[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA]The Romans came to York. So did the Vikings and Dick Turpin. The white rose of York was the losing team in the War of the Roses and the county cricket team sustains the hostilities. The [ITAL]magnificent [EITAL]Minster cathedral dominates the city both culturally and physically. However, all this historical importance has more to do with the fact that York, coursed by the [ITAL]beautiful [EITAL]River Ouse, is midway between London and Edinburgh, 35 miles from the coast, than with the University. It is 2 miles south-east of the city centre at the village of Heslington. It is a largely concrete campus round a man-made lake, complete with ducks, a stately manor and some [ITAL]pleasant [EITAL]landscaping. It was designed as a 'concept' campus - the concept in question being 'discovery around every corner', [ITAL]which explains why everywhere looks the same and it's easy to get lost.[EITAL][HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]York is a collegiate University - cynics claim this is an unsuccessful attempt to copy Oxbridge. Social life is loosely college-based with college bops and gigs. [EITAL]There are 7 colleges, each with about 600 members[ITAL], which don't vary enormously. Students don't get to choose their own college, but it's not difficult to switch if they feel the need. The collegiate system isn't all that strong (especially compared to Oxbridge) - college spirit can only be found when served with ice in college bars. The University may not be enormously happening (and positively moribund at weekends), but it's cosy and friendly (some find it almost suffocating) and many find it hard to leave. The town swarms with graduates which must mean something.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]THE CITY:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 100,600 [BULL] London: 205miles [BULL] Edinburgh: 205miles [BULL] Leeds: 23miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA]Apart from London, York is Britain's top tourist city and offers a host of traps and treats, including museums such as the Jorvik Viking Centre (free admission with a Blue Peter badge). [ITAL]It is quaint in the extreme[EITAL] with city walls, tea shops, a castle and what claims to be the oldest street in Britain, The Shambles. The shortest street in the city also has the longest name:Whip-ma-Whop-ma Gate. In York, as locals love to explain to American visitors, streets are called 'gates', city gates are called 'bars' and bars are called 'pubs', of which there are a huge number. Got that? There is also a daily market, supermarkets and numerous bookshops (new and 2nd hand), but there's not much for the late night shopper.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Main-line connections from York Station (2 miles from the campus) to many destinations including London King's X (1:50hrs, 2/hr), Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Bristol.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express to most destinations, including London (ú12.00, 3:55hrs, 4/day), Newcastle (ú10, 2:25hrs, 1/day), Manchester (ú6, 2:25hrs, 3/day), Birmingham (ú12.50, 4:25hrs, 1/day).[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] A19, or 10 miles from the A1.[PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] Nearest airport of any size is Leeds/Bradford (40mins by car) for Ireland and the rest of Europe.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Good north/south, once hitchers reach M1 or A1.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] York is too small and compact for local trains except regionally to Leeds, Hull and Bradford. Frequent bus services run everywhere (70p from campus to city centre) but they don't run late at night.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Unreliable and expensive despite student discounts, although students still use them for late night journeys. The SU arranges discounts.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Pretty good, flat with a few cycle lanes, but also a few light-fingered would-be bike-owners.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]NOS and REQUIREMENTS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Soc Sci[EBOLD] 1,300 16-20pts[BOLD][PARA]Sciences[EBOLD] 1,291 18-22pts[BOLD][PARA]Art[EBOLD] 1,500 18-20pts[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 560,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 2,800 [BULL] Study places: 786 [BULL] Computer workstations: 500[ESTAT][PARA]Main J B Morrell Library; Architectural Studies Library; 6 smaller college lending libraries.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 7full/1part [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 11.5%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]The lake surrenders to canoes and rowing boats in the summer term.[PARA][BULL]Killing a University duck results in automatic criminal proceedings.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Tony Banks MP; Hugh Bayley MP; Ruth Bradley MP (all Lab); Michael Brown MP (Con, ex-Whip); Harry Enfield (comedian); Harriet Harman MP (Lab); Victor Lewis-Smith (comedian/broadcaster); Genista McIntosh (theatre director); Dominic Muldowney (composer); Harvey Proctor (ex-MP, shirtmaker); Paul Roberts (pianist).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads. Alternative prospectus ú2 from SU.1
