Dundee University - In Depth

Founded: 1882; university status in 1967. Site: Near city centre; teaching hospital in suburbs.

How to get there: Motorway links and direct rail and bus services from other parts of UK; rail and bus stations in walking distance.

Academic features: Students able to switch between arts & social sciences and science & engineering subjects respectively before entering the second year.

Awarding body: Dundee University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BAcc, BArch, BDes, BDS, BEd, BEng, BFin, BMSc, BSc, LLB, MA, MB ChB.

Length of courses: 3 or 4 years; others 5 years (architecture, dentistry, medicine, enhanced physics and engineering courses).

Library & information services: Main library with approx 700,000 volumes; medical, law, nursing, art, design, education and social work and departmental libraries; archives department; inter-library loan scheme. Annual expenditure on information provision. £126 per (FTE) student. Separate IT service, open 11-24 hours/day; ratio 1:8 workstations to students. 1000 computers with access to library and internet, plus multiple access points in eg halls of residence. Tours of library for new students and compulsory IT induction course.

Other learning facilities: Media service: micro centre; Tay estuary research centre; language centre.

Study abroad: 1% of students spend 6 months or more abroad. Formal exchange links with a number of universities and colleges in Western Europe, open to a range of students. Careers: Information and advice service.

Student advice & services: Student advisory and counselling services; health service offers routine medical examinations by local GP.

Amenities: SU building with swimming pool, shop, bars, restaurant, bookshop, coin laundry; chaplaincy centre; civic repertory theatre adjoining campus.

Sporting facilities: Large indoor sports complex; university sports grounds and water sports centre; more than 20 golf courses including St Andrews and Carnoustie within half an hour's drive; skiing, climbing and hill walking in surrounding countryside.

Accommodation: 65% of first years in university accommodation (all those that require it and apply by end July). 1800 self-catering places, £1673-£2942 for 37 weeks. Dundee has buoyant private sector housing at reasonable costs. 20% of first degree students live at home.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £4500-£5500 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term-time work: University does not encourage term-time work but realises it is inevitable (20% believed to work); advisory limit of 20 hours per week. Some work available on campus in SU and residences.

Financial help: Total available £396,000 government funds, 500 students helped; £28,000 own funds, 90 students helped. Special help for students with children, self-financing students, and others in severe financial hardship; other funds available for those of Scots birth or extraction studying medicine, dentistry, science or engineering. Apply for help to Academic Secretary's Office.

Tuition fees: Scottish and EU students pay no fees during course; other UK home students up to £1200 pa (£5500 for full-cost LLB), for first degrees in 2005. International students pay £7600 pa (classroom-based courses, including architecture), £9700-£12,100 (lab/studio), £19,200 (clinical).