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{{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)}}
{{Refimprove|date=July 2012}}
{{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 = £1,156,000<ref name ="Accounts">{{cite web|url= http://www.northampton.ac.uk/download/3030/financial-statements-for-the-year-ended-31-july-2010| title = un-full-accounts-2010.pdf| accessdate = 2011-08-17}}</ref>
| established = 2005 (gained [[Universities in the United Kingdom|University status]])<br /> 1975 (Nene College established)
|chancellor = [[Kishwer Falkner, Baroness Falkner of Margravine|Baroness Falkner of Margravine]]
| type = [[public university|Public]]
|vice_chancellor = Professor [[Nick Petford]]
| 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>
|head_label = Chairman of Governing Council
| chancellor = [[Richard Coles]]
|head = Mr Milan Shah<ref name="The University of Northampton">{{cite web|url= http://www.northampton.ac.uk/downloads/download/324/membership-of-the-governing-council/200142| title = Membership of the Governing Council – Downloads – The University of Northampton| accessdate = 2011-08-17}}</ref>
| vice_chancellor = [[Anne-Marie Kilday]]
|staff = 1,048<ref name ="Accounts" />
| 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>
|students = 13,925<ref name="HESA">{{cite web|url= http://www.hesa.ac.uk/dox/dataTables/studentsAndQualifiers/download/institution0910.xls|title= institution0910.xls|accessdate= 2011-08-17|format= [[Microsoft Excel]] spreadsheet|publisher= [[Higher Education Statistics Agency]]}}</ref>
|undergrad = 11,415<ref name="HESA" />
| students = {{HESA student population|INSTID=0027}} ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation">{{HESA citation}}</ref>
|postgrad = 2,510<ref name="HESA" />
| undergrad = {{HESA undergraduate population|INSTID=0027}} ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation"/>
| postgrad = {{HESA postgraduate population|INSTID=0027}} ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation"/>
|city = [[Northampton]]
|state = [[Northamptonshire]]
| city = [[Northampton]]
|country = [[United Kingdom|UK]]
| state = [[Northamptonshire]]
|campus =
| country = UK
|free_label =
| campus =
|free =
| free_label =
|colours =
| free =
|affiliations =
| colours =
|footnotes =
| footnotes =
|website = http://www.northampton.ac.uk/
| website = {{url|northampton.ac.uk/}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|52.2506|-0.8903|display=title}}
|address =
|telephone =
| logo = UoN_new_logo.jpg
|coor =
| logo_size = 100px
}}
}}


The '''University of Northampton''' is a [[university]] in [[Northampton]], [[Northamptonshire]], England.
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==
==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===
In 1924, Northampton Technical College was opened at St George's Avenue, site of the current Avenue Campus. A new 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.
'''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]]
[[Image:Avenuecampus.jpg|thumb|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 teacher-training college in [[Liverpool]] lost its home and was transferred to what is now the Park Campus of the University of Northampton. The college was opened by the then [[Secretary of State for Education]] and Science, [[Margaret Thatcher]], in 1972.
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]].
In 1975, this teacher-training college amalgamated with the college of technology and art to become '''Nene College of Higher Education''', taking its name from the [[River Nene]] in Northamptonshire.


===University College Northampton and University of 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 gained full university status as The University of Northampton in 2005. In order to gain university status it 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 repealed. This decree banned the establishment of a university in 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 [[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]].
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.


==History 2010 onwards==
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 itself was officially opened in September 2010 by HRH [[Anne, Princess Royal|The Princess Anne]] who is the Royal Patron of the Women Into Science and Engineering (WISE) campaign.


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>
==Campuses==
The university has two sites: Park Campus at [[Kingsthorpe]], a northern suburb of Northampton, and Avenue Campus just north of the town centre and opposite a large open park known as the Racecourse.


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>
Avenue Campus was from 1924 the site of a college of technology which became part of the university.


[[File:University of Northampton - Waterside Campus.jpg|thumb|The new Waterside Campus]]
The university has various types of halls of residence in its two campuses, with just over 1,600 rooms in total. Most first year students live in halls though few second or third years do so. Many of them live in the [[Abington, Northamptonshire|Abington]] area, north-west of the town centre. The main halls are:
*Simon Senlis (named after [[Simon de Senlis]]), [[Spencer Perceval]] and [[William Carey (missionary)|William Carey]].
*[[Margaret Bondfield]]
*[[John Clare]] and [[Charles Bradlaugh]] Hall. One former ground floor flat in Charles Bradlaugh Hall serves as a Multi-Faith [[Chaplaincy]] Centre, Whilst another former ground floor flat in John Clare houses the Centre for Community Volunteering.
*[[Bassett-Lowke]]


