The University of the West of England (also known as UWE Bristol, or simply UWE) is a university located near the city of Bristol, United Kingdom. Its main campus is at Frenchay near Bristol, about five miles (8 km) north of the city centre and close to the M32 motorway. UWE also has campuses at Glenside in north-east Bristol and Bower Ashton, near Ashton Court in south-west Bristol. There is also a regional centre at Gloucester Docks, Gloucestershire, and an associate faculty (Hartpury College) specialising in animal behaviour and welfare, agricultural and sports related courses in Hartpury, Gloucestershire. With around 27,000 students and 3,000 staff, UWE is the larger of the two universities in Bristol (the longer established University of Bristol has approximately 18,000 students. The Chancellor of UWE is Sir Ian Carruthers and Steven West is the Vice-Chancellor. The University of the West of England can trace its roots back to the foundation of the Merchant Venturers Navigation School, which was founded in 1595. Part of this institution, to which the Universities of Bristol and Bath also partly owe their origins, became a technical college which, after merger with other colleges, in turn became Bristol Polytechnic in 1970; the then-main campus was at Ashley Down, now a campus of the City of Bristol College. Like the other former polytechnics, this gained university status and its present name as a result of the Further and Higher Education Act, 1992. The Bower Ashton site was formed in 1969 as the West of England College of Art which was formerly the art school of the Royal West of England Academy in Queens Road, Bristol. The St Matthias site (which is no longer owned by the university) was originally built in Victorian times and was a teacher training college. These campuses, together with campuses in Redland, Ashley Down, Unity Street and Frenchay became part of Bristol Polytechnic around 1976. The Avon and Gloucestershire College of Health which is now the Glenside Campus and the Bath and Swindon College of Health Studies joined in January 1996. Hartpury campus joined in 1997. An £80 million student village located at the Frenchay campus, which includes a sports centre and rooms for 2000 students, opened in 2006. The university is a lead academic sponsor of Bristol Technology and Engineering Academy, a new university technical college. Facilities[edit] At Frenchay campus a NatWest bank and Blackwell's book store operate on campus. The student radio station, Hub Radio operates out of a studio on campus. The University House Services department operates three bars, one canteen and four coffee shops. Staff only facilities at Frenchay include "Felixstowe Court", "Paninos" and "Café Severn". At each of the other campuses House Services operate canteens named "Traders". In August 2006, a new sports centre was opened at Frenchay, including a large main hall with a wooden sprung floor and two glass back squash courts. The hall has court markings for sports including, badminton, basketball, netball, 5-a-side football, volleyball and indoor hockey. There is a 70 station fitness suite, changing rooms and a hockey pitch. The Centre for Student Affairs offers advice, counselling and career development guidance to students and there is a university-wide multi-faith chaplaincy, based at the Octagon Centre at Frenchay. Transport Links The Frenchay Campus acts as a hub for transport links for both local and national destinations. On the east side of the campus, the local bus services operate. These provide links to Central and North Bristol, Fishponds and South Gloucester. At the North Entrance to the campus Megabus services operate between South West England, Wales, London, Birmingham and the North. The Frenchay Campus also has strong rail links being situated close to both Filton Abbey Wood (FIT) and Bristol Parkway (BPW) railway stations, providing commuter services to Bristol Temple Meads, Cardiff and Bath as well as frequent services to London, the South West, Wales and the North. Stagecoach West also provides a peak-time quality commuter coach service, using the name "Belles Express", between Gloucester (City Centre and Quedgeley) and UWE. Student accommodation In September 2006, Frenchay Student Village opened providing on-campus accommodation for 1,932 students, adding to the 252 units already provided in Carroll Court. Campus accommodation is also provided at Glenside. In partnership with UNITE Student Housing a further 1,500 places are provided in Bristol City Centre and UWE Accommodation services also places students in vetted private rentals. The main halls of residence are Brecon Court (part of the student village complex) Cotswold Court (part of the student village complex) Mendip Court (part of the student village complex) Quantock Court (part of the student village complex) Carroll Court (on Frenchay Campus) Wallscourt Park (on Frenchay Campus) Glenside (on Glenside campus) The Hollies (opposite Glenside Campus) Marketgate (in the city centre - owned by Unite Group) Waverley House (in the city centre - owned by Unite Group) Favell House (in the city centre - owned by Unite Group) Transom House (in the city centre - owned by Unite Group) The student village and Marketgate are all en suite, however Marketgate has 12 studio flats that allow for single occupancy. All other accommodation is shared bathrooms and shared kitchen facilities. All accommodation at UWE is self-catering.