[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]For general information about Coventry: [EBOLD]see [ULNE]Coventry University[EULNE]. Warwick University isn't actually in Warwick. In fact, Warwick, just over 9 miles south, isn't even the nearest town. Royal Leamington Spa is bigger than Warwick and only 7 miles away. Coventry, bigger still, is just 3 miles north, or there's Kenilworth about 11/2 miles west. But they decided to call it Warwick University and [ITAL]it's earnt a very good name for itself[EITAL]. It's on a 500-acre site hiding from Leamington Spa and Coventry amidst rolling hills and [ITAL]seeming deceptively remote[EITAL], although Birmingham and Stratford are both within 25 miles. [ITAL] The campus looks extraordinary: wildly[EITAL] modern with lots of sculptures and 3 man-made lakes, all surrounded by nature. The buildings are white or [ITAL]as brightly coloured as children's crayons and just as weirdly shaped.[EITAL] [ITAL]It's not unpleasant, so long as you don't mind living in an episode of 'The Jetsons'. [EITAL]The smaller Westwood campus is about 10 minutes walk away and houses the Institute of Education and some halls.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]Unlike many of the other 'green field' campuses which also can't accommodate all their students, the atmosphere is not muted, but focussed. Arts are flaming with energy and the Union's so kicking it wears Doc Martens. The students are full of fashion and fun and almost devoid of pretension.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]COVENTRY:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 322,573 [BULL] London: 88miles [BULL] Birmingham: 16miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA][ITAL]Rebuilt, Coventry's a new city with an old spirit which doesn't let the modern design interfere with the ancient heritage. [EITAL]There are archaeological digs on view close to the campus and in the city centre. There's a mile-long pedestrianised shopping centre, big enough to provide more shops than a student grant can withstand (including several bookshops and a number of stores open after 10pm). The local heritage can be viewed in the city's museum and tourist attractions ([ITAL]although Coventry is hardly what you might call 'a holiday resort'[EITAL]), notably the Herbert Art Gallery, the Toy Museum, the Museum of British Road Transport, the Cathedral (restored and built anew by Basil Spence), the olde world shops, Lunt Roman Fort and statue of Lady Godiva (you may not recognise her with her clothes on).[HDNG]LEAMINGTON:[EHDNG][PARA]Many Warwick students live in Leamington Spa - more than in Coventry, although this trend is changing as Coventry gets cheaper. [ITAL]Leamington Spa is an attractive little town, belonging more to the Cotswolds to the south than to the Midlands, which might be a more accurate geographic description.[EITAL] It has enough by way of shops for daily fodder, but foraging for clothes or major purchases, Coventry or even Birmingham would be a better bet. It's not too hot on local entertainments either. [ITAL]The University is an unearthed live wire.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Coventry Station is about 1 mile from the Coventry campus and on the main London (1:10mins, 3/hr) to Birmingham (20mins, 3/hr) line. It has other services to Bristol, Edinburgh and elsewhere.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express services all over the place, including London (ú9, 2hrs, 9/day), Newcastle (ú22.50, 5:30 hrs, 3/day), Liverpool (ú8, 3.20 hrs, 6/day). Other services from Bharat, Harry Shaw and Flights.[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] The usual Midlands ease of accessibility, via the M6, M69 and M45/A45, and just a few miles from the M1, M40 and A5. [ITAL]The one-way systems aren't good for the blood pressure.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Coventry Airport isn't terribly helpful[EITAL], but Birmingham International is a big one, 91/2 miles away.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] Apart from the student park'n'ride scheme (shared lifts), [ITAL]Coventry is excellent for roving thumbsters, with all them big roads and jumping junctions.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] There are 3 BR trains stops within the confines of Coventry, but the [ITAL]reliable [EITAL]local bus services are [ITAL]more useful for getting to places students haven't got the welly to walk to.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] Coventry's small enough to mean ú2 will get students a worthwhile whack across town by taxi.[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] The roads are busy, the thefts frequent. But it's flat.[PARA][BOLD]Others: [EBOLD]Summer brings 'Lady Godiva Topless Tours'; for ú3.50, you can tour Coventry in an open-topped bus.[PARA][PARA]LEAMINGTON:[PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] The nearest main station is 21/2 miles away in Coventry, but there is a line that runs south through Kenilworth to Leamington Spa.[PARA][BOLD]Cars:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Cars are not the answer to Warwick's isolation.[EITAL] As the University is quick to point out, they're less environmentally friendly than public transport. [ITAL]This is a genuine concern, but it also happens to coincide conveniently with a need to reduce pressure on the campus' limited parking[EITAL]. Only 70 students are allowed permits for overnight parking, but during term, up to 1,000 cars can park on campus during the day.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] The Union runs an efficient hitching scheme - [ITAL]more a matter of organised lifts than real rules of the road stuff. [EITAL] The driver gets to charge passengers between 50p and 80p to Leamington or, more rarely, Coventry.[PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] From the bus stops on campus, the numbers 12, 12A, 12B, 12C and 112 run into Coventry centre via the train station every 15 mins until 11pm (50-72p) and other services go to other parts of town. There are similar services to Leamington (ú1.35) and Kenilworth (70p). late night services during term time.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] At some point as a student living out at Warwick University, most students are likely to get caught on campus after the last bus and without a lift. Then it's time to dig deep in the pocket for ú5 to Coventry or ú9 to Leamington.[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Quite handy for getting around the campus, especially for livers in, but think of that ride twice a day for the students living in Leamington.[EITAL] [ITAL]A big lock's a good idea, as are big legs[EITAL]. [ITAL] Another good idea is the bike hire scheme (ú2/week).[EITAL][HDNG]FACULTIES and STUDENT NOS:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Social studies[EBOLD] 2,111[BOLD][PARA]Science[EBOLD] 2,617[BOLD][PARA]Education[EBOLD] 1,004[BOLD][PARA]Arts[EBOLD] 1,424[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 750,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 5,000 [BULL] Study places: 1,400 [BULL] Computer workstations: 900[ESTAT][PARA]There are 5 libraries on campus, including 3 science libraries, the Westwood Library (about 15 minutes walk from the main part of the campus and next to a set of halls) and the Central Library. There are clustered Apple Macs and a PC network, with 24-hour access.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 15 [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1993): 9%[ESTAT][PARA]A service attempts to arrange sponsorships for new students.[HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]The University does a roaring trade in conferences which means there are some [ITAL]excellent [EITAL]facilities and accommodation manages to be better at a cheaper rate. [ITAL]It also means students can feel like they're an inconvenience stuck between the real business of time-share salesmen's piss-ups and navel-gazing hoards of academics.[EITAL][HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Adorable (one-time NME faves); David Davis MP (Lab); Timmy Mallett ('entertainer'); Simon Mayo (Radio 1 DJ); Sheila McKechnie (director, Shelter); Dave Nellist (Militant ex-MP); Stephen Pile ('Heroic Failures' writer); Jeff Rooker MP (Lab); Frank Skinner (comedian); Gary Sinyor and Vadim Jean (creators of 'Leon the Pig Farmer'); Tony Wheeler (author, 'Lonely Planet' guides. Sting dropped out after 1 term.[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads. Alternative prospectus free from SU.[PARA][PARA]
