[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA]Fettered by London's influence, Uxbridge is a [ITAL]metallic[EITAL] satellite town with space-age offices, a [ITAL]slick, spick'n'span[EITAL] shopping mall and a few [ITAL]quaint, genteel[EITAL] streets. A mile south of Uxbridge proper are the redbrick and grey concrete buildings of the main campus of Brunel University,[ITAL] designed to be more practical than good-looking[EITAL], although grassy patches and a stream (the [ITAL]optimistically [EITAL]titled River Pinn) help create [ITAL]a feeling of space[EITAL]. It is a university that has traditionally taught sciences and engineering, usually in the form of so-called 'thin sandwich' courses (see below), but has an increasing number of social sciences and other courses. The 2nd, smaller site is a self-contained campus 11 miles south at Runnymede near Egham in Surrey. It is a [ITAL]very tranquil[EITAL] 65 acre site with beautiful 15th century gardens and only 450 students (ie the Education and Design Faculty) and mainly Victorian buildings, surrounded by tall trees, overlooking a wide stretch of the Thames and s[ITAL]eeming deceptively remote.[EITAL][HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]If you were to drop out, set light to your home, jump on a Harley D and burn some rubber down the rock 'n' roll road to oblivion, you probably wouldn't choose an engineering student to ride pillion. Since a 1/4 of Brunel students [ULNE]are[EULNE] engineering students and many of the rest are that way inclined, they tend not to be the world's most crazy-assed impetuous loons. They're more sombre and sober, career-minded and hard-working. Not being James Deans doesn't mean they're not friendly and open, although the considerable vocational element in courses means that activities as a student body are incidental: Brunel students are on their way somewhere - it isn't a destination itself.[EITAL][HDNG]THE TOWN:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 20,000 [BULL] Central London: 15miles [BULL] Slough: 6miles [BULL] Windsor: 7miles[ESTAT][PARA]Uxbridge is a modern town with all the latest mod cons, like Tescos, Sainsbury's, banks and so forth. For a really cosmopolitan metropolis, a trip into London is easy enough. Egham is smaller and, [ITAL]even though Uxbridge may not be exactly Paris in Spring, a much less attractive town. It is also singularly unfriendly[EITAL]. It has enough shops and banks for every day use, but Staines and Windsor and even London close by are a sight for sore eyes and a till for ready cash. It does, however, have [ULNE]Royal Holloway College[EULNE] nearby.[HDNG]THE CITY:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 6,377,900 [BULL] Birmingham: 106miles [BULL] Manchester: 172miles [BULL] Edinburgh: 423miles[ESTAT][PARA]Places plugged hereafter, such as restaurants, are far from the only ones or even the best, they are just some of those who offered [PUSH]push[EPUSH] massive bribes and sexual favours. [ITAL]They're also some of the most popular student haunts.[EITAL][HDNG]LIFE IN LONDON:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 6,377,900 [BULL] Birmingham: 106miles [BULL] Manchester: 172miles [BULL] Edinburgh: 423miles[ESTAT][PARA]Places plugged hereafter, such as restaurants, are far from the only ones or even the best, they are just some of those who offered [PUSH]push[EPUSH] massive bribes and sexual favours. [ITAL]They're also some of the most popular student haunts.[EITAL][HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains: [EBOLD]London is the centre of the network: Bristol (1:40hrs, 1/hr); Birmingham (1:40hrs, 3/hr); Manchester (2:30hrs, 1/hr); Glasgow (5:20hrs, 12/day); Edinburgh ( 4:20hrs, 1/hr); Newcastle (2:45hrs, 2/hr); Leeds (2:30hrs, 1/hr); Norwich (1:49hrs, 1/hr). Trains come into the 8 mainline termini and if passing through London (for example from Canterbury (Kent) to Manchester), it is often necessary to travel by tube (at extra expense) between mainline stations.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] London is also the centre of the National Express system and a whole variety of other national bus services (Green Line, Blue Line and so on). Some example National Express journeys: Birmingham (ú9.50, 2:30hrs, 1/hr); Bristol (ú12.50, 2:15hrs, 1/hr); Edinburgh (ú25, 7:50hrs, 3/day); Glasgow (ú25, 7hrs, 7/day); Manchester (ú16, 3:30hrs, 7/day); Newcastle (ú17.50, 5:10hrs, 7/day).[PARA][BOLD]Local Trains: [EBOLD]Network SouthEast operates local overground trains [ITAL]which are a speedy and sometimes pleasant way to travel and are moderately efficient. The main problems are the ease of use (a fair level of understanding is necessary), the high fares and the early closing[EITAL] (last trains between 11pm and 1am).[PARA][BOLD]Underground:[EBOLD] The 'tube' is the largest underground train system in the world and generally,[ITAL] it is fast, easy to use, efficient (well, maybe not the Northern Line) and takes you just about anywhere you want to go, although South-East London is a bit hard done by. However, it is often crowded,[EITAL] shuts down at midnight,[ITAL] it's often disrupted by bomb scares[EITAL] and the minimum fare is 90p. [ITAL]Talking to other tube passengers is tantamount to threatening their mother - the only people who do it are tourists and people who want to talk to you about Jesus.[EITAL] Nearest tube to Senate House/ULU Building: Goodge St (Northern Line).[PARA][BOLD]Local Buses: [EBOLD][ITAL]In the tube you can't see the real sights, so why not take the buses which are just as efficient,[EITAL] offer even more destinations and are slightly cheaper (50p minimum). [ITAL]But buses are slow and, until you know your way around, it's difficult to know which ones take you where.[EITAL] After midnight, buses come into their own - Night Buses are London's only form of all-night public transport and[ITAL] if you don't mind how long it takes,[EITAL] you can go almost anywhere within 10 miles of the centre.