Northumbria University - In Depth

Founded: 1969 as Newcastle Poly, university status 1992.

Site: 2 sites: Newcastle City Campus in city centre; Coach Lane Campus 3 miles from city centre.

How to get there: For Newcastle, coach (Gallowgate) and railway (Central) stations both with good links from all major cities; by road via A1, junction A167 to Newcastle. follow signs to universities; also ferry services (from Scandinavia and Holland): airport 7 miles outside city (services from european and british cities). Bus and metro to both campuses.

Academic features: Degree courses include biomedical sciences, law, media production, travel & tourism, design and film; business information technology, fashion marketing, communication engineering.

Special features: National coaching centre. Specialist centres include microelectronics education, small businesses, centre for industrial design.

Awarding body: Northumbria University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BA(QTS), BSc, BEng, LLB, MEng.

Length of courses: 3 years (full-time): 4 years (sandwich), 3-6 years (part-time).

Library & information services: Library at each site; over 500,000 volumes, 3000 paper periodicals (+ 7000 electronic), 1700 study places, short loan only for recommended volumes. European Documentation Centre. Annual expenditure on information provision, £85 per (FTE) student. IT and library services converged. 400 points with access to the internet (ratio workstations to students in library 1:66, plus further machines in departments and wireless access in halls). Access to IT facilities 15+ hours/weekdays (6-9 weekends); blackboard learning system for online course info, noticeboards etc; IT support from full and part-time staff, helpdesks. support helpline. Voluntary IT induction.

Study abroad: 5% of students spend a period abroad. Formal exchange links with a number of EU universities and colleges.

Careers: Information, advice and placement service.

Student advice & services: Health services, welfare officer, student counsellor, accommodation service, chaplains, playgroup, disabilities advisers, international student advisers. Some places in halls for disabled students, 24 places in local authority flats for married students.

Amenities: Large SU buildings (300-seat theatre, ballroom, second-hand book shop).

Sporting facilities: Indoor sports at city campus and at Coach Lane, outdoor sports 3 miles away.

Accommodation: 55% of first years in university accommodation (most non-local students that need it), 20% of all students including international students. 2700 places (2150 for first years): 260 full-board places at £2766-£3077 pa, 250 half-board places £2327-£2566 pa, all term time only; 2145+ self-catering places (345 ensuite) £2335-£3225, Sept-June or longer. Also small number of studio flats, £4343 pa. Students live in privately owned accommodation for 2+ years: rents £52 per week for self-catering, £60 for B&B (£82 with evening meal).

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £5500 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term-time work: University allows term-time work for full-time students; no work on campus.

Financial help: Total available £1+ million government funds, 880 full-time students helped (250 part-time). Special help to lone parents, parents on low incomes, mature students, final year students, those with high travel costs.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £6750 pa (classroom), £7350 (lab, studio & business).