University of Paisley
Paisley
PA1 2BE
Tel: 0141 848 3000
Fax: 0141 848 3333
Email: uni-direct@paisley.ac.uk
Website www.paisley.ac.uk
Student enquiries: Freephone 0800 027 1000
Applications: UCAS

Founded: 1897 (Paisley College); university status in 1992.

Site: 3 campuses: Paisley Campus (main campus) in Paisley town centre; University Campus, Ayr close to Ayr town centre on west coast (education, business, music, media, health & nursing); Crichton University Campus Dumfries near Dumfries town centre (business, health, computing & childhood studies).

How to get there: M8 motorway, rail to Paisley (10 mins from Glasgow), close to Glasgow airport; A77 for Ayr; M74 for Dumfries.

Academic features: Practical courses developed with commerce and industry. Links with FE colleges. Awarding body: Paisley University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BAcc, BEd, BSc, BEng.

Length of courses: 3-4 years (full-time); 4-5 (sandwich); 4 1/2 years (Honours engineering).

Library & information services: Over 220,000 volumes, 1200 periodicals, up to 1100 study places (100 at Ayr); short loan collection and electronically accessed material. Group reading rooms available. Library and resource centre at Paisley. Annual expenditure on information provision, £67 per (FTE) student. Computing facilities and IT support. Library tours and email sessions for new students. Daily software sessions available.

Study abroad: Opportunities for all students to study in USA and Europe. Funding available for Erasmus exchange students.

Careers: Careers service and information room; career planning seminars; annual careers fair.

Student advice & services: 2 welfare advisers, safety officer, occupational health nurse; special needs adviser. Student services at all 3 campuses; nursery at Paisley; chaplaincy service at Ayr and Paisley.

Amenities: Students' Association with a variety of affiliated clubs and societies.

Sporting facilities: Sports centre with all-weather pitches, football, rugby pitches, fitness suite. tennis and squash courts at Paisley.

Accommodation: 20% of all students in university accommodation (Paisley and Ayr), first year students from outside area given preference. 670 self-catering places available at Paisley, 110 at Ayr, approx £45 per week term time only. Privately owned accommodation rents: £40-£60 pw for self-catering, £50-£70 B&B, £60-£90 for halt-board. Many students live at home (common feature in west of Scotland).

Living expenses budget: No university-recommended minimum.

Term-time work: 60% of full-time first degree students believed to work. Some work available on campus as guides for open days, enrolment, induction, university reps, in Students' Association etc; vacancies off campus advertised in careers service.

Financial help: £150,000 government funds, average £250 awarded.

Tuition fees: Scottish and EU students pay no fees during course; other UK home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £7000 pa (classroom), £7900 (lab-based).