Conferred university status in 1992 it was previously Thames Polytechnic (estb. 1890) University of Greenwich, UK has a rich history of academic innovations

Spread across three campuses in south-east London and Kent county, the University of Greenwich (estb. 1890) enjoys a well-deserved reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Recently it was awarded two successive (2002-03) research-based Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher & Further Education, and generates £17.5 million (Rs.152 crore) in research and consultancy income annually.

Greenwich offers its 20,000 undergrad and postgraduate students a wide range of programmes across ten academic schools. In particular its business school, School of Education and Training, and School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences have excellent reputations within British academia. Moreover in 2005 it was ranked 16th (out of 86) for media studies in The Guardian’s rating of top British varsities.

“Many of the programmes are work-related with a strong professional and vocational focus. We have strong links with employers in the region and offer support in finding placements and part-time work to students as well as good career opportunities after graduation,” says Tessa Blackstone, vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich.

Conferred university status in 1992 it was previously Thames Polytechnic (estb.1890) this institution has a history of academic innovations. Thames Polytechnic pioneered the country’s first part-time, day-release and sandwich courses.

Greenwich. Part of the south-eastern urban sprawl of London, Greenwich is a bustling suburb on the south bank of the river Thames. The London borough of Greenwich is steeped in history. East meets West on the Meridian Line, which divides the hemispheres and marks longitude zero. The line runs through the courtyard of the 17th century Royal Greenwich Observatory and marks the spot from which Greenwich Mean Time is calculated. The observatory is situated in Greenwich Park, which used to be the grounds of the Royal Palace of Placentia. At the bottom of the park is the National Maritime Museum which also includes the Queen’s House. Greenwich has excellent pubs and restaurants, plus a cinema and theatre with a broad repertoire. The numerous attractions of central London are a short train/ bus ride from the university’s Greenwich Maritime campus.

Campus facilities. Greenwich University is spread across three campuses: Avery Hill in the south-east London district of Eltham, Maritime Greenwich, and Medway, in Chatham, Kent. The 86-acre Avery Hill campus (25 minutes by train from central London), which houses the schools of education and training, architecture and construction, health and social care, combines the style and grace of Victorian architecture with contemporary teaching, residential and sports facilities. The library is situated in a former ballroom and boasts an extensive collection of books, periodicals and CD-roms.

The Student Village which provides housing to more than 1,300 students has a shop, launderette, parking and excellent sporting amenities, with tennis courts, a cricket square, rugby and football pitches. Additionally sports facilities are offered by the Sparrows Farm Sports and Leisure Centre, which houses a fitness suite, sauna and solarium.

The university’s largest campus Maritime Greenwich is situated on the banks of the Thames on the grounds of the old Royal Naval College, designed as a naval hospital in the 17th century by renowned architect Sir Christopher Wren. Home to the schools of business, humanities, education and training and the Greenwich Maritime Institute, the campus offers state-of-the-art lecture theatres, a 100-bed conference centre, student cafes and halls of residence. The Dreadnought Library has an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as language laboratories, a 200-PC computing facility and a bookshop.

The Edwardian redbrick, ivy-clad Medway campus in Kent dating from 1903 has benefited from a £20 million (Rs.174 crore) capital investment since 1986. The centerpiece of this develop-ment is the magnificent Drill Hall library, converted from a naval drill hall, offering 100,000 sq. ft of floor space. The Drill Hall library is supplemented by a new research block, the Wolfson Centre, additional laboratory facilities and a Centre for Sports and Exercise Science. The Medway campus comprises Greenwich’s schools of pharmacy, science, nursing, engineering and natural resources institute.

Admission. Admission applications for bachelor’s degree programmes at Greenwich University have to be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The minimum eligibility criterion is successful completion of Plus Two/ class XII (average 60 percent plus). Moreover applicants are obliged to write the TOEFL (minimum score of 80) or IELTS (6.0) examination. Students can obtain a UCAS form from their local British Council office or UCAS, Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3LZ, United Kingdom (e-mail: enq@ucas.com; website: www.ucas.com). Students can apply to a maximum of six institutions and/ or courses through UCAS. The institution code for Greenwich University is G70. Applications for postgraduate degree programmes have to be made directly to the university.

For further information write to the International Office, University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9LS. Tel: 044 20 8331 8242; e-mail: intoffice@greenwich.ac.uk/ international@gre.ac.uk; website: www.greenwich.ac.uk.

Accommodation. The University of Greenwich guarantees residential accommodation to all first year international students on its three campuses. The Avery hill campus offers more than 1,300 bedrooms in self-catering flats and maisonettes. Housing at Maritime Greenwich comprises residence halls offering single study bedrooms in self-catering flats, while the Medway campus offers 204 single study bedrooms. Facilities include communal lounge/ kitchen/ dining rooms and launderettes.

Degree programmes. Greenwich offers a wide range of bachelors, combined honours and Master’s programmes across 11 academic disciplines (see box).

Scholastic options at Greenwich The University of Greenwich offers undergrad and postgrad programmes across 11 academic schools and institutes. They include: Architecture and Construction, Business School, Science, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Education and Training, Engineering, Greenwich Maritime Institute, Health and Social Care, Humanities, Medway School of Pharmacy, Natural Resources Institute, Urban Renaissance Institute.  Tuition fees (annual): £8,000-8,650 Living costs (per year including accommodation): £6,300-7,400 NB £=Rs.87

 Summiya Yasmeen