Brunel University - In Depth
Founded: 1966; merged with West London Institute 1995.
Site: 3 self-contained campuses to the west of London: Uxbridge (main campus), Runnymede (near Egham) and Osterley (Isleworth).
How to get there: Uxbridge or Osterley underground; West Drayton or Egham mainline stations; M4, M25 and M40.
Academic features: Many degree courses available with or without sandwich element, and emphasise relevance and practical application. Modular structure allows some students to add eg languages, management, computer science, or to take joint Honours in a range of disciplines. Foundation courses in IT and engineering for applicants without science A-levels. Optional 1-year extensions to BEng courses for MEng/Diploma in engineering management.
Special features: Music and sport bursaries. Associate student scheme for mature part-time returners.
Research centres: 35 centres including materials processing, health economics, bioengineering, cancer genetics, environmental research, international law & multimedia systems.
Awarding body: Brunel University.
Main undergraduate awards: BSc, BA, BEng, LLB.
Length of courses: 3 year; 4 years (sandwich); up to 6 years (part-time, some courses).
Library & information services: Newly extended library with 428,000 volumes, 8000 periodicals (paper and electronic). Annual expenditure on information provision, £105 per (FTE) student. Separate IT service: 1000 open-access workstations, 3000 access ports in halls and remote access; all link to library and internet. Access to workstations 24 hours/day; IT facilities with staff support (and further support by email) open 10 hours/weekday. Introductory talk on library and information services for new students, tour of library, online documentation of computing service facilities; some departments offer IT skills courses.
Other learning facilities: Audiovisual centre, EFUlanguage centre, experimental techniques centre, metrology centre, web-based learning remote IT access.
Study abroad: Students can take language modules as assessed part of degree; many opt for extra-curricular courses. Some student exchanges with Europe and USA.
Careers: Information and advice services.
Student advice & services: Medical centre, chaplaincy, counsellors, special needs centre, welfare unit.
Amenities: Bookshop, bank, supermarket, student newspaper, radio station, refectory, coffee and snack bars, university art gallery, art and music classes, student music bursaries.
Sporting facilities: Indoor athletics arena (supported by Sport England); pitches for football, rugby and hockey; synthetic turf pitches, athletics track, playing fields, sports centres, health & fitness club, therapies, massage, weightlifting gym, climbing wall, sports science labs; squash, tennis and netball courts; boathouse on Thames, sailing, canoeing. Students' sports bursaries.
Accommodation: Uxbridge and Runnymede: 75% of first years in university owned/leased accommodation, 33% of all students. 3100 self-catering places available, at £62-£76 per week (single rooms) for 37 weeks; all hall rooms have link to university network. Most first years in university accommodation: 333 rooms on campus (priority to first years living furthest from campus). 30% of first years live at home. Privately owned accommodation at all campuses £55-£75 pw for self-catering.
Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £7000 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.
Term-time work: University allows term-time work for full-time students. Some work available on campus in SU bars and clerical support in admin. JobShop (run by placement and careers centre) for part-time work.
Financial help: £682,000 government funds; awards £400-£1000 (average £550), for home students only. Special help for homeless students. parent students, disability costs. Apply for help to Access to Learning Unit (see registry section of website or email: alf(at)brunel.ac.uk).
Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £7655 pa (classroom), £10,170 (lab/studio).
