Jump to content

University of Northampton: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 52°15′02″N 0°53′25″W / 52.2506°N 0.8903°W / 52.2506; -0.8903
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
→‎Profile and reputation: Add a few more stat's
(476 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{About|the present day university|the university in existence from 1261 to 1265|University of Northampton (thirteenth century)}}
{{Short description|Public university in Northampton, England}}
{{About|the present-day university|the one in existence from 1261 to 1265|University of Northampton (13th century)}}

{{EngvarB|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox university
{{Infobox university
|name = The University of Northampton
| name = The University of Northampton. Ceo Artur and Todor
| former_names = University College Nene College of Higher Education (1975),<br />Northampton Technical College (1924)
|image_name = Northampton University logo.png
| image = Arms of the University of Northampton.svg
|caption =
| caption = [[Armorial of British universities|Coat of arms]]
|latin_name =
|motto = Transforming lives, inspiring change
| image_upright = 0.9
| latin_name =
|established = 2005 (gained [[Universities in the United Kingdom|University status]])<br> Nene College established 1975
|type = [[public university|Public]]
| motto = {{lang-la|Ne Nesciamus}}
| mottoeng = Let us not be ignorant
|endowment = £940,000 <ref>http://www2.northampton.ac.uk/portal/page/portal/Finance/docstore/statutory-accounts/un-full-accounts-2009.pdf</ref>
| established = 2005 (gained [[Universities in the United Kingdom|University status]])<br /> 1975 (Nene College established)
|staff = 485 Academic<ref name="UCNFacts">{{cite web |url=http://www.northampton.ac.uk/about/factsfigures/docs/factsfigures05.pdf |format=PDF|title= University College Northampton Facts and Figures 2004-2005 |accessdate=2007-01-04}}</ref>
| type = [[public university|Public]]
476 Support<ref name="UCNFacts" />
| endowment = £0.95 m (2015)<ref>http://www.northampton.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Signed-University-of-Northampton-Accounts-2014-1511.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>
143 Manual<ref name="UCNFacts" />
| chancellor = [[Richard Coles]]
|vice_chancellor = Professor Nick Petford
| vice_chancellor = [[Anne-Marie Kilday]]
|head_label = Chairman of Council
| administrative_staff = 1,048<ref name="Accounts">{{cite web |url=http://www.northampton.ac.uk/Downloads/4209-un-full-accounts-2011.pdf |title=University of Northampton accounts-2011.pdf |access-date=17 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916075406/http://www.northampton.ac.uk/Downloads/4209-un-full-accounts-2011.pdf |archive-date=16 September 2013}}</ref>
|head = Mrs Deirdre Newham
| students = {{HESA student population|INSTID=0027}} ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation">{{HESA citation}}</ref>
|students = 10,645<ref name="HESA">{{cite web|url= http://www.hesa.ac.uk/dox/dataTables/studentsAndQualifiers/download/institution0607.xls|title= Table 0a - All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2006/07|accessdate= 2008-04-11|format= [[Microsoft Excel]] spreadsheet|publisher= [[Higher Education Statistics Agency]]}}</ref>
|undergrad = 9,065<ref name="HESA" />
| undergrad = {{HESA undergraduate population|INSTID=0027}} ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation"/>
|postgrad = 1,580<ref name="HESA" />
| postgrad = {{HESA postgraduate population|INSTID=0027}} ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation"/>
|city = [[Northampton]]
| city = [[Northampton]]
|state = [[Northamptonshire]]
| state = [[Northamptonshire]]
|country = [[United Kingdom|UK]]
| country = UK
|campus =
| campus =
|free_label =
| free_label =
|free =
| free =
|colours =
| colours =
|affiliations =
| footnotes =
| website = {{url|northampton.ac.uk/}}
|footnotes =
| coordinates = {{Coord|52.2506|-0.8903|display=title}}
|website = http://www.northampton.ac.uk/
|address =
| logo = UoN_new_logo.jpg
|telephone =
| logo_size = 100px
|coor =
}}
}}


The '''University of Northampton''' is a [[university]] in [[Northampton]], [[Northamptonshire]], [[UK]].
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.

The University of Northampton was formerly known as the Nene College of Higher Education and then the University College Northampton. It was granted full university status in 2005, although it first had to convince the [[Privy Council]] that a [[Royal Decree]], signed by [[Henry III of England|King Henry III]] in 1265 following the [[Battle of Lewes]], should be ignored. This decree banned the establishment of a university in Northampton. 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 to be validated by the University of Northampton.


==History==
==History==
===13th century University of Northampton===
The town had a university in medieval times between 1261 and 1265 of [[University of Northampton (1261)|the same name]], established by [[royal charter]] after approval from [[Henry III of England|King Henry III]] in 1261. It was the third university in England, after [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] and [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]], and the 22nd in Europe. After being advised by [[bishop]]s and [[magnate]]s that Northampton was a threat to Oxford, Henry III dissolved the university in 1265, and signed a [[Royal Decree]] that banned the establishment of a university in Northampton.


===Northampton Technical College===
The University of Northampton today occupies two sites, Park Campus at [[Kingsthorpe]], a suburb of Northampton, and Avenue Campus, which is situated close to Northampton town centre and opposite one of the largest open parkland areas in Northampton. The site of the latter had at one time been the site of a college of technology.
'''Northampton Technical College''' was opened at St George's Avenue—now the site of the Avenue Campus—in 1924. Eight years later, a new building for the college was formally opened by the [[George VI|Duke]] and [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Duchess of York]]. A School of Art opened later in 1937.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.northampton.ac.uk/about-us/history-of-the-university-of-northampton/ |title=History of the University of Northampton – The University of Northampton |access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref>


[[Image:Avenuecampus.jpg|thumb|The entrance to Avenue Campus]]
In 1924, Northampton Technical College was opened at St George's Avenue, site of the current Avenue Campus. The building for the college was formally opened by the then Duke and Duchess of [[York]] in 1932. A School of Art opened later in 1937.


