Westminster University (Detailed Info)

Founded: 1838 and known as Regent Street Poly then Central London Poly. University status in 1992.

Location: 4 campuses - 3 in West End of London (between Oxford Street and Marylebone Road) and 1 in Harrow.

Getting there: All West End sites within 20 minutes' walk; all on major bus routes and tube lines. Harrow 25 minutes by tube.

Academic features: Degrees in complementary therapies; computer visualisation; mobile communication; commercial music; urban estate management; media studies; film, photographic and digital arts.

Awarding body: Westminster University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BSc, BEng, LLB.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years (language and sandwich courses).

Library & IT facilities: 4 libraries: 437,000 volumes, 7100 periodicals, 1900 study places. Online catalogue system. Annual expenditure on information provision, £77 per (FTE) student. Library and IT services converged. Access to library and internet from approx 5000 computers; ratio 1:5 workstations to students. IT facilities accessible 14 hours/day; staff support helpdesk 10 hours/weekday. New students have tours of library and lectures introducing information services; some schools offer IT skills training.

Study abroad: Small number of students spend a period abroad. Some links with overseas universities/colleges.

Careers & Jobs: Careers centres in central London and Harrow.

Student advice & services: Visiting doctor. FPA, psychiatrist, international student adviser, student advisers and counsellors, chaplain, accommodation adviser; health and advice services in West End and at Harrow. 20-place nursery in central London, 16-place day-care facility at Harrow.

Amenities: Refectory and/or bars at all sites.

Sporting facilities: Athletics union with organised student clubs, fitness rooms (resistance and cardiovascular equipment); gymnasia; fitness and martial arts classes. Sports ground in Chiswick (various pitches, running track, tennis courts, boathouse, social rooms, bars).

Accommodation: Approx 60% of first years who apply are in halls; priority to students 25+ miles out of London. 1300 self-catering places (of which 490 at Harrow), £64-£87 per week, 38 week contracts (some can be extended to 50 weeks). Students live in privately owned accommodation for 2+ years: £75-£85 pw self-catering.

Living expenses budget: No university-recommended minimum.

Term time work: University allows term-time work for full-time students, at discretion of course leader. Careers & Student Employment advertises vacancies on www.wmin.ac.uk/careers/

Financial help: Government funds, access to learning fund, grants and loans may be awarded to students facing unexpected financial hardship.