Telephone: 0131 444 2266 Website: http://www.napier.ac.uk
Fax: 0131 455 6333 E-mail: www.napier.ac.uk
Applications: UCAS Students: Total full-time 8999. Male/female ratio 1:1. First degree students 8462. Postgraduates 1588.
Staff: 539. Student enquiries: Student recruitment, Freepost, Edinburgh EH14 0PA (Tel 0500 35 35 70).
Broad study areas: Built environment, business, engineering, computing & IT, communications, design, hospitality & tourism, languages, life sciences, health & nursing, photography, film & TV, print media & publishing. Accommodation: 30% of first years housed.
In brief: A 1990s university. Location: Edinburgh, central Scotland. UCAS points on entry: 12.8.
Background: Founded: 1964 as Napier College; university status in 1992. Site: Multi-campus. 6 main sites (including Victorian campus at Craig House, at historic sites at Merchiston and Craiglockhart) and 6 further annexes. Academic features: Most courses are sandwich; all vocationally oriented; modular taught in semesters. Degree courses include ecotourism; e-business & e-commerce; architectural technology. Special features: Flexible learning, wide access routes, credit accumulation system. Awarding body: Napier University. Main undergraduate awards: BA, BEng, BSc, BDes, BMus. Length of courses: 3 or 4 years; others 4 or 5 years. Library & information services: 8 libraries; 311,500 volumes, 1900 periodicals, 1159 study places. Annual expenditure on information provision, £59 per (FTE) student. Separate IT service. 1868 computers with access to library and internet; some open 24 hours/day. IT support from 80 staff across main campuses. Student support: Medical officers, nurses, student advisers, special needs, chaplains. Careers: Information, advice and placement service. Amenities: Student association (NSA) facilities at each campus. Shops and bars at main campuses including newly renovated bar '12'. Sporting facilities: Sports dome, swimming pool, small gym.
Accommodation: 29% of first years in university accommoda-tion, 10% of all students. 176 self-catering places in halls of residence; £35 per week (shared), £48 (single), 33 week contract. 942 places in controlled flats/houses, £56 pw for 39 weeks. Most students live in privately owned accommodation for whole course: average rents £220 a month self-catering.
Hardship funds: Total available in 1999/00: £207,000 government access funds, approx 1000 students helped; £26,000 for hardship loans, 109 helped; £11,000 to help students with nursery fees. Special help: mature/married students with children.
Tuition fees: Scottish and EU students pay no fees during course; other UK home students up to £1075 pa for first degrees; overseas students £6450 (classroom), £7150 (lab/studio).
Student view: Spread over 10 sites throughout Lothian and the Borders the uni offers a diverse, if sometimes isolated, environment in which to study. The Students' Association (NSA) runs bars, each with its own unique character, and shops on the 4 main sites, as well as excellent education and welfare unit to support students. Edinburgh is not short of pubs, the majority with late night licences. Halls insufficient but mostly have modern accommodation in the city centre. Napier prides itself on having close links with industry, academically focusing on life sciences, technology, health and commercial disciplines. Increasingly offers short, high-turnover, money-spinning courses, in business and computing.
Student life: Housing: Edinburgh expensive; plenty of accommodation at prices similar to uni halls. Drink: NSA bar prices amongst cheapest. Loads of pubs, many open till 1am. Eats: Cheap, quality food at lunchtimes in NSA bars. Plenty of variety around town, from traditional chippies to Nepalese; Edinburgh will cater to every taste. Nightlife: NSA ents - DJ comps, dodgy discos, karaoke (cheap, quality, variety). Tons of cinemas incl 12-screen UCI and Virgin, 6-screen Odeon as well as independent Filmhouse and Cameo. Many theatres, from Lyceum to Bedlam Theatre. Nightclubs eg Revolution, Eros, Cavendish cater for most tastes; individual club nights catch those who miss out. Sports: University sports facilities at Sighthill dome and Craiglockhart. Strong active sports union. Council and private sports centres and swimming pools easily accessible. Hardship funds: Access fund; NSA hardship loan fund. Travel: ISIC cards from NSA. Good local bus network, reasonable fares. Jobs: Plenty of work in city (not always well paid). NSA has internet jobshop. Buzz-words: Twelve (Merchiston Union). More info? Enquiries to Students Association on 0131 229 8791.
Alumni: Ian Buchanan (Edinburgh Councillor), Steve Jacks (Radio Forth DJ), Jane Franchie (BBC Scotland), Greg Kane (Hue & Cry), Gavin Hastings (Scottish rugby), Ali Paton (Siren in Gladiators).