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University of Greenwich
From The Student RoomTSR Wiki > University > Choosing a University > University Guides > University of Greenwich
 The University of Greenwich is situated in the South-East of London. It's main buildings are set in the World Herritage Site of Greenwich Park in the old Royal Naval College buildings. As well as in Greenwich the uni has campuses at Eltham and Dartford. Able to trace it's history back to the setting up of Woolwich Polytechnic in 1890, Greenwich became a university in 1992 when Thames Polytechnic was granted university status. FacilitiesLearning ServicesLibraries and IT There are three libraries, one each on Greenwich, Medway and Avery Hill campuses. The services at each are pretty similar and they vary mostly in the fact that they hold the books most suitable for the subjects taught at each campus. The libraries are interesting places to work as they all are great buildings which create unique atmospheres to study. The libraries are open until 9pm some weekdays during the term and also have Saturday opening during term time - a decent set of opening hours, though far from as extensive as some other unis. In total there are over 600,000 volumes held in the three locations and standard facilities such as scanning and photocopying. You can also make use of over 1000 PCs across the campuses - many in the libraries and get general IT support too. You also have access to printers with costs ranging from 5p for A4 black and white to £1.60 for a colour A1 sheet. SportsYou can use the Sparrows Farm Sports Facilities at Avery Campus, which has a fitness suite, dance studio and use of Charlton Airdome. This facilities has great opening hours including some early mornings and late nights. Also on Avery Campus is the Madame Bergman Osterberg Sports Hall, which has a sports hall which can be used for things like basketball, badminton, volleyball, netball and 5-a-side football. There are also cricket nets too. On Medway Campus, the sports hall can be used for basketball, badminton, 5-a-side football and volleyball and in addition there is a fitness room and two tennis courts. If you are located in Greenwich there will be access to loads of community sports facilities either near by or slightly further afield and as a studnet you can get discounted prices to use these facilities. The SU organised lots of sporting activities and has teams for many sports in the BUSA and SESSA leagues. They also welcome people setting up more sports clubs and teams to go along side the current list:
WelfareWhatever your welfare needs the uni will take it seriously and has a specialist service that can help you. For money help try the Finance & Financial Support Team. If you need help with child care Avery Hill campus has a day nursery. There is support for both mature and international students. There is a disability service to support disabled students in both academic and daily life situations while the counselling service offers a confidential place for you to talk through anything that is affecting you. The SU can also offers welfare support and will be willing to advise and support you on pretty much any issue that can affect you. Finally 'Listening Ears' is a group set up by professionals at the uni who will offer confidential advice on a range of issues to students.
HealthcareBoth Avery Hill and Greenwich Campuses have health centres and you should register with the one on the campus you are based at. You can get to see GPs and nurses and find out information on a number of medical and health matters. You can instead register at local GP surgeries in these areas if you wish with Greenwich having a number near by. On Medway campus there is not a specialist student health centre, but there are a range of surgeries near by and as a student there you will be encouraged to register with one of them. ShopsIf you're located on the Greenwich campus, then you'll find Greenwich is a great place for shopping - lovely little streets with many local and specialist shops along side many of the big High Street chains. It's a very pleasant place to find most of what you need. But if you want some where bigger or somewhere with different shops you have the whole of London within easy reach with countless town centres and shopping centres to choose from as well as some of the biggest and most well known shopping areas in the country (like Knightsbridge and Oxford Street). RestaurantsBanksTransportThere is good public transport in the area. There are buses between the Village at Avery Hill and Greenwich campus and between Avery Hill Campus and Medway which have been set up by the university. A general public bus between Avery and Greenwich campuses also exists and takes about 40 minutes. The Greenwich campus is close to stations on the Docklands Light Railway and from there you can get easy access to the London Tube Network and the big national rail stations. There are also great bus connections from Greenwich to the rest of London. Careers servicePart-time jobsReligious facilitiesThe university Chaplaincy