University of Bradford

The University of Bradford received its Royal Charter in 1966, but can trace its history and heritage as a leading technical institute back to 1882. The first Chancellor was Lord (Harold) Wilson, the then prime minister. The University’s long tradition of having technology at its heart continues today with its offer of high quality professional, applied courses underpinned by close links with industry.

For over 40 years, the University of Bradford has developed a unique portfolio of world-class research and knowledge transfer (RKT) in the UK and abroad. Technology is at the University’s heart with its strengths in Healthcare, Management, Engineering and International Development. Ranked in the Top 50 English Universities for research funding (HEFCE 2009–10). 80% of research output is of RAE-rated international quality. Making Knowledge Work is a core value at the University which ensures continued close working with industry and business through teaching, research, placements and collaborations. 

The strong emphasis on applied research-informed teaching (informed by the needs of industry). For example, our Engineering Department’s research into industry braking systems now forms part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Masters-level professional training programme. The research and industry expertise of the academic staff adds an invaluable dimension to the learning experience. For example, academics working on the new 'smart bomb' cancer treatment at the University are also teaching our undergraduate students in areas such as Pharmacy, Drug Discovery, Chemistry and Cancer Pharmacology, and when working on project students have access to the same research labs where these treatments are being 

Bradford is one of the least expensive student cities in the UK. The University has two campuses: the City Campus, which is very close to the centre of Bradford and the School of Management. The School of Management is set in parkland a couple of miles away from the city; it is home to both beautiful historic buildings and state-of-the-art facilities.

The University of Bradford has a great central UK location with excellent transport links including two international airports and trains and coaches direct to London.

The University is located in a beautiful part of the north of England, close to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Bradford boasts some of the best world food restaurants in our region with cuisine ranging from Indian, Chinese, Pakistani, Russian and Polish. The city also has a wide range of bars, clubs and music venues to suit all tastes.

The University is an established research active university dating back to 1966. Key areas of excellence include physical sciences and engineering, life sciences and health services, management and business, and international relations, politics and societal impact. The University offers fantastic work placement opportunities and maintain a global network of potential employers. We maintain links with a range of employers from multinational companies, such as Nissan and Intel, to public bodies, such as the NHS and BBC. The University has a strong track record of graduates entering professional and managerial level jobs. Bradford is one of only 6 UK Universities to have international membership of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), giving our students links to 280 universities in 41 worldwide destinations. 

The School of Management is one of only 58 business schools across the world with the coveted Triple Crown of accreditations (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA), and is ranked amongst the world’s top business schools. Over 70% of the University’s professional courses have Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body recognition giving those degrees a mark of quality that employers understand and value. Many of the University’s Development, Politics and Peace Studies, Economics academics have a global profile, advising governments, and international and non-governmental organisations around the world. 

Birkbeck, University of London

Birkbeck was founded in 1823 by George Birkbeck as the Mechanics Institution, offering higher education for working Londoners. Became part of the University of London in 1920 on condition it continued to provide flexible, evening teaching. In 2007 Birkbeck took its flexible teaching provision to Stratford, east London, with a selection of courses. In July 2012 the Privy Council gave Birkbeck the power to award taught and research degrees, a recognition of the quality of the College’s teaching and research and ability to set and maintain academic standards and procedures. Birkbeck will continue to award University of London degrees for the forseeable future. In autumn 2013 Birkbeck opened University Square Stratford, a £33-m purpose-built campus in Stratford, east London.

Part of the University of London central London precinct in Bloomsbury, London (WC1). Served by excellent bus, tube and rail links; Stratford courses are taught at the University Square Stratford campus (a few minutes' walk from Stratford Station).

The main central London campus is surrounded by world-class research sources and specialist library collections, including the British Museum, the British Library and Senate House library.

London is the economic and cultural capital of the UK.

Academic Strengths

London's only specialist provider of part-time, evening, higher education. 90% of academics are research-active and many are renowned world-class experts in their fields. Birkbeck achieved 'broad confidence' in a recent QAA institutional audit, the highest rating. Awards University of London degrees and qualifications.

With staff/student ratio 1:20, Birkbeck has consistently been voted first among multi-faculty London HE institutions in the annual National Student Survey for quality of teaching, and also came in first for overall student satisfaction. The high level of research contributes directly towards the teaching quality. Students earn while they learn, graduating with prestigious University of London qualifications.

