[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] Formerly Wolverhampton Polytechnic[EBOLD][PARA]It will probably offend every one of Wolverhampton's 266,000 inhabitants to say that it's a bulbous mass sprouting out of the north west of Birmingham. (For more details about Birmingham, see [ULNE]University of Birmingham[EULNE].) From the centre of Wolves (as it's called) to the centre of Brum (as it's called) is 13 miles, with Walsall, Dudley and West Bromwich in between and no break in the urban crush and crawl. Each of these towns in The Birmingham Conurbation is distinctly different: for example, Wolves is on a hill. It is more residential [ITAL]and has a slower pace than Brum itself and is, frankly, more depressing[EITAL]. As for the University, Wolves is simply one of its bases. Humanities and Social Sciences are based on a campus in Dudley, and Education is on the Walsall Campus. And even further flung, is the University's Business School in Shropshire near Telford, a town of 28,000 souls, 16 miles away.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]Since many students are mature, they set the tone for everyone. Many have had to make sacrifices to do their courses and so they're enthusiastic about them and committed and happy with the break they've got. They're willing to ignore the inconvenience of the number of sites. They're making the most of their student life, not just workin', but also rockin' an' rollin' an' whotnot (whotnot includes involvement in the SU which also does its best to overcome the split sites). Each site and campus is almost completely self-contained and although they have a similar atmosphere, they vary is size and amenities. [EITAL][ITAL][HDNG]THE SITES:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Wolverhampton Campus:[EBOLD] This is the main campus consists of a number of modern buildings. [ITAL]It may not be too ugly, but the main building is seriously big and does look distinctly institutional, as if it used to be a hospital. Inside, the floors are so clean there's not a skirt or trouser leg you can't look up. The reception looks like the entrance to a law court or something similarly official and smart.[EITAL] Being in the centre of Wolves, it is useful for the shopping centre and other civic amenities.[PARA][BOLD]Compton Park Campus:[EBOLD] (1,000 students - Business Studies) [ITAL]Business Schools always get the best-looking site and this is not the exception that proves the rule.[EITAL] This is the leafy smart part of Wolves, 11/2 miles from the main site, but connected by public transport.[PARA][BOLD]Dudley Campus:[EBOLD] (1,805 students - Humanities, Social Sciences, Continuing Education) 7 miles from the main site, this campus is just under a mile from Dudley town centre in a [ITAL]pleasantly [EITAL]green suburb. [ITAL]The best things about this campus are the facilities and the real ale in the local pubs, but it is not so good for shops or transport connections. [EITAL]Dudley itself is a small market town dominated by a castle.[PARA][BOLD]Walsall Campus:[EBOLD] (3,403 students - School of Education) 9 miles from the main site, this campus is about 3/4 of a mile from Walsall town centre -[ITAL] more of a suburb of Brum than a town in itself - but is okay for shops and stuff like that.[EITAL] The campus, a set of geometric modern purpose-built blocks, also has a few facilities of its own for sports and fun.[PARA][BOLD]Telford:[EBOLD] (2,781 students - Business School, Humanities, Computing) Out on a limb, this site was set up for students who wanted to live and study in their own locality. It's the smallest and newest site, but offers most of the courses available elsewhere. [ITAL] It's based around a stately home, but is lacking quite a lot by way of atmosphere and facilities.[EITAL][ITAL][HDNG]THE CITY:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 2,200,000 [BULL] London: 105miles [BULL] Manchester: 75miles [BULL] Bristol: 75miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA][ITAL]Birmingham is best known for being ugly and run down - the Handsworth Riots and the Birmingham Six (you can still visit the pub they didn't blow up - The Tavern in the Town by the Odeon). And there's the vowel-boiling accent sent up by everyone as the hallmark of the typical ignorant oik and Frank Skinner.[EITAL][PARA][ITAL] But (courtesy of EC cash) Birmingham is on the up, like a phoenix rising from the fag ash of the Industrial Revolution, coughing and spluttering and spreading brand new space age wings.[EITAL] The canals (of which there are more in Birmingham than Venice) have been cleaned up. Grotty alleys have been cobbled or paved and pedestrianised ([ITAL]and often dehumanised as a result[EITAL]). The Broad Street area in the centre now has the New Convention Centre, [ITAL]one of the best venues for miles with some of the best acoustics.[EITAL] It has the Birmingham Rep Theatre, Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, a new indoor arena and a modern modish piazza full of [ITAL]cache [EITAL]cafes and [ITAL]chic [EITAL]shops. