[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA]Reading is unfortunately pronounced 'redding' which somewhat scuppers those witticisms that friends of students' parents will come up with such as, 'So, what are you reading at Reading?'. [ITAL]Apart from the potential for jokes about the name, there is little remotely remarkable about the town.[EITAL] It's a [ITAL]nondescript [EITAL]place close enough to London to be popular with commuters. [ITAL]The surrounding area is more attractive, lots of pleasant Thames-side villages and small towns[EITAL], such as Henley, Hurley and Goring. The University is based on the large Whiteknights campus, just under 2 miles from the town centre, set in 300 acres of parkland, lake and wood. The buildings are a varied mixture, ranging from 19th century houses, to the new microbiology building opened by the Queen as recently as March 1992. There is a small 2nd campus about 11/2 miles away at Bulmershe, housing about 2,000 students in the departments of Education and Film and Drama. [ITAL] It has a closer knit community atmosphere, but less good facilities.[EITAL][HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]The University has a cosy, self-contained atmosphere with a large proportion of students living on the campus or close to it. The students are fairly well to do, occasionally well off, and usually from southern England and Wales. Relations between students and locals can be disinterested at best and sticky at worst. 1st years get very het up about their FUEs (First University Exams) and, unlike most universities, the 1st year is as academically demanding as any other. However, many students don't see another exam paper till their finals.[EITAL][HDNG]THE TOWN:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 122,600 [BULL] London: 40miles [BULL] Oxford: 25miles [BULL] Bristol: 74miles[ESTAT][PARA][ITAL]Students often say that if they had their chance again, they wouldn't apply to Reading University a second time, simply because the town is boring.[EITAL] It is a large country town [ITAL]with little more to recommend it than good shopping and opportunities for business. [EITAL]There's a vast range of supermarkets, bookshops (including a very big Blackwells) and plenty of shops open into the night. Reading does have tourist attractions [ITAL]- well, there has to be something to do on rainy bank holidays[EITAL] - 3 museums (English Rural Life, Reading Museum and Blakes Lock Museum) and the River Thames, the River Kennet, the Avon Canal and Reading Abbey ruins.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Reading station, about 11/2 miles from campus offers direct services to London Paddington (23mins, 5/hr), London Waterloo (1:15mins, 2/hr), Oxford, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Cardiff, Bristol, Penzance and Birmingham.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express services all over the country, including London (ú4.25, 1:15hrs, 9/day), Bristol (ú10.75, 1:15hrs, 12/day), Birmingham (ú10, 2:20hrs, 2/day). There are also the Reading-London Link (Reading Transport) and Bee-Line Coaches.[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] The M4 and A4 run west out of London. Also, the A33.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Regular 45-minute coach service to Heathrow International Airport, the busiest airport in the world.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] The SU doesn't recommended it after recent attacks [ITAL]and the area's not that good for getting lifts anyway. [EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Buses between the University and town are reasonably good. [EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] Many taxi companies, but beware of those offering so-called 'student fares' - [ITAL]they can be even more expensive.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The campus is bikeably flat. Bikes are especially useful for early morning lectures or for getting to Bulmershe.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]FACULTIES and STUDENT NOS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Soc Sci[EBOLD] 3,508[BOLD][PARA]Science[EBOLD] 1,435[BOLD][PARA]Agriculture[EBOLD] 553[BOLD][PARA]Urban Studs[EBOLD] 821[BOLD][PARA]Educ/Community[EBOLD] 973[BOLD][HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][EBOLD][PARA][BOLD][STAT][BULL] Books: 900,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 5,000 [BULL] Study places: 350 [BULL] Computer workstations: 350[ESTAT][EBOLD][PARA]Apart from the main University Library there are various departmental libraries (eg Music, Bulmershe (education) and Agriculture) as well as some in halls of residence.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 8full [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 10.3%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]A flexible 1st year course structure is operated, giving students in some faculties a chance to experience other subjects and even change.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Jim Bacon (weatherperson); Suzanne Charlton (BBC weatherperson, daughter of Sir Bobby); Nigel de Gruchy (general secretary NASUWT); Prof Juliet Lodge (European Woman of the Year and lecturer at [ULNE]University of Hull[EULNE]); Andy McKay (Roxy Music saxophonist). Gustav Holst, the composer of 'The Planet Suite', lectured here.[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads, postgrads and part-timers. 'An Unofficial Guide to Reading University' is available for ú2.50 from the SU.[PARA][PARA]
