[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA]At the western end of Manchester is the city of Salford, [ITAL]but screw up your eyes and you can't see the join[EITAL]. [ITAL] Salford isn't magically different, nor is it sufficiently far to make it properly distinct and so everything we said about Manchester (see [ULNE]University of Manchester[EULNE]) applies equally to Salford with the added benefit of [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]'s insights.[EITAL] After all, it's only 2 miles to the centre of Manchester. [ITAL] It's certainly not the posh end of Manchester[EITAL], but the 34 acre site of the University is quite green and [ITAL]less ugly[EITAL] than many modern campuses. With a few redbrick exceptions, the buildings have all been built in the last 20 years. 70% of students study broadly science-based subjects (although arts and social sciences are expanding) and the University has strong links with industry, particularly local firms.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]The large proportion of overseas students play an active role in the student scene, providing a cosmopolitan air. Meanwhile, the University's strong local links provide a real community identity for students. Students get the best of both worlds: a campus university in a small neighbourhood town at the same time as the metropolitan high life of Manchester. The bright lights of Manchester are just a touch too radiant to let that local element dazzle effectively. Still, it's more relaxed and less poseurish than most of Manchester's other colleges. Students of an artistic disposition, beware - the arts departments are severely outnumbered. The University's intention is that students should apply practicality to academia. How sensible.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]LIFE IN MANCHESTER:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL]'I'm comin' home I'm comin' home, to your house!' 'My rabbit's dead!' 'Listen Naaaadia, you've got a duty to know about these things!' Yes, this is the home of 'The Living Soap', the studes you loved to loathe. Unfortunately, many people regard the show as a depiction of an average student household, which presupposes that Manchester is an average student city. Not likely, Mr Holdsworth![EITAL][PARA][ITAL] Manchester students dress to thrill, if not in the classic late-80s bags, at least in high style. Manchester is Mecca for 2nd-hand gear, especially Oldham market. The famous Afflecks Palace, although past its best, is the place to tog up for term time, anything from rags to records and back to rags again (although it's quite designer grunge/nouveau 70s nowadays). Amongst the 200 or so stalls, there's usually a job going for about ú15 a day, which keeps the landlord at bay.[EITAL][PARA][ITAL] A job's pretty handy (there are a few about but many hunters) because life ain't cheap here. Although not on a London scale of urban extortion, there are too many temptations to look after the pennies and the pounds end up playing follow the leader. However, Manchester has very little of the crowded loneliness of London or its impersonality. The people are friendly (Paul Calf isn't representative of all locals) and, amongst students, local pride is a virus. At the end of term, students from the south frequently return (to their mothers' horror) sporting 'Born in the North - die in the North' t-shirts.[EITAL][PARA][ITAL] While the city sprawls for about 10 miles in all directions, its centre is relatively small which makes getting out and about a cruise. With so much to do around town, there's no excuse for a Saturday night on the sofa. A bar or a club on the other side of town is only 20 minutes walk and, since the student residential areas tend to be inner-city districts, a minicab home won't be grant-busting.[EITAL][PARA][ITAL] At the very core, indeed, the hard core of the Manchester Scene is ecstacy ('E' or 'the dance drug'). This and other, nastier, drugs are readily available in the clubs, pubs and on the streets of Manchester. Manchester students' attitudes to drugs obviously vary enormously between individuals and although use of 'E', 'acid' (LSD) and 'dope' (cannabis) is quite widespread, the pressure to partake is small. Fun abounds without chemical playmates. [EITAL][PARA][ITAL] Manchester offers a student just about everything any city can, but many find it oppressive, especially if they're not from a big city. The bright lights invite, but they dazzle too.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]SALFORD:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 217,900[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA][ITAL]Salford has its own small and friendly community. Occasionally, it looks somewhat like a Lowry painting, full of matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs, factory gates and the rest of it. [EITAL]Not surprising, really, since this is Lowry's home town. The City Art Gallery has the largest single collection of his works. [ITAL] Occasionally, it also looks like a scene from 'Coronation Street'.[EITAL] Again, no surprise, chuck, as this is where it is set. But far more often, it is the rebuilt Salford that shows its face, the docklands have been developed and right in the heart of [ITAL]The Grim North[EITAL] are all sorts of new constructions: high rise blocks; shopping malls and supermarkets; libraries; book shops; banks (including a Midland on campus); and everything else a town needs, including 3 museums, an 'urban heritage park' and its own nightlife.