New Universities
Encyclopedia
The term new universities has been used informally to refer to several different waves of new universities
created or renamed as such in the United Kingdom
. As early as 1928, the term was used to describe the then-new civic universities, such as Bristol University and the other "red brick universities". It later came to be used to refer to any of the universities founded in the 1960s after the Robbins Report
on higher education
. These institutions are now known as "plate glass universities"
. Today, the term specifically relates instead to any of the former polytechnics
, central institution
s or colleges of higher education that were given university status by John Major
's government in 1992 (through the Further and Higher Education Act 1992
) — as well as colleges that have been granted university status since then. These institutions are more often called post-1992 universities and sometimes modern universities.
In addition, the New University of Ulster
absorbed Ulster Polytechnic (at Jordanstown
) in 1984.
Both categories of university award academic degree
s, having received university status when the Further and Higher Education Act 1992
came into effect or in the years thereafter, although some of the newest universities may not have the power to award research degrees - the UK Government having separated research degrees from university title criteria.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
created or renamed as such in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. As early as 1928, the term was used to describe the then-new civic universities, such as Bristol University and the other "red brick universities". It later came to be used to refer to any of the universities founded in the 1960s after the Robbins Report
Robbins Report
The Robbins Report was commissioned by the British government and published in 1963. The Committee met from 1961 to 1963...
on higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
. These institutions are now known as "plate glass universities"
Plate glass university
The term plate glass university has come into use by some to refer to one of the several universities founded in the United Kingdom in the 1960s in the era of the Robbins Report on higher education. In some cases these were older schools with new Royal Charters, now making them universities...
. Today, the term specifically relates instead to any of the former polytechnics
Polytechnic (United Kingdom)
A polytechnic was a type of tertiary education teaching institution in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. After the passage of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 they became universities which meant they could award their own degrees. The comparable institutions in Scotland were...
, central institution
Central Institution
A central institution was a type of higher education institute in 20th and 21st century Scotland responsible for providing degree-level education but emphasising teaching rather than research. Some had a range of courses similar to polytechnics elsewhere in the United Kingdom while others were...
s or colleges of higher education that were given university status by John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
's government in 1992 (through the Further and Higher Education Act 1992
Further and Higher Education Act 1992
The Further and Higher Education Acts 1992 made changes in the funding and administration of further education and higher education within the United Kingdom. The most visible result was to allow thirty-five polytechnics to become universities. In addition the Act created bodies to fund higher...
) — as well as colleges that have been granted university status since then. These institutions are more often called post-1992 universities and sometimes modern universities.
Post-1992 universities that are former polytechnics
- Anglia Ruskin UniversityAnglia Ruskin UniversityAnglia Ruskin University is one of the largest universities in Eastern England, United Kingdom, with a total student population of around 30,000.-History:...
– formerly Anglia Higher Education College, Anglia Polytechnic then Anglia Polytechnic University - Birmingham City UniversityBirmingham City UniversityBirmingham City University is a British university in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second largest of three universities in the city, the other two being the Aston University and University of Birmingham...
– formerly the University of Central England in Birmingham and before that, Birmingham Polytechnic - University of BrightonUniversity of BrightonThe University of Brighton is an English university of the United Kingdom, with a community of over 23,000 students and 2,600 staff based on campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. It has one of the best teaching quality ratings in the UK and a strong research record, factors which...
– formerly Brighton Polytechnic - Bournemouth UniversityBournemouth UniversityBournemouth University is a university in and around the large south coast town of Bournemouth, UK...
– formerly Bournemouth Municipal College, Bournemouth College of Technology, Dorset Institute of Higher Education then Bournemouth Polytechnic - University of Central LancashireUniversity of Central LancashireThe University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...
– formerly Lancashire Polytechnic - Coventry UniversityCoventry UniversityCoventry University is a post-1992 university in Coventry, West Midlands, England. Under the terms of the Further and Higher Education Act of 1992, the institution's name was changed from Coventry Polytechnic to Coventry University...
