[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] Formerly Preston Polytechnic, Lancashire Polytechnic[EBOLD][PARA]Preston on the River Ribble is the 2nd largest town in Lancashire [PARA]and the county's administrative capital. It's bigger than Lancaster,[PARA]the county town, but not as big as Blackpool, which illuminates [PARA]England's north-west coast. Preston is old (although the centre's [PARA]been redeveloped) [ITAL]and attractive [EITAL]with parks stuffed between [PARA]some [ITAL]interesting [EITAL]buildings and churches. The University is [PARA]almost in the very middle of Preston on a 38-acre campus in 2 [PARA]main blocks of buildings encompassing a variety of modern [PARA]styles (mostly red bricks, concrete and glass, [ITAL]smart but about as[PARA]remarkable as a chip shop in Benidorm[EITAL]) with paved squares and [PARA]a few outpost buildings. In the midst of the campus, there are a [PARA]few noteworthy features, such as the Arts Centre - a converted [PARA]church - and the SU Building, a [ITAL]stumpy [EITAL]russet place with odd [PARA]angles and a light pyramid on top. There's a [ITAL]strange fish tank-like[PARA][EITAL]structure [ITAL]jutting out[EITAL] at the front of the main building.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]Full of youthful hustle and useful bustle, with a very [PARA]work-orientated tone set by the large number of mature students.[PARA]The students claim that the place grows on you, but takes some [PARA]getting used to. Most courses include a sandwich year, working [PARA]for industry in a course-related field. Climatically speaking, [PARA]Preston's wet.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]TOWN:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 147,109 [BULL] London: 202miles [BULL] Blackpool: [PARA]15miles [BULL] Manchester: 25miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA]Granada TV awarded Preston the [ITAL]staggering [EITAL]accolade of being [PARA]the '[ITAL]best and cheapest shopping centre in Britain with a [PARA]marvellous mixture of modern and old style shops and an [PARA]excellent market hall[EITAL]'. And who are we to argue? [ITAL] It is true that [PARA]the cost of living in Preston is low and the quality of life high.[EITAL] Its [PARA]long history goes further back than its boom time as a cotton [PARA]town during the Industrial Revolution. It's been redeveloped in [PARA]recent years, particularly the centre and the docks. Preston has [PARA]6 museums, [ITAL]the least uninteresting being the exhibitions of local [PARA]relevance at the Harris Museum.[EITAL][HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Preston Station, 1/2.mile from the campus, runs direct [PARA]trains to London (2:40hrs, 1/hr), Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds [PARA]and Manchester.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express services to, among other places, [PARA]London (ú18, 5hrs, 7/day), Liverpool (ú4.25, 55mins, 3/day), [PARA]Manchester (ú2.85, 55mins, 8/day).[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] Preston is on the A6, A49, A59 and A677, and just off the [PARA]M6, M55 and M61.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD][ITAL] These main roads are the wheels on the hitcher's [PARA]skateboard. Easy routes to London, Manchester or Glasgow.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] Local bus services are cheap (most trips 45p), [PARA]comprehensive and regular and keep students on the move. [PARA]Discounted Rambler tickets (anywhere in town, ú5.20/week) are available.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Cheap enough even for students, occasionally.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]There's many a hump and bump in Preston and there's[PARA]rain and poor bike parking facilities. Nevertheless, bikes are [PARA]popular for getting round the campus. [EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]NOS and REQUIREMENTS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Social Studies[EBOLD] 494 14pts[BOLD][PARA]Design/Tech[EBOLD] 982 10pts[BOLD][PARA]Health[EBOLD] 189 14pts[BOLD][PARA]Science[EBOLD] 634 6pts[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 300,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 1,700 [BULL] Study places: 700 [PARA]Computer workstations: 1,000[ESTAT][PARA]The library, centrally placed on campus, is one of the most [PARA]modern buildings (built in 1979) and has, as well as books, [PARA]100,000 audio-visual items.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 2full/1part[ESTAT][HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Joe Lydon (rugby league); Phil MacIntyre (pop promoter).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads, part-timers and postgrads. The [PARA]SU produces a [ITAL]handy [EITAL]Finance and Housing Guide.[PARA][PARA]
