[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] Formerly Polytechnic South West[EBOLD][PARA]If Plymouth were any further south-west, it would be Cornwall. As it is, it's a port around the Plymouth Sound (the bay) on the south coast of Devon. This is where Sir Francis Drake played with his bowls, before whipping a few Spanish butts from the Armada. According to the myth, Frankie chucked his bowls around on the Hoe, a patch of greenery by the sea. The Hoe's still there near the city centre and not far from the main site of the University. The University's old name, Polytechnic South West, was more accurate geographically, because, in fact, it has 4 sites spread around south Devon at Plymouth, Exeter, Exmouth and just outside Newton Abbot. [ITAL]To be fair, Plymouth does provide the focal point for the University. The Seale-Hayne (Newton Abbot) and Exmouth sites are definitely peripheral (except for those who happen to be based there). [EITAL] However, all the sites have at least some of their own facilities. [BOLD]For general information about Exeter:[EBOLD] see [ULNE]University of Exeter[EULNE].[HDNG]THE SITES and ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Plymouth:[EBOLD] (Business, Human Science, Marine Studies, Science, Technology) This is the main site housing 5 out of the University's 7 faculties and nearly 7,500 of the students. It's a city centre campus and a 60s [ITAL]concrete jungle - you expect a concrete monkey to swing past on a concrete creeper at every minute[EITAL]. [ITAL]Fun is high on the agenda here and being a seaside resort, there's a bit of a holiday atmosphere.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Exmouth: [EBOLD](Education) The town of Exmouth is, unsurprisingly, at the mouth of the river Exe on the east bank of the wide estuary. [ITAL]This is a small town, a bit of a baby brother to Exeter, 8 miles upstream. It has small town attitudes and facilities. Exeter is very important for students who want more from life than pretty sea views.[EITAL] 1,064 students are based in the small campus of low-rise 60s architecture mixed with 3 and 4 storey Edwardian buildings in the suburban edge of town, almost on the sea shore. Some of the students have to travel between sites, particularly to Exeter, on a regular basis, but buses are laid on when course requirements require.[PARA][BOLD]Exeter: [EBOLD](Arts and Design) The campus is redbrick, 2 miles from the city centre, next to the hilly countryside that surrounds Exeter. It was purpose-built as Exeter Art College and now it houses 2 arty departments and about 1,000 [ITAL]arty [EITAL]students. Again, some students have to move about between sites, depending on their course and buses are laid on. For a more detailed low-down on the ups and downs of Exeter, see [ULNE]University of Exeter[EULNE], which, [ITAL]for students who are willing to mix with the Sloanes, is a social life-saver.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Seale-Hayne: [EBOLD](Agriculture, Food and Land Use) This site is 3 miles outside the tiny town of Newton Abbot, 24 miles from Plymouth, 16 from Exeter, and just round the corner from the middle of nowhere. It houses 1,151 students in [ITAL]beautiful stately [EITAL]buildings in [ITAL]beautiful [EITAL]countryside. [ITAL]But the site is self-contained and, since travelling around is a hassle of the first degree, the student community is just so close-knit there's little escape. Some students find it all a bit suffocating; others love the close and closeted lifestyle. [EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]PLYMOUTH:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 238,800 [BULL] London: 200miles [BULL] Exeter: 37miles [BULL] Bristol: 106miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA]Apart from a few buildings which date from the days of Drake, most of Plymouth has been rebuilt since the last World War, when it was truly trashed in bombing raids. [ITAL] As a result, it has a great deal less rural charm than most West Country towns[EITAL] and consequently fewer tourists. Instead, it's a functional town with amenities serving a large catchment area. The Hoe and Quay are [ITAL]pleasant enough[EITAL] and students wanting a little aesthetic distraction might stroll across the road to the City Art Gallery and Museum.[HDNG]EXETER:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 101,100 [BULL] London: 170miles [BULL] Bristol: 69miles [BULL] Plymouth: 46miles[ESTAT][PARA][ITAL]Exeter is quaint and quiet and[EITAL], according to the EC, has the highest quality of life of any English city. In part, this must be due to the ample selection of high street shops, supermarkets and banks, and to the numerous wholesome cafes and [ITAL]cute little earthy[EITAL] shops [ITAL](lots of Glastonbury casualties set up small businesses)[EITAL]. Tourist attractions include the ancient cathedral, the historic Guild Hall, and various museums, including the Maritime Museum and the Royal Albert Museum and Art Gallery, with its legendary giraffe.[PARA][PARA][BOLD]Exmouth and Newton Abbot:[EBOLD] These are both very small towns with enough and only enough by way of local amenities for daily necessities.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] The nearest station to the main site is Plymouth with services to London (ú29.05, 3:20hrs, 1/hr), Bristol (ú17.15), Birmingham (ú27.70), Cardiff, Exeter and elsewhere. Newton Abbot is on the same line and most trains stop.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express and Western National services from Plymouth to, among other places, London (ú20.50, 4:25hrs, 7/day), Exeter (ú5.70, 1hr, 6/day), Bristol (ú13.25, 2:20, 7/day)[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] The A38 links Plymouth with Newton Abbot and Exeter.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Flights inland and to Ireland from Plymouth airport.[PARA][BOLD]Ferries:[EBOLD] Services from Plymouth to France and Spain.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Okay along the A38, for he (and she) that wait.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] Buses around Devon are [ITAL]reliable and reasonably priced. [EITAL]There are local train services to the towns of all 4 sites, but the number of places they go to is limited.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Plenty and they're comprehensive, but prices are high.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Plymouth is a bit hilly. At Seale-Hayne, a bike is handy for getting into Newton Abbot.[EITAL][HDNG]EXETER:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Exeter St Davids, is 1/2 mile from the University. There are direct lines to London (2:30hrs, 1/hr), Reading, Plymouth, Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow and elsewhere.[PARA][BOLD]Buses:[EBOLD] National Express services all over the country, include London (ú17, 3:45hrs, 8/day), Bristol (ú7, 1:45hrs, 9/day), Manchester (ú24, 5:40hrs, 2/day).[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] Exeter is at the southern end of the M5, or there's the A30, A377 and A38[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Exeter Airport (6 miles) offers inland and European flights.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The M5 is good for heading north.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Local buses are reliable and quite comprehensive, but not cheap. The same can be said of local trains[EITAL] - there are 4 stations around the city, [ITAL]but they're not very usefully placed.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Numerous, reliable and relatively cheap. [EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The city's not the flattest around and the University's in the hilly part, but students with legs like steam pistons find bikes useful. [EITAL][HDNG]FACULTIES and STUDENT NOS:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Arts and Educ[EBOLD] 1,959[BOLD][PARA]Human Sci[EBOLD] 1,187[BOLD][PARA]Business[EBOLD] 1,486[BOLD][PARA]Science[EBOLD] 2,465[BOLD][PARA]Agriculture[EBOLD] 880[BOLD][PARA]Technology[EBOLD] 2,295[BOLD][PARA]Partner Colleges[EBOLD] 1,895[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 350,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 2,740 [BULL] Study places: 836 [BULL] Computer workstations: 300[ESTAT][PARA]The library at Plymouth is the largest. The other sites have libraries which relate to the departments based at each: Exeter (22,000 books); Exmouth (85,000); and Seale-Hayne (52,000). There are computer services on all sites.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 4full/4part[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]The only perfumery course in Europe.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Pam St Clement (Pat in 'EastEnders').[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads, part-timers, postgrads and overseas students.[PARA][PARA]