===The College of Education and Nene College of Higher Education===
[[Image:Avenuecampus.jpg|thumb|The entrance to Avenue campus]]
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 of Education was opened by the [[Secretary of State for Education]] and Science, [[Margaret Thatcher]], in 1972. In 1975, this college amalgamated with the Colleges of Technology and Art to become '''Nene College of Higher Education''', taking its name from the [[River Nene]]. In 1978, it integrated the Leathersellers College from London. {{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}


In 1993, the college incorporated St. Andrew's School of [[Occupational Therapy]] and was granted undergraduate degree awarding powers. In 1997, it took in the Sir Gordon Roberts College of Nursing and [[Midwifery]].
At the beginning of the 1970s, [[Northamptonshire]] was one of the few counties in England to lack a teacher training college. A teacher training college in [[Liverpool]] lost its home and was transferred to what is now the Park Campus of The University of Northampton. The education college was opened by the then Secretary of State for Education and Science, [[Margaret Thatcher]], in 1972. In 1975, this teacher training college amalgamated with the college of technology to become Nene College, a College of Higher Education, taking its name from the [[River Nene]] in Northamptonshire. This later became known as Nene-University College Northampton. 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 The University of Northampton in 2005.


===University College Northampton and University of Northampton===
The Vice Chancellor of the university is currently Ann Tate. Her predecessor in this position was Martin Gaskell. Ann is due to be succeeded in her role by Professor Nick Petford in September 2010. On 10 February 2008 the university appointed [[Baroness Falkner of Margravine]] as its inaugural [[chancellor (education)|Chancellor]].
It became '''University College Northampton''' in 1999 and gained full university status in 2005. 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 [[Henry III of England|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 degree]]s 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 [[Anne, Princess Royal|Princess Anne]].
Recipients of honorary doctorates and degrees have included Former F1 world champion and president of the [[British Racing Drivers' Club]] [[Damon Hill]] in February 2009, renowned creative director [[Martin Lambie-Nairn]] in July 2010, Kettering born comedian [[Hugh Dennis]] in 2008, fashion designer [[Zandra Rhodes]] in 2007, broadcaster and film columnist [[Andrew Collins (broadcaster)|Andrew Collins]] in 2006, [[BBC Radio 1|Radio 1]] DJ [[Jo Whiley]], who was born in Northampton, in 2002, and singer [[Joan Armatrading]] in 2003.


==History 2010 onwards==
Prominent alumni include [[Bill Drummond]] Stephen Morris, [[Andrew Collins (broadcaster)|Andrew Collins]], Anthony Dunn, Gavin Douglas, [[Max Griggs]], Darren Millstone III, Stephen Richardson and Andrew Harris.


Until 2018 the university had three main sites: Avenue Campus, just north of the town centre, opposite a large open park known as the Racecourse; Park Campus in Kingsthorpe to the north of the town which was the main and largest campus and an Innovation centre opposite [[Northampton railway station]]. In May 2012, the university announced plans to establish a new riverside campus in the town centre, on the site of the disused [[Northampton Power Station]] on the south bank of the [[River Nene]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-18207375 |title=University plans £300m new campus |access-date=29 May 2012 |date=25 May 2012}}</ref> and located within the [[Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone]] (known simply as Northampton Waterside).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northampton.gov.uk/northamptonwaterside |title=Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone |first=Northampton Borough |last=Council |website=Northampton Alive with Enterprise |access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref><ref name = "WMP">{{cite web |url=http://www.northampton.gov.uk/downloads/Waterside_Masterplan_Appendices.pdf |title=Waterside Restoration Master Plan 2004 Appendix |access-date=17 February 2010}}</ref> The Waterside Campus opened to students in September 2018 with the facilities on both Park and Avenue campuses transferring to it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hellowaterside.northampton.ac.uk/# |title=Waterside Campus |access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref>
==Current status ==


The main student halls of residence are now located in the student village of the Waterside Campus, and include [[Francis Crick]]; [[Margaret Bondfield]]; [[John Clare]]; and [[Charles Bradlaugh]]. A former ground-floor flat in the latter is a multi-faith [[Chaplaincy]] Centre, and another in John Clare houses the Centre for Community Volunteering; [[Bassett-Lowke]]. A 464-room hall of residence 'St John's Halls of Residence' opened in 2014 and mainly accommodates international and post-graduate students.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northampton.ac.uk/news/article/284/university-of-northampton-granted-planning-permission-for-st-johns-hall-of-residences |title=University granted planning permission |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> In November 2023 student protests at the 'unsafe and unsanitary conditions' in these halls were reported on by the BBC.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-09 |title=Northampton students protest over rent and conditions |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-67362219 |access-date=2024-02-17 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> In December 2023 under Prof Anne-Marie Kilday's tenure as Vice Chancellor, the university announced the closure of the Institute for Creative Leather Technologies.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-12-22 |title=University of Northampton closes £5.5m leather institute |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-67756113 |access-date=2024-02-17 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> This had been based at the university due to a long tradition of leather working as the primary industry in Northampton.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-12-22 |title=University of Northampton closes £5.5m leather institute |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-67756113 |access-date=2024-02-17 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
The University of Northampton currently has approximately ten thousand students spread across its two campuses. It is principally divided into the following six schools:


[[File:University of Northampton - Waterside Campus.jpg|thumb|The new Waterside Campus]]
* [[The Arts]]
* [[Science and Technology]] (formerly [[Applied Sciences]])
* [[Education]]
* [[Health]]
* [[Business]]
* [[Social Sciences]]


==Organisation and administration==
In January 2010, the School of Applied Sciences was renamed the School of Science and Technology and was moved into the newly refurbished Newton Building at Avenue Campus.


