University of Northampton

HISTORY

The University of Northampton is a public university based in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England. It was formed in 1999 by the amalgamation of a number of training colleges and gained full university status as The University of Northampton in 2005. In 1924, Northampton Technical College was opened at St George’s Avenue, site of the Avenue Campus. A new building for the college was formally opened by the Duke and Duchess of York in 1932. A School of Art opened later in 1937. At the beginning of the 1970s, Northamptonshire was one of the few counties in England to lack a teacher-training college. A college in Liverpool lost its home and was transferred to what is now the Park Campus. The college was opened by the Secretary of State for Education and Science, Margaret Thatcher, in 1972. In 1975, this college amalgamated with the college of technology and art to become Nene College of Higher Education, taking its name from the River Nene. In 1993, the college incorporated St. Andrew’s School of Occupational Therapy and was granted taught degree awarding powers. In 1994 it took in the Leathersellers College and in 1997 the Sir Gordon Roberts College of Nursing and Midwifery. It became University College Northampton in 1999 and gained full university status in 2005. In order to gain university status it had to convince the Privy Council that a Royal Decree banning the establishment of a university in Northampton, signed by King Henry III in 1265 following the Battle of Lewes, should be repealed. In 2005 the university also received the power to validate its own research degrees, which had formerly been validated by the University of Leicester. In the graduation ceremonies in July 2006 seven students received the first doctoral degrees validated by the University of Northampton. In January 2010, the School of Applied Sciences was renamed the School of Science and Technology and moved into the newly refurbished Newton Building at Avenue Campus. The Newton Building was officially opened in September 2010 by HRH The Princess Anne.

COURSES

It is divided into six schools:

  • Arts
  • Science and Technology (formerly Applied Sciences)
  • Education
  • Health
  • Business
  • Social Sciences

The Sunley Conference Centre is for management training and development and also provides a large part of the university’s conference facilities.

The university offers a wide range of undergraduate degrees, foundation degrees, diplomas and a variety of postgraduate opportunities up to PhD level. It is one of only a handful of universities in the UK to offer two-year fast-track degrees (currently for management and marketing and law) and it also offers four-year extended degrees with a year in industry. The university is internationally renowned for waste management education and research. Other centres of excellence include Centre for Children and Youth (childhood and Children’s Geographies), Transpersonal Psychology, leather technology and lift engineering. Degree programmes in Environmental Science subjects offer overseas fieldwork trips for undergraduate students to locations such as North America and the Canary Islands.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The university is dedicated to encouraging widening participation. For information about entry standards visit the University of Northampton website. Grade requirements will vary by course and in some cases courses may have specific requirements.

ACADEMIC STRENGTHS

The 2015 National Student Survey revealed that the University of Northampton has 86% overall student satisfaction, with 13 courses receiving 100% overall satisfaction, and a further 21 receiving scores of 90% or more.

The University of Northampton enjoys above sector average NSS scores in four of the seven categories – for teaching, assessment and feedback, academic support and personal development.

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has confirmed the quality and standards of provision at the University of Northampton following its review in October 2015. QAA reviewers visited the university and judged that its academic standards, the quality and enhancement of its student learning opportunities, and the quality of information about its learning opportunities all meet UK expectations. Singled out for praise was the university’s substantial engagement with employers and activities dedicated to enhancing student employability.

In 2014 Ofsted rated their Initial Teacher Education as Good.

The University of Northampton has always prided itself on its teaching excellence. This has been recognised nationally in the UK National Teaching Awards. Since these awards were established, five of their university staff have been recognised as National Teaching Fellows. This prestigious award recognises the contribution of individuals to the development of innovative teaching at the highest level, nationally and internationally.

TEACHING STANDARDS

They are committed to providing their students with the very best learning experience possible. Their ambitious academic community undertakes extensive research and consultancy work, bringing real-world experiences and insights to their teaching. Their programmes have the perfect balance of theoretical learning, critical analysis and practical application. A signed partnership agreement with Northampton Town Football club provides many opportunities for industry relevant work placement and intern opportunities (offered on a selection of courses). Ranked 12th for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2016). Their students enjoy excellent employment opportunities and work experience placements, and benefit from continued employability support. They provide their graduates with key skills that employers value, while holistically integrating social enterprise into their teaching, learning and research, and working with local authorities, businesses and the wider community. DHLE statistics reveal that 96% of their graduates are in work or further study six months after completing their course. Designated an Ashoka U Changemaker Campus for their commitment to Social Enterprise. Entrepreneurial activities embedded within all their courses to enhance the students learning experience, inspire innovation, develop entrepreneurial skills and understand social values.

CAREERS GUIDANCE

The University Centre for Employability and Engagement (UCEE) offers a unique employability service to all students and graduates. The centre works with students to develop the professional and personal skills needed to enter the workplace at a graduate level or to progress into further studies.

The University Centre for Employability and Engagement offers:

  • Confidential one-to-one careers advice, CV checks, mock interviews
  • Interactive skills development workshops and events
  • Employability Plus – an incentive, recognition and reward scheme for all employability activity
  • Access to pain and voluntary opportunities
  • Support to students engaged in community projects both on and off campus
  • Regular opportunities to network with employers

Employability Plus provides:

  • Work opportunities
  • Volunteering and social action experiences
  • Development opportunities
  • Employability support
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