– formerly Lanchester Polytechnic then Coventry Polytechnic - De Montfort UniversityDe Montfort UniversityDe Montfort University is a public research and teaching university situated in the medieval Old Town of Leicester, England, adjacent to the River Soar and the Leicester Castle Gardens...
– formerly Leicester Polytechnic - University of East LondonUniversity of East LondonThe University of East London is a university located in the London Borough of Newham, East London, England, based at two campuses in Stratford and Docklands areas...
– formerly the West Ham College of Technology then North East London Polytechnic - Edinburgh Napier University – formerly Napier Technical College, Napier College of Commerce and Technology then Napier Polytechnic
- University of GlamorganUniversity of GlamorganThe University of Glamorgan is a university based in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales with campuses in Treforest, Glyntaff, Merthyr Tydfil, Tyn y Wern and Cardiff...
– formerly Glamorgan Polytechnic then The Polytechnic of Wales - Glasgow Caledonian UniversityGlasgow Caledonian UniversityGlasgow Caledonian University is a public university in Glasgow, Scotland.The university was constituted by an Act of Parliament on 1 April 1993 as a result of a merger between Glasgow Polytechnic and The Queen's College, Glasgow....
– formed from the merger of Glasgow Polytechnic and The Queen's College, Glasgow - University of GreenwichUniversity of GreenwichThe University of Greenwich is a British university located in the London Borough of Greenwich, London, England. The main campus is located on the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, a central location within the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:The history of the...
– formerly Thames Polytechnic - University of HertfordshireUniversity of HertfordshireThe University of Hertfordshire is a new university based largely in Hatfield, in the county of Hertfordshire, England, from which the university takes its name. It has more than 27,500 students, over 2500 staff, with a turnover of over £181m...
– formerly Hatfield Technical College then Hatfield Polytechnic - University of HuddersfieldUniversity of HuddersfieldThe University of Huddersfield is a university located in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England.- History :The University traces its roots back to a Science and Mechanic Institute founded in 1825...
– formerly Huddersfield Polytechnic - Kingston UniversityKingston UniversityKingston University is a public research university located in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London, United Kingdom. It was originally founded in 1899 as Kingston Technical Institute, a polytechnic, and became a university in 1992....
– formerly Kingston Polytechnic, and before that the Kingston Technical Institute, - Leeds Metropolitan UniversityLeeds Metropolitan UniversityLeeds Metropolitan University is a British University with three campuses. Two are situated in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England while the third is situated in Bhopal, India...
– formerly Leeds Polytechnic - University of LincolnUniversity of LincolnThe University of Lincoln is an English university founded in 1992, with origins tracing back to the foundation and association with the Hull School of Art 1861....
– formerly Humberside Polytechnic, then University of Humberside and then University of Lincolnshire and Humberside - Liverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...
– formerly Liverpool Polytechnic - London Metropolitan UniversityLondon Metropolitan UniversityLondon Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
– merger of London Guildhall UniversityLondon Guildhall UniversityLondon Guildhall University was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with the University of North London to form London Metropolitan University...
, formerly the City of London Polytechnic, and University of North LondonUniversity of North LondonThe University of North London was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with London Guildhall University to form London Metropolitan University. The former University of North London premises now form the new university's north campus, situated on...
, formerly the Polytechnic of North London - London South Bank UniversityLondon South Bank UniversityLondon South Bank University is a university in south London. With over 25,000 students and 1,700 staff, it is based in the London Borough of Southwark, near the South Bank of the River Thames, from which it takes its name...
– formerly South Bank Polytechnic - Manchester Metropolitan UniversityManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchester Metropolitan University is a university in North West England. Its headquarters and central campus is in the city of Manchester, but there are outlying facilities in the county of Cheshire. It is the third largest university in the United Kingdom in terms of student numbers, behind the...
