Kingston University - In Depth

Founded: 1970 as Kingston Poly, from colleges of technology and art and Gipsy Hill College of Education; university status in 1992.

Site: 4 campuses: Penrhyn Road, Knights Park, Kingston Hill and Roehampton Vale - all in 3 mile radius and linked by free university bus service.

How to get there: Kingston or Surbiton railway stations, buses. Academic features: Courses include aerospace engineering, geographical information systems, landscape architecture, furniture design, natural history.

Special features: Links with St George's Hospital Medical School for courses in health and social care sciences and with Gateway School of Recording and Music. Extended degree scheme in technology and science for mature students or those without traditional qualifications.

Awarding body: Kingston University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA. BSc, LLB, BEng, MEng, FDeg.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4-5 years (sandwich, language and extended degree courses).

Library & information services: Libraries on each campus, total of 423.000 books, 2700 printed periodicals, 9000 electronic journals; 1500 study places; short loan service for course books: slide library at Knights Park (160,000+ slides), music library at Kingston Hill. Annual expenditure on information provision, approx £72 per (FTE) student. 1800 workstations, open 12 hours/weekdays (less at weekends).

Study abroad: Formal links with a number of European and US universities/colleges.

Careers: Information, advice and placement service.

Student advice & services: Holistic health and counselling centre on main site (GPs, dentists, nurse-counsellors, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, osteopath, chiropodist, aromatherapists, reflexologists); ecumenical chaplain and contacts in all faiths.

Amenities: SU facilities on each campus; wide range of clubs and societies; bars, shops, catering outlets.

Sporting facilities: State-of-the-art fitness centre and aerobics studio, gym, playing fields for all major sports, tennis courts; wide range of sporting activities and sports clubs.

Accommodation: 45+% of first years housed; 3100 students in university accommodation: self-catering places at £68-£88 per week, Sept-June. Also head tenancy management schemes. Students live in privately owned accommodation for 2+ years: £65-£85 pw for lodgings.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £6300-£6500 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term-time work: University allows term-time work for first degree students. Some work available on campus; also help finding work off campus; plenty of part time work in town centre.

Financial help: Government funds (560 students helped); also opportunity bursaries, £30,000 own funds (see www.kingston.ac.uk/studentfunding/). Advice also given on benefit claims, applications to charitable trusts etc.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £7600 pa (classroom), £8550 (studio), £8950 (lab).