University of Plymouth
Encyclopedia
Plymouth 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 (including the Open University
). It has almost 3,000 staff (one of the largest employers in the southwest). The main campus is in the Devon
city of Plymouth
, but the university has campuses and affiliated colleges all over South West England
.
, with its constituent bodies being Plymouth Polytechnic, Rolle College, the Exeter College of Art and Design (which were, before April 1989, run by Devon County Council
) and Seale-Hayne College (which before April 1989 was an independent charity). It was renamed Polytechnic South West in 1989 and remained as this until gaining university status in 1992 along with the other polytechnics. The new university absorbed the Plymouth School of Maritime Studies and Tavistock College.
In 2006 part of the remains of the World War II
Portland Square air-raid shelter
were rediscovered on the Plymouth campus. On the night of 22 April 1941, during the Blitz
, a bomb fell here killing over 70 civilians, including a mother and her six children. The bomb blast was so violent that human remains were found in the tops of trees. Only three people escaped alive, all children. In 2006, an appeal was made to raise money for a public sculpture to honour those who lost their lives.
The University's first Vice Chancellor was Professor John Bull. He was succeeded by Professor Roland Levinsky
who was VC until his death on 1 January 2007, when he walked into live electrical cables brought down during a storm. He was temporarily replaced by Professor Mark Cleary
(now VC of the University of Bradford
), and then by Professor Steve Newstead. Professor Wendy Purcell became VC on 1 December 2007.
The University was selected by the Royal Statistical Society
in October 2008 to home its Centre for Statistical Education.
Plymouth University is now particularly renowned for its courses in maritime business, marine engineering, marine biology and Earth, ocean & environmental sciences.
with Building Design Partnership
. The building is clad with copper sheets in a seamed-cladding technique, is nine storeys high and has 13000 square metres (139,930.8 sq ft) of floor space. The building contains two large lecture theatres, and the Jill Craigie Cinema, which is used by the film students to display their films and for showing of films to the public. There is also a public art gallery, which is where local artists groups, students and famous artists can have work displayed.
The Exmouth campus - Rolle College - housed the Faculty of Education and relocated to the new Rolle Building in August 2008. The decision was unpopular with students and the town of Exmouth
itself, there were several protest marches and a campaign to keep the campus open.
An exception to the trend of centralising activities are the University's extensive activities in education for the health professions. In addition many of its students are taught at Further Education Colleges throughout Devon
, Cornwall
and Somerset
, such as South Devon College. Dartington College of Arts
has been cited as an example but was an independent college of higher education and not a further education college. A new building which opened in 2008 is shared between the Peninsula Medical School
and the Faculty of Health and Social Work, highlighting some movement towards Plymouth.
Recently completed developments include Portland Square, a library extension, refurbished and new laboratory and teaching facilities in many of the campus buildings, halls of residence near the Business School and a new £16 million Peninsula Medical School headquarters at Derriford, in the north of the city.
A new maritime centre is being constructed behind the Babbage Building. This will house civil engineering, coastal engineering and marine sciences. This will place the University in a position to increase its engineering teaching and research and compete with larger universities.
The University Partnership Programme
(UPP) supplies and manages the student halls of residence at the university. Cluster flat developments close to the university are owned and managed by Unite plc. Places are allocated exclusively to first year students.
The University provides an approved accommodation database. Approximately half of all first year students and virtually all second and third years choose their accommodation from the approved database. Special accommodation arrangements are made for students in some categories, such as postgraduate students and students with medical conditions.
Jointly with the University of Exeter
and the National Health Service
in the region, the University runs the recently founded Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
. A new £13 million building on the University of Plymouth's main campus provides teaching rooms, office space, a clinical skills laboratory and research facilities for the Plymouth-based activities of the School, along with the Faculty of Health and Social work.
forming the University’s Coat of Arms
were granted on 10 April 2008, in Grant 173/189, by the College of Arms
.
The books represent the University’s focus on learning and scholarship. The scattering of small stars, represent navigation
, which has played a key role in the history of the city and the university. The scallop shells in gold, represents pilgrimage, a sign of the importance of the departure of the Pilgrim Fathers from a site near the Mayflower Steps in the Barbican
aboard the Mayflower
in 1620. A Pelican and a Golden Hind
support the shield and reflect both the original and later, better known, name of Sir Francis Drake’s ship
. The crest contains the Latin motto, "Indagate Fingite Invenite” which translates as "Explore Dream Discover" and is a quote from Mark Twain
, reflecting the university's ambitions for its students and Plymouth's history of great seafarers.