– formerly Manchester Polytechnic - Middlesex UniversityMiddlesex UniversityMiddlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
– formerly Middlesex Polytechnic - Northumbria UniversityNorthumbria UniversityNorthumbria University is an academic institution located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. It is a member of the University Alliance.- History :...
– formerly Newcastle Polytechnic, formed from the merger of Rutherford College of Technology, the College of Art & Industrial Design and the Municipal College of Commerce - Nottingham Trent UniversityNottingham Trent UniversityNottingham Trent University is a public teaching and research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as a new university in 1992 from the existing Trent Polytechnic , however it can trace its roots back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design...
– formerly Trent Polytechnic then Nottingham Polytechnic - Oxford Brookes UniversityOxford Brookes UniversityOxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
– formerly Oxford School of Art then Oxford Polytechnic - University of PlymouthUniversity of PlymouthPlymouth University is the largest university in the South West of England, with over 30,000 students and is 9th largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students . It has almost 3,000 staff...
– formerly Polytechnic South West, formed from Plymouth Polytechnic, Exeter College of Art and Design, Rolle College, Seale-Hayne College and Plymouth School of Maritime Studies - University of PortsmouthUniversity of PortsmouthThe University of Portsmouth is a university in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The University was ranked 60th out of 122 in The Sunday Times University Guide...
– formerly Portsmouth Polytechnic - Sheffield Hallam UniversitySheffield Hallam UniversitySheffield Hallam University is a higher education institution in South Yorkshire, England, based on two sites in Sheffield. City Campus is located in the city centre, close to Sheffield railway station, and Collegiate Crescent Campus is about two miles away, adjacent to Ecclesall Road in...
– formerly Sheffield Polytechnic then Sheffield City Polytechnic - Staffordshire UniversityStaffordshire UniversityStaffordshire University is a university with its main campus based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and with other campuses in Stafford, Lichfield and Shrewsbury.- History :...
– formerly Staffordshire Polytechnic (originally called North Staffordshire Polytechnic) having previously been the separate Staffordshire College of Technology, the Stoke-on-Trent College of Art and the North Staffordshire College of Technology - University of SunderlandUniversity of SunderlandThe University of Sunderland is located in Sunderland, north east England. The university has more than 17,500 students, including 7,000-plus international students from some 70 countries....
– formerly Sunderland Technical College then Sunderland Polytechnic - Teesside University – formerly Teesside Polytechnic
- University of West London – formerly Thames Valley University, formed from the merger of Thames Valley College and Ealing College of Higher Education as Polytechnic of West London
- University of the West of EnglandUniversity of the West of EnglandThe University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
– formerly Bristol Polytechnic - University of WestminsterUniversity of WestminsterThe University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
– formerly the Polytechnic of Central London, originally the Royal Polytechnic Institution (1838) - University of WolverhamptonUniversity of WolverhamptonThe University of Wolverhampton is a British university located on four campuses across the West Midlands and Shropshire. The city campus is located in Wolverhampton city centre with a second campus at Compton Park, Wolverhampton; a third in Walsall and a fourth in Telford...
– formerly Wolverhampton Polytechnic
In addition, the New University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
absorbed Ulster Polytechnic (at Jordanstown
Jordanstown
Jordanstown is the name of a townland and electoral ward in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the urban area called Newtownabbey and the wider Newtownabbey Borough....
) in 1984.
Post-1992 universities that are not former polytechnics
- University of Abertay DundeeUniversity of Abertay DundeeThe University of Abertay Dundee, usually known simply as Abertay University, is a modern university in Dundee, Scotland.- History :The University of Abertay Dundee was created in 1994, under government legislation granting the title University to the Dundee Institute of Technology...
– formerly Dundee Institute of Technology - University of the Arts LondonUniversity of the Arts LondonThe University of the Arts London, formerly known as the London Institute, is a collegiate university comprising six internationally recognised art, design, fashion and media colleges in London, England...