==Organisation and administration==
[[Image:Halls.jpg|thumb|right|210px|Simon Senlis hall]]


=== Governance ===
The university also offers accommodation at Belinda Ferrison house in the Mounts area of the town centre of Northampton. In April 2012 [[Northampton Borough Council]] granted planning permission for a 464-room hall of residence on the site of the St John’s Surface Car Park in Northampton Town Centre. It is envisaged that this will mainly accommodate international and post-graduate students when it opens in 2014.<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| accessdate = 2012-05-11}}</ref>
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>
New buildings include a Santander Bank, "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.


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>
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 after [[Sir Isaac Newton]].

The university achieved the Ecocampus Silver award<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.ecocampus.co.uk/ecocampus_register/index.html| title = Ecocampus register| accessdate = 2011-10-27}}</ref> in 2011.

In May 2012, the university announced plans to establish a new riverside campus in Northampton town centre on the site of the disused [[Northampton Power Station]] on the south bank of the [[River Nene]].<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-18207375| title = BBC News - University plans £300m new campus| accessdate = 29 May 2012}}</ref> The site would be within the Northampton [[Enterprise Zone#United Kingdom|South East Midlands Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone (known simply as Northampton Waterside)]]<ref>[http://www.northampton.gov.uk/northamptonwaterside Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone on Northampton Borough Council website - NOTE Power station site shown as 21B, railway station as 12 on map ; accessed 30 May 2012]</ref><ref name = "WMP">{{cite web|url=http://www.northampton.gov.uk/downloads/Waterside_Masterplan_Appendices.pdf | title = Waterside Restoration Master Plan 2004 Appendix | accessdate = 17 February 2010}}</ref> and is subject to planning approval. If approved, construction could be completed by 2020 and the existing campuses would be gradually closed.

==Organisation and structure ==
The current Vice Chancellor is Professor [[Nick Petford]], who was preceded in the post by 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]].


==Academic profile==
==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.
The university has approximately just under 14,000 students spread across its two campuses. It is divided into six schools:


=== Reputation and rankings ===
* [[The Arts]]
{{Infobox UK university rankings
* [[Science and Technology]] (formerly [[Applied Sciences]])
| ARWU_N =
* [[Education]]
| ARWU_W =
* [[Health]]
| QS_N =
* [[Business]]
| QS_W = 1001–1200
* [[Social Sciences]]
| 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.
There is a separate 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.


===Research===
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 [[PhD]] level. It is one of only a handful of universities in the [[UK]] able to offer two-year fast-track degrees (currently for management and marketing and law) though 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.
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.

The annual summer fashion show attracts international attention, particularly the summer 2012 show, which for the first time was held at [[Silverstone Circuit]].

=== Admissions ===

The average UCAS points range required for entry into undergraduate degree programmes is 260 - 300.

=== Reputation and Rankings ===

In the 2012 Guardian University League Table, the university was ranked first for 'value added' and climbed 31 places<ref name="guardian">{{Cite web| url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2011/may/17/university-league-table-2012| title = Guardian University League Tables | accessdate = 2010-02-22| publisher = The Guardian}}</ref> but fell back on the 2013 figures.

In February 2010 it was accredited with Fairtrade status, achieving a 'good' 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>

{| class="wikitable"
|+[[League tables of British universities|UK University Rankings]]
|-
!
! 2013
! 2012
! 2011
! 2010
! 2009
! 2008
|-
! ''The Times Good University Guide''<ref name=theTimes>[http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/gug/]</ref>
|
| 102
| 89
| 92
| 104
| 102
|-
! ''Guardian'' University Guide<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2011/may/17/university-league-table-2012?intcmp=239|title=The Guardian University Guide|work=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | date=2011-05-17 | accessdate=22 May 2012}}</ref>
| 86/120
| 63
| 94
| 100
| 109
| 92
|-
! ''Sunday Times University Guide''<ref>[http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/stug/universityguide.php ''Sunday Times University Guide 2012 (pub. 11 September 2011'']</ref>
| 82/122
| 108/122
| 104/121
| 100
| 92
| 99
|-
! Independent / Complete<ref name=complete>[http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/ The complete University Guide]</ref>
| 101/116
| 105
| 100
| 105
| 93
| 95
|}
<small> Notes (i) '=' means equal with one or more other institutions (ii) 86/120 means 86th out of 120 institutions evaluated </small>

=== Business links ===
The university has formed several links with local businesses. 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 provides expertise in research and development.