=== Governance ===
The university has also developed a stand-alone business centre, the Sunley Management Centre. This is a dedicated centre for management training and development that also provides a large amount of the university's conference facilities.
The Vice-Chancellor is [[Anne-Marie Kilday]], who was preceded in the post by [[Nick Petford]], [[Ann Tate]] (who received an honorary degree from the university in 2011) and Martin Gaskell.


On 10 February 2008, the university appointed [[Baroness Falkner of Margravine]] as its first [[chancellor (education)|Chancellor]]. In July 2017, she was succeeded by the BBC radio presenter [[Richard Coles]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.northampton.ac.uk/about-us/governance-and-management/the-chancellor-reverend-richard-coles/ |title=The Chancellor – Reverend Richard Coles – The University of Northampton |access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref>
The University offers a wide range of undergraduate degrees with over 250 courses as well as foundation degrees, diplomas and a variety of postgraduate opportunities up to [[Ph.D.]] level. It is one of only a handful of universities in the [[UK]] that is able to offer two-year fast-track degrees (currently for management and marketing only) though it also offers four-year extended degrees that include a year's placement 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 (essentially a materials science) and lift engineering. Degree programmes in Environmental Science subjects offer overseas fieldwork opportunities for undergraduate to locations such as North America (the USA field course) and the Canary Islands.


The Board of Governors are the members of the Higher Education Corporation and act both as governors and charitable trustees. There are 17 members of the Board of Governors. They are drawn from the private, public and voluntary sectors as well as from the staff and students of the university.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.northampton.ac.uk/about-us/governance-and-management/board-of-governors/ |title=Board of Governors {{!}} The University of Northampton |publisher=The University of Northampton |access-date=3 April 2018}}</ref>
Fashion design is also a particularly strong subject at the university, with its annual summer fashion show attracting international attention and students regularly receiving national awards for their designs. It currently has ten designated centres of research excellence which include the SITA Centre for Sustainable Wastes Management, the China and Transitional Economics Research Centre, the Centre for Research on Leather and Materials Science, the Centre for the Study of Anomalous Psychological Processes and the Centre for the Historical Experience of War. It also carries out internationally renowned research into lift engineering and technology, something which reflects the town's now historic role in lift manufacturing. As a result of this research activity, the University is currently investigating the possibility of purchasing the former [[Express Lift Tower]] in the town to use as a base for future research and study.<ref>{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/northamptonshire/6402595.stm| title = BBC News report| accessdate = 2007-09-11 | date=2007-02-27}}</ref>


== Admissions ==
==Academic profile==
The university had {{HESA student population|INSTID=0027}} students in {{HESA year}}.<ref name="HESA citation"/> It is divided into three faculties: the Faculty of Business & Law, the Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology, the Faculty of Health, Education & Society.<ref name="UON Faculties Page">{{cite web |url=https://www.northampton.ac.uk/about-us/academic-faculties/ |publisher=University of Northampton |access-date=20 December 2017|title=About us }}</ref>


The university offers a wide range of undergraduate degrees, foundation degrees, diplomas and a variety of postgraduate opportunities up to PhD level.
Most undergraduates apply to the university via the [[UCAS]] system for degree applications in the UK. The average UCAS points range required for entry into undergraduate degree programmes is 220 - 260.<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.push.co.uk/Uni_Profile.aspx?uid=4514| title = push.co.uk university ratings| accessdate = 2007-10-27}}</ref> There are occasionally interviews for undergraduate pupils for courses in the School of Education. However, these interviews are made through the UCAS application. Applicants for the university's diploma, foundation degree or postgraduate courses apply directly to the university itself. Interviews are not normally conducted for these courses, with the exception of Ph.D. courses, which usually have an interview stage.


=== Reputation and rankings ===
Like most universities, competition for places varies from course to course.
{{Infobox UK university rankings
| ARWU_N =
| ARWU_W =
| QS_N =
| QS_W = 1001–1200
| THE_N =
| THE_W =
| LINE_1 = 0
| Complete = 120
| The_Guardian = 107
| Times/Sunday_Times =128
| LINE_2 = 0
| TEF = Silver
}}


In February 2013, the university received international recognition for its commitment to social innovation and entrepreneurship by being designated a 'Changemaker Campus' by Ashoka U.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northampton.ac.uk/news/article/462/university-recognised-internationally-as-the-uks-number-one-for-social-enterprise/200332 |title=University recognised internationally as the UK's number one for social enterprise – The University of Northampton |access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref> Northampton was the first Changemaker Campus in the UK and joins a global network of 21 other Changemaker Campuses.
== Profile and reputation ==


===Research===
From its modest beginnings, the University of Northampton is quickly establishing itself as the foremost provider of higher education within the region, with year-on-year improvement in its teaching and research profiles. The Northampton Business School ("NBS") has been placed 18th for its business subjects out of 81 institutions in UK surveyed by the National Student Survey (NSS) 2006 and enjoys student satisfaction scores averaging above four (out of a maximum of five) according to the NSS 2006, just 0.37 behind a top of the table position. NBS also achieved a top 10% ranking for 'Quality of Teaching'. Other subjects with NSS student satisfaction scores of 90% and above include: Education, Biological Sciences, Geography and Environmental Science, History, Languages and Psychology <ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/rdreports/2007/rd14_07/| title = NSS publications| accessdate = 2009-01-11| publisher = HEFCE}}</ref>.
Research, consultancy and knowledge transfer at the university are centred on a number of cognate research groupings. It carries out internationally renowned research into lift engineering and technology, using the [[Express Lift Tower]] in the town, reflecting the town's historic role in lift manufacturing.


