[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] Formerly Sunderland Polytechnic[EBOLD][PARA]Sunderland is one of the UK's newest cities, a port forming part of the Tyne and Wear conurbation. Buildings almost all date from the 60s and onwards and [ITAL]the centre is only just old enough to have started to look shabby.[EITAL] Although it is industrial, the Northumbrian coast and moors and the rural City of Durham to the south-west are all close, as are 2 of Europe's largest shopping complexes - the Metro Centre in Gateshead and Eldon Square in Newcastle (see [ULNE]Newcastle University[EULNE]). The University has 2 areas that you might call campuses, but, in fact, has splinters all over the city - more than 40 buildings. The Edinburgh campus in the city centre is mostly composed of early 60s tower blocks [ITAL]which match the city architecture in style and complete lack of aesthetic appeal. [EITAL]The Langham complex is[ITAL] less unattractive [EITAL]and situated in[ITAL] an acceptably pleasant [EITAL]suburb not far from the Edinburgh complex, [ITAL]but then, nothing in Sunderland is that far from anywhere else. [EITAL]A new campus (St Peter's) is being phased in over the next 10 years; the most prominent bit at the moment is the Manor Quay SU building, renovated at the cost of ú1m.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]Despite the variety of backgrounds, interests, ages, the lack of 1st year accommodation and the separate sites, the University still manages to maintain a community atmosphere. Students get involved in Union activities and are united against the chronic overcrowding and general lack of resources. The University has a reputation as a junk yard for other colleges' refusals, which isn't really fair since there are some good courses and other plus points. For example, the cost of living is a bonus.[EITAL][HDNG]THE CITY:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 286,800 [BULL] London: 257miles [BULL] Newcastle: 10miles [BULL] Durham: 13miles[ESTAT][PARA][ITAL]No-one would claim this is an architecturally appealing city, unless they were normally employed designing the insides of paper bags[EITAL]. It doesn't have a wide range of shops, just repetitive branch stores, although Newcastle and the Metro Centre make up for that. However, there are 2 museums, some [ITAL]interesting [EITAL]bridges and, a little way inland, the Penshaw Monument, a massive folly that looks like a Greek temple and can be seen for miles around.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Sunderland station is 10 mins walk from the Edinburgh campus. There are direct trains to Newcastle, Middlesborough and London and connections to the rest of the country.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] Blueline and National Express services to many destinations including London (ú17.50, 5:25hrs, 5/day), and Edinburgh (ú12.25, 3:20hrs, 1/day).[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] 8 miles off the A1(M) on the A123, A19 and A690.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Newcastle International and Teesside Airports are both under an hour's drive away.[PARA][BOLD]Ferries:[EBOLD] Although on the coast the nearest ferries are from Newcastle and Hull, serving Europe and Scandinavia.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Good prospects once out of Sunderland, particularly on the A1 north or south.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] The buses are [ITAL]cheap [EITAL](fares from 20p)[ITAL] and quite reliable, although deregulation in Wearside has complicated the timetables[EITAL]. Trains runs a shuttle service to Newcastle and Middlesborough every 1/2 hour and costing ú1.20. Development of an underground system is imminent.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Since Sunderland's small, the taxis can't charge too much to get anywhere. Even so, they're cheap anyway.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]There aren't many places to leave a bike in town and, besides, it may well not be there later anyway. There's a new bike lane between Consett and the coast.[EITAL][ITAL][HDNG]FACULTIES and STUDENT NOS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Arts/Comms[EBOLD] 1,021[BOLD][PARA]Business[EBOLD] 1,442[BOLD][PARA]Computing[EBOLD] 1,282[BOLD][PARA]Education[EBOLD] 1,058[BOLD][PARA]Engineering[EBOLD] 1,033[BOLD][PARA]Environment[EBOLD] 1,295[BOLD][PARA]Health[EBOLD] 1,817[BOLD][PARA]Soc Studs[EBOLD] 383[BOLD][PARA]Comb Studs[EBOLD] 1,271[BOLD][HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][EBOLD][PARA][BOLD][STAT][BULL] Books: 290,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 1,550 [BULL] Study places: 1,100 [BULL] Computer workstations: 1,660[ESTAT][EBOLD][PARA]The main library is on the Edinburgh campus, and here are further departmental libraries. All students are encouraged to become computer literate and the Computer centre has various beginners' packages.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 6full/1part [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 15%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]The automotive design studio was opened by Stirling Moss.[PARA][BULL]Prince Philip was nearly skewered at a recent demonstration by the University fencing club.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Steve Cram (runner); Alan Donnelly, MEP (Lab). Sunderland FC has a joint honorary degree.[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads.
