North East Wales Institute - In Depth

Founded: 1975 from two technical colleges and a teacher training college.

Structural features: Now a full member of Wales University.

Site: Main Plas Coch Campus on edge of Wrexham; also North Wales School of Art and Design (Regent Street).

How to get there: Local and national bus services to Wrexham bus station (King Street, 10 mins' walk from campus): rail service to Wrexham from Chester or Shrewsbury, daily direct trains from Birmingham, Cardiff and Holyhead; by road from M56, M53, M54 to A483 Chester-Oswestry, then A541 towards city centre. Airports at Manchester (45 miles) and Liverpool (37 miles).

Awarding body: Wales University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BA(OTS), BEng, BNursing, BSc, FdA, FdSc, FdEng.

Length of courses: 3 years, 2 years Foundation degrees.

Library & information services: Approx 10,000 volumes, 500 periodicals, 410 study places. Annual expenditure on information provision £57 per (FTE) student. IT and library services converged. Ratio workstations to students 2:3, all with access to library and internet; IT facilities open 12 hours/day with support from tutors.

Other learning facilities: Resources laboratories, computer links, reprographic services, media and edit suite, recording studio, radio studio, animation studio, art gallery, art workshops, graphic design laboratories.

Study abroad: Some opportunities to spend time abroad.

Careers: Information and advice service. Student placement scheme and employment bureau.

Student advice & services: Welfare officer, counsellors, nurses, doctor on call, nursery, chaplain.

Amenities: Bookshop and cafe; SU bar, restaurant, coffee shops and shop; 890-seater concert venue, art gallery.

Sporting facilities: 6-court sports centre with all-weather pitch. International standard playing field. Swimming pools and sports centres in Wrexham. Area excellent for water sports and outdoor pursuits.

Accommodation: Student village on campus, hostels and town houses: 620 self-catering places available. Most students live in privately owned accommodation for 2+ years, £44-£62 per week self-catering.

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

Financial help: £248,000 funds available (average award £575). Special help given to non-traditional students and those returning to learning. Apply for help to Student Support Office (01978 293 307, studentsupport(at)newi.ac.uk)

Tuition fees: Home students, up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £6150 pa (classroom).