==Student life==
NBS was ranked 4th equal for 'value added education' out of 109 business schools nationally in the guardian league tables 2007.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}


=== Students' Union ===
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) the University achieved significant ratings in Business and Management; Health; Education; History; Metallurgy and Materials; English; Drama, Dance and Performing Arts; Art and Design; and Asian Studies.<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://submissions.rae.ac.uk/results/| title = RAE 2008 results| accessdate = 2008-12-24}}</ref>
The Students' Union operates out of the redeveloped Engine Shed location on the Waterside Campus, which also operates as a daytime cafe and food outlet.The Students' Union is led by five full-time Sabbatical Officers, backed by hundreds of volunteers including an extended Elected Officer Team of Part Time Officers and supported by almost 200 staff – both student and career staff.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://northampton.unioncloud.org/who-we-are/who-we-are |title=Who We Are @ University of Northampton Students' Union |website=northampton.unioncloud.org |access-date=3 April 2018}}</ref>


=== Sports ===
The University managed 41st place in the 2007 Green League of university's environmental performance<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://peopleandplanet.org/gogreen/greenleague2007/table| title = People and Planet Green League| accessdate = 2007-08-19}}</ref> as well as being ranked the 8th cheapest university in the UK to study for a degree.<ref>{{cite news| url = http://student.independent.co.uk/future/article3091576.ece| title = Independent Online| accessdate = 2007-10-27 | work=The Independent | location=London | date=2007-10-25}}</ref>. In February 2010 Northampton was accredited with Fairtrade University status, achieving an 'excellent' report from the Fairtrade Foundation <ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.northampton.ac.uk/news/release/?id=UON10026| title = Northampton University news| accessdate = 2010-02-22| publisher = Northampton Uni}}</ref>. University of Northampton is ranked at 1788 out of 8000 universities in the world.
The Students' Union has 35 sports clubs<ref name="Union Sports Intro Page">{{cite web |url=https://www.northamptonunion.com/activities/sports/sport-at-northampton |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817010915/https://northamptonunion.com/activities/sports/sport-at-northampton |archive-date=2015-08-17 |website=www.northamptonunion.com |publisher=Northampton Students' Union |access-date=2023-04-09 |lang=en |title=Sport at Northampton}}</ref> and enters 24 teams in Wednesday [[BUCS]] Leagues each week. The Students' Union operate on a policy of free sports membership, meaning all teams are free to join with no membership fee and offers a wide variety of sports including rugby league (Gremlins RL), football, netball, basketball, hockey and lacrosse. They are also one of a select SUs to offer equestrian as a sports club for their students. Sports is overseen by the Sports Coordinator with an elected Sports Part-Time Officer acting as a representative for the voice of student sports.
<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.webometrics.info/top8000.asp?offset=1750| title = World University Ranking| accessdate = 2010-04-05| publisher = webmetrics}}</ref>.


Since the start of the 2018–19 academic year, the Students' Union has contested a Varsity event against the [[University of Bedfordshire]], with each institute taking it in turns to host the event each year. The SU also hosts an end of year Sports Awards event to recognise the achievement of all clubs, with awards including both performance based awards as well as charity and individual awards.
{| class="wikitable"
|+[[League tables of British universities|UK University Rankings]]
|-
!
! 2011
! 2010
! 2009
! 2008
! 2007
|-
! ''Times Good University Guide''
| 89<sup>th</sup><ref name=theTimes>[http://extras.thetimes.co.uk/gooduniversityguide/institutions/ The Times Good University Guide 2011]</ref>
| 92<sup>nd</sup><ref name="Times University Guide">{{cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/
|title=Times University Guide|work=[[The Times]]}}</ref>
| 84<sup>th</sup>
| 82<sup>nd</sup>
| 103<sup>rd</sup><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/displayPopup/0,,102571,00.html |title=The Times Good University Guide 2007 - Top Universities 2007 League Table|work=[[The Times]]|accessdate=2007-11-03 | location=London}}</ref>
|-
! ''Guardian'' University Guide
| 94<sup>th</sup><ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2010/jun/04/university-league-table|title=The Guardian University Guide|work=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | date=2010-06-8 | accessdate=2010-07-19}}</ref>
| 100<sup>th</sup><ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite news |url=http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide|title=The Guardian University Guide|work=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | date=2008-02-10 | accessdate=2010-05-27}}</ref>
| 79<sup>th</sup><ref>[http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=phNtm3LmDZEM6HUHUnVkPaA Guardian university tables 2009]</ref>
| 92<sup>nd</sup>
| -
|-
! ''Sunday Times University Guide''
|
| 104<sup>th</sup>=
| 100<sup>th</sup>
| 92<sup>nd</sup>=<ref>[http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/stug/universityguide.php ''Sunday Times University Guide 2008'']</ref>
| 99<sup>th</sup><ref name=st10y>{{cite news|url=http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/pdfs/univ07ten.pdf|format=PDF|title=University ranking based on performance over 10 years|publisher=[[Times Online]]|year=2007|accessdate=2008-04-28 | location=London}}</ref>
|-
! Independent / Complete
| 100<sup>th</sup><ref name=complete>[http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=6551 The COmplete University Gide - Northampton]</ref>
| 104<sup>th</sup>=<ref name=complete/>
| 93<sup>rd</sup>=<ref name="The Independent 2008/09">{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/higher/the-main-league-table-2009-813839.html |title=The Independent University League Table |work=[[The Independent]] | location=London | date=2008-04-24 | accessdate=2010-05-27}}</ref>
| 95<sup>th</sup>=<ref name="The Independent 2008/09" />
|
|-
! Daily Telegraph
|
|
|
|
| 96<sup>th</sup><ref name="Telegraph 2006">{{cite news
|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=HXFCSGXMNVABTQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2007/07/30/ncambs430.xml |title= University league table |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|accessdate=2007-10-29 | location=London | date=2007-07-30}}</ref>
|}