[PARA][BOLD]Travelcards:[EBOLD] For a legal way of dodging the expense of tubes, buses and trains, Travelcards are available at ú2.60 for a daily pass for the central 2 zones of the network.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis: [EBOLD]There are 2 types:[ITAL] the classic black cabs which are well regulated and enormously expensive, and dodgy merchants in Ford Escorts which are almost as expensive. There are now also some run by and for women. Basically though, forget all taxis, except late at night when all else fails and/or you're in a party of 4 or more.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Parking in Central London is impossible, and, although there is only one rush hour every day it lasts from 6 in the morning to midnight. Driving in London is excellent training for being a volcano.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Air: [EBOLD]Served by 4 airports, including Heathrow, the world's busiest. Regular flights to anywhere and back.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[ITAL] [EBOLD]Not possible from Central London, but get out a little way on to the city's escape routes or beyond the M25 and a thumb's a first class ticket.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles: [EBOLD][ITAL] A popular form of student travel given the pros: it's cheap and you can get through traffic. But there are the cons: London is big, full of exhaust fumes, lacking in cycle lanes and a Houdini-proof lock is advisable. It's also an easy way to die.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] West Drayton and Hayes are the BR stations nearest to the Uxbridge site (Uxbridge Tube station is closer, though); both are less than 2 miles away. There are trains to Bristol, Cardiff, Slough and other cities in the south-west served by trains out of London Paddington (at least 45mins away). For other services, the quickest route is usually via London mainline stations. For trains to and from Egham, which is the nearest station to the Runnymede site, see [ULNE]Royal Holloway College[EULNE].[PARA][BOLD]Buses:[EBOLD] National Express and London Country coach services bypass both Uxbridge and Egham. The nearest stop is[PARA]Heathrow Airport (30mins by bus). Connections with London are [ITAL]good enough [EITAL]to make London Victoria a possibility.[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] Both sites are on the London escape route to the west, near the M25 (2 miles), and on the M4, M40, A4, A40 and A30.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Heathrow, the world's busiest airport, is 4 miles from the Uxbridge campus.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] [ITAL]No shortage of main roads (although hitchers have to get on to them to start), but drivers round here are real possession heads and pick-ups take time.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] Uxbridge is still within London's local transport network, which is convenient but expensive. Numbers 207, 222, 223, U3, U4, U5, Express Coach 724 and Night Bus N89 (which goes right into London's West End). On the London Underground, Uxbridge station is the last stop on the Metropolitan and Piccadilly Lines and offers a [ITAL]fast but expensive[EITAL] service into London during the day, but is a mile from the main campus. The University runs a coach and minibus service between the sites, [ITAL]which isn't quite enough[EITAL].[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] Cabs charge London and Heathrow prices, but ú2 from the campus to Uxbridge[ITAL] is okay between a couple of people.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Bikes are useful for local trips although the busy roads make it hell for sorties into London.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]FACULTIES and STUDENT NOS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Science[EBOLD] 1,197 [BOLD][PARA]Soc Sci[EBOLD] 1,660 [BOLD][PARA]Technology[EBOLD] 1,280 [BOLD][PARA]Ed and Design[EBOLD] 441[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 350,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 1,800 [BULL] Study places: 700 [BULL] Computer workstations: 600[ESTAT][PARA]1 library on each campus.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 3full/2part [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 8%[ESTAT][PARA]Since most students go on placements (see above) they have a highly employable mix of qualifications and experience with engineering jobs obviously a top option.[HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]The University's academic year is in 2 long semesters rather than 3 shorter terms.[PARA][BULL]Most students study 'thin sandwich' courses which are made up of a slice of industrial placement for 2 semesters out of the 6 in the first 3 years of 4-year courses, and slices of academic study for the rest of the time. [ITAL]Unfortunately, [EITAL]during the recession, placements have been a bit scarce on the ground, but for students who manage to secure themselves a position, possibly the best part is that they get paid. [ITAL]As a result, poverty at Brunel is rarer than the baked bean broke state of most other students.[EITAL][PARA][BULL]The University is renowned for scientific research in all areas. The Runnymede site is well known for industrial design and for being near where the Magna Carta was signed. So when asked where the Magna Carta was signed, you can say, 'At the bottom'. And when? '1215 - I missed it, I only got here at half past.' [ITAL]Hmm, maybe not.[EITAL][PARA][BULL]Heinz Woolf, [ITAL]the archetypal mad professor[EITAL], is a professor at Brunel and Lenny Henry is Honorary President of the SU.[PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA]Jo Brand (comic).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads.
