[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA]The county of Buckinghamshire, stretching from the north-west of London, contains many towns larger than Buckingham - not least, Milton Keynes (the largest) or Aylesbury (the county town). But for over 1,100 years, the county has been named after Buckingham - [ITAL]Milton Keynesshire really doesn't have the same ring[EITAL]. But Buckingham is [ITAL]little more than a village[EITAL], a retreat for city folk. The University, based on 2 8-acre sites on the edge of town, is unique. For a start, it is Britain's only private university - that is to say, it gets no Government funding and so most students end up paying over ú5,000 a year in fees (before the cost of living). Courses are only 2 years long, though, starting in January, with 4 10-week terms in each year. This leads some to argue that, because students have to 'buy their degrees' and because they take less long, that the degrees are worth less. [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL] would, of course, not want to be associated with such a slur and would like to point out that UB - as the University is often called - has only [ULNE]slightly[EULNE] lower acceptance grades than other universities.[EITAL] The Hunter Street site has the University's main facilities, the science and law departments. Other departments are at Verney Park. The buildings are mostly modern, but [ITAL]very attractive[EITAL]. There's a converted mill and church, some purpose-built new blocks, with one of the sites set amidst the banks of the Ouse. Fields, trees and the old stone buildings of Buckingham surround, and [ITAL]it all seems a far cry from anywhere.[EITAL][HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]Imagine what sort of people can afford in excess of ú17,000 over 2 years, with little time to earn money in the meantime... Students fall into 4 groups - either, (1) overseas students, (2) mature students, (3) rich students or (4) a mixture of the above. There are, of course, exceptions (such as students with big bank loans), but that rather proves the rule, doesn't it? [EITAL]Because of the 2 year courses, it actually works out cheaper for those overseas and mature students who'd have to pay whatever university they decided to attend.[ITAL] But these courses mean the workload is heavy and the holidays are short. Students rise to the challenge of the burden, often because they're footing the bill. The short courses also mean there's a lot less time to get involved in non-academic stuff - fine for those who believe that getting a degree is all that being a student is about. There is, however, a variety of extra-curricular activities and, although political activism is zilch, political opinion comes in a bright shade of shocking blue - appropriately, [EITAL]Lady Thatcher is the University Chancellor. [ITAL] Being very small, it's easy to get to know almost all the other students and staff and having so many overseas students, makes it almost incomparably multicultural. This all makes it a good place for coming out of shells.[EITAL][HDNG]TOWN:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 12,620 [BULL] London: 50miles [BULL] Milton Keynes: 14miles [BULL] Oxford: 21miles[ESTAT][PARA][ITAL]Buckingham may look pretty but it ain't up to much when it comes to fun and convenience[EITAL]: a Tesco's; some shops, including Mike and Marian's open till 10pm; 1 bookshop; banks, beauticians and boutiques; and a street market. [ITAL]Milton Keynes (or, as it's known, 'MK'), on the other hand, is all convenience, but has the urban charm of a Fisher Price toy.[EITAL] Its [ITAL]greatest [EITAL]attraction is one of the country's largest cinema multiplexes. Bicester is 11 miles in the other direction, but doesn't offer much more than Buckingham except a Tesco's and a station.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]It's not easy getting to Buckingham by public transport and a car is about the only alternative.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] The nearest stations are at Bicester and MK.[PARA][BOLD]Buses:[EBOLD] You can't get to Buckingham by coach either, although there are local buses [ITAL]which take forever [EITAL]to the closest National Express stop in MK, from which services go all over the country, including London (ú5.20, 1:20hrs, 1/hr), and Birmingham (ú6.50, 1:30hrs, 6/day).[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Students who can afford UB's fees can often afford a car as well - the car-park can look like an MG rally. Parking presents few problems. [EITAL]Routes often involve the M1, which bypasses MK, the A5, going straight through it, or the A43. Direct roads include A413, A421 and A422.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Luton Airport, 36 miles away, is the closest international airport offering flights to most major destinations.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Hitching in the home counties is like trying to eat spaghetti through a straw - it's just about possible, but it takes a long time and there are easier ways.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] Slow local buses to Oxford and MK. The University runs minibuses to London when there's enough demand.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] Several companies offer student discounts, but still, it's quite a journey to MK or anywhere else that students might want to go and distance makes the fares grow bigger.[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]What with the quality and quantity of fresh air, the rural rarity of traffic and the 1/2 mile between the 2 sites, a bike is an asset to be wished for.[EITAL][HDNG]NOS and REQUIREMENTS:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Business[EBOLD] 226 13pts [BOLD][PARA]Humanities[EBOLD] 156 10pts[BOLD][PARA]Law[EBOLD] 362 13pts[BOLD][PARA]Science[EBOLD] 68 10pts[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 66,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 495 [BULL] Study places: 202 [BULL] Computer workstations: 78[ESTAT][PARA]3 libraries: the Franciscan Library , Denning Law Library, and the Science library. In this, Buckingham suffers from one of the disadvantages of small universities: they sometimes have more books per head, but it doesn't help choice.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 2full[ESTAT][PARA]It's difficult to assess students' job prospects, since most return to their various far flung corners of the world. The large proportion of law and accountancy students are well set up.[HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]Courses start at the beginning of the calendar year which leaves the period from September to January before the 1st year for other activities. Many students go abroad, often on programmes in Europe arranged by the University or as far as Japan. Overseas students often arrive early for courses to improve their English.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Liyel Imoke (senator, Nigeria); Leo Mills (Cabinet Secretary, Bermuda).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads.[PARA][PARA]