The Letters Patent
granting Arms
to the University of Plymouth were presented by Eric Dancer
, CBE
, JP, Lord Lieutenant
of Devon
, in a ceremony at the University on 27 November 2008, in the presence of Henry Paston-Bedingfeld
, York Herald
of the College of Arms
, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Plymouth, Judge William Taylor, the Recorder of Plymouth, and Baroness Judith Wilcox
.
The Coat of Arms
are rarely seen in use, other than at graduation. The university tends to use the modern globe logo on stationery and signs and are very keen to keep the Coat of Arms
exclusive. The use of the arms is therefore restricted to graduations and other formal ceremonies, degree certificates and associated materials and the exclusive use by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.
Plymouth University has a wide variety of undergraduate
and postgraduate
programmes which are currently taught at its main city campus in Plymouth
. The University scores well in law, psychology, geographical sciences, computing (including digital media) and computer science, fine art and art history. The Planetary Collegium
, the international centre for research in art, technology and consciousness is based at Plymouth, with nodes in Milan and Zurich.
, Design and Environment, School of Art
& Media
and the School of Humanities
and Performing Arts. Arts subjects are usually held in the Roland Levinsky building and the Scott building, a 19th century building located next to Roland Levinsky which was modernized externally in 2008 to keep to the university's current design. The faculty offers degrees in Architecture, English, History, Art History, 3D Design, Music, Photography, Media Arts, Theatre & Performance and Dance Theatre. Advanced research in new media art
is provided by the Planetary Collegium
.
Plymouth University is particularly renowned for its courses in maritime business, marine engineering, marine biology and Earth, ocean & environmental sciences.
The University provides professional diving qualifications on a number of its courses, the only university in the country that provides this. The University's own diving center provide this, which is based next to Queen Anne's Battery Marina, with its full time team of instructors and dedicated boats and equipment.
In October 2005, The Sun
newspaper voted the University as having the most bizarre degree course in the country, the BSc (Hons) in Surf Science & Technology. Commonly known as "surfing
", this course is actually centred on coastal/ocean sciences, surfing equipment/clothing design and surfing-related business, which has its popularity increased by the geographical location of the University.
The University has strong links with the cruising industry; the Plymouth Business School, offers courses in the Maritime and Cruising sector. The school offers BSc (Hons) in Cruise Management, where students can opt to take a year out to work with P&O
or Princess Cruises
for a period of two, four month periods.
Plymouth University's MSc in International Shipping is regarded as one of the best in the UK.
.
UPC Associates include:
From September 2010 Plymouth University is the main sponsor of Marine Academy Plymouth
table, which unlike The Guardian takes research performance into account, places it 55th and bills it as one of the top two modern universities in the UK. The Guardian 2011 Guide describes the University as "delivering a first class campus", as well as placing Plymouth in the "top 20" for Anatomy and Physiology 2, Art and Design 20, Electronic and Electrical Engineering 19, Mechanical Engineering 20, Mathematics 13, Music 18, Nursing 19, Sport Science 15 and Tourism Transport and Travel 11. In conjunction with the current restructuring, the university's aim is to become the enterprise university, pivotal in a city acknowledged as the enterprise capital of the south west.
and Michael Thrasher
, who have written extensively on electoral systems, voting behaviour, polling results and British politics and have regularly appeared on national television election programmes for both the BBC and ITV. Other notable academics include Dr Roy Lowry who, in August 2006, broke the world record for launching the most rockets at once, Dr Iain Stewart who has hosted BBC documentaries like Journeys into the Ring of Fire and Journeys from the Centre of the Earth, and Dr Angela Smith who has published several celebrated works on the subject of gender and 20th Century warfare.
, BBC wildlife presenter Monty Halls and Jane Wilson-Howarth
, a travel writer.
The University’s CETLs are:
.
ICCMR is a member of the Arts, Science, Technology Research Consortium (AZTEC) at Plymouth University.
The ICCMR comprises 4 interconnected research teams. The Evolutionary Music Team is concerned with the problem of musical evolution. Research themes include origins of emotions, ontogenesis, evolution of grammars and generative performance. The Music and the Brain Team is mostly concerned with the problem of representation of musical experience. Research is focusing on active perception, role of timbre in musical expectancies, development of experience-dependent abstractions and brain–computer interfaces. This team overlaps with the Auditory Group at the Centre for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience led by Dr Sue Denham.
The Music Technology Team is concerned with the conversion of basic scientific research into practical music technology. Projects include tools for composition and sound design, music controllers,sound synthesis algorithms and musical robotics. The Musical Practice Team is concerned with musical practices using new technology and contemporary music. Projects include music in the community, music facilitation for disability and sonic arts. The team works in close collaboration with Peninsula Arts
.
