The Times Good University Guide 2002 Book

The Times Good University Guide 2002 offers clear impartial advice, often wittily presented, about the UK's almost 100 diverse universities. It includes statistical information about teaching standards, student numbers, classes of degree awarded, finance and accommodation. First, universities are arranged in rank order by subject. Thus, top for Environmental Science teaching is Nottingham, which requires 19.5 A level points (roughly two grade Bs and a C--although this equivalence system is about to change because of the new AS level examinations). Lincolnshire and Humberside which specifies only 7.7 A level points (about two Es and a D) is at the other end of the Environmental Science list. Cambridge leads in most subjects. The central part of the Guide details universities alphabetically. Each gets a double page devoted to its history, track record, perceived status, drop-out rates, number of undergraduates from state schools plus an eclectic overview. Thus "University of Leeds' students union sells a million pints of beer a year" and "Although Dundee is no beauty spot it is being regenerated and becoming more fashionable". The introduction is helpful and useful contact details are included at the end for degree-awarding institutions that are not designated universities. Organisations such as Ofsted, the education inspectorate and ECCTIS the online higher education course database, are also listed. For 17-year-olds considering university for autumn 2002 or anyone wanting to embark on higher education at a later stage, The Times Good University Guide 2002 is a sensible starting point. Having narrowed down subject and institution choice and armed with the e-mail and postal addresses and Web sites provided here, potential students can then readily move on to the detailed prospectuses and information published in print and/or online by the relevant universities themselves. --Susan ElkinRead More