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

Most of the university’s business links operate via its Knowledge Exchange department. The Portfolio Innovation Centre at Avenue campus houses small or start-up creative companies with administrative support. The NVision Business Centre in the Newton Building at Avenue Campus offers space for small and medium sized technology companies, with access to state-of-the-art three dimensional immersive visualisation and modelling equipment.

===Social enterprise===
[[Social enterprise]] is increasingly being integrated across student courses at the University. The University aims to become the number one university in the UK for social enterprise by 2015 and was awarded 'The Outstanding HEI (higher education institution) Supporting Social Entrepreneurship Award' at the UK’s ‘Dare to be Different’ national conference in June 2011.<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.northampton.ac.uk/news/article/157/the-university-of-northampton-wins-top-social-entrepreneurship-award/200332| title = The University of Northampton wins top Social Entrepreneurship Award| accessdate = 2011-10-31 }}</ref>

==Research==
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://rae.ac.uk/Submissions/| title = RAE 2008 results| accessdate = 2008-12-24}}</ref>

Research, consultancy and knowledge transfer at the university is centred around a number of cognate research groupings, including:
* [http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/20521/research-in-the-school-of-science-and-technology/778/advanced-technologies-research-group-atrg Advanced Technologies Research Group]
* [http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/200250/centre-for-health-and-wellbeing-research/ Centre for Health and Wellbeing Research]
* [http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/20517/research-in-the-school-of-the-arts/693/the-centre-for-practice-led-research-in-the-arts-cplra/ Centre for Practice-led Research in the Arts]
* [http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/20518/research-in-the-school-of-education Centre for Special Needs Education and Research]
*[http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/20521/research-in-the-school-of-science-and-technology/769/east-midlands-centre-for-non-destructive-testing/ East Midlands Centre for Non-Destructive Testing]
*[http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/20521/research-in-the-school-of-science-and-technology/773/institute-for-creative-leather-technologies/ Institute for Creative Leather Technologies]
*[http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/200271/natural-environment-research-group-nergNatural Natural Environment Research Group]
*[http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/20521/research-in-the-school-of-science-and-technology/772/nvision-immersive-projection-technologies-and-modelling-centre NVision (immersive projection technologies and modelling centre)]
*[http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/200273/science-and-technology-research-in-pedagogy-stripe Science and Technology Research in Pedagogy (STRiPe)]
* [http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/20519/research-in-the-school-of-health/713/the-biosciences-research-group/ The Biosciences Research Group]
* [http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/20522/research-in-the-school-of-social-sciences/787/the-centre-for-children-and-youth-ccy/ The Centre for Children and Youth] takes an interdisciplinary and multi method approach to the study of children and young people.
* [http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/20517/research-in-the-school-of-the-arts/692/research-centre-for-contemporary-fiction-and-narrative-ccfn/ The Centre for Contemporary Narrative and Cultural Theory]
* [http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/20520/research-at-northampton-business-school/923/the-centre-for-entrepreneurship-enterprise-and-governance-ceeg/ The Centre for Entrepreneurship, Enterprise and Governance (CEEG)]
* [http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/200264/centre-for-sustainable-wastes-management/ The Centre for Sustainable Wastes Management]
* [http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/20522/research-in-the-school-of-social-sciences/791/the-centre-for-the-study-of-anomalous-psychological-processes-csapp/ The Centre for the Study of Anomalous Psychological Processes (CSAPP)]
* [http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/20522/research-in-the-school-of-social-sciences/1286/social-and-cultural-research-in-psychology-group-scrip/ The Social and Cultural Research in Psychology Group (SCRIP)] explores intersection of psychological, social and cultural issues.

It also carries out internationally renowned research into lift engineering and technology, using the [[Express Lift Tower]] in the town, reflecting the town's now historic role in lift manufacturing.

It also provides numerous other business support schemes 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]]”.


==Student life==
==Student life==


=== Students' Union ===
=== 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.<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>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Studentunion.JPG|thumb|left|200px|The SU on Park Campus]] -->

The Students' Union has various venues across the two campuses. On Park Campus, there is Central Park, the daytime bar and food outlet, with a pool table and frequent showings of live sport on the big HD screen. Upstairs there is NN2, a 500-capacity venue which hosts regular club nights and events involving live bands and famous DJs. On the other side of campus, there is the Pavilion Bar, which serves food and drink throughout the day and evenings, and offers a range of entertainment, including karaoke and quiz nights. The Union building on Avenue Campus has recently been refurbished; it has a bar and diner, two 55 inch 3D TVs, and is home to the Union’s newspaper and radio station. It is host to live music, stand-up comedy and bingo nights. There are Union shops on both campuses, offering a range of convenience goods and University hoodies.