– formerly London Institute - Bath Spa UniversityBath Spa UniversityBath Spa University is a university based in, and around, Bath, England. The institution was previously known as Bath College of Higher Education, and later Bath Spa University College...
– formerly Bath College of Higher Education - University of BedfordshireUniversity of BedfordshireThe University of Bedfordshire is based in Luton and Bedford, the two largest towns in the English county of Bedfordshire. The university was created by the merger of the University of Luton and the Bedford campus of De Montfort University on 1 August 2006 following approval by the Privy Council...
– formerly University of Luton, created by the merger of the University of Luton and De Montfort University's Bedford campus - Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln – formerly Bishop Grosseteste College
- University of BoltonUniversity of BoltonThe University of Bolton is a university in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. It has around 14,000 students across all sites and courses, with 700 academic and professional staff. Around 70% of its students come from Bolton and the North West region...
– formerly Bolton Institute of Higher Education - Buckinghamshire New University – formerly Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, and before that Buckinghamshire College of Higher Education, and earlier the High Wycombe College of Art and Technology
- Canterbury Christ Church UniversityCanterbury Christ Church UniversityCanterbury Christ Church University is a university in Canterbury, Kent, England. Founded as a Church of England college for teaching training it has grown to full university status and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2012. The focus of its work is in the education of people going into...
– formerly Christ Church College - University of ChesterUniversity of ChesterThe University of Chester is a public research university located in Chester, United Kingdom. The University, based on a main campus in Chester and a smaller campus in Warrington, offers a range of foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as undertaking academic research.Chester...
– formerly Chester College of Higher Education - University of ChichesterUniversity of ChichesterThe University of Chichester is a university based in West Sussex, England. Campuses are based in the city of Chichester and the nearby coastal resort of Bognor Regis...
– formerly Chichester Institute of Higher Education then University College Chichester - Cranfield UniversityCranfield UniversityCranfield University is a British postgraduate university based on two campuses, with a research-oriented focus. The main campus is at Cranfield, Bedfordshire and the second is the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom based at Shrivenham, Oxfordshire. The main campus is unique in the United...
- formerly College of Aeronautics formed 1946, later Cranfield Institute of Technology, currently all-postgraduate university (Silsoe campus was partly undergraduate till 2007) - University of CumbriaUniversity of CumbriaThe University of Cumbria is a university in Cumbria, England. Its headquarters are in Carlisle. and other major campuses are at Lancaster, Ambleside and Penrith. It was established in 2007, with roots extending back to the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts established in 1822 and...
– formed in January 2007 from the merger of St Martin's College, the Cumbria Institute of the Arts (CIA) and the Cumbrian campuses of the University of Central Lancashire - University of DerbyUniversity of DerbyThe University of Derby is a university in the city of Derby, England. The main site is on Kedleston Road, Allestree in the north-west of Derby close to the A38 opposite Markeaton Park...
– formerly the Derbyshire College of Higher Education - Edge Hill UniversityEdge Hill UniversityEdge Hill University is situated in Ormskirk, Lancashire, England. It has three faculties: Education, Health and Social Care, and Arts and Sciences.- History :...
– based in Ormskirk, Lancashire, formerly Edge Hill College - University of GloucestershireUniversity of GloucestershireThe University of Gloucestershire is a university primarily based in Gloucestershire, England, spread over four campuses, three in Cheltenham and one in Gloucester...
– formerly Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education - Glyndŵr University - formerly the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education
- University of the Highlands and Islands
- Liverpool Hope UniversityLiverpool Hope UniversityLiverpool Hope University is a university in Liverpool, England. Two of its three founding colleges were established in 1844 and 1856, the third opening in the 1960s. It is the only ecumenical university in Europe. Based on two campuses, the main campus is located in Childwall and the second...
– formerly a fully accredited institution of the University of Liverpool, then Liverpool Hope University College - Newman University CollegeNewman University CollegeNewman University College is a university college offering academic degrees and teacher training in Birmingham, England.Known as Newman College of Higher Education until January 2008, it has the highest employment of graduates rate of UK universities and is in the top 25% of UK universities for...
