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University of Plymouth
From The Student RoomTSR Wiki > University > Choosing a University > University Guides > University of Plymouth
 The University of Plymouth is located in Plymouth in the south-west of England. It was formed out of the former Polytechnic South West in 1992. In addition to the main Plymouth Campus there are smaller partner colleges all over the South-West of England and also on the Channel Islands. The Peninsula Medical School is also jointly run by Plymouth and Exeter Universities. FacilitiesLibrariesThe uni has three libraries - in Plymouth, Exmouth and Exeter and have over half a million books between them. You can use the library for loads of things - obviously reading and checking out books, but you'll also fine study spaces too and can book areas fro group work. There are a load of computer terminals too in each library and if you have your own laptop, you can make use of the wireless connections too. If you want to do a long study session you can get basic snacks and drinks in the little cafes at the Plymouth library. I think Exmouth also has this facility too. Computing ServicesThe uni has about 5000 networked computers across the campuses. These are in the 'open access' areas, teaching rooms and in the libraries, so you should be able to find one to use if you need it. Each campus also has some wireless areas for you to connect to with your own laptop. In addition to the computers you will be able to get IT help from staff members in many locations. There are also lots of printing facilities, but you are charged for everything you print. SportsThere is a squash and fitness centre in Plymouth with loads of machines and three squash courts. The membership is currently £46 for 12 months which is not bad if you use the place regularly - though the squash courts cost extra to hire out. The Mount Batten Watersports Centre is a partnership between the uni and the local council. The can use the facilities there or go through one of the student societies like the Dinghy Sailing and Powerboat, the Yachting, the Canoeing, the Wakeboarding and the Sub Aqua Clubs. The uni also has pitched, basketball, netball, badminton and tennis courts and a sports hall for hire. There are a huge number of sports clubs too - some a re quite impressive or more unusal:
WelfareHealthcareThe uni has it's own medical centre in Plymouth, at Endsleigh House which all students are advised to join. If you don't join here, register at another medical centre of GP surgery so you can easily get to see a doctor when you need one. The centre has good opening times 8.30 to 5.30 5 days a week during term time. As well as GPs the centre offers the services of a nurse. Other facilities include sexual health screening, travel information, minor operations and counseling. ShopsThe city of Plymouth has a variety of shops to choose from. The recently opened Drakes Circus Shopping Centre has all the high-street retail outlets including Topshop, Marks and Spencer, Burger King, River Island and Primark. There is also an outside shopping complex, with many more shops to choose from. If it is supermarkets that you are looking for, there is a medium-sized Sainsbury's and a Tesco Metro in the city centre, but from my point of view, these are limited on the range of stock that they have. However, the bigger supermarkets are only reachable by Car, Bus or Taxi, but there is a very large Sainsbury's, Tesco's, Asda's and Morrison's. Restaurants
BanksTransportIf your on the main campus in Plymouth you'll be unlikely to need much transport around the city on a daily basis as the uni isn't far from the city centre. If you live further away you might want to use a bus sometimes or get a taxi on nights out, but most will not need to do this too often. The train station is just a little walk from the main campus, and the line in on a major intercity network so there are good connections to right up the country from the train line. Careers serviceThe careers service with offer you a range of help from discussing career options, finding out about job adverts, providing help to improve your key skills and in making your applications - from CV help right through to interview tips. Make sure you make the best use of this facility as it can be a great help. It's also available to you as a graduate for up to three years too! As well as jobs and careers, the service also has loads of information on further courses, gap years and volunteering, so there is probably something to help you whatever you go on to do after graduating or while a student there. Part-time jobsThe uni has an online job service 'Gradsouthwest'. While it can be used to search for graduate jobs, it's also used to advertises loads of part time and temporary work and volunteering opportunities that you can do while doing your study. Religious facilitiesThe uni has a chaplaincy service that can be used by anyone from any religion. You can use it for somewhere to chat about things, to get advice; maybe on personal problems, to find information out about various religions or get contact details for local religious groups. The Chaplaincy has staff and helpers from a range of different Christian denominations. They have regular worshiping sessions and other events like luncheons and walks. They also host talks about other religions and hold lectures on various topics. There are student groups for many religions. These include the Cath Soc, Christian Union, Sherwell Student Group, Chinese student group, the Hindu Society and the Islamic Society. SocialBars, Pubs and clubsPlenty of clubs, pubs and bars, a different student night every day of the week. Not too expensive, it's a nice place to be! For a rock night, C103 is very good on Friday nights. And also there's a alternative night on Thursday's at 'The Warehouse' which is right next door to C103, but to access it you go through C103 doors, or something like that! Live music in Plymouth is mainly at 'The Hub' and 'The White Rabbit'. The Voodoo lounge is a one minute walk from the uni and have bands on upstairs. The junction is on mutley, 5 mins away from the uni and now has quite a busy music crowd. EventsClubs and societiesSome of the socities available at Plymouth include:
AccommodationAccommodation policyFantastic accommodation office on campus, with friendly staff eager to help in whatever way they can. In your first year, you are welcome to take the option of living in one of the university's halls or residence, but in your second and third year, you must live in a house off-campus. FacilitiesLaundry is good it takes like most change um 10p i think but its like £2 for a huge wash and then like 20p for something odd like 14mins of drying. And yeah, you need all your own washing things but the laundry rooms are safe they all lock when you close them so u can just leave it for a few hours and not worry about it sometimes it will get moved into a dryer for you out of the washing machine if its busy but you learn when the busy times are its normally best to do your washing late at night we found. ResidencesRobins, Radnor, Pilgrim and Mary Newman halls are the main on/across the road from campus halls, the furthest is about 5 minutes walk to the University, and thats if you take two steps forward and one step back! They are all nice and have been recently renovated, they're just a wee bit pricey compared to housing (From around £70-£120) but are a great place to make friends and a safe enviroment. Central Park Towers CPT is good because you have the best of all the other student accommodation types, if you want to socialise just head to the common room if you want your space you have your own individual flat with kitchen, bathroom and washing machine. University Approved Accommodation The University has a large database of approved accommodation, about 5,000 and its always growing. According to the University approximately half of all first year students and virtually all second and third years choose their accommodation from the approved database. All the properties are checked and given a grade by the Accommodation people, to check the safety and also the quality of furnishings/amount of plugs in the room and stuff like that! THe database includes over 1000 student share houses ranging in size from one to 31(!) bedrooms, over 700 rooms in cluster flat developments (like CPT), over 400 studio flats; over 90 rooms in homestay accommodation. Student unionThe SU has a refectory and is perhaps the busiest eating place on campus in Plymouth. It;s open all day until about 7pm or 7.30pm and you can get meals and snack with a half decent selection veggie foods. There are several bars on campus. Ignition bar is perhaps the main one. Opposite there is the smaller Illusion which opens on nightclub nights. There is also the new Fuzzy Duck at the top end of campus open every day. Prices
EnvironmentAlways clean around the university - perhaps due to a good number of bins on campus - now all complete with colour coded recycling sections. ArchitectureLocal areaTeaching qualityApplying to PlymouthThinking of applying to Plymouth? Why not read some Personal Statements which were used for applying here? Other Plymouth ArticlesWhy not read these other Articles? Links | 
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