[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] Formerly Polytechnic South West[EBOLD][PARA]If Plymouth were any further south-west, it would be Cornwall. [PARA]As it is, it's a port around the Plymouth Sound (the bay) on the [PARA]south coast of Devon. This is where Sir Francis Drake played [PARA]with his bowls, before whipping a few Spanish butts from the [PARA]Armada. According to the myth, Frankie chucked his bowls [PARA]around on the Hoe, a patch of greenery by the sea. The Hoe's [PARA]still there near the city centre and not far from the main site of the[PARA]University. The University's old name, Polytechnic South West, [PARA]was more accurate geographically, because, in fact, it has 4 [PARA]sites spread around south Devon at Plymouth, Exeter, Exmouth [PARA]and just outside Newton Abbot. [ITAL]To be fair, Plymouth does [PARA]provide the focal point for the University. The Seale-Hayne [PARA](Newton Abbot) and Exmouth sites are definitely peripheral [PARA](except for those who happen to be based there). [EITAL] However, all [PARA]the sites have at least some of their own facilities. [BOLD]For general [PARA]information about Exeter:[EBOLD] see [ULNE]University of Exeter[EULNE].[HDNG]THE SITES and ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Plymouth:[EBOLD] (Business, Human Science, Marine Studies, Science, [PARA]Technology) This is the main site housing 5 out of the University's[PARA]7 faculties and nearly 7,500 of the students. It's a city centre [PARA]campus and a 60s [ITAL]concrete jungle - you expect a concrete [PARA]monkey to swing past on a concrete creeper at every minute[EITAL]. [ITAL][PARA]Fun is high on the agenda here and being a seaside resort, [PARA]there's a bit of a holiday atmosphere.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Exmouth: [EBOLD](Education) The town of Exmouth is, unsurprisingly, at [PARA]the mouth of the river Exe on the east bank of the wide estuary. [ITAL][PARA]This is a small town, a bit of a baby brother to Exeter, 8 miles [PARA]upstream. It has small town attitudes and facilities. Exeter is [PARA]very important for students who want more from life than pretty [PARA]sea views.[EITAL] 1,064 students are based in the small campus of [PARA]low-rise 60s architecture mixed with 3 and 4 storey Edwardian [PARA]buildings in the suburban edge of town, almost on the sea shore. [PARA]Some of the students have to travel between sites, particularly to [PARA]Exeter, on a regular basis, but buses are laid on when course [PARA]requirements require.[PARA][BOLD]Exeter: [EBOLD](Arts and Design) The campus is redbrick, 2 miles from [PARA]the city centre, next to the hilly countryside that surrounds Exeter.[PARA]It was purpose-built as Exeter Art College and now it houses 2 [PARA]arty departments and about 1,000 [ITAL]arty [EITAL]students. Again, some [PARA]students have to move about between sites, depending on their [PARA]course and buses are laid on. For a more detailed low-down on [PARA]the ups and downs of Exeter, see [ULNE]University of Exeter[EULNE], which, [ITAL][PARA]for students who are willing to mix with the Sloanes, is a social [PARA]life-saver.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Seale-Hayne: [EBOLD](Agriculture, Food and Land Use) This site is 3 [PARA]miles outside the tiny town of Newton Abbot, 24 miles from [PARA]Plymouth, 16 from Exeter, and just round the corner from the [PARA]middle of nowhere. It houses 1,151 students in [ITAL]beautiful stately [EITAL][PARA]buildings in [ITAL]beautiful [EITAL]countryside. [ITAL]But the site is self-contained [PARA]and, since travelling around is a hassle of the first degree, the [PARA]student community is just so close-knit there's little escape. [PARA]Some students find it all a bit suffocating; others love the close [PARA]and closeted lifestyle. [EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]PLYMOUTH:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 238,800 [BULL] London: 200miles [BULL] Exeter: 37miles[PARA][BULL] Bristol: 106miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA]Apart from a few buildings which date from the days of Drake, [PARA]most of Plymouth has been rebuilt since the last World War, [PARA]when it was truly trashed in bombing raids. [ITAL] As a result, it has a [PARA]great deal less rural charm than most West Country towns[EITAL] and [PARA]consequently fewer tourists. Instead, it's a functional town with [PARA]amenities serving a large catchment area. The Hoe and Quay [PARA]are [ITAL]pleasant enough[EITAL] and students wanting a little aesthetic [PARA]distraction might stroll across the road to the City Art Gallery and [PARA]Museum.