Glamorgan University - In Depth

Founded: 1913; university status 1992.

Site: Single modern campus at Treforest, near Pontypridd.

How to get there: Mainline rail to Cardiff (from London, Manchester, Swansea), then frequent trains on Valley Line to Treforest station (next to campus); National Express coaches to Cardiff Coach Station and bus to Treforest; 25 mins drive from Cardiff and M4 to Treforest on A470/A473; close to Cardiff International Airport.

Academic features: All courses are modular, so students can design own study programme.

Awarding body: Glamorgan University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BSc, BEng, LLB. MEng. Foundation degrees.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years eg undergraduate Masters.

Library & information services: Approx 250,000 volumes, 2700 serial publications, 800 study places.

Specialist collections: welsh writing in English. Annual expenditure on information provision, £75 per (FTE) student. Separate IT service, access 24 hours/day; 1200 computer workstations for students. IT staff support 15 hours/weekday (7 at weekends). Induction lecture on library and information services for new students, plus support booklets.

Other learning resources: Media services.

Study abroad: All home students may study in Europe. Active collaboration with large number of institutions in most European countries.

Student advice & services: Health centre; student finance centre with advisers and loan officers; counselling and advisory centre; playcentre.

Careers: Information, advice and placement.

Amenities: SU with bars, cafes, shop, travel centre, launderette, welfare advice etc.

Sporting facilities: Floodlit sports fields, tennis courts; recreation centre with squash/badminton courts, multi-gym, trimnasium, conditioning room, sauna, solarium, climbing wall.

Accommodation: 75% of first years housed (offered to all who accept an offer before end of March, first-come-first-served). 1300 places (50+% ensuite) both on and off campus: £51 per week self-catering (£63 ensuite), £81 pw catered, Sept-June contracts. Students live in privately owned accommodation for 2-3 years, from £34 pw + utility bills.

Living expenses budget: No university-recommended minimum.

Term-time work: SU runs employment service to help students find work on campus (eg in SU) and off campus.

Financial help: Total available £1.85 million government funds.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £8250 pa.