Royal Holloway - In Depth

Founded: 1985 from merger of two established 19th century London University colleges - Royal Holloway and Bedford College - both originally women's colleges, admitting men since the 1960s.

Structural features: A college of London University.

Site: 120-acre parkland campus, between village of Englefield Green and Egham town, 20 miles from central London; Founder's building, in style of Chateau of Chambord. and many new buildings.

How to get there: Egham station (Waterloo-Reading line); buses. Close to Heathrow airport, M3, M4 and M25.

Awarding body: London University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BMus, BSc, MSci.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years MSci or courses with languages.

Library & information services: 3 main libraries; several departmental collections; 500,000+ volumes in total, 1700 periodicals, 4000 electronic journals, 630 study places; restricted loan collections. Annual expenditure on information provision, £125 per (FTE) student. Integrated library and computer service. 520+ computer workstations for student use in computer centre and academic departments. (Extra-curricular college certificates in computer applications or communication skills available by modular study.)

Study abroad: 15% of students spend a period abroad. Formal exchange links with universities throughout Europe, many open to non-language specialists. Careers: Information, advice and placement.

Student advice & services: Dean of students, wardens, counsellor to students, doctors, FPA, psychiatrist, chaplains, inter-denominational chapel, SU welfare service, nightline.

Amenities: Purpose-built SU building; theatre; orchestra and choirs. Sporting facilities: Wide variety of sports; playing fields, sports hall, gym, and tennis courts on site.

Accommodation: Almost all first years in college accommodation (not guaranteed if applying through Clearing), 55% of all first degree students. 3000 places available, some self-catering, some catered on a pay-as-you-go system: rents £79-£91 per week (self-catering), £63-£96 (catered-pay-as-you-go; advised to allow £20-£25 for meals purchases); some contracts term time only, some for academic year. Students live in privately owned accommodation for 1-2 years: rents £55-£70 pw for self-catering, £60-£70 B&B, £55-£70 for half-board. 5% of first degree students live at home.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £4700 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by College.

Term-time work: College allows term-time work for full-time students, up to 15 hours pw (55% believed to work). Some work available on campus in bars, catering, portering etc, particularly in SU; careers office has some into on (mainly holiday) work off campus.

Financial help: Total available includes government funds, small general hardship fund plus a large number of college, departmental and faculty prizes; competitive entrance scholarships also available prior to starting course for international students and for scientists of high academic ability. Apply for help to Student Financial Adviser.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £9750 pa (classroom), £10,800-£11,750 (lab-based).