30,979 discussions, 145 guides
Brunel University
30,979 discussions, 145 guides
Brunel University
Brunel University
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 3PH
Tel: +44 (0)1895 274000
1966
B1000
The radio station has some modern equipment and is pretty good. It broadcasts permanently on 999AM. There's an online audio feed but it has some problems. All part of the challenge.
Route 66
This is the glossy magazine that is mainly news and events based. Although not bad in terms of style and content there are complaints that it deals only with the Uxbridge site and local area and ignores the other three centres, except when publishing sports results. To combat this, a new media team has been setup to encourage more from the other campuses.
None of any major interest.
Jo Brand- Comedienne
Iwan Thomas - Athlete
Audley Harrison - Boxer
James Cracknell - Rower
Brunel is split into four sites and each needs to be considered independently.
Uxbridge
This is the University's main site and thus has the best facilities. The Academy is the on-site venue where it all happens and comprises two floors. Downstairs is the main SU function area. Due to its capacity (600-1000) and the 2300 students at Uxbridge, it is packed just about every night. Upstairs there is the Bishop's Bar which is more for sports players but is good for a relaxing drink.
Twickenham and Osterley
Although these are seperate sites they can be considered together. Somewhat worryingly the uni has closed all the SU facilities at both these campuses so it's local bars only. They are intending to centralise everything at Uxbridge and this is a step in that direction. Doesn't do a great deal for the students there now though does it? Osterley is Brunel's sports campus and is very very serious about it. This does mean a particular atmosphere and there are some interesting events. The most notable was a 3000 signature local petition to ban Wednesday night drinking due to students going on the rampage when drunk after matches. Apparently damage to garden gnomes alone totalled several thousand pounds.
Runnymede
This is the smallest of all four sites and has very poor facilities. A small bar is all you will get. Most students here take advantage of the facilities at nearby Royal Holloway. These are excellent. There have been problems in the past from this arrangement resulting in Holloway banning Brunel students on more than one occasion. It would be nice to say that both colleges students were at fault but on the majority of occasions the blame has been laid squarely at Brunel, meaning that a greater degree of care and attention is required. A close cooperation between the two unions has minimised this problem though.
At Twickenham, Osterley and Runnymede there are irregular union-run functions (about once a month.) Osterley's sportsmen and women organise their own social events. These are not totally exclusive but to really be accepted you have to be either a player or an avid supporter. The Uxbridge site is where most union events happen. The programme at the moment is as follows:
Mon- Karaoke Tue- Clubs and Socs events Wed- Cheesy disco Thu- Meltdown (R&B and Hip Hop) Fri- Rotation between commercial garage, house, drum and bass and dance. Sat- Comedy (Excellent at Brunel) Sun- Quiz night
The Runnymede site provides the location for most major events as it has some beautiful grounds. The May ball serves as the big Summer event and there are numerous musical acts and funfair rides. Dance and alcohol tents complete the setup. There is also an event on Guy Fawkes night cunningly titled Inferno. This is a big bonfire party with a spectacular fireworks display.
Nutters and Sons of the Desert being the most intriguing. Brunel at Uxbridge has still not quite shaken off the image of spotty physicists and engineers who can tell you more about Dungeons and Dragons than you ever wanted to know, and this is reflected in the make up of clubs and societies. Things have improved, though, and there is now a broader range.
Due to its Sports science college at Osterley, Brunel picks up plenty of honours. This is where it gets complicated though. The Osterley campus runs its own teams under the name of Borough Rd. and they win everything. The other sites do put out teams but they lack the success of Borough Rd. There is a unified Brunel side but no one really knows how it works. Generally, wins for Borough Rd. are claimed as wins for Brunel. Hmmmmmmm.
68
Overall it is fair to say that accommodation is not Brunel's strongpoint. However, new halls have recently been built at Uxbridge and more are planned because of the relocation. The sites are so different that we have treated them independently.
Uxbridge
Accommodation is provided on site here in a range of flats and single room blocks. The single rooms are the best bet, the newest being state of the art and very popular. The older facilities are not bad. Try to avoid the flats though, they are poor quality and not good value for money. Go for Faraday, Flemming and Mill Hill if possible. For the unlucky 8% who don't get a place and all those non-first years, renting in the local area is the only option and this is not easy. A selection of head leases and housing lists from the University help, but it's not enough. The house hunt is usually very hectic and you can end up paying a lot more than you bargained for. Hayes is probably the best bet.
Twickenham and Osterley
Halls accommodation here is spacious and sociable. It is also like gold dust to get hold of and is allocated on distance from home. Most students end up renting in the local area. The University gives first years a list of people in the same situation and leaves them to it. After this most houses will be passed on by close knit sports teams to the year below, so this is the best way to find something. Many students complain about the procedure as a whole and large numbers end up in very poor properties where there are often problems with landlords. To be fair though most students do not treat their houses well. Chicken or egg?
Runnymede
The halls on site are adequate and not really worthy of mention. After the first year there is quite a bit of competition for housing given the proximity of Royal Holloway. Englefield Green is the most popular area and most houses are for 4-6 sharing and are of a reasonable quality. The estate is a 10 minute walk away from academic facilities.
All of the Brunel sites are close to London and have easy access. Runnymede is the furthest away being about 50 mins by foot then train.
Uxbridge is a business centre and has few young people so the town's shops are the only point of interest. The local area is safe and suburban.
Twickenham and Osterley are equally quiet except on match days when the streets are very crowded and the atmosphere much more vibrant. Kingston and Richmond are close and provide much better entertainment facilities.
Runnymede is situated in countryside in one of Britain's wealthiest areas. It is very attractive in the Summer and there is no trouble to worry about other than stray golf balls from nearby Wentworth.
Parking is permit based but adequate and free.
There is an HSBC cash machine on site at Uxbridge and the town has all other major banks. Twickenham amd Osterley have plenty in the local area. Runnymede students have at least a ten minute walk for cash.
Ramps and other facilities are in place. There is also a disability officer. Most sites are quite flat and thus wheelchair friendly.
There is a mini supermarket at Uxbridge which is open at the weekend. There is also a travel agent in the SU. Osterley has a Union shop.
There is a branch of Waterstones at Uxbridge, but the other sites rely on the local area.
Uxbridge There are a range of facilities on the main site. These include: A climbing wall, solarium, multigym, free weights, sports pitches, netball and tennis courts and cricket nets. Twickenham and Osterley Being the site of the sports college facilities are of course superb. There is a running track and a well equipped fitness centre and gym. Runnymede None, but students tend to use Uxbridge's facilties. Students here can also use the facilities at Royal Holloway which include a brand new gym and sports hall. Apart from these there is lots of lovely countryside to frolick in.
The university run inter-site buses, and local transport, with the exception of Runnymede, is good. At Runnymede a car would come in handy.
The Uxbridge campus is a concrete jungle and closely resembles New Chicago from the popular series 'Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'. There are some fields. Twickenham and Osterley have sports fields and Runnymede has countryside as far as the eye can see.
There is a library on each campus and a total of 400 000 books. There are 1100 study spaces.
The 1000 computer terminals are really not enough. Busy periods see long waits and frustration. There are some terminals available in Halls. Your own machine or getting friendly with someone who has one would be good.
There is a medical centre at Uxbridge and a specialist sports clinic at Osterley. Both sites have a decent and popular counselling setup with drop in appointments available.