=== Societies ===
Research, consultancy and knowledge transfer at the University of Northampton is centred around a number of cognate research groupings, including:
Approximately 60 student societies are affiliated to The University of Northampton Students’ Union.<ref name="Societies Intro Page">{{cite web |url=https://www.northamptonunion.com/activities/societies/societies-at-northampton |title=Societies at Northampton |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817010909/https://northamptonunion.com/activities/societies/societies-at-northampton |archive-date=2015-08-17 |website=www.northamptonunion.com |publisher=University of Northampton Students' Union |access-date=2023-04-09 |lang=en}}</ref> These range from special interest societies such as Doctor Who and Anime to faith-based societies such as the Christian Union and Hindu Society.


==University technical colleges==
* The Centre for Children and Youth takes an interdisciplinary and multi method approach to the study of children and young people.
The university is an academic sponsor of two [[university technical college]]s which opened in September 2013. [[Daventry University Technical College]] specialises in engineering, construction and environmental sustainability, [[Silverstone University Technical College]] in motorsports engineering, event management and hospitality.
* The Social and Cultural Research in Psychology Group (SCRIP) explores intersection of psychological, social and cultural issues.
* The Centre for the Study of Anomalous Psychological Processes (CSAPP) A Parapsychology research unit investigating alleged instances of Psychokinesis, ESP and a controversial Mediumship study. Located within the Division of Psychology.
* The Centre for the Historical Experience of War
* The SITA Centre for Sustainable Wastes Management
* Centre for Research on Leather and Materials Science
* The China and Transitional Economies Research Centre
* Centre for Learning and Enterprise in Organisations
* Centre for Special Needs Education and Research
* [[The Landscape and Biodiversity Research Group]]
* Centre for Practice-led Research in the Arts
* The Centre for Contemporary Fiction and Narrative
* The Biosciences Research Group


==Notable people==
== Students' Union ==
<!-- NOTE: Please include significant individuals only. To maintain consistency please keep the list ALPHABETICAL. Individuals added should either have their own significant Wikipedia article or other robust citation. Thank you.-->
[[Image:Studentunion.JPG|thumb|left|200px|The SU on Park Campus]]


===Staff===
The Students' Union has various venues across the two campuses. Its main building is at Park Campus and houses a nightclub venue 'NN2', that is also used as a student diner during the day as well as small shop and deli/bar downstairs.
*[[Henry Bird (artist)|Henry Bird]], taught drawing at the art school; his students included the architect [[Will Alsop]]<ref>Alsop W. (28 June 2001). Drawing on the experiences of life help create better work. [[Architects' Journal]]</ref>
*[[Dave Hill (professor)|Dave Hill]], political and educational activist, professor of education (2007–12)
*[[Robert Kirk (philosopher)|Robert Kirk]], professor emeritus in the department of philosophy


===Alumni===
Avenue Campus has the St George's bar, so called because of Avenue Campus's location on St George's Avenue. This plays host to a rather eclectic mix of DJ's and like the Park Campus union, reverts to a student diner during the day.
<!-- NOTE: Please include significant individuals only. To maintain consistency please keep the list ALPHABETICAL by surname. Individuals added should either have their own significant Wikipedia article or other robust citation. Thank you.-->


* [[Will Alsop]], modernist architect; graduated from Northampton College of Art
The union voted to disaffiliate itself from the [[National Union of Students (United Kingdom)|National Union of Students]] (NUS) in 2001, but to some controversy re-affiliated in October 2007.
* [[Jon Bewers]], footballer
* [[James D. Boys]], academic and media consultant
* [[Dallas Campbell]], television presenter and stage actor
* [[Andrew Collins (broadcaster)|Andrew Collins]], writer and broadcaster
* [[James Densley]], academic and author
* [[Bill Drummond]], artist, musician, writer and record producer
* [[Felippe Moraes]], visual artist, art researcher and independent curator
* [[Daniel Middleton]], YouTuber and writer
* [[Owen Paterson]], Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2012–2014); graduated from Leathersellers College
* [[Lisa Davina Phillip]], actress and singer
* [[Denys Watkins-Pitchford]], prolific author of children's books and of rural affairs; illustrator and artist; graduated from Northampton College of Art
* [[Sangheon Lee]], actor who starred in Netflix's [[XO, Kitty]]


==See also==
== Halls of Residence==
*[[Armorial of UK universities]]
*[[Normal school#United Kingdom|College of Education]]
*[[List of universities in the UK]]
*[[Northamptonshire Credit Union]]
*[[University of Northampton (13th century)]]


== References ==
The university has various types of halls across both of its campuses and have just over 1,600 rooms in total. Most first years live in halls, though very few second or third years do so. A lot of these students live in the [[Abington, Northamptonshire|Abington]] area of Northampton. The halls are named after local historic figures and room sizes, facilities and price vary between them. The main halls are:
{{Reflist|30em}}

*Simon Senlis (named after [[Simon de Senlis]]), [[Spencer Perceval]] and [[William Carey (missionary)|William Carey]].

