- Libraries:
- The library is at the centre of campus, and holds around 350,000 books with over 1,700 study places. For the number of students at the University, this is completely inadequate, and there are often complaints.
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- Computing:
- The university has over 1,100 computers, distributed in seven open access rooms and a few other location where bookinng is essential. This is quite good in comparison to other universities of its size. However, the students still complain.
A new Laptop Loan system sounds like a positive initiative, but machines are only lent for three hour borrowing periods, which is a bit negligable really.
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- Sports:
- The newly opened £12million sports centre has transformed Preston's sports facilties. Situated two miles from campus the arena provides athletics and cycling tracks, tennis, football, netball, rugby, cricket pitches. The football pitches have been assesed as premier league standard and recently an indoor fitness suite has been added to the facilities. There are other small gyms and fitness centres dotted around too. Locally, there are swimming pools, health centres etc., so for those of you who actually exercise... this is now the place to go.
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- Disabled Students:
- Wheelchair access is fair (with lifts in most buildings), but where the university really excels is in sight and hearing impaired facilities, which are excellent. DAS (The Disability Advisory Service) are helpful and the University is also a member of NFAC (National Federation of Access Centres).
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- Student Welfare:
- The Unversity's nine counsellors can either be taken as a sign that the student population is happy (they have no excuse not to be), or that they are all on the verge of a breakdown. Few universities have this many counsellors. There is also a pre-school centre on campus and a well equipped health service, keeping office hours monday to friday, but apparently the staff are patronising.
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- Parking:
- Unless you have a physical disability, kids or live much too far away to rely on public transport, you're not going to get a permit very easily.
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- University Shops:
- The SU has a general shop Essentials selling everything from stationery to groceries. There is also Academy Art Shop selling specific goods for Art and Design students. There is also a Print Shop and the newly opened Green Olive Cafe for cheap and tasty coffees and snacks.
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- University Bookshops:
- There's a Blackwells located on the ground floor of the library and the town has a number of bookshops.
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- Banking:
- There is a branch of HSBC on campus and branches of other banks around the town.
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- Transport Policy:
- The Safety Bus runs regularly every evening and is targetted mainly at female students.
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- Green Areas:
- Preston is fortunate to have a large number of parks, which are well kept and populated in the summer months, when the sun makes a brief appearance. The beautiful Ribble Valley is half and hour away by car and the Lake District not too far up the M6.
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