Brighton University (Detailed Info)

Founded: As Brighton Polytechnic from colleges of technology, teacher training and school of art; university status 1992.

Location: 3 major sites in Brighton, one at Eastbourne; also manages new university centre in Hastings.

Getting there: Under 1 hour by train from London, 30 minutes from Gatwick Airport; M/A23 from London/Gatwick to Brighton, A22 to Eastbourne. A27 connects two towns. Bus and train services provide regular inter-site travel.

Structural features: New Brighton & Sussex Medical School. joint with Sussex University. 4-year degree programme for students from the Gulf States including preparatory year.

Awarding body: Brighton University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BEd, BSc, BEng, MEng, MPharm.

Length of courses: 3 years; others 4 years (BEd, MEng and sandwich, some part-time courses).

Library & IT facilities: 7 libraries, over 560,000 volumes, 3700 periodicals, 20,000 videotapes, 1200+ study places. Annual expenditure on information provision, £64 per (FTE) student. Library and IT services converged. Library and computer induction sessions; computer officers on each site. 3300 computer terminals/micros linked to each other and to JANET (specialist staff to advise).

Other learning facilities: Media units for film and video, including darkroom and graphic design studio.

Careers & Jobs: Careers counsellor and information rooms on all sites.

Student advice & services: Welfare and accommodation officers, doctor, personal counsellor and chaplain on each site.

Amenities: Bars; bookshops at Moulsecoomb and Falmer sites.

Sporting facilities: At Brighton, playing fields, 2 gymnasia, access to well-equipped Brighton Health & Racquets Club; at Eastbourne, swimming pool, sports hall, activity halls, fitness suite, synthetic pitch: at Moulsecoomb, sports centre, fitness suite, 2 badminton courts.

Accommodation: 1600 places in halls of residence, 300+ in university-leased flats: £55-£75 per week for self-catering (plus bills), most on 30 weeks contracts. Students live in privately owned accommodation for at least 2 years, rents £66-£80 pw for self-catering in Brighton, £55-£60 pw in Eastbourne.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £6500 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term-time work: University recommends maximum of 12% hours a week term-time work for full-time students (37% believed to work). Some work available on campus; university student employment office at careers centre helps find work in and out of term.

Financial help: Total available £800,000 government funds. Special help for non-traditional students, grants for those with high travel costs, scholarships for overseas students. Apply for help to Student Services.