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Not 1 but 2 mainline stations, Manchester Piccadilly for London and the South, and Manchester Victoria for just about everywhere else. Routes go all over, including London (2:30hrs, 1/hr); Birmingham, Edinburgh and Bristol.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] All sorts of coach services, including, of course, National Express to, among most other places, London (ú16.00, 3:30hrs, 7/day), Birmngham (ú7.50, 2:20hrs, 8/day), Edinburgh (ú13.75, 5:55hrs, 2/day) .[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] From the north, M6 (then M61 or M62), A6 or M66; from the east, M62, A58, A62; from the South, M6, A6, A523, A34; and from Wales, the M56. Parking may well be a problem in central Manchester,[ITAL] but, for the lazy or environmentally carefree, a car doesn't go amiss.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Manchester Airport is one of the UK's big ones - flights all over the world as well as inland.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Not possible from central Manchester, but quite good on arterial routes out of the city.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] Manchester has a major bus network, running all over town, especially up and down Oxford Road[ITAL].[EITAL] Trains are a [ITAL]quicker[EITAL] alternative, especially for the outskirts. The spanking new Metro Link tram service is now up and trundling.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD][ITAL] Manchester's centre, being relatively small, means taxi trips are a viable resort. The black cabs which screech to a halt as you hail them are a lot more expensive than the private traders who are only supposed to pick up phone callers and drop ins. [EITAL][PARA][ITAL][BOLD]Bicycles: [EBOLD]Manchester's quite bike-friendly (flat with a fair few bicycle lanes), but theft is rife. A mountain bike will identify you as a drug pusher, especially if you're about 12.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Salford Crescent station is actually on the campus, although for some national services it may be necessary to change at one of Manchester's stations (trains every 15mins). Salford to London (ú21.80, 2:30hrs, 1/hr).[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express and other services go all over the place always via Manchester, including London (ú16.00, 5:00hrs, 2/day) .[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Parking a car doesn't really present a problem[EITAL] and Salford is accessible on the M61, M62, M63, A57 and A580. [ITAL]However, local communications are good enough that students might as well give the environment a break.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Manchester Airport is 9 miles from the University to the south of Manchester and beyond that... the world.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching: [EBOLD][ITAL]Not the world's safest place to hitch from, but the connections are good.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] Salford is covered by Manchester's bus and train networks which are reliable, comprehensive and generally cheap. Buses go to Manchester city centre every 3 mins. (Local travel in Manchester, see [ULNE]University of Manchester[EULNE].)[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Around Salford, private cab companies are surprisingly inexpensive, but still not for daily travel.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The traffic flow is quite heavy and theft a quite a problem. There are better ways of getting around, but it's your trip...[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]NOS and REQUIREMENTS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Soc Sci[EBOLD] 2,136 22pts[BOLD][PARA]Science[EBOLD] 1,585 20pts[BOLD][PARA]Engineering[EBOLD] 1,811 19pts[BOLD][HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][EBOLD][PARA][BOLD][STAT][BULL] Books: 308,529 [BULL] Periodicals: 92,345 [BULL] Study places: 999 [BULL] Computer workstations: 400[ESTAT][EBOLD][PARA]Library and computers under one roof. Many departments have their own libraries too.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 4full/2part [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 12%[ESTAT][PARA][PARA][PARA][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]*This flunk rate is, perhaps, a bit misleading, since it includes students on Salford's 2+2 access courses. This allows students with non-standard entry qualifications to register as Salford students, whilst taking an HND course at a local college, followed by the final 2 years of a degree course at the University. Some choose to leave after gaining the HND, which isn't flunking, but looks like it in statistics land. It's a very successful scheme, but it does bugger up our figures.[PARA][BULL]Fergie is the University's Chancellor. [ITAL]Perhaps, with hindsight, not the wisest of appointments.[EITAL][PARA][BULL]The academic year consists of 2 14-week semesters rather than 3 terms (Oct-Feb, Feb-June).[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]According to the University, many of its graduates "now hold senior positions in major industrial, commercial and academic organisations" but the only ones they named were Ieuan Evans (Welsh Rugby Captain) and Alison Utley (journalist).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads.[PARA][PARA]
