[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] Formerly Napier Polytechnic[EBOLD][PARA][BOLD]For general information about Edinburgh: [EBOLD]see [ULNE]Edinburgh University[EULNE]. Napier is one of the new universities, bringing Edinburgh's total to 3, and like many others, it is growing at a rip-roaring pace and based on a number of sites. 6 sites in fact, and with the exception of Sighthill Court, they're all spread around a [ITAL]pleasant, [EITAL]predominantly middle-class area 21/2 miles to the west of Edinburgh city centre. Also with the exception of Sighthill Court, they're all within 11/2 miles of the main Merchiston campus.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]A large proportion (93%) of students are Scottish and many are local to Edinburgh. This and the lack of Napier Students' Association (NSA) facilities and University accommodation means that much of the interaction centres around daytime and academic activities. Until recently, this presented no problems, but now the students are beginning to resent the speed of the University's growth because they feel they're the ones who're paying for it. Facilities are extremely stretched with class sizes of up to and over 40 students. Halls have been hired (including the local Dominion cinema) to host lectures that the University can no longer accommodate leading to untold confusion, queues and treks across town. Nevertheless, in true Blighty-in-the-Blitz-blackout spirit, standards remain high and with such busy sites a sense of community has prevailed. What's more, most students regard any tribulations as trivial since they are able to live in Edinburgh and enjoy its more than adequate social distractions. Things may be tough now, but the future's so bright, you gotta wear shades.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]THE CITY:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 421,213 [BULL] London: 391miles [BULL] Glasgow: 44miles [BULL] Newcastle: 93miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA][ITAL]Edinburgh is a stunning city with a tremendous heritage[EITAL]. [ITAL] Like all the best cities,[EITAL] it is built on 7 hills, overlooked by Arthur's Seat, a mini mountain. The centre hill is peaked by the castle and old city walls. There are over 16,000 listed buildings, mostly built of the local grey stone [ITAL]that picks up something ethereal in the quality of the light[EITAL]. These buildings date mainly from 2 periods of expansion: the formation of the centre from the 11th century onwards; and later, the New Town, mainly to the north. The broad streets, garden squares, cobbled alleys, parks and [ITAL]gasping [EITAL]views are [ITAL]well planned[EITAL] (all by one guy, George Drummond) with 3 main roads running parallel (Queen Street, George Street and Princes Street). The Royal Mile, a straight stretch of linked roads, runs through the city's heart. 4-storey tenements line the Royal Mile. [ITAL]The Old Town is unique in its ability to look as though Nature intended it to be there, and the names evoke the charm:[EITAL] Grassmarket; Lawnmarket; The Pleasance; Cowgate; The Mound. [ITAL]It is also a place with real people in it - including some of the best buskers this side of New Orleans.[EITAL] There's no shortage of shops, civic amenities or museums. Among the sites that should be first on any tour of the city are the Holyrood Palace, the Royal Museum of Scotland, the National Gallery, National Gallery of Modern Art, Parliament House, the Castle and... forget it. [ITAL]We could carry on praising Edinburgh, drawing out its long history, its heritage and highlights, but frankly we might spoil the fun of exploring every delightful nook and cranny of the place[EITAL].[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Edinburgh Waverley Station is the most central in Edinburgh. There is a direct line to Glasgow, another to the north and another to the south through Newcastle and York to London (4:20hrs, 1/hr). Regular connections also to Birmingham and Bristol.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express, Stagecoach and Citylink services to London (ú25.00, 7:50hrs, 2/day), Newcastle (ú12.00, 2:45hrs, 3/day), Glasgow (ú6.30, 1:10hrs, 9/day), Manchester (ú13.75, 5:55hrs, 2/day).[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] The M8 and M9 connect with the A8 on the west of Edinburgh. It is also served by the A1, A7, A68, A70, A71, A702, A703 and A90.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Edinburgh (Turnhouse) Airport, 51/2 miles west of the city centre, has a range of international flights.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD][ITAL] The A1 is a popular road for hitchers. Unfortunately, this part of the A1 isn't so popular with the sort of driver who gives lifts. But the lifts are there - eventually. It's easier to get into Edinburgh than out of it. The M8 and M9 are good for routes to Glasgow and Perth.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Bus services are good all round the city and quite cheap [EITAL](from 40p). They run less frequently after 7pm until midnight. [ITAL]The trains around town are irrelevant except for students living on the west side.[EITAL] For them though, the route (60p) from Waverley to Haymarket is a [ITAL]useful [EITAL]one.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Useful for late night trips, otherwise they're a bit extravagant[EITAL] (ú3 across town).[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Very useful, but remember Edinburgh is built on 7 hills. Bicycles also have a severe tendency to wheel themselves away.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] The closest stations are as follows: Haymarket for Merchiston, North Merchiston and Redwood House; Waverley for Marchmont; Slateford for Craiglockhart; and Wester Hailes or South Gyles for Sighthill. Waverley to Haymarket, for example, costs 60p.[PARA][BOLD]Buses:[EBOLD] Public buses offer [ITAL]good [EITAL]services between the sites and into the city centre from 40p upwards.[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles: [EBOLD]There's a [ITAL]big[EITAL] bike rack at Merchiston.[HDNG]FACULTIES and STUDENT NOS:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Science[EBOLD] 1,163[BOLD][PARA]Engineering[EBOLD] 1,499[BOLD][PARA]Applied Arts[EBOLD] 1,225[BOLD][PARA]Business School[EBOLD] 1,535[BOLD][PARA]Science[EBOLD] 2,587[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 210,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 1,900 [BULL] Study places: 1,180 [BULL] Computer workstations: 22[ESTAT][PARA]There are 3 libraries at (in order of size) Merchiston (housing the Edward Clark Collection, tracing the history of printing since the 15th century), Sighthill and Craiglockhart. On the same sites, there are also computer rooms, providing networked PCs.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 4full [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 12.4%[ESTAT][PARA]Most courses are vocational, but this doesn't provide any kind of job guarantee - even placements are hard to find right now.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Colin Baxter (photographer); Mark Goodier (Radio 1 DJ); Gavin Hastings (Rugby international); Greg Kane (of Hue and Cry); Jane Franchi, Bill McFarlan, Malcolm Wilson, Cathy McDonald and Jim White (all Scottish TV presenters).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]A prospectus for undergrads and a joint prospectus for part-timers and postgrads.[PARA][PARA]
