[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] Formerly Bristol Polytechnic[EBOLD][PARA][BOLD]For general information about Bristol:[EBOLD] see [ULNE]University of Bristol[EULNE]. The University has 4 sites with its main campus 5 miles north of the city centre at Frenchay. It was purpose-built in 1975[ITAL] in a style that suggests that built with a purpose means 'built with an excuse' - it doesn't do any favours for eye strain, although certain features like 'the Octagon',[EITAL] the HQ building of the HEFC (the quango funding body of higher education) [ITAL]and the 2 accompanying 'student villages' are pleasant and even innovative. The prospectus has the buildings photographed through some idyllic bullrushes, which is a bit cheeky[EITAL]. The other sites, described below, are spread out around Bristol nearer the centre. They have their own courses and are roughly self-contained, although all students are allowed to use the facilities of the main site.[PARA][PARA][BOLD][HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][EBOLD][PARA][ITAL]The Frenchay campus doesn't have much of a community atmosphere, but is lively as a hamster on a well-greased wheel. Other campuses differ, for example Bower Ashton has less character than a motorway service station. The advantages of Bristol as an attractive and fun city come into play. Strong links develop with the city through various activities. The University, however, does lack a single focal point for all students at all campuses - Frenchay ends up ignoring the others a bit.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]THE SITES:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Frenchay: [EBOLD](8,500 students - most courses) The main site.[PARA][BOLD]Bower Ashton:[EBOLD] (800 students - Art, Media and Design) 2 miles south-west of the city centre over the Clifton Suspension Bridge on the other side of the gorge and 71/2 miles from Frenchay, this is an [ITAL]overwhelmingly[EITAL] white concrete and glass oblong, [ITAL]not built to appeal to the aesthetic nature of the students based here[EITAL]. It is surrounded by [ITAL]pleasant [EITAL]fields, though, and the students[ITAL] consider themselves almost separate from the main site.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Redland: [EBOLD](1,100 students)[BOLD] [EBOLD][ITAL]The building does a good impersonation of a modern comprehensive school, ironic since [EITAL]it is the base for the Faculty of Education. It is 5 miles from Frenchay near the city centre.[PARA][BOLD]St Matthias:[EBOLD] (1,300 students - Humanities, Health and Community Studies) 21/2 miles from Frenchay with 2 halls of residence, [ITAL]this is by far the best-looking site[EITAL] with a gothic style listed building and a sunken[ITAL] [EITAL]lawn.[ITAL] This is a tight knit community, almost a college in its own right.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]THE CITY:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 370,300 [BULL] London: 111miles [BULL] Birmingham: 77miles [BULL] Cardiff: 29miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA][ITAL]Bristol is effectively the capital of the south-west. There's no use thinking this is a small time small town,[EITAL] although it's not as cosmopolitan as the big boys like London, Brum or Manchester. It was once though, back in the 17th century, when it was England's 2nd port, and, into the 18th and even the early 19th, it was still crucial on a national scale. But the old maritime industry has gone now and the docks have been redeveloped with offices for yapping yuppies. Elsewhere around the city, the night life leaves walls permanently dripping with metaphorical red paint, from clubs to culture and back again, and many a spending spree can be sprung in the city's shops and markets. [PUSH]push[EPUSH] would like to push the discriminating towards a few of Bristol's highest highlights: among the physically highest are the Cabot Tower (which, from below, can be seen from almost anywhere, and from the top of which almost anything can be seen) and the [ITAL]outrageous [EITAL]Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed by Brunel. Also designed by Brunel in 1843 is the SS Great Britain, now in dry dock at the Maritime Heritage Museum. For science with fun buttons to press, try the Exploratory; for art and nature, the City Museum and Art Gallery; and for caged animals (and one of England's only hippos), Bristol Zoo.[HDNG]TOWN:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: [BULL] Distance 1: miles [BULL] Distance 2: miles [BULL] Distance 3: miles[ESTAT][HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Bristol Temple Meads station is one of the country's centres for Intercity routes with direct services all over the shop including London (ú16.50, 1:40hrs, 1/hr), Birmingham (ú11.90) and Edinburgh (ú39.60). Bristol Parkway for Wales.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] Bristol is similarly well served by coach services, including National Express buses to, among other places, London (ú12.50, 2:20hrs, 6/day), Birmingham (ú10.25, 1:50hrs, 7/day), Newcastle (ú34.00, 6:45hrs, 3/day) Arrow and Bakers Dolphin offer cheaper return trips to London.[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] How do you get 2 whales in a mini? Down the M4. On the way to the Severn Bridge, the M4 also bypasses Bristol with the M32 going into the city. The M5 comes down from the Midlands, and the A38, A4 and A37 also all visit Bristol.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Bristol Airport, 7 miles outside the city centre, has flights inland and to Europe.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The M4 and M5 are both good for long distance thumbsters.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] There are several British Rail stops in and around the city and this provides a [ITAL]reliable,[EITAL] frequent and comprehensive service without staggering cost. Local buses fill in where trains can't go, costing ú1 from Temple Meads station to the Union.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] At about a ú1 per mile, [ITAL]useful for late night tripping.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The city's hilly nature presents a few ups and downs, but the busy roads present downright danger, although there is now an increasing number of cycle lanes. Bikes also have a tendency to cycle off on their own. Nevertheless pedalling is a popular pastime.[EITAL][PARA][PARA]The nearest station to the Frenchay site is Bristol's 2nd biggest, Bristol Parkway. Bus services link the Frenchay campus to the city centre (ú1.60 return after 9am only) and run between the sites (which isn't often necessary). There's also the late night minibus service run by the SU (70p) and public buses every 20mins, but they cost about ú1.60 return from the city centre to Frenchay.[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 356,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 1,230 [BULL] Computer workstations: 1,590[ESTAT][PARA]There are libraries on 4 campuses relating to the studies on the based there. The University's [ITAL]extensive [EITAL]computer provision is spread around the sites, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 5full/2part [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 11%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]Sue Slocombe, the University's Principal Lecturer in Education is coach to the England Women's Hockey Team.[PARA][BULL]The HQ of the HEFC (Higher Education Funding Council) is on the Frenchay campus, the first building to confront visitors.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Kieran Bracken (rugby pin-up); Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits); Tim Manning (BBC Producer); Dawn Primarolo MP (Lab, Bristol); Jack Russell (cricketer).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Undergraduate prospectus.[PARA][PARA]