- formerly Newman College of Higher Education - University of Wales, NewportUniversity of Wales, NewportThe University of Wales, Newport is a university based in Newport, South Wales. The university has two campuses; Caerleon on the northern outskirts of the city and a £35 million campus on the banks of the River Usk in Newport city centre opened in 2011...
– formerly Gwent College of Higher Education then University of Wales College, Newport - University of NorthamptonUniversity of NorthamptonThe University of Northampton is a university in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England.-History: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...
– formerly Northampton Technical College, Nene College then University College Northampton - Queen Margaret University – formerly Queen Margaret College then Queen Margaret University College
- Robert Gordon UniversityRobert Gordon UniversityRobert Gordon University is located in Aberdeen, Scotland. Building on over 250 years involvement in education, it was granted university status in 1992. Robert Gordon University currently has approximately 16,407 students at its two campuses at Garthdee and the City Centre, studying on over 145...
– based in Aberdeen, formerly Robert Gordon's Technical College then the Robert Gordon Institute of Technology - Roehampton UniversityRoehampton UniversityThe University of Roehampton is a campus university in the United Kingdom, situated on three major sites in Roehampton, south-west London.-History:...
– formerly Roehampton Institute, then University of Surrey Roehampton (as part of the federal University of Surrey) - Southampton Solent UniversitySouthampton Solent UniversitySouthampton Solent University is a university of 17,000 students based in Southampton, United Kingdom. Its main campus is located on East Park Terrace near the city centre....
– formerly Southampton Institute of Higher Education - Swansea Metropolitan University – formerly Swansea Institute of Higher Education
- University of Wales Institute, CardiffUniversity of Wales Institute, CardiffCardiff Metropolitan University is a university situated in Cardiff. It operates from three campuses: Llandaff on Western Avenue, Cyncoed, and Howard Gardens in the City Centre. The university serves over 12,000 students...
- One of three universities in Cardiff - University of the West of Scotland – formerly University of PaisleyUniversity of PaisleyThe University of the West of Scotland is a university operating from four campuses in south-western Scotland, in the towns of Paisley, Hamilton, Ayr and Dumfries. The present institution dates from August 2007, following the merger of the University of Paisley with Bell College, Hamilton...
- University of WinchesterUniversity of WinchesterThe University of Winchester is a British public university primarily based in Winchester, Hampshire, England. Winchester is a historic cathedral city and the ancient capital of Wessex and the Kingdom of England.-History:...
– formerly Winchester Diocesan Training School, renamed King Alfred's College then University College Winchester - University of WorcesterUniversity of WorcesterThe University of Worcester is a British university, based in Worcester, Worcestershire, England. It was granted university status in September 2005.-History:...
– formerly part of the University of Birmingham Department of Education then Worcester College of Higher Education - York St John UniversityYork St John UniversityYork St John University York St John University York St John University (formerly known variously as York St John University College (2004), York St John College (2001), Ripon and York St John: a College of the University of Leeds (c. 1996), University College of Ripon and York St John...
– formerly the College of Ripon and York St John then York St John College
Both categories of university award academic degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
s, having received university status when the Further and Higher Education Act 1992
Further and Higher Education Act 1992
The Further and Higher Education Acts 1992 made changes in the funding and administration of further education and higher education within the United Kingdom. The most visible result was to allow thirty-five polytechnics to become universities. In addition the Act created bodies to fund higher...
came into effect or in the years thereafter, although some of the newest universities may not have the power to award research degrees - the UK Government having separated research degrees from university title criteria.
See also
- Red brick university
- Plate glass universityPlate glass universityThe term plate glass university has come into use by some to refer to one of the several universities founded in the United Kingdom in the 1960s in the era of the Robbins Report on higher education. In some cases these were older schools with new Royal Charters, now making them universities...