The most modern but expensive halls to live in. Based at Park Campus, each hall has 300 single en-suite bedrooms. Each flat usually contains six rooms and a communal kitchen. The flats are generally single sex, although there a small number of mixed sex flats. A small number of twin en-suite rooms are available in these halls. The rooms have network access providing links to the University's computer network.

[[Image:Halls.jpg|thumb|right|210px|Simon Senlis hall]]

*[[Margaret Bondfield]]

Slightly cheaper residence at Park Campus, this modern hall offering standard single and standard twin accommodation. Flats comprise 5-8 residents. Kitchen and bathroom facilities are shared. During the summer of 2007, it received some refurbishment.

*[[John Clare]] and [[Charles Bradlaugh]] Hall

Based at Park Campus, these are traditional halls located at the heart of Park Campus close to the library and social activities. They have 92 bedrooms (standard single) divided into flats of 5-10 rooms. Each flat has a shared kitchen and bathroom. One hall is designated female only. John Clare also comprises seven small houses. One former ground floor flat in Charles Bradlaugh Hall serves as a Multi-Faith [[Chaplaincy]] Centre.

*[[Bassett-Lowke]]

An en-suite Hall at Avenue Campus. Each flat usually has six single en-suite bedrooms and a communal kitchen. The flats are generally single sex. A small number of twin en-suite rooms and self contained twin en-suite rooms are available. The rooms have network access providing links to the University's computer network.

== Business links ==

Northampton University has managed to form several business links with local business and undertakes various other initiatives in this area. It has been particularly successful with an initiative backed by the UK Government’s [[Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform]] (formerly known as the [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|Department of Trade and Industry]]) called Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. Through this scheme, the University links up with a business and lends its expertise in research, academia or development to the business. The University has so far taken part in 25 of these partnerships, achieving high gradings from the DTI.

[[Image:UNSenate.jpg|thumb|right|210px|The Senate building on Park Campus]]

Most of the University’s business links operate via its dedicated Knowledge Exchange department, which aims to act as one stop-shop for such links. Through this, the University provides support through consultancy and assisting in research projects as well as providing support for other postgraduate projects. Avenue campus is host to the Portfolio Innovation Centre, a unit that houses small or start-up companies by providing office accommodation and administrative support. It currently hosts ten small companies, mainly in the design and arts fields, but also a couple of [[Information technology|IT]] firms.

The University currently has ten approved research centres, ranging from The SITA Centre for Sustainable Wastes Management to The China and Transitional Economics Research Centre and The Centre for Practice-led Research in the Arts. It also provides numerous other business support schemes, such as Business4Women and programmes for new companies. These are often run through the University’s Sunley Management Centre. Other schemes run by the university include an art loan facility for offices or conferences. The University has also provided lab facilities for the [[Channel 4]] programme “[[How Clean Is Your House]]”.

== Future plans ==

£74m has been spent over the last ten years developing the campuses at Northampton and a further £80m will be spent over the next ten years developing these campuses further. This has already included the building of a "one-stop" student centre on Park campus, an innovation centre at Avenue campus for small and start-up businesses and a complete re-fit of the editing and sound studios at Avenue campus. Further plans include a large sports centre and extended development at Avenue campus. A design competition was launched in Autumn 2008 with the [[RIBA]] to produce plans for the Avenue Campus development. These plans are to include a new restaurant and cinema as well as extended research and teaching facilities<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.architecture.com/UseAnArchitect/FindAnArchitect/Competitions/LiveCompetitions/LiveCompetitions.aspx| title = RIBA Design Competitions List: RIBA website| accessdate = 2008-11-26| publisher = RIBA}}</ref>.

The University recently took ownership of the Grade II listed former Kingsley Park Middle School next door to Avenue Campus. This has undergone an £11m refurbishment and now houses most of the School of Science and Technology, which was formerly split between Avenue Campus and Park Campus. The building has been renamed the Newton Building. By a lucky coincidence there is a small village in Northamptonshire called Newton, allowing the new building to follow the University's tradition of naming their buildings after local towns and villages, but also referring to the famous scientist [[Sir Isaac Newton]]. Newton Building also contains a science and technology research and development centre, which has backing from partners in the [[United States]], and the British Institute for Non-Destructive Testing.

By 2010 it plans to increase its student numbers by 20% and double the income it receives from research activities.

== Sporting success ==

Club Captains Andrew Harris and Lewis Done of The University of Northampton Men's [[Hockey]] 1st XI team who had a highly successful 2005/06 season, leading them to the Universities European Cup final (also known as the Calella Plate). The team lost but the performance was described as a "heroic performance of the highest standard".<ref>englandhockey.co.uk, April 2006</ref> The following year, under the captaincy of Luke Meaton, they went on to win the European Final.

