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Gloucestershire University

UCAS Code: G50

Location: West of England Show on Map

Site: Two sites in Cheltenham, one in Gloucester; partner colleges

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Overview
Profile
Courses
Colleges
Student View
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Open Days
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Contact

A modern university

Student Population

Total Students:	9,635
Undergraduates:	73%
Postgraduates:	23%
FE Students:	4%

Undergraduates

Total undergraduates:	7,025
Male:	43%
Female:	57%
Full Time:	83%
Mature on Entry:	25%
UK Students:	95%
Lower socio economic groups:	36%

Teaching Staff

490 (full- and part-time)

Broad study areas

Accounting, business & finance; arts, design & media; computing & multimedia; marketing; humanities; leisure, tourism & hospitality; social care, health & social sciences; sport & exercise; teacher education.

Freshers

Admission Information:	UCAS tariff adopted
Points on Entry (Mean):	232
Drop Out Rate:	7%
Accommodation:	Approx half of first years housed.

Institution

Founded:	1990 as Cheltenham & Gloucester College from two education colleges (founded 1847 by the Church of England); university status 2001.
Site:	Two campuses in Cheltenham; one campus in Gloucester (9 miles away), 5 mins drive from centre.
How to get there:	Train, coach, M5 motorway, Birmingham and Bristol airports.
Special features:	Voluntary C of E foundation; admissions policy not affected but Christian ethics underpin university ethos. Strong emphasis on sustainability.

Student services & facilities

Student advice & services:	Counsellors; medical officer and nursing staff; chaplains.
Sporting facilities:	Sports centre including dance hall, gymnasium, physiology and biomechanics laboratories; 17-acre playing fields.
Accommodation:	Approx half of first years in university halls (most rooms with broadband). 1000 self-catering places available, £78–£106 per week, contracts 40 weeks Sept–July. Some students live in privately-owned accommodation for their whole course: rents from £65 pw self-catering.

Study opportunities & careers

Library & information services:	350,000 volumes, 1900 periodical titles. Information provision, £77 pa spent for each student (FTE). IT service converged with library; learning centre on each campus. 300 points with internet access (ratio 1:12 workstations to students). IT facilities open 11–12 hours/weekday (4–7 weekends); basic IT support during opening hours, specialist support 8 hours/day. Induction video and introduction to learning centres for all new students; on-going programme of IT courses on eg Word, Excel, email.
Other learning resources:	TV & film, journalism, dance & drama studios; language laboratories. Specialist collections: College archives from 1847; Dymock poets archive; Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Library; history of sport collection; slide collection of fine art and fashion.
Study abroad:	Formal exchange links with a number of European universities/colleges, all open to non-language specialists.
Careers:	Information and advisory service; drop-in sessions; computer guidance system.

Money

Living expenses budget:	Minimum budget of £5400-£6500 for an academic year (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.
Term-time work:	University allows term-time work; 60+% believed to work. Some work available on campus in SU bar, catering, registry, libraries; SU employment agency helps find work off-campus.
Financial help:	In 2010, bursaries of £384 pa for students whose family income is approx £25k; bursary of £1200 in first year for students from local partner colleges (continued into 2nd and 3rd year if family income is under £25k). Scholarships of £500 in first year for those with 360 points on entry; also sports scholarships. £296,000 government funds (awards £100–£3500, average £300); also some university bursaries. Apply for help to student finance support team.
University tuition fees:	Home students pay £8250 pa for first degree courses. International students pay £8800 pa (£2000 in sandwich year).

Courses

Academic features:

Modular structure for most undergraduate courses. Links with industry and commerce.

Awarding body:

University of Gloucestershire

Main undergraduate awards:

BA, BEd, BSc.

Length of courses:

3 years; 4 years (with work placement)

Main subjects offered:

Accountancy
Advertising
Animal Science
Animation
Art
Biology
Broadcasting
Business Administration
Business Studies
Childhood Studies
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Computer Technology
Computing
Countryside Management
Creative/Performance Writing
Criminology
Cultural Studies
E-business
Education
English
English as a Foreign Language
Film Studies
Garden Design
Geography
Graphic Design
Health
History
Hospitality Management
Human Resource Management
Humanities
Illustration
Information Systems
Information Technology
Interactive Games Production
Interactive Multimedia
International Business
Internet Technology
Journalism
Landscape Architecture
Law
Management
Marketing
Media Studies
Multimedia
New Media Publishing
Painting
Performance Arts
Philosophy
Photography
Physical Education
Popular Music
Psychology
Public Relations
Religious Studies
Social Policy
Social Science
Social Studies
Social Work
Sociology
Sports Sciences
Sports Studies
Systems Analysis
Teacher Training
Theology
Tourism
TV Studies
Video
Web Development/Design
Youth & Community Work

Student view

James Durant, Student Union President (Graduate, Broadcast Journalism)

Living

What's it like as a place to live? The town appears regal from the outside, but there is such a vibrant student community and great nightlife.

How's the student accommodation? Halls of varying quality (most very high standard though). We have new halls (September 2010).

What's the student population like? Very friendly from all over the country. Strong intake of international students.

How do students and locals get on? Generally ok, a few minor problems at one campus, but overall very well.

Studying

What's it like as a place to study? Always introducing new courses and constantly expanding.

What are the teaching staff like? Vast majority are interested in their students and want to get the best out of them.

Socialising

What are student societies like? Extremely varied, from the Mountain Bike Society to the Geographical Society.

What’s a typical night out? SU bar for majority of the night → club in town later on.

And how much does it cost? £0−£30.

How can you get home safely? Taxi, walk home in large groups, subsidised night buses.

Money

Is it an expensive place to live? Halls can be expensive, house rent is much cheaper. Have to be careful with the loan like everywhere.

Average price of a pint? £2.

And the price of a takeaway? £3.

What’s the part-time work situation? SU Jobshop helps well over 1000 students each year, plus loads of jobs available.

Summary

What's the best feature about the place? The students!

and the worst? Things not getting done quick enough by the university.

And to sum it all up? Without doubt, the best 3 (or 4) years of your life. You'll get whatever you put in, out of it!

Past Students

David Bryant (journalist), Howard Newby (author), Graham Brookhouse (swimmer), Don Hale (investigative journalist), Chris Broad (cricketer), Beverley Knight (soul singer), Chris Beardshaw (garden designer).