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University of the West of ScotlandTSR Wiki > University > Choosing a University > University Guides > University of the West of Scotland
 The University of the West of Scotland is one of the new universities in Scotland. The university has four campuses: Paisley, Ayr, Dumfries, and Hamilton and offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate study options. The university's name changed from the University of Paisley in December 2007 following it's merger with Bell College. The university has 1,600 staff and over 19,500 students at present. FacilitiesPaisley Campus has a union with four floors where the drink is cheap and the company is good! There is also a Sports Centre - albeit a few miles away from the main campus - it's a good bargain. To use the gym it is only £1 a time! The uni also has an abundance of good cafes and places to chat with friends. HistoryFounded in 1897 to offer vocational courses, Paisley began offering degree studies in the early 1900s and matured to University status in 1992. 1897 founded as Paisley Technical School. 1904 renamed Paisley Technical College and School of Art. 1904 degree qualifications offered through University of London. 1950 becomes a Scottish Central Institution in recognition of continuing contribution to education, industry and training. 1963 major expansion of campus buildings in Paisley. 1966 Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) degrees and Honours degrees offered. 1990 Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CATS) programmes introduced. Widening access into education and creating flexible study pathways to meet student needs. 1992 Paisley gains University title and authority to award its own degrees. 1993 merger with teacher education college creates the Craigie Campus in Ayr (University Campus, Ayr). 1994 Distance learning modes of study introduced - students in Hong Kong studying Paisley courses. Paisley courses offered in Dumfries and Galloway in conjunction with Dumfries and Galloway College. 1996 University wins contract to offer nursing and midwifery programmes in Argyll & Clyde and Ayrshire & Arran Health Board areas. New Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare created. 1997 the University's Centenary Year. Ayrshire Management Centre opens on University Campus, Ayr offering management and training resources for local and national companies. 1998 new £6.8m Library and Learning Resource Centre opens on Paisley Campus. 1998 Paisley enters partnership with University of Glasgow creating Crichton University Campus in Dumfries. 2003 new £5 million Students' Union opens at Paisley Campus. 2007 merger with Bell collage and name change to the University of the West of Scotland (UWS).
LibrariesThere are separate libraries on each of the campuses: The Ayr campus has a library with a wide variety of books, journals, videos, CDs and also study DVDs. There's also a number of computers which students can use. The Dumfries campus has an inquiry service where librarians can help you find the books that you need. You will also have access to the internet, email and an online library catalogues. This library also has the usual supply of journals and books. The Hamilton campus is a large library with 80,000 books and over 1,000 journals. There is also access available to the internet which allows student to look at online journals. The Paisley campus library has had a large amount of money invested in it. The £6.8 million funds for the library was funded by the Robertson Trust. There are over 200,000 periodicals, reading/silent study areas, a designated area for group work/study and computers with internet access. There is also a Learning Cafe on the first floor with a Starbucks.
IT and ComputingAll students at the UWS have access to the internet for free on campus. The university also has an agreement with Microsoft which allows students to have microsoft products on their personal computers from the university. On the Ayr campus there is an "iMac Laboratory", there are also two studios where students can edit videos and use animation programs. There are also digital recording studios and productions lab. The Dumfries campus has open access to computer facilities as well as a number of IT teaching labs. The Hamilton campus has recently spent a lot of money upgrading their 7 computer rooms so they now have a high standard of computers. There is also Wifi access all over the campus. The Paisley Campus has the most to offer with regards to IT facilities. There are Wifi facilities around the campus, a playstation development laboratory, a recording studio, virtual reality laboratory, and animation and 3D modelling facilities. SportsThere are facilities on all campuses to play sports. However on the Hamilton campus there is a leisure centre which has been upgraded recently. To include a state of the art sports hall and fitness studio. There are also a number of instructors who can help with the workouts. The Paisley campus has the Robertson Trust Sports Centre, there is an indoor sports hall, a gym, 5-a-side football pitches as well as facilities to play football and rugby. There are facilities to play a wide number of sports at the university of the west of Scotland.
WelfareThere is support available to all students of the University of the West of Scotland. There is a huge variety of support available including advice on studying abroad, a pastoral care system, financial advice and advice for international students. There is also specific help and advice available to those students who have disabilities. The student support services on each campus can be reached on the following numbers.
HealthcareShopsEach of the campuses has a student union shop where you can by supplies for your studies, basic food supplies and university hoodies etc. There are supermarkets and other shopping facilities close to campus so you shouldn't find if too hard to find anything that you would need. Restaurants
Banks
Transport
Careers serviceEach campus has a careers service which helps students with issues such as their CV and graduate employment.
Part-time jobs
Religious facilitiesUWS Discussions
SocialPaisley: Most social activities are organised by the union, check their website for more info. Bars, Pubs and clubsPaisley: There is a lot of pubs in paisley, from the typical old man style pub to the more young style pub. Recommended pubs are Paddys, Bull inn and Old Swan. There are also a few clubs in town, there are only 2 that are worth chatting about, there furys for the 18 - 22 ish (and all the unders) and venas for the over 25s, Furys is cheap and sticky and venas is very expensive. The union is generally seen as the best place to go in paisley for a good night out and friday is the only place to be EventsPaisley: See sauws.org.uk/paisley for all the union events Clubs and societiesThe clubs which are available at the University of the West of Scotland are:
AccommodationAccommodation policy
FacilitiesResidencesThere is a limited amount of accommodation provided at the university of the West of Scotland.
Private sectorThe Dumfries campus DOES have accomidation but its very limited Student unionPricesEnvironmentArchitectureLocal area
Teaching qualityAcademic SchoolsTeaching in the University of the West of Scotland is structured into eight different academic schools as follows: BusinessThe Business School offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at all four campuses (for postgraduate though it is mainly Paisley and Hamilton). Degrees include Accounting, Business, Event Management, Human Resource Management, Law, and Marketing. Most degrees can be studied in either full-time or part-time and there are both study abroad and work placements options available as part of some degrees. ComputingThe Computing School has many undergraduate degrees available ranging from Computing, Computer Games Development to Web Development. Some degrees are offered at all four campuses while others are only offered at one campus. The school offers three postgraduate degrees all of which are only taught at the Paisley campus. Creative & Cultural IndustriesThe school has grown to offer some of these degree courses:
Each course tends to be taught at only one campus. EducationBased at the Ayr Campus, the School of Education has a BEd course in Primary Education, and one newer course in Childhood Studies offered at Ayr, Dumfries and Hamilton. In addition, the school offers two postgraduate PGDE courses in primary and secondary teaching as well as other four other post-grad/experience qualifications (mainly through distance learning). EngineeringSome of the degrees the School of Engineering offers:
Health, Nursing and MidwiferyThe school offers courses in Adult and Mental Health Nursing and Midwifery to students wishing to become a nurse or midwife, and offers a variety of courses for nurses, midwifes and health workers already in the industry. ScienceOne of the biggest schools, if offers a range of degrees including:
Social SciencesThis school offers studies in a variety of areas:
Applying to UWSThinking of applying to UWS? Why not read some Personal Statements which were used for applying here? Other West of Scotland ArticlesWhy not read these other UWS Articles? Links |
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