- Libraries:
- There is a truly vast library or 'learning resource centre' on the main Hatfield site. The other sites have libraries related to the subjects that are taught there. i.e If the site is for fishing studies, there will be lots of copies of fly fishing by JR Hartley.
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- Computing:
- There are quite a few machines available and they are well spread between the sites. Your own equipment wouldn't be a disadvantage though.
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- Sports:
- Most of the facilities are at the Hatfield site including a sports hall, climbing wall and squash courts. The Hertford site has a gym, tennis courts, a cricket pitch and, fitting given that it's a business school, a golf practice area. Other sites are a bit weak but the local area has reasonable facilities, the key problem being the cost.
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- Future Plans:
- A new campus is being opened in 2003 and as a result the fabric and identity of the university will change greatly, here's what's going on:
The new de Havilland Campus in Hatfield will be the largest academic development in the UK (with a whopping £105 million being spent), and is planned to open in time for the beginning of the academic year in September 2003. The campuses at Hertford and Watford will close, and students from the Business School and the Faculty of Humanities, Languages and Education will be the first to move in.
This means that there will be just two major campuses within walking distance of each other. The University of Hertfordshire will operate virtually as a single campus community giving it a far better chance of developing a strong, unified identity.
Sports teams will certainly benefit from this making it easier to find and transport players and racers not to mention allowing the devlopment of a more professional attitude towards sport. New facilities are planned to include a main sports hall with twelve badminton courts, also available for volleyball, basketball and indoor hockey, a 25 metre eight lane swimming pool, a large health and fitness suite, a four lane indoor cricket centre, a 12 metre high climbing wall, as well as new grass and artificial pitches.
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- Disabled Students:
- Wheelchair access is pretty good everywhere and there are facilities for both hearing and sight impaired students.
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- Student Welfare:
- There is a well staffed student services unit which deals with most problems, the union has some facilities as well. Each site has its own medical centre.
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- Parking:
- Parking is permit based and inadequate but ironically this is one of the few unis that we would actually recommend you bring a car to if you have one, it really does make life easier. Your options for parking are local streets and this enrages local residents and puts your jalopy at risk. Maybe one of those hover cars or a personal rocket pack would be good. This is the only sensible solution we can come up with.
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- University Shops:
- On the Hatfield site the Students' Union has a general store selling groceries and stuff and there's also a travel agency, an insurance shop and a place to buy stationery and do photocopying.
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- University Bookshops:
- The Hatfield, Hertford and Watford campuses each have a branch of Waterstones bookshop on site.
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- Banking:
- There are cash machines on the main campus. You should be able to find all banks locally, whichever site you are at.
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- Transport Policy:
- Hertforshire has the country's only university-run public bus scheme. It goes between all the sites, major rail stations and local towns. Very very useful and especially good considering the cost, which is minimal.
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- Green Areas:
- Some of the sites, notably Hertford and Watford are pretty stunning being based around country mansions. They have plenty of greenery and parkland. The others are not as nice, but you should bea ble to find a park to have a sandwich in.
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