The Park
Cheltenham GL50 2RH

Tel 0870 720 1100

courseinfo@glos.ac.uk

www.glos.ac.uk

Sunday Times ranking 74 (89)

Teaching excellence 0%

Student satisfaction 72%

Head teacher ranking 45= (73=)

Peer ranking 89= (83)

Research quality 23.8%

A/AS-level points 250

A-levels for entry 77.3%

Unemployment 4.8%

Firsts and 2:1s 55.2%

Student/staff ratio 17.3:1

Dropout rate 11% (16%)

Undergraduates 5,445 (1,579)

Postgraduates 545 (1,135)

Teaching staff 352

Applications/places 9,812/1,933; 5.1:1 (+1.7%)

Clearing entry 7.1%

Bursaries 75%: Up to £968

Scholarships: Sport only

EU/overseas 1.8%/3.3%

Mature 19.6%

State school 94%

Lowest social classes 33%

Low-participation areas 10%

Live in £50-£89

The university has four campuses, three in Cheltenham and one in Gloucester which, despite this year’s floods, remained above water level. A free bus runs between them, typical of Gloucestershire’s approach to sustainability; it was the first English university to gain the ISO 14001 environmental standard and has used green electricity since the early 1990s – appropriate seeing its geography degree teaching is rated excellent.

Flexible is key; a third of students study part-time. Undergraduates can choose single or joint honours degrees, with an emphasis on vocational courses. Work placements form part of many degrees, and the university has good relations with employers such as Price Waterhouse Coopers, the BBC, BT, Panasonic, Nissan and Air France.

It also widens accessibility via an inclusive bursary scheme. This year’s admissions recruited from within Gloucestershire or a neighbouring county get a top-up bursary of 35% of their maintenance grant. Those who qualify for a full maintenance grant living outside these counties get a £305 bursary. There is also an annual rebate of 10% of fees payable on successful progression of your course.

Each of the four campuses has its own look and feel; Francis Close Hall, Park and Pittville combine traditional and modern facilities set in landscaped grounds, while Oxtalls in Gloucester is a shiny new campus from 2002.

While those in search of urban thrills might find things a little quiet, events such as the summer ball held at Cheltenham racecourse (host to the graduation ceremony) get people together, and the town’s frequent festivals give it plenty of atmosphere.

Open days October 20 (all subjects). Contact the university for further details.

Student view Simon Potter, students’ union president:

USP It is nice to be in a place where you know everyone.

Worst feature Bank charges; but student support will help you with that fight.

Location Cheltenham has lots of events.

Social scene There is a developing live music scene.

Rated excellent (1) Geography.

Degree of student satisfaction: 72.0%

English-based studies 83.4; Psychology 81.0; Architecture, Building and Planning 80.3; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 79.4; Tourism, Transport, Travel and others in Business and Administrative studies 79.1; Social Work 79.0; Law 78.6; Finance and Accounting 77.9; Computer Science 76.7; Physical Geography and Environmental Science 74.5; History and Archeology 73.5; Management 72.0; Sports Science 70.6; Communications and Information studies 68.9; Teacher Training 68.8; Art and Design 68.5; Other Creative Arts 66.3; Media studies 62.7; Business 62.0

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