Coventry University - Student Life

Housing: Halls, mixed standard; university houses pretty good bet. Lots of private accommodation - comprehensive lists in accommodation office.

Eats: By day, SU, Varsity, Yates, Lloyds, Inspire (bit different, beers from round the globe), Browns (if someone else is paying). At night, Far Gosford Street is takeaway heaven, Spon Street is good for small brasseries; Coventry is home of the Balti.

Drinks: SU cheapest and best (£1.50 a pint). Pubs mostly M&B/Bass; Brew XI and Banks's good ales. Student pubs Oak, Phoenix, Varsity, Golden Cross and Aradvark out of town.

Nightlife: Studio S4(at)LIV is best atmosphere (Monday and Friday nights); Wednesdays home to Ikon at Sky Dome and Carey's. Choice of clubs in city; also theatre, multiplex cinema, bowling alley by M69, new Sky Dome (ice rink, bars, restaurants and cinema). Warwick Arts Centre nearby (Warwick University). One stop on train to NEC.

Locals: Relations good except at Tile Hill and Wood End.

Sports: SU sports hall; uni playing fields at Westwood (shuttlebus on sports days from SU). New uni sports centre with great facilities: city sports centre next to uni (olympic pool, gym, sauna, jacuzzi, squash etc) has student discounts.

Travel: Good motorway links, so perfect for hitching. Union runs free nightbus. Train station walking distance; 15 minutes to Birmingham International Airport.

Jobs: Plenty of usual eg pub work. SU big employer. CUBE (Coventry Uni Bureau for Employment) works with careers service. 50% of students find part-time term-time work (less in holidays).

Best features: City centre location.

And worst: Much war damage so much 5Os architecture; now showing its age and catches the wind.

More info: Contact CUSU, Tel: 024 7657 1200.

Past students: Steve Ogrizovic (Coventry City goalkeeper), David Yelland (Sun Editor), Alan Smith (Arsenal and England striker), John Kettley (TV weatherman), Peter Hadfield (founder of Two Tone). Jerry Dammers (The Specials).