The University also has strong [[football (soccer)|football]] teams, with four men's and one women's team. The men's 3rd team, also known as Stanhope Wanderers, won the 05/06 Calella 7's Plate. The participation in [[lacrosse]] is very popular amongst the students. The University's [[golf]] team also tasted success in 2007, reaching the national final held at the [[Royal Liverpool Golf Club]].

The Rugby League team, captained by Steve Durning, has also tasted success and in 2009 reached the National Shield Cup final, in which they narrowly lost with a last minute try. The club also boasts a proven track record on producing student internationals, most recently Steve Durning, Habib Miah, Graeme Spencer, Tommy Andrews and Danny Vento.

The University also enters two football teams into the local Northampton league. These teams are called the Northampton Llamas. They won the Gorell Barnes trophy 07/08 and reached the final in 08/09.


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.northampton.ac.uk/ The University of Northampton website]
* [http://www.northamptonunion.com/ Student union website]
* [http://library.northampton.ac.uk/ The University of Northampton library]
* [http://www.sunley-northampton.co.uk/ The Sunley Management Centre]
* [http://www2.northampton.ac.uk/portal/page?_pageid=434,6626662&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL Centre for Sustainable Waste Management]
* [http://www2.northampton.ac.uk/health/schoolofhealthhomepage/research/biosciencesresearchgroup/ Biosciences Research Group]
*[http://oldweb.northampton.ac.uk/aps/env/lbrg/ The Landscape and Biodiversity Research Group]

== References ==


*[http://www.parkcampusmemories.org.uk/ Park Campus Memories (PCM) - a tribute project about the former Park Campus, Boughton Green Road]
{{Reflist}}
*[http://www.avenuecampusmemories.org.uk/ Avenue Campus Memories (ACM) - a tribute project about the former Avenue Campus, St. George's Avenue]
*[http://www.northampton.ac.uk/ University website]


{{Universities in the United Kingdom}}
{{Universities in the United Kingdom}}
{{Campaign for Mainstream Universities (Million+)}}
{{Universities and colleges in the East Midlands}}
{{Universities and colleges in the East Midlands}}
{{Northampton}}
{{Northampton}}
{{Credit Unions in the United Kingdom}}


{{authority control}}
[[Category:University of Northampton|*]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1975]]


[[fr:Université de Northampton]]
[[Category:University of Northampton| ]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1999]]
[[tg:Донишгоҳи Нортҳамптон]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 2005]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Universities UK|Northampton]]
[[Category:Education in West Northamptonshire District]]

Revision as of 22:50, 14 May 2024

The University of Northampton. Ceo Artur and Todor
Former names
University College Nene College of Higher Education (1975),
Northampton Technical College (1924)
MottoLatin: Ne Nesciamus
Motto in English
Let us not be ignorant
TypePublic
Established2005 (gained University status)
1975 (Nene College established)
Endowment£0.95 m (2015)[1]
ChancellorRichard Coles
Vice-ChancellorAnne-Marie Kilday
Administrative staff
1,048[2]
Students12,060 (2019/20)[3]
Undergraduates9,145 (2019/20)[3]
Postgraduates2,915 (2019/20)[3]
Location, ,
UK

52°15′02″N 0°53′25″W / 52.2506°N 0.8903°W / 52.2506; -0.8903
Websitenorthampton.ac.uk

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.

History

13th century University of Northampton

The town had a university in medieval times between 1261 and 1265 of the same name, established by royal charter after approval from King Henry III in 1261. It was the third university in England, after Oxford and Cambridge, and the 22nd in Europe. After being advised by bishops and magnates that Northampton was a threat to Oxford, Henry III dissolved the university in 1265, and signed a Royal Decree that banned the establishment of a university in Northampton.

Northampton Technical College

Northampton Technical College was opened at St George's Avenue—now the site of the Avenue Campus—in 1924. Eight years later, a new building for the college was formally opened by the Duke and Duchess of York. A School of Art opened later in 1937.[4]

The entrance to Avenue Campus

The College of Education and Nene College of Higher Education

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 of Education was opened by the Secretary of State for Education and Science, Margaret Thatcher, in 1972. In 1975, this college amalgamated with the Colleges of Technology and Art to become Nene College of Higher Education, taking its name from the River Nene. In 1978, it integrated the Leathersellers College from London. [citation needed]

In 1993, the college incorporated St. Andrew's School of Occupational Therapy and was granted undergraduate degree awarding powers. In 1997, it took in the Sir Gordon Roberts College of Nursing and Midwifery.

University College Northampton and University of Northampton

It became University College Northampton in 1999 and gained full university status in 2005. 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 Princess Anne.

History 2010 onwards

Until 2018 the university had three main sites: Avenue Campus, just north of the town centre, opposite a large open park known as the Racecourse; Park Campus in Kingsthorpe to the north of the town which was the main and largest campus and an Innovation centre opposite Northampton railway station. In May 2012, the university announced plans to establish a new riverside campus in the town centre, on the site of the disused Northampton Power Station on the south bank of the River Nene[5] and located within the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone (known simply as Northampton Waterside).[6][7] The Waterside Campus opened to students in September 2018 with the facilities on both Park and Avenue campuses transferring to it.[8]

The main student halls of residence are now located in the student village of the Waterside Campus, and include Francis Crick; Margaret Bondfield; John Clare; and Charles Bradlaugh. A former ground-floor flat in the latter is a multi-faith Chaplaincy Centre, and another in John Clare houses the Centre for Community Volunteering; Bassett-Lowke. A 464-room hall of residence 'St John's Halls of Residence' opened in 2014 and mainly accommodates international and post-graduate students.[9] In November 2023 student protests at the 'unsafe and unsanitary conditions' in these halls were reported on by the BBC.[10] In December 2023 under Prof Anne-Marie Kilday's tenure as Vice Chancellor, the university announced the closure of the Institute for Creative Leather Technologies.[11] This had been based at the university due to a long tradition of leather working as the primary industry in Northampton.[12]

The new Waterside Campus

Organisation and administration

Governance

The Vice-Chancellor is Anne-Marie Kilday, who was preceded in the post by Nick Petford, Ann Tate (who received an honorary degree from the university in 2011) and Martin Gaskell.

