University Information - Wessex

1-University of Portsmouth

University of Portsmouth, 
University House, Winston Churchill Avenue, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 2UP

Tel 023984 8484 ; Fax 023 9284 3082 
E-mail: admissions@port.ac.uk

Portsmouth City
Portsmouth’s seaside setting and historic maritime links are reflected in many areas of research and teaching. Gunwharf Quays is the centrepiece of the renaissance of Portsmouth Harbour; set in historic surroundings, this £150million development offers a range of leisure facilities and restaurants for every taste and budget. To the local business, students represent an unending source of staff that they are delighted to hire on a seasonal and part-time basis. 

Southsea offers a beautiful seafront environment; open spaces, parks and gardens flank four miles of coastline. The promenade is popular with cyclists whilst other amusements include The Sea Life centre, Southsea Castle, The D-Day Museum, Southsea Skate Park, The Pyramids swimming pool complex and a canoe lake. Portsmouth Harbour is situated 1 mile from the University – ferry services offer a choice of four French and one Spanish destination.

Portsmouth is well served by air, road and sea. Southampton International Airport is 30mins drive away, whilst Heathrow and Gatwick Airports are approximately 2 hours drive away. Daily coach services run from Portsmouth to London, Bristol, Birmingham and Heathrow. By rail, Portsmouth is 1.5 hours to London Waterloo and 2 hours to Bristol.

International Students
Portsmouth is a popular choice for students around the world. It currently has over 2000 international students from over 70 different countries. All new international students are guaranteed University accommodation for the first year. The University also has International Advisors that can provide information about immigration and registration. The International Office also produces a regular newsletter “The Island” which features news on trips, social events and news from the international students.

There are a wide variety of societies formed by and for students including Hispanic, Latin American, Asian, Chinese, Malaysian and Afro-Caribbean.

English courses run very regularly, especially in the summer. If you make your application early enough you will not have to delay the start of your degree course. Courses last from 2-48 weeks. The intensive pre-sessional course runs for 4 weeks immediately before the beginning of term.


Student Support

Careers Service 
Portsmouth enjoys one of the best graduate employment rates in the UK. National statistics show that Portsmouth graduates are among the most successful in getting jobs.

Chaplain 
The chaplain offers friendship to all students. It has links with various faiths including the Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist communities.

Counselling Service 
A team of professionally trained counsellors can offer confidential help with a range of personal problems.

Disability Co-ordinator 
Provides information for students with disabilities.

Health and Medical Care 
Portsmouth is one of a small handful of universities in the UK, which employ a dedicated health promotion officer to actively promote student health.

International Student Advisers 
These advisers help international students help cope with the change of life and environment.

Student Finance Centre 
Advisers can provide expert advice on loans and financing.

Nursery 
A pre-school nursery for students’ children aged between six months and five years open weekdays throughout the year. A play scheme also operates for 5-7 year olds during the summer vacation.


Academic Courses

Access Courses
Are aimed at mature students wanting to begin University study. Most access courses are available full or part time taking one year to complete.

BTEC National Diploma Courses
These are ideal if you are aged 16 or over and want to take a diploma qualification first leading in turn to a full degree. BTEC courses last two years.

Foundation Courses
This might suit you if you have some experience or knowledge of a subject but are not really at a level where you can confidently begin a full time degree course.

Learning at Work – The Partnership Programme
This is aimed at people in work who want to improve their academic qualification and boost their careers. At the same time, it offers positive encouragement to employers by getting the benefit of university input into their business as well as a better-trained and more productive employee. The University agrees with you and your employer a suitable learning outcome (e.g. a post- graduate qualification) for which your employer will let you have time away from work to study. The employer often meets expenses.


Course Details

Accommodation
In 2002 the University intends to be able to offer a Hall place to all first year students that require one. There is a choice of catered and non-catered halls, rooms with en-suite and rooms, which have voice/data links allowing free internal calls.

Second year students often prefer private houses and flats because it offers much more freedom and space. The student housing team will help you find registered accommodation of this type. You can expect to pay approximately £50 per week plus a share of the household bills.

Lodgings are another means of accommodation. These are rooms in private houses where the landlord/landlady lives on the premises. They are normally family households registered with the University. Costs are usually in the region of £50 per week. 


2-University of Southampton

University accommodation details
Detailed information on halls of residence and private accommodation can be obtained from the Accommodation Office on http://www.soton.ac.uk/~accomm/intro.html

The University of Southampton has over 5000 single rooms in our Halls of Residence, which are in easy reach of the University's main campus. 

There are on offer a wide variety of room choices starting at £47.88 per week inclusive (2001/2002) for a basic room in a self catered Hall. More expensive rooms reflect quality and facilities and for £70.91 per week (2001/2002) students can rent a room with an en-suite toilet and shower facilities also in a self catered Hall. If you can't be bothered to cook you can rent a room in a catered Hall for £84.98 per week (2001/2002) or if you need those en-suite facilities you will pay £111.93 per week (2001/2002)

City/Town accommodation details for students
The alternative to Hall accommodation is to live in the Private Rented Sector. A comprehensive and up to date list of the rooms, bedsits, shared houses, flats and lodgings is maintained and is available from the Accommodation Office.

Information about the university (strengths / weaknesses)
The University's teaching and research activities are spread over seven campuses in Southampton and Winchester.

New academic buildings provide teaching and research space for synthetic chemistry, social sciences, electronics, and nursing and midwifery. 

Information about the City/Town and additional information that may assist the student
The university is approximately 15-20 miles from the Wessex Al-Mahdi Centre, about half an hour drive. Means of transport to mosque can be either by public transport to Fareham Station where a member of the Jamaat can pick the student up or grabbing a lift with one of the members coming in from Southampton.

Access to Halal meat and Asian grocery is not a problem as Southampton has a large population of Muslims.