Aberystwyth University

Established in 1872, Aberystwyth was the first university institution in Wales. Aberystwyth University has pioneered a number of academic disciplines – drama, geography, international politics and Welsh were first taught to degree level at Aberystwyth. The university has an international reputation for the excellence of its teaching and research. The university comprises 17 departments, grouped into 7 institutes: Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences; Literature, Languages & Creative Arts; Geography, History & Politics; Human Sciences; Management, Law & Information Science; Mathematics, Physics & Computer Science; Education, Graduate & Professional Development.

Modular system provides a large degree of flexibility and choice. Many programmes allow students to defer the choice of specialism until the second year. Transfer between degree schemes is possible at the end of the first, and even in some cases, the second year, subject to passes in pre-requisite modules. Some degrees offer vocational content or make a contribution towards professional qualifications. Some degrees include industrial placements or work experience. European language degrees include a year abroad in a country where the chosen language is spoken. There are opportunities to study abroad through the Erasmus scheme or one of our international exchange programmes. Students at Aberystwyth are also eligible for the Year in Employment scheme, which offers an extended work placement in the UK or abroad.

Accounting & Finance, Biological Sciences, Business & Management, Celtic Studies, Childhood Studies, Computer Science, Countryside Conservation & Management, Criminology, Drama, Economics, Education, English Literature and Creative Writing, Environmental Sciences, European Languages, Film & Television Studies, Fine Art, Geography, History, Information Management, International Politics, Irish, Law, Life Sciences (Foundation), Marketing, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Rural Sciences, Software Engineering, Space Science & Robotics, Sport & Exercise Science, Tourism and Welsh. The university has a commitment to lifelong learning and offers a large number of general interest courses, which may be taken alongside your degree if you wish.

University of Aberdeen

Scotland's third oldest university, founded in 1495. First chair of medicine in the English-speaking world. Five Nobel prizes have been awarded for work begun or carried out at Aberdeen.Aberdeen is a vibrant, creative and ambitious city, famous for its historic charm, a thriving economy and cosmopolitan community. Voted Scotland’s safest University City. The city is big enough to give the big city feel, but small enough for you to easily find your way around and make friends. Based in the heart of one of the most beautiful regions of the UK, Aberdeen has something for everyone – our location means you can find yourself travelling from the busy city centre of Europe’s Energy Capital to awe-inspiring countryside and coastlines in no time at all. Communication and travel links are excellent: With global air, rail and road connections, Aberdeen is easily reachable from anywhere in the UK within an hour and a half. Local transport services offer a reliable and regular service throughout Aberdeen and surrounding areas.  Full details of entry requirements can be found in Aberdeen's online prospectus.  A student population of around 14,500. 120 nationalities are represented in the student body. 

Male to female ratio of 46:54.  As a result of an extensive review of the curriculum, since 2010 undergraduate students at Aberdeen have a more flexible degree structure which retains all the quality and depth of the traditional Scottish degree and adds further benefits.

The University provides the opportunity to choose new cross-disciplinary courses focused on real world problems or sustained study in a language or business.  There are now even more opportunities to broaden your experience and skills through a wide range of optional activities overseen by the University, such as study overseas, work placements and voluntary work. The University provides over 550 first degree programmes on offer across three colleges. Students are encouraged to tailor-make their degree programme to suit their interests and ambitions, and every student has an academic adviser to provide guidance.  89% of subjects rated excellent/highly satisfactory. Scotland’s top Medical School. 

The University has been praised by the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education for the quality of relationships between students and staff.  Aberdeen has a long and distinguished research history. The University has a leading track record in pioneering discoveries which have changed the way people think, work and learn throughout the world in the fields of medicine, science and humanities. 90% of our research has been judged as being of international quality and over half of this has been classed as world leading or internationally excellent. 

Academic Strengths

More than 500 years of academic excellence.

Within the three colleges of Arts and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences and Medicine, many degree programmes have been rated either the best in Scotland or in the top ten in the UK by numerous league tables.

Particular strengths lie in the university's founding disciplines of Arts and Humanities, Engineering, Medicine, Education, Divinity and Law.

