Cardiff University - In Depth

Founded: 1883.

Structural features: Merged with University of Wales College of Medicine (UCWM) in 2004.

Site: Close to Cardiff city centre. Healthcare students also at hospital site, Heath Park Campus, 1 mile away.

How to get there: Cardiff Central Station on the national rail network; coaches to bus station (next to train station); M4 from London and M5 (west county and Midlands). For university, frequent trains from Central Station to Cathays station (on campus), local buses from bus station (53, 79, 81 for main campus; 8 or 9 for hospital site).

Academic features: 4-year integrated sandwich schemes, 5-year two-tier schemes in architecture and town planning. 5-year medical and dental courses, plus foundation year for those without science backgrounds; clinical teaching throughout Wales.

Awarding body: Cardiff University; Wales University for some healthcare courses.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BD, BDS, BMus, BN, BSc, BEng, BScEcon, LLB, BArch, MB BCh, MPhys, MChem, MEng, MPharm.

Length of courses: 3 years; others 4 and 5 years.

Library & information services: Integrated library, IT and media services: 18 libraries, 25 computer rooms, 7 media resources units. Over 1.1 million books, 9000+ printed and electronic journals, access to numerous web-based databases, 3400 study places. Annual expenditure on information provision, £163 per (FTE) student. Ratio 1:2 workstations to students; 12,000+ PCs, Macs and UNIX systems (and internet) on network to all parts of campus and some student residences; 24-hour access. IT support (on-site or via telephone or email); IT skills courses, some in liaison with academic departments. Specialist collections include Salisbury Library of Celtic and Welsh material; Cochrane Archive of evidence-based healthcare, European Documentation Centre. Also special collections in law, architecture.

Study abroad: 2% of students spend a period abroad. Active Erasmus-Socrates programme, with 200+ european links. Student exchange agreements worldwide.

Careers: Information and advice available (including employment, postgraduate study and work experience). Regular careers fairs; careers management skills modules in many departments.

Student advice & services: Students Support Centre offers advice, counselling, services for disabled and dyslexic students. Health centre. Chaplains (Anglican, Catholic, Methodist) work alongside other local faiths/denominations. Some residential facilities for students with families or with disabilities; day-care centre.

Amenities: Large purpose-built SU with 9 bars, nightclub, concert venue, 4 restaurants/fast food outlets, TV and IT rooms, games room, graduate centre, general shop and mall with off-licence, insurance services, computer repair shop, job shop and university bookshop. Medical bookshop, SU bar and common room on hospital site.

Sporting facilities: Indoor and outdoor facilities at Talybont: floodlit astroturf pitch, tennis courts, fitness suite, sports hall and a martial arts dojo. At Park Place: squash courts, fitness suite and classes, well-being clinic. Sports fields at Llanrunmey: 33 acres of pitches, changing rooms, pavilion. Heath Hospital site: swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, squash and badminton court, sports hall, multigym.

Accommodation: All first year undergraduates guaranteed a single room in university residences (unless through clearing): 4600 self-catering places at £47-£55 per week; 376 catered places at £64-£69 pw: 193 part-catered places at £59-£66 pw. All contracts include Easter and Christmas vacations. Most students in private sector housing after 1st year, average £48 pw plus bills.

Living expenses budget: No university-recommended minimum.

Term-time work: Part-time work in university and SU through Unistaff Jobshop (in bars, refectories, offices, libraries, labs, sports centre); also links to work in local shops and offices.

Financial help: £1m government funds; also hardship loans. Some charitable trust funds eg for students encountering unexpected hardship (including final-year students from Commonwealth and SE Asia), self-financing students. female students whose health is affected during course. Apply for help to Student Support Centre.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £8040 pa (classroom), £10,320 (lab/pre-clinical), £18,960 (clinical). Tuition fees paid by NHS for some courses eg nursing, some years of medicine.