East Anglia (UEA) - In Depth

Founded: 1963.

Site: 2 miles from centre of Norwich.

How to get there: Coach service from all major cities to Norwich; rail service from London (2 hours) every 1/2 hour. For university, regular bus services from city (nos 25, 26, 27, 520). By road from London on M11/A11, then A47 and B11O8.

Special features: Renowned for creative writing; excellent links with contemporary writers, eg Andrew Motion, Trezza Azzopardi, Rose Tremain, Angela Carter, Ian McEwan, Kazuo Ishiguro and Tracy Chevalier have taught or studied there. Climatic research unit. Together with other Norwich Research Park partners (John Innes Centre, Institute of Food Research, Sainsbury Laboratory and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital) forms largest concentration of research scientists working on plant and food science in Europe.

Academic features: Most degree courses combine study of several related disciplines, and include continuous assessment. New medical school opened in 2002.

Awarding body: UEA.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, LLB, BSc, BEng, MChem, MMath, MPharm, MBBS.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years for courses involving study abroad; 5 years for medicine.

Library & information services: Over 809,000 volumes, including books, audio-visual materials, volumes of periodicals, music scores and material in microfilm. 1100 reading places, 100 study carrels; restricted loan collection of books in heavy demand, computerised catalogue system. Annual expenditure on information provision, £147 per (FTE) student. Library and IT services converged. Ratio workstations to students 1:12 (all central workstations have access to library and internet), access 24 hours/day. Helpdesk provides IT support; guide to library services for new students (separate induction for international students), plus open sessions on library catalogue and web-based bibliographic databases; IT skills courses arranged through schools of study.

Other learning resources: James Platt language learning centre, audio-visual centre, computing centre.

Study abroad: 4% of students spend a period abroad. University participates in many european research projects, eg global warming.

Careers: Information and advice service.

Student advice & services: Campus health and community centre with pharmacy; student counselling service; resident tutor system; chaplaincy.

Special categories: Nursery on campus, plus some accommodation for married students.

Amenities: Union House has common rooms, printing rooms, television studios. Bookshop, newsagent, supermarket, post office, travel agent, banks, launderettes. bars, cafeterias, coffee shop and restaurants on site; Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts (19th- and 20th-century European paintings and sculpture; ethnographic collection); university art collection (20th century).

Sporting facilities: Sports park with Olympic-size pool, climbing wall, fitness centre, squash courts, martial arts studio, dance/aerobics studio, badminton, 5-aside etc; 40 acres playing fields, astroturf pitches, eight-lane athletics track. Some 40 sports clubs.

Accommodation: First years guaranteed university accommodation (if they apply before a specific date and live more than 12 miles away). 3400 self-catering places available: £48-£79 per week, Sept-June or longer. Students live in privately owned accommodation for 1-2 years: average rents £40-£50 pw.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £6500 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term-time work: University allows term-time work for first-degree students. SU employment service (EmployAbility) helps students find part time, holiday and work experience positions. Some work available on campus in bars, catering, data entry, help at trade/careers shows.

Financial help: £80,000 hardship fund, plus nursery fund of £42,000 and short-term cash loan fund for financial emergencies. Nursery hardship fund for international students and students not eligible for childcare grant. Apply for help to Dean of Students Office.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £8175 pa (classroom), £10,600 (lab/studio).