Student Facilities

The University's brand new Aquatics Centre opened to the public in May 2014. This Olympic Standard centre provides the area’s first 50m training and competition pool and separate diving pool. The facility is set to host various national and international competitions, and has already hosted the 2014 Commonwealth Games Water Polo Championships.

The University’s main library – The Sit Duncan Rice Library – contains over a million volumes, over 300,000 e-books and over 21,000 journals. The library also hosts a series of events, presentations and exhibitions throughout the year.

The University has one of the largest WiFi campuses in Europe.

Disability Services

Visit the website to find out about disability services at the University of Aberdeen.

Telephone +44 (0)1224 273935, fax +44 (0)1224 273569, or email student.disability@abdn.ac.uk.

Students' Union

Visit the website to discover more about the Aberdeen University Students' Association and the 150 student societies.

Abertay University

Founded 1888 as Dundee Technical Institute. Described by the Scottish Office in 1902 as one of the nation's 'industrial universities'. Granted the right to use the formal title of University of Abertay Dundee in 1994. Now known as Abertay University. Based in the heart of Dundee, with all buildings on a compact city centre campus. Bus and mainline train stations within ten minutes' walk, offering services to all major cities in Scotland and beyond. Airport within 10 minutes' drive, offering direct flights to London and Jersey. Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports about one hour's drive away.

Varies from course to course, usually around BBC at Higher (CC at A-level), but up to AABB at Higher (BBC at A-level) for some subjects.

Roughly 48% female, 52% male.

20% of students non-UK in origin.

97% of students from state school.

Applications to places ratio approximately 4 or 5:1.

Fully modularized course structure allows multiple entry/exit points, including advanced entry for appropriate accredited prior learning. 

Rated as Scotland's top university for environmental science, and best modern university for law and psychology. Abertay is divided into four academic departments: School of Arts, Media & Computer Games; School of Science, Engineering & Technology; Dundee Business School; and the School of Social & Health Sciences. Strengths include Environmental Science, Computer Games Technology, Computer Arts, Digital Entertainment and Smart Technologies, Computer and Network Security, Psychology and Forensic Sciences, Food/Health/Nutrition, Sports Science, Business and Management, Energy/Oil & Gas Accounting, and Law. Modern library with 265 workstations. A further 600+ elsewhere on campus, making a total of 865 workstations for a student population of 5,000 – one of the highest ratios in the UK. New Student Centre completed in 2005, incorporating two bars, restaurant, theatre/cinema, art gallery/coffee shop, bookshop and nightclub. New Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education, a UK first. 

Arts University Bournemouth

The Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) was founded over 125 years ago as a specialist arts institution. It became an HEI in 2001 and was awarded Taught Degree Awarding Powers in 2009.

It became a full university in 2012. It now offers a range of art, design, media and performance degrees at further, higher, postgraduate and research level as well as a range of short courses.

Situated on the south coast of England, with good train links to London and ferry/air routes to Europe. Dorset has outstanding natural beauty with seven miles of wonderful beaches and unspoilt countryside (including the New Forest and the Purbeck Hills). Much historic and artistic interest with large towns such as Bournemouth also offering a vibrant, youthful environment. Entry Standards

The university welcomes applicants from all backgrounds who have the potential to gain a degree.

Offers to most courses are made on the basis of interview and portfolio, but all courses have minimum entry requirements – visit the website for more information.

Application is online via the UCAS website www.ucas.com.

Students on all courses undertake a range of self-directed project units which lets them focus on areas of particular interest. There is a large culture of collaboration across all the courses at the AUB.  The university received 88% overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey.  Excellent reputation for courses in the creative arts and design. Over 97.7% of students have secured employment or further study within six months of graduation – in the top 5 of all UK universities in the 2011 DLHE Survey. 

One of the largest, specialist purpose-built libraries outside London, with unique Museum of Design in Plastics located on campus. The Gallery at the Arts University Bournemouth offers a unique space in the South West for the arts including design, media  and performance. Excellent IT facilities (PCs and Macs); campus is wi-fi; state of the art facilities and workshops; contemporary gallery space.

Industry standard equipment across the range of courses. New 3D Printer. Enterprise Pavilion offering facilities and mentoring to new graduates launching creative business.