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery has the kind of collection (particularly Pre-Raphaelites) that turns Lloyd Grossman's drawl into a drool. The Sadlers Wells Ballet has moved back to 'Brum' (as those who know it, know it) and the D'Oyly Carte Opera has joined them here. The Bull Ring shopping centre, [ITAL]the ugliest ever spewed onto Britain's streets[EITAL], is destined for demolition and monstrosities are being replaced by [ITAL]swish [EITAL]shopping centres like the Pallasades (incorporating New Street Station), the Pavilions and City Plaza, which usually has a man playing Grand Piano at the bottom of the escalator. [ITAL]If you haven't got the idea by now, the message is: forget your prejudices, Brum is breaking into brilliance. [EITAL][ITAL][HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Wolverhampton Station is 5 minutes walk from the main site and operates services all over the country and into Brum: London (ú16.50, 2hrs, 1/hr); Birmingham (ú1.65); Edinburgh (ú27.05); and Bristol (ú12.55). There are also British Rail stations at Walsall and Telford.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express services to, among other destinations, London (ú12.25, 3:40hrs, 6/day), Manchester (ú10.50, 1:40hrs, 1/day), Edinburgh (ú29.50, 50mins, 1/day) and Preston (ú14.75, 2:40, 1/day).[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] Wolverhampton, Walsall and Dudley can be reached on the M5, M54, M6. The A41 and M54 also connect with Telford.[PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] The many [ITAL]cheap [EITAL]buses are t[ITAL]he best way of getting anywhere[EITAL] and connect with Brum too, [ITAL]although there are the unreliable trains too.[EITAL] The University also provides a free, popular, but [ITAL]less than dependable,[EITAL] inter-site shuttle bus for staff and students, between all the sites[ITAL].[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] Secure bike sheds on the main campus. Unless you're Chris Boardman, cycling between the sites is not on.[HDNG]BIRMINGHAM - TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains: [EBOLD][ITAL]Being the belly button of Britain, Brum is brilliantly placed for rail links.[EITAL] Inter City links from London (1:40hrs, 3/hr) and just about every city in the country all come into New Street Station, from where there are 4 Cross-City Line trains every hour to the University Station.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches: [EBOLD]National Express services to London (ú9.50, 2:30hrs, 1/hr), Manchester (ú7.00, 2:20hrs, 8/day), Leeds (ú12.00, 3hrs, 6/day), Bristol (ú9.50, 1:50hr, 7/day), Cardiff (ú11.25, 2.20hrs, 5/day), Stoke (ú4.75, 1hr, 7/day) and all over. Also West Midlands Travel and London Liner.[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] From the north-west and north Wales: M6, M54 and A41. From the south-west and south Wales: M5, A38 and A456. From London and south-east: M6 (to the M1), M40, A45. From north-east: M42 and A38.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Birmingham International Airport, 9 miles from the campus to the east of the city, operates flights to the USA, Europe and Ireland as well as inland services.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Well located for branching out to the whole country - plenty of traffic and a motorway ring road all round the city as a launch pad. [EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Bus services are very comprehensive, but all too often crowded (especially in rush hour).[EITAL] [ITAL] However, while there are plenty of services from the outskirts to the centre, it's quite difficult to skirt the edge. [EITAL] They run late into the night and are quite cheap (65-70p anywhere and ú6.50 for a 2 week pass). Overground trains run around the city -[ITAL] they're faster than buses, but more expensive and very unreliable. Not worth using, except by students who live in Selly Oak.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The cowboy outfits are cheaper than the black cabs (minimum charge ú2) but when God invented taxis, she wasn't thinking of students.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Routes are juggernaut jungles and a cyclist's life expectancy has got to be about the same as James Bond's girlfriend's. If a cyclist is lucky, their bike might well get nicked first.[EITAL][ITAL][HDNG]NOS and REQUIREMENTS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Art/Soc Studs[EBOLD] 2,414 14pts[BOLD][PARA]Business/Law[EBOLD] 3,498 14pts[BOLD][PARA]Education[EBOLD] 1,466 10pts[BOLD][PARA]Science[EBOLD] 3,398 10pts[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 372,931 [BULL] Periodicals: 3,500 [BULL] Study places: 1,405 [BULL] Computer workstations: 750[ESTAT][PARA]There's a library on each site - including the main Robert Scott Library (a 4 storey purpose-built building) - which also houses most of the computer service.[HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]The Higher Education Shop is a unique advice service for people of all ages thinking of going on to higher study (not necessarily at Wolves University).[PARA][BULL]The academic year consists of just 2 semesters, from October to January and from February to mid-June and about 90 modular courses are available.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Sir Terence Beckett (deputy chairman, CEGB).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]The undergraduate prospectus and other advice and help is available from the Admissions Office.
