Drake Circus
Plymouth
PL4 8AA
Tel 01752 585 858
prospectus@plymouth.ac.uk
www.plymouth.ac.uk
Open day: October 17

PERFORMANCE

Sunday Times ranking 61 (63=)

Student satisfaction 74.2%
Head teacher ranking 92= (87=)
Peer ranking 61= (69=)
Research quality 54.5%
A-level/Higher points 264
Unemployment 9.7%
Firsts and 2:1s 61.4%
Student/staff ratio 16.1:1
Dropout rate 16.1% (16.5%)

Multimedia

• The Times University Guide table

VITAL STATISTICS

Undergraduates 17,749 (7,965)
Postgraduates 1,058 (2,602)
Teaching staff 919
Applications/places 20,275/5,233; 3.9:1 (+2.8%)
Clearing entry 3.5%
Live in 17% (50%) £77-£120
Bursaries £300-£700
Scholarships None

SOCIAL MIX

EU/overseas 3%/1.6%
Mature 24.3%
State school 94.3%
Lowest social classes 30.5%
Low-participation areas 10.2%

It may be the largest university in the southwest, with about 30,000 students, but size has yet to dilute Plymouth’s standards, which are high. Its research scored very well in the 2008 research assessment exercise. In 18 out of the 25 areas submitted, Plymouth was judged to have some world-leading research with civil engineering, computer science, geography and environmental science doing particularly well.

Plymouth is the new base for the Royal Statistical Society’s Centre for Statistical Education, because of its reputation for teaching and research in mathematics and statistics.

Situated in the heart of the city of Plymouth, students at the university are benefiting from more than £100m of investment. Completed projects include a £35m award-winning new home for the faculty of arts, a £10.75m sports hall and fitness centre and a £1m nursery.

Last month, Plymouth revised its academic structure, which included the creation of a new business school dedicated to ethical, sustainable business skills. The science and technology faculties have been combined to facilitate interdisciplinary teaching and research and Plymouth will also see the establishment of the largest marine science and engineering school in Europe.

It is the only UK university to have its own diving and marine centre. The Mount Batten Centre, a short water taxi ride from the campus, is the main water sports and activity facility, and has 2012 Olympic training status.

STUDENT VIEW

Aleshia Sampson, students’ union president:

First impressions: In a great Devon location — close to lots of beaches and the open spaces of Dartmoor.
Worst feature: The campus is being redeveloped, so it feels like living in a building site.
Facilities: There’s a nursery for staff and students and a medical centre. The library computers have 24-hour access.
Deal clincher: There’s a beachy, laid-back feel and Plymouth isn’t too expensive.

Rated excellent (15)
Agriculture, forestry and agricultural sciences; building; civil engineering; education; environmental science; food science; geography; geology; hospitality, leisure, recreation, sport and tourism; land and property management; molecular biosciences; nursing; oceanography; organismal biosciences; psychology.

Student satisfaction
Mathematical Sciences 90.8; Medical Science and Pharmacy 89.7; Human and Social Geography 87.8; Sports Science 83.3; Physical Science 82.6; Electronic and Electrical Engineering 82.5; History and Archaeology 81.3; Medicine and Dentistry 81.2; Physical Geography and Environmental Science 80.6; Civil, Chemical and other Engineering 80; Tourism, Transport, Travel and others in Business and Administrative studies 78.6; Politics 78.3; Technology 77.6; Finance and Accounting 77.6; Business 77.3; English-based studies 77.3; Computer Science 76.4; Biology and related Sciences 76.2; Agriculture and related subjects 75.8; Management 75.6; Psychology 75.6; Initial Teacher Training 75.3; Performing Arts 74.7; Economics 72.8; Education studies 72.6; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 71.1; Mechanically-based Engineering 71; Nursing 70.3; Art and Design 70; European Languages and Area studies 69.6; Other Creative Arts 68.9; Law 68.1; Other subjects allied to Medicine 67.8; Architecture, Building and Planning 64.6; Social Work 59.7

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