Leicester University - In Depth

Founded: 1921, receiving charter in 1957.

Structural features: Leicester Warwick Medical Schools (LWMS) run jointly with Warwick University, including fast-track medical course for graduates.

Site: Campus 1 mile from Leicester city centre.

How to get there: By train (London or Sheffield 75 mins. Birmingham 60 mins), station 15 minutes' walk: by road, M1 and M69 motorways 5 miles from campus; by air - direct buses from regional international airports (Birmingham and East Midlands) and from Gatwick and Heathrow, direct train from Stansted.

Academic features: All courses except medicine are modular (basic teaching unit a 12-week 10-credit module).

Special features: University leads technical design on Beagle 2 (UK's mission to Mars); DNA genetic fingerprinting discovered here; centre for South Asian studies; research centres focusing on football hooliganism, public order and labour market studies.

Awarding body: Leicester University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BSc, BEng, LLB, MBChB, MChem, MEng, MGeol, MMath, MPhys, MSci, FDA.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years (eg those with foundation year, year abroad or in industry); 5 years (medicine, those with foundation year or year in industry/abroad).

Library & information services: Main library has 1.14 million items, including books, journal volumes, microtorms, etc; multiple copies of prescribed textbooks on short loan; 1200 study places. Annual expenditure on information provision, £144 per (FTE) student. IT centre with a campus wide network, open 24 hours/day in some departments. 740 points of access to library and internet (ratio workstations to students 1:11). IT support from helpdesk; information skills courses.

Other learning facilities: Computer centre, PC and Apple Mac labs, student learning centre to develop study skills.

Specialist collections: English Local History; some 20,000 rare books and manuscripts; papers of Joe Orton.

Study abroad: 150 placements at european universities. Some courses allow study in USA and elsewhere. Formal exchange links with over 75 EU and 14 US universities and colleges plus links in Australia, South Africa and Singapore in a wide range of subjects.

Careers: Information and advice service, information and recruitment fair.

Student advice & services: AccessAbility centre for students with special needs, doctors, sick bay, health education, welfare officers, financial advice for student budgeting, pastoral care in university accommodation, FPA counsellors, chaplains, student legal advice centre, Nightline telephone contact service. Nursery (independent) with favourable terms for student parents, playscheme at half terms.

Amenities: Bookshops, travel centre, bar, nightclub, disco, general shops and banks on site; Leicester University Theatre (links with Haymarket and Phoenix professional theatres in Leicester); Archduke Trio (resident chamber music group), university radio, TV station and newspaper. 100 student societies.

Sporting facilities: Excellent sports facilities including floodlit all weather pitches, 2 fitness centres and two sports halls; 40+ sports clubs.

Accommodation: All first years who apply by deadline in university accommodation, 48% of all students (some halls of residence set in Botanic Gardens). 4400 places available, 3350 for first years: 1850 half-board places at £85-£105 per week (£75 shared) , term time only; 2550 self-catering places at £52-£105 pw, Sept-June or longer. Privately owned accommodation: £35-£70 pw for self-catering (info available from SU).

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £190 pw (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term-time work: University allows term-time work for first degree students. Some work available on campus in bars, accommodation, clerical; careers office and SU employment centre helps find work on and off campus.

Financial help: Total available £450,000 government funds, grants and loans, 1200 students helped; particular help for students with special needs, those with dependants, mature students, self-financing students and those with field course requirements during summer. 65 bursaries. Various scholarships for international students, in particular from South East Asia. Apply for help to Welfare Office.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £8100 pa (classroom), £10,500 (lab), £19,500 (clinical).