[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]For general information about Brighton:[EBOLD] see [ULNE]University of Brighton[EULNE].[BOLD] [EBOLD]31/2 miles inland from the Brighton town centre, before the land rises onto the Downs, is the thoroughly modern[ITAL],[EITAL] 200-acre campus of Sussex University, set in rolling green land near the village of Falmer. The Basil Spence design of courtyards, arches, concrete pillars and redbrick buildings [ITAL]could so easily have been hideous, but, in context, it works - it really does - [EITAL]and it has awards to prove it. The campus is isolated, but virtually self-sufficient with a chemist, green grocer, health centre and so on, all on site.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]Unlike some other places with a similar proportion of mature students, the tone of the University is affected, but not governed, by them. The mood is generally youthful and radical, but in a trendy rather than revolutionary way. In fact, the only revolution around here is the spinning wheels on the cars of the student Sloaney types who go to London at the weekend and leave the campus a lot quieter. But Sloanes don't set the tone either - the University has an easy-going pace with easy-going people. The trek into Brighton is a lot of hassle to make every day and so many students (particularly those living on campus) don't spend much time in town. Indeed, many 1st years hardly ever leave the campus at all. Despite this, many students stick around locally after graduating, which, of course, helps local relations.[EITAL][HDNG]TOWN:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 133,400 [BULL] London: 55miles [BULL] Southampton: 56miles [BULL] Eastbourne: 26miles[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Brighton: [EBOLD]Sometimes called 'London by the sea',[ITAL] Brighton is a truly cosmopolitan town that feels a bit like a city crushed into a village, because of the local variety and life.[EITAL] [ITAL] It's not as tacky as you might expect one of the kiss-me-quick and candy floss coastal resorts to be - it's a bit too posh for all that. Most of the touristy bits are of the quaint, craft work variety rather than the Blackpool Illuminations' bedazzling unsubtlety.[EITAL] Brighton has all the daily trade and shopping stocks for most needs although there's no big shopping mall. Instead, there's North Laines ([ITAL]vastly preferable[EITAL]) with [ITAL]terminally trendy[EITAL] clothes, jewellery and antique shops, cafes and buskers. Some of the more notable features include the [ITAL]excellent [EITAL]selection of 2nd hand bookshops, the [ITAL]bizarre [EITAL]Brighton Pavilion (Indian colonial throwback) and the Palace Pier with its permanent funfair.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Connections from Brighton station to London (51mins), Birmingham, Bristol and beyond.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express services from both towns. From Brighton all over the country including London (ú6.00, 1:45hrs, every 90mins), Bristol (ú18.50, 4:45hrs, 7/day), Manchester (ú23.00, 6:25hrs, 7/day). From Eastbourne: London (ú7.50, 2:15hrs, 3/day)[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] The A23 connects Brighton with London as the A22 does for Eastbourne. The A27 joins both towns with each other. Within Brighton, beware the voucher system, and zealous wardens.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Gatwick, Britain's 2nd largest airport, is 23 miles north on the A23.[PARA][BOLD]Ferries:[EBOLD] Ferries from Newhaven (8 miles east) to Dieppe.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] Students often hitch to London, [ITAL]although getting a lift can be a hitch (ho, ho).[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The local buses are reliable when it comes to turning up, but are slow and not all that cheap[EITAL]. Trains are quicker, often cheaper and they provide a comprehensive local service inland and along the coast linking Brighton and Eastbourne (ú3.35).[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Not the country's cheapest[EITAL].[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] Lots of hills, few racks or sheds, lots and lots of thefts, but nevertheless, lots of cyclists.[PARA][PARA][BOLD] [EBOLD]Falmer is the closest station with frequent trains into Brighton, costing just ú1.60 (return) and providing a comprehensive local service. [ITAL]Local buses are reliable both when it comes to turning up and when it comes to taking the longest route into town[EITAL] and charging ú1.50 for the privilege. There are late night buses until 2am. The A27 goes straight past the campus en route to Brighton and students often hitch into town and into London, [ITAL]although getting a lift can be a hitch (ho, ho). [EITAL] Taxis are d[ITAL]ownright exorbitant[EITAL], up to ú6 from campus to town. [ITAL]Bikes are better.[EITAL][HDNG]FACULTIES and STUDENT NOS:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Sciences[EBOLD] 1,662[BOLD][PARA]Engineering[EBOLD] 478[BOLD][PARA]Maths[EBOLD] 546[BOLD][PARA]Soc Sci[EBOLD] 1,725[BOLD][PARA]Languages[EBOLD] 1,860[BOLD][PARA]Education[EBOLD] 12[BOLD][HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][EBOLD][PARA][BOLD][STAT][BULL] Books: 700,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 3,500 [BULL] Study places: 900 [BULL] Computer workstations: 900[ESTAT][EBOLD][PARA]The library contains the papers of Virginia Woolf and Kipling.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Career Development Unit [BULL] No of staff: 3full/3part [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 9%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]Teaching is not split into departments but 'schools' of study which cover groups of courses and many of which are introducing modular approaches to degrees.[PARA][BULL][ITAL]Many courses, particularly on the arts side, are taught with a radical, feminist and sometimes left-wing perspective.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA]Simon Fanshawe (comedian); Nick Fisher (Just 17 agony uncle); Brendan Foster (athlete); Philip Gould (Labour Party adviser); Peter Hain MP (Lab); Mark Hollis (Talk Talk); Billy Idol (rock singer); Ian McEwan (writer); Andrew Morton (royal writer); Nigel Planer (Neil from 'The Young Ones' and voiceover for 'The Magic Roundabout'); Gail Rebuck (millionaire publisher); Julia Somerville (newsreader); Virginia Wade (the last Briton to win a Wimbledon singles title).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads. The SU publishes an alternative prospectus.[PARA][PARA]