is active on all three campuses. It will offer you somewhere to go for pastoral care, whether you are in need of someone to talk to, want help with finding information about where to practice your religion or want to meet other people. There are 5 members of staff, some part time, some full time located across the campuses and they run religious services, lectures, discussions, social activities and a general 'drop in service' when ever they are on campus. Their website also has extensive information regarding different religions to provide everyone with a basic understanding of what they are all about. SocialBars, pubs and clubsNear all campuses you will find a range of bars and pubs. Greenwich has a number of fairly old pubs too including some with very interesting tales to tell from history. The SU also has two bars - Sparrows arm Bar on Avery Hill Campus and Latitude Bar located just a couple of minutes walk from the main Greenwich Campus and the main Greenwich Halls. If you want a bigger night out and can manage it, a trip in to central London can also be well worth it. EventsClubs and societiesThe uni has loads of societies for people who share interests and activities to get together. With no Wednesday lectures many societies find that a perfect time to get together. If you can find a society you like you can always start your own - find 12 people and fill in a few forms and you'll be on your way. Societies have included:
AccommodationAccommodation policyIf you're a new student you will be guaranteed accommodation when you first arrive at the university (should you want it) in either halls or uni approved housing - though you still need to a full time student and have applied by the deadline for this to apply. Though there are not many such rooms, a small number are put aside for existing students to use in like their second or third years and if you wish to apply for one of these rooms you can from about February of the year before. The uni will try to sort out requests with accommodation such as medical needs or wishes for mixed/single sex accommodation or smoking/non-smoking flats.
FacilitiesAll Uni halls have 'ResNet' access - high speed internet access via the unis 'Residential Network'. The great news is that this has recently been reduced to a free service too! At the Village at Avery Hill Campus you'll have use of the Dome where you can get food, Sparrows farm - a bar (and sports facilities) and also a general store, bookshop and launderette. At Binnie court you have a launderette and loads of shops near by while McMillan Student Village has a launderette.
ResidencesAvery Hill CampusHousing is in the Village made up of 7 courts and has about 1300 rooms. You get telephones and internet access in each room and there are even mini fridges in each room (amazing isn't it, seen as most unis completely ban these items from bedrooms!). Some flats will also have small balconies and all have well fitted kitchen areas.
Greenwich CampusBinnie Court
Medway CampusWolfe and Merlin Houses
Private sectorStudent unionPricesEnvironmentArchitectureThe main uni buildings in Greenwich form part of the old Royal Naval College - and were originally designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren between 1696 and 1712. This history gives the buildings a very magnificent and dramatic look and is instantly recognisable. Local areaIf you're at the Greenwich Campus you could hardly be in a better location. The uni is situated in the old Naval College Building at the northern end of Greenwich Park. The park is a beautiful place and the park and buildings have been designated a world heritage site. Also located in the park are the Royal Observatory (which the Greenwich Meridian passes through) and the National Maritime Museum. It'll also be the location of the equestrian events and some of the modern pentathlon events in the 2012 Olympics Games. Greenwich itself has a great feel 'small town' feel despite only being a few minutes on the DLR from central London. Immediately to the north of the uni is the River Thames with views across to Canary Wharf which includes the tallest building in the UK (1 Canada Square), to the east you can see a glimpse of the O2 (formerly the Millennium Dome) while to the west is the rest of London - you can get the best views of the whole scenery by heading up Greenwich Park to the Observatory - the views from up there are perhaps unrivaled across the whole of London. Teaching qualityThe Uni has generally low requirements with UCAS point offers normally about 160 to 240. In the 2006 National Student Survey Greenwich scores an OK 3.8 out of 5, though in national league tables the uni usually falls well towards the bottom end. The uni is perhaps better (or at least more competitive) for subjects like social care, engineering and law. Applying to GreenwichThinking of applying to the University of Greenwich? Why not read some Personal Statements which were used for applying here? Other Greenwich ArticlesWhy not read these other University of Greenwich Articles? Links | 
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