The Union was awarded a national Gold award,<ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.nus.org.uk/PageFiles/12036/Best-Bar-None-Winners-2011.pdf| title = NUS Best Bar None assessments 2010/11| accessdate = 2011-12-13}}</ref> as well as 'Best Club', in the national NUS Best Bar None awards 2011. This award confirms the Union as being a safe venue with effective policies on drink and drugs, crime prevention, fire, security and first aid.


=== Sports ===
=== Sports ===
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.


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.
The University of Northampton has 26 Sports Clubs and enters 24 teams into Wednesday BUCS Leagues each week.

The most successful clubs are Rugby league, who play in the South BUCS Premier League and have produced numerous participants in the Student Rugby league Home Nations tournament, and Men’s Basketball, who narrowly lost the 2011 BUCS Conference Cup final. The latter also compete in the English Basketball National Leagues.

The University also has a very competitive Trampolining Club, which has several members which compete at both national and international competitions and are based at the impressive NTGA (Northamptonshire Trampoline and Gymnast Academy).


=== Societies ===
=== Societies ===
Approximately 30 student societies are affiliated to The University of Northampton Students’ Union. These range from special interest societies such as Anime and Rock Soc, to faith-based societies such as the Christian Union and Islamic Society.
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==
NUMedia, the student-led, run and managed media society, was launched in September 2011 and is responsible for the NUNews newspaper, NURadio broadcasts and NUTube video productions.
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.

Parents and carers organise, run and staff a crèche for students and staff during half-term holidays.


==Notable people==
==Notable people==
<!-- NOTE: Please include significant individuals only. To maintain consistency please keep the list ALPHABETICAL and use BRACKETS () after the name of the individual(s) you wish to add detailing their profession (Artist, Writer, etc) and/or significant awards or job positions they formerly held or currently hold. Individuals added should either have their own significant Wikipedia article or other robust citation. Thank you.-->
<!-- 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.-->

===Staff===
*[[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===
===Alumni===
<!-- 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.-->
<!--See note above---->
Prominent alumni who have received degrees or honorary degrees from the University of Northampton include:


* [[Will Alsop]], modernist architect; graduated from Northampton College of Art
*[[Andrew Collins (broadcaster)|Andrew Collins]]
* [[Jon Bewers]], footballer
*[[Bill Drummond]]
* [[James D. Boys]], academic and media consultant
*[[Hugh Dennis]]
* [[Dallas Campbell]], television presenter and stage actor
*[[James D. Boys]]
* [[Andrew Collins (broadcaster)|Andrew Collins]], writer and broadcaster
*[[Max Griggs]]
* [[James Densley]], academic and author
*[[Owen Paterson]]
* [[Bill Drummond]], artist, musician, writer and record producer

* [[Felippe Moraes]], visual artist, art researcher and independent curator
===Lecturers===
* [[Daniel Middleton]], YouTuber and writer

* [[Owen Paterson]], Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2012–2014); graduated from Leathersellers College
*[[Henry Bird (artist)|Henry Bird]] taught drawing at the Art school; his students included the architect, [[Will Alsop]].<ref>Alsop W. (June 28, 2001). Drawing on the experiences of life help create better work. [[Architects Journal]]</ref>
* [[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==
==See also==
*[[Armorial of UK universities]]

*[[Normal school#United Kingdom|College of Education]]
*[[University of Northampton (thirteenth century)]]
*[[List of universities in the UK]]
*[[Northamptonshire Credit Union]]
*[[University of Northampton (13th century)]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.northampton.ac.uk/ Univerity website]

*[http://www.parkcampusmemories.org.uk/ Park Campus Memories (PCM) - a tribute project about the former Park Campus, Boughton Green Road]
*[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]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in England]]


[[fr:Université de Northampton]]
[[Category:University of Northampton| ]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1999]]
[[pnb:نارتھیمپٹن یونیورسٹی]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in England]]
[[tg:Донишгоҳи Нортҳамптон]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 2005]]
[[zh:北安普顿大学]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Universities UK|Northampton]]
[[Category:Education in West Northamptonshire District]]

Revision as of 22:50, 14 May 2024

This article is about the present-day university. For the one in existence from 1261 to 1265, see University of Northampton (13th century).

The University of Northampton. Ceo Artur and Todor
Coat of arms
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
Northampton
,
Northamptonshire
,
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 (2024)[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 2024". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. 27 June 2023.
  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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to University of Northampton.
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