Chichester University College - In Depth

Founded: 1977 as West Sussex Institute from Bishop Otter College Chichester (1839) and Bognor Regis College (1947).

Site: 2 sites seven miles apart at Chichester and Bognor Regis.

How to get there: Trains from London (Victoria or Waterloo) to both Chichester and Bognor; coach station in central Chichester; by road, A27 from Worthing or Portsmouth to Chichester, A29 and A259 to Bognor. Both sites within easy walking distance of respective town centres; free inter-campus transport.

Academic features: Maths enhancement course for secondary teaching.

Awarding body: Chichester University College.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BA(OTS), BSc.

Length of courses: 3 years.

Library & information services: Library on each site. 260,000 volumes in total, 1270 periodicals, 480 study places; short loans collections. Annual expenditure on information provision, £49 per (FTE) student. IT and library services converged in modern learning resources centre. 2 PC networks, 130 workstations with internet access (ratio 1:30 workstations to students), access 15 hours/day. IT support from helpdesk, specialist staff at each campus. All students have training in IT and information services eg internet.

Other learning facilities: Media centre, reprographics, video edit suites, media production space; photographic centre; physiology laboratories; 2 dance studios (with computerised sound and light systems); music rehearsal rooms and recording studio; art centre and gallery.

Specialist collections: Bishop Otter collection of 20th century british art, Gerard Young local history collection, art slides, 19th century british parliamentary papers, Historical Association pamphlets, music scores, dance videos, specialist theological collection.

Study abroad: Erasmus european exchanges for students in dance, maths and sports studies.

Careers: Information and advice, both individually and as part of course.

Student advice & services: Accommodation officers, health centre, doctors, counsellors, chaplain, welfare officer for international students and for finance, disability and learning support service, student money advice.

Amenities: SU with state-of-the-art bar, many societies and clubs. Chapel. Otter Gallery, art collection, launderette.

Sporting facilities: New sports research and activity centre: gym, pitches (incl floodlit all-weather pitch), running track. 4 badminton courts, indoor and outdoor climbing walls, cricket pitch and nets, tennis and netball courts. Local leisure centres, swimming pools, tennis club; sea sailing, windsurfing, bowling and canoeing.

Accommodation: Majority of first years guaranteed a room on campus (15% of all students in college accommodation). Approx 580 places, £84-£112 per week (includes heat and 12 meals pw). Students live in privately owned accommodation for 2+ years: £50-£55 pw self-catering, £60-£65 B&B.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £5000 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by college.

Term-time work: Careers Office job shop: official pay-scale for part-time work on campus (eg SU bar, contract catering, IT and library) and off campus (plenty of summer work locally in tourism etc).

Financial help: Total available £281,000 government funds; £74,500 teacher training schemes.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (if publicly funded, eg eligible for a student loan), in 2005. International students pay £6700-£7400 pa. Fees payable in instalments.