[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA]A [ITAL]grimy child[EITAL] of the Industrial Revolution, Leeds city centre is dominated by the virginally white Parkinson Building clock tower, which is the University's landmark. From the top of the clock tower, it would be possible to see the [ITAL]tidy [EITAL]terraces of the inner city, the [ITAL]sprawling, crawling[EITAL] suburbs and the tangled spaghetti of by-passes, ring roads and the M1. Casting eyes beyond the city boundaries, the southern edge of the Yorkshire moors loom to the north. To the south and west, there are few green spaces separating Leeds from Bradford, Wakefield and Sheffield. Although founded in the late 19th century, the University has undergone spasmodic periods of growth, mainly in the 30s and 60s, which has created a campus which is [ITAL]the architectural equivalent of Bombay Mix. [EITAL]Together with [ULNE]Leeds Metropolitan University[EULNE], the University forms a massive 'student land' conurbation of homes, halls and other academic buildings.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]With nearly 17,000 examples, it's difficult to draw a very exact picture of the Leeds University student. In such a vibrant, frantic city (Leeds's serious social scene has usurped Manchester's) the prevailing relaxed attitude is odd. A healthy scepticism, bordering on apathy, abounds in virtually epidemic proportions and an observer more cruel than [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL], might suggest that few students consider anything deeper than the bottom of their glass. But appearances can be deceptive and the large Union Building is always busy..[EITAL][ITAL][HDNG]THE CITY:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 674,400 [BULL] Manchester: 40miles [BULL] London : 189miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA]Although the bombs of 2 world wars missed the city, the 60s developers and town planners didn't and Leeds one-way system provides endless entertainment. On tour, the frustrated driver will trundle round in circles, passing huge, interminable Victorian civic buildings - the Town Hall, City Museum, Henry Moore Gallery and The Grand Theatre, (home to Opera North). The driver, however, will miss the semi-pedestrianised, bustling main street, known as the Headrow, [ITAL]the site of every local amenity a student could ever want and many they wouldn't.[EITAL][ITAL][HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Leeds BR Station (1 mile from the campus) is the centre of the West Yorkshire metro train network which serves all the local Yorkshire towns (Bradford, Wakefield, Sheffield and York). Many direct services operate further afield to, for example, London (2:30hrs, 1/hr), Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express to London (ú12.00, 3:40hrs, 9/day), Manchester (ú3.50, 1:15hrs, 1/hr), Sheffield (ú2.20, 50mins, 1/hr), Birmingham (ú12.00, 3hrs, 5/day) and other destinations. Also served by Greenline.[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] 10mins off the M1 and on the M62 to Manchester. The A64 runs to the nearby A1, [ITAL]but a car is unnecessary for local travel, due to the good public transport.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Leeds/Bradford Airport for inland and European flights.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD][ITAL] Excellent prospects for long distance on the A1, M1 and M62, but as ever, there are safer ways of getting around.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Very reliable, frequent trains and buses[EITAL]. A bus journey to 'student land' from the city rarely costs more than 50p.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Quick and efficient[EITAL], costing ú2.50 for the mile from the station to the campus.[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The city's the right size for bike travel, but has the wrong contours and too many people who believe all bike ownership is an invitation to theft.[EITAL][ITAL][HDNG]NOS and REQUIREMENTS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Arts[EBOLD] 3,000 18-22pts[BOLD][PARA]Eco/Soc Studs[EBOLD] 2,570 16-22pts[BOLD][PARA]Law[EBOLD] 1,500 22-26pts[BOLD][PARA]Education[EBOLD] 3,600 20pts[BOLD][PARA]Science[EBOLD] 2,500 16-22pts[BOLD][PARA]Engineering[EBOLD] 2,500 18-26pts[BOLD][PARA]Medicine[EBOLD] 2,330 18-26pts[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 2.5m [BULL] Study places: 1,676 [BULL] Computer workstations: 1,580[ESTAT][PARA]The main library is in the Parkinson Building, but there are 34 others across campus covering every conceivable subject.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 9full/2part [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 15.7%[ESTAT][HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Andrew Eldritch (Sisters of Mercy); Ray French (BBC rugby commentator); David Gedge (Wedding Present); Andy Kershaw (Radio 1 DJ); Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits); ex-Judge James Pickles; Ronald Pickup (actor); Gerald Ratner (former crap jeweller); Clare Short MP, Jack Straw MP (both Lab); Nicholas Witchell (BBC newscaster).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads and a guide for mature students. The SU produces an alternative prospectus.