On 10 February 2008, the university appointed Baroness Falkner of Margravine as its first Chancellor. In July 2017, she was succeeded by the BBC radio presenter Richard Coles.[13]

The Board of Governors are the members of the Higher Education Corporation and act both as governors and charitable trustees. There are 17 members of the Board of Governors. They are drawn from the private, public and voluntary sectors as well as from the staff and students of the university.[14]

Academic profile

The university had 12,060 students in 2019/20.[3] It is divided into three faculties: the Faculty of Business & Law, the Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology, the Faculty of Health, Education & Society.[15]

The university offers a wide range of undergraduate degrees, foundation degrees, diplomas and a variety of postgraduate opportunities up to PhD level.

Reputation and rankings

Rankings
National rankings
Complete (2025)[16]120
Guardian (2024)[17]107
Times / Sunday Times (2024)[18]128
Global rankings
QS (2025)[19]1001–1200

In February 2013, the university received international recognition for its commitment to social innovation and entrepreneurship by being designated a 'Changemaker Campus' by Ashoka U.[20] Northampton was the first Changemaker Campus in the UK and joins a global network of 21 other Changemaker Campuses.

Research

Research, consultancy and knowledge transfer at the university are centred on a number of cognate research groupings. It carries out internationally renowned research into lift engineering and technology, using the Express Lift Tower in the town, reflecting the town's historic role in lift manufacturing.

Student life

Students' Union

The Students' Union operates out of the redeveloped Engine Shed location on the Waterside Campus, which also operates as a daytime cafe and food outlet.The Students' Union is led by five full-time Sabbatical Officers, backed by hundreds of volunteers including an extended Elected Officer Team of Part Time Officers and supported by almost 200 staff – both student and career staff.[21]

Sports

The Students' Union has 35 sports clubs[22] and enters 24 teams in Wednesday BUCS Leagues each week. The Students' Union operate on a policy of free sports membership, meaning all teams are free to join with no membership fee and offers a wide variety of sports including rugby league (Gremlins RL), football, netball, basketball, hockey and lacrosse. They are also one of a select SUs to offer equestrian as a sports club for their students. Sports is overseen by the Sports Coordinator with an elected Sports Part-Time Officer acting as a representative for the voice of student sports.

Since the start of the 2018–19 academic year, the Students' Union has contested a Varsity event against the University of Bedfordshire, with each institute taking it in turns to host the event each year. The SU also hosts an end of year Sports Awards event to recognise the achievement of all clubs, with awards including both performance based awards as well as charity and individual awards.

Societies

Approximately 60 student societies are affiliated to The University of Northampton Students’ Union.[23] These range from special interest societies such as Doctor Who and Anime to faith-based societies such as the Christian Union and Hindu Society.

University technical colleges

The university is an academic sponsor of two university technical colleges which opened in September 2013. Daventry University Technical College specialises in engineering, construction and environmental sustainability, Silverstone University Technical College in motorsports engineering, event management and hospitality.

Notable people

Staff

  • Henry Bird, taught drawing at the art school; his students included the architect Will Alsop[24]
  • Dave Hill, political and educational activist, professor of education (2007–12)
  • Robert Kirk, professor emeritus in the department of philosophy

Alumni

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.northampton.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Signed-University-of-Northampton-Accounts-2014-1511.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ "University of Northampton accounts-2011.pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  4. ^ "History of the University of Northampton – The University of Northampton". Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  5. ^ "University plans £300m new campus". 25 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  6. ^ Council, Northampton Borough. "Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone". Northampton Alive with Enterprise. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Waterside Restoration Master Plan 2004 Appendix" (PDF). Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  8. ^ "Waterside Campus". Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  9. ^ "University granted planning permission". Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Northampton students protest over rent and conditions". BBC News. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  11. ^ "University of Northampton closes £5.5m leather institute". BBC News. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  12. ^ "University of Northampton closes £5.5m leather institute". BBC News. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  13. ^ "The Chancellor – Reverend Richard Coles – The University of Northampton". Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Board of Governors | The University of Northampton". The University of Northampton. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  15. ^ "About us". University of Northampton. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  16. ^ "Complete University Guide 2025". The Complete University Guide. 14 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Guardian University Guide 2024". The Guardian. 9 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Good University Guide 2024". The Times. 15 September 2023.
  19. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2025". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. 4 June 2024.
  20. ^ "University recognised internationally as the UK's number one for social enterprise – The University of Northampton". Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  21. ^ "Who We Are @ University of Northampton Students' Union". northampton.unioncloud.org. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  22. ^ "Sport at Northampton". www.northamptonunion.com. Northampton Students' Union. Archived from the original on 17 August 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  23. ^ "Societies at Northampton". www.northamptonunion.com. University of Northampton Students' Union. Archived from the original on 17 August 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  24. ^ Alsop W. (28 June 2001). Drawing on the experiences of life help create better work. Architects' Journal

External links