[HDNG]EXETER:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 101,100 [BULL] London: 170miles [BULL] Bristol: 69miles [PARA]Plymouth: 46miles[ESTAT][PARA][ITAL]Exeter is quaint and quiet and[EITAL], according to the EC, has the [PARA]highest quality of life of any English city. In part, this must be due[PARA]to the ample selection of high street shops, supermarkets and [PARA]banks, and to the numerous wholesome cafes and [ITAL]cute little [PARA]earthy[EITAL] shops [ITAL](lots of Glastonbury casualties set up small [PARA]businesses)[EITAL]. Tourist attractions include the ancient cathedral, the[PARA]historic Guild Hall, and various museums, including the Maritime [PARA]Museum and the Royal Albert Museum and Art Gallery, with its [PARA]legendary giraffe.[PARA][PARA][BOLD]Exmouth and Newton Abbot:[EBOLD] These are both very small towns [PARA]with enough and only enough by way of local amenities for daily [PARA]necessities.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] The nearest station to the main site is Plymouth with [PARA]services to London (ú29.05, 3:20hrs, 1/hr), Bristol (ú17.15), [PARA]Birmingham (ú27.70), Cardiff, Exeter and elsewhere. Newton [PARA]Abbot is on the same line and most trains stop.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express and Western National services from [PARA]Plymouth to, among other places, London (ú20.50, 4:25hrs, [PARA]7/day), Exeter (ú5.70, 1hr, 6/day), Bristol (ú13.25, 2:20, 7/day)[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] The A38 links Plymouth with Newton Abbot and Exeter.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Flights inland and to Ireland from Plymouth airport.[PARA][BOLD]Ferries:[EBOLD] Services from Plymouth to France and Spain.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Okay along the A38, for he (and she) that wait.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] Buses around Devon are [ITAL]reliable and reasonably priced. [EITAL][PARA]There are local train services to the towns of all 4 sites, but the [PARA]number of places they go to is limited.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Plenty and they're comprehensive, but prices are high.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Plymouth is a bit hilly. At Seale-Hayne, a bike is handy [PARA]for getting into Newton Abbot.[EITAL][HDNG]EXETER:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Exeter St Davids, is 1/2 mile from the University. There [PARA]are direct lines to London (2:30hrs, 1/hr), Reading, Plymouth, [PARA]Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow and elsewhere.[PARA][BOLD]Buses:[EBOLD] National Express services all over the country, include [PARA]London (ú17, 3:45hrs, 8/day), Bristol (ú7, 1:45hrs, 9/day), [PARA]Manchester (ú24, 5:40hrs, 2/day).[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] Exeter is at the southern end of the M5, or there's the A30, [PARA]A377 and A38[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Exeter Airport (6 miles) offers inland and European flights.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The M5 is good for heading north.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Local buses are reliable and quite comprehensive, but not [PARA]cheap. The same can be said of local trains[EITAL] - there are 4 stations[PARA]around the city, [ITAL]but they're not very usefully placed.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Numerous, reliable and relatively cheap. [EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The city's not the flattest around and the University's in [PARA]the hilly part, but students with legs like steam pistons find bikes [PARA]useful. [EITAL][HDNG]FACULTIES and STUDENT NOS:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Arts and Educ[EBOLD] 1,959[BOLD][PARA]Human Sci[EBOLD] 1,187[BOLD][PARA]Business[EBOLD] 1,486[BOLD][PARA]Science[EBOLD] 2,465[BOLD][PARA]Agriculture[EBOLD] 880[BOLD][PARA]Technology[EBOLD] 2,295[BOLD][PARA]Partner Colleges[EBOLD] 1,895[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 350,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 2,740 [BULL] Study places: 836 [PARA]Computer workstations: 300[ESTAT][PARA]The library at Plymouth is the largest. The other sites have [PARA]libraries which relate to the departments based at each: Exeter [PARA](22,000 books); Exmouth (85,000); and Seale-Hayne (52,000). [PARA]There are computer services on all sites.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 4full/4part[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]The only perfumery course in Europe.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Pam St Clement (Pat in 'EastEnders').[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads, part-timers, postgrads and [PARA]overseas students.[PARA][PARA]
