Southampton University - In Depth

Founded: 1862; received Royal Charter 1952.

Structural features: Includes Winchester School of Art (you can look it up separately).

Site: Main campus plus 4 others in Southampton, 1/2-2 miles from city centre.

How to get there: By road (M3 or M27): fast train from Waterloo (14 hours). Buses to university from city centre, station and airport.

Awarding body: Southampton University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BEng, BM, BMid, BN, BSc, LLB, MEng.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years for courses with languages or social work, MEng, double Honours courses, midwifery, nursing; 5 years medicine.

Library & information services: Main library with 6 subsidiary specialist libraries; over 1.5 million volumes, 1900 study places; short-loan collection, computerised catalogue on network; CD-Roms and online information.

Specialist collections: Agriculture to 1900, local history, parliamentary papers, history of relations between Jewish and non-Jewish peoples, Wellington papers, Mountbatten papers. Annual expenditure on information provision, £149 per (FTE) student. Separate IT service (open 24 hours/day at some sites); 1000+ computers with access to library and internet (ratio workstations to students 1:17). Personal and telephone IT helpline during working day; joint library and information services programme for all new undergraduates.

Other learning facilities: Language centre.

Study abroad: Many academic schools have exchange links with European institutions.

Careers: Information, advice and placement service, and weekly newsletter. 75% of final year students had career-related work experience.

Student advice & services: Student advice and health centres on campus; doctor, chaplain, counsellors, legal advice; adviser for students with disabilities (including assessment of needs), support for dyslexic students and those with mental health difficulties. Residential facilities for married and disabled students. 100-place nursery (must apply early).

Amenities: SU shop, bookshop, travel agency, launderette, banks, concert hall, theatre and art gallery.

Sporting facilities: Playing fields set in 90 acres; 4 floodlit tennis courts; grass pitches for rugby, football, cricket, American football, lacrosse etc. Sports centre with 8-badminton court sports hall, 25m swimming pool, 140-station fitness suite, squash courts, dance studio, martial arts room. University boathard with facilities for canoeing, kayaking, powerboating, sailing, windsurfing. Rifle range. Sports bursary scheme; talented athletes support scheme; community sports volunteering scheme.

Accommodation: University accommodation guaranteed for all first years unless they live locally, 25+% of all full-time students housed. 5000+ places: 4000 self-catering £55-£85 per week, Sept-June or longer; 1200 catered, £80-£130 pw, term-time only. Students usually live in private rented accommodation for 1-2 years: £45-£65 pw (excluding bills) self-catering house share; £60-£120 in lodgings depending on level of meals and services provided.

Living expenses budget: No university-recommended minimum.

Term time work: Student employment service helps find local part-time and holiday work. Jobs advertised weekly.

Financial help: Government funds and own fund.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £7980 pa (classroom), £10,500 (lab/studio), £19,600 (clinical).