (lab/studio) - in 2005. International students pay £6950 pa.