[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] The College is part of University of London and students are [PARA]entitled to use its facilities.[EBOLD][PARA][BOLD]For general information about London:[EBOLD] see [ULNE]University of London[EULNE].[BOLD] [EBOLD][PARA]Wye College specialises in the teaching of agricultural, business, [PARA]environmental and related subjects - [ITAL]basically a lot of farmers[EITAL]. [PARA]So, although it's a part of London University, it is set in rural Kent, [PARA]worlds away from the capital's polluted centre. Established in the[PARA]15th century, [ITAL]the College has a definite Oxbridge air[EITAL], with long [PARA]traditions and built around grassy quads. There are many 19th [PARA]century additions and new redbrick sections. Wye itself is [PARA]nothing more than a village and the nearest town Ashford, 4 [PARA]miles away, isn't much more, although when it becomes an [PARA]international rail terminal for the Channel Tunnel, things will [PARA]inevitably liven up.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]With so few students, in order to remain anonymous at Wye [PARA]College, it would be necessary to dress up like the Masked [PARA]Avenger. This can lead to considerable claustrophobia and [PARA]impenetrable cliques, which is perhaps why so many students [PARA]get away each weekend. Lots of them have cars, so it is quite [PARA]easy to do. Young farmers have never been known for their [PARA]political correctness and there are a lot of unshaven beer and [PARA]rugby types... and that's just the women. However, there is a [PARA]move towards students being concerned with conserving the [PARA]environment rather than simply using it.[EITAL][ITAL][HDNG]TOWN:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population (Ashford): 15,000 [BULL] London: 52miles [BULL] [PARA]Canterbury: 10miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA]The College is in the heart of the Kent countryside, surrounded [PARA]by small villages, such as Wye, and next to a conservation area. [PARA]This is the Garden of England - [ITAL]what better place to learn how to [PARA]make things grow? [EITAL] Ashford, the nearest town, has plenty of [PARA]shops for daily needs, [ITAL]but it's not a lively place.[EITAL] Students tend to [PARA]head for the bright lights of London for an improved social life.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] BR station at Wye, 1/4 mile from college, and trains to [PARA]France from Ashford International circa 1997.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches: [EBOLD]National Express to London (ú7, 1:35hrs, 7/day).[PARA][BOLD]Buses:[EBOLD] Buses from Ashford to the campus run till 8pm and cost ú1.[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Very handy to go out in the evening[EITAL] as the last train from [PARA]Ashford leaves at 11pm. Ashford is connected to London by the [PARA]A20 and to Folkestone on the coast, by the M20. The A28 runs [PARA]to Canterbury and then south towards Hastings.[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD][ITAL] [EITAL]Bike sheds are provided and the surrounding area is [PARA]very flat. [ITAL] Theft is pretty minimal[EITAL].[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 35,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 600 [BULL] Study places: 110 [BULL] [PARA]Computer workstations: 72[ESTAT][PARA]The specialist library supports the College's studies.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA]Inevitably, students tend to be employed in agriculture, horticulture[PARA]and environmentally related fields.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Sir Roy Griffiths (author, 'Care in the Community'); Rebecca [PARA]Stevens (first UK woman to climb Everest); and many celebrated[PARA]farmers.[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads.