The Union offers a range of services and stages a number of events throughout the year. As well as events, the Union is the base for most of the sports teams, namely UPFC, and societies at the university.
The Students' Union has a garden that has been set up by the Centre for Sustainable Futures (CSF). The students of the Plymouth University are free to use this garden.
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...
in the South West of England, with over 30,000 students and is 9th largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students (including the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
). It has almost 3,000 staff (one of the largest employers in the southwest). The main campus is in the Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
city of Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, but the university has campuses and affiliated colleges all over South West England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
.
History
The University was originally a Polytechnic CollegePolytechnic (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...
, with its constituent bodies being Plymouth Polytechnic, Rolle College, the Exeter College of Art and Design (which were, before April 1989, run by Devon County Council
Devon County Council
Devon County Council is the county council administering the English county of Devon. Based in the city of Exeter, the council covers the non-metropolitan county area of Devon...
) and Seale-Hayne College (which before April 1989 was an independent charity). It was renamed Polytechnic South West in 1989 and remained as this until gaining university status in 1992 along with the other polytechnics. The new university absorbed the Plymouth School of Maritime Studies and Tavistock College.
In 2006 part of the remains of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Portland Square air-raid shelter
Air-raid shelter
Air-raid shelters, also known as bomb shelters, are structures for the protection of the civil population as well as military personnel against enemy attacks from the air...
were rediscovered on the Plymouth campus. On the night of 22 April 1941, during the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
, a bomb fell here killing over 70 civilians, including a mother and her six children. The bomb blast was so violent that human remains were found in the tops of trees. Only three people escaped alive, all children. In 2006, an appeal was made to raise money for a public sculpture to honour those who lost their lives.
The University's first Vice Chancellor was Professor John Bull. He was succeeded by Professor Roland Levinsky
Roland Levinsky
Professor Roland Levinsky was an academic researcher in biomedicine and a university senior manager. His last post, which he held at the time of his death, was as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom.He was born in South Africa to Jewish parents...
who was VC until his death on 1 January 2007, when he walked into live electrical cables brought down during a storm. He was temporarily replaced by Professor Mark Cleary
Mark Cleary (professor)
Mark Cleary is the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford in Yorkshire. He took over in 2007 after the previous chancellor, Chris Taylor, retired after 5 years in the position....
(now VC of the University of Bradford
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...
), and then by Professor Steve Newstead. Professor Wendy Purcell became VC on 1 December 2007.
The University was selected by the Royal Statistical Society
Royal Statistical Society
The Royal Statistical Society is a learned society for statistics and a professional body for statisticians in the UK.-History:It was founded in 1834 as the Statistical Society of London , though a perhaps unrelated London Statistical Society was in existence at least as early as 1824...
in October 2008 to home its Centre for Statistical Education.
Plymouth University is now particularly renowned for its courses in maritime business, marine engineering, marine biology and Earth, ocean & environmental sciences.
Campus
When university status was gained in 1992, the university was based in various locations. Under the subsequent Vice-Chancellor, Roland Levinsky, the university began a policy of centralising its campus activities in Plymouth. The Faculty of Arts based in Exmouth moved to the new Roland Levinsky arts building in August 2007, bringing subjects including Fine Art, History of Art, Photography and 3-D Design to Plymouth. Theatre & Performance, based in Exmouth also moved at this time. The Roland Levinsky Building was designed by architects Henning LarsenHenning Larsen
Henning Larsen is a Danish architect.He is internationally known for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Riyadhand the Copenhagen Opera House...
with Building Design Partnership
Building Design Partnership
Building Design Partnership is a firm of architects and engineers employing over 1200 staff in the UK and internationally.-Foundation:The firm was founded in 1961 by George Grenfell Baines with architects Bill White and John Wilkinson, quantity surveyor Arnold Towler and eight associate partners:...
. The building is clad with copper sheets in a seamed-cladding technique, is nine storeys high and has 13000 square metres (139,930.8 sq ft) of floor space. The building contains two large lecture theatres, and the Jill Craigie Cinema, which is used by the film students to display their films and for showing of films to the public. There is also a public art gallery, which is where local artists groups, students and famous artists can have work displayed.
Exmouth
Exmouth is a town in Devon. It may also refer to:Places*Exmouth Peninsula in Southern Chile*Exmouth, Western AustraliaPeople*Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth , a British naval officerShips...
itself, there were several protest marches and a campaign to keep the campus open.
An exception to the trend of centralising activities are the University's extensive activities in education for the health professions. In addition many of its students are taught at Further Education Colleges throughout Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, such as South Devon College. Dartington College of Arts
Dartington College of Arts
Dartington College of Arts was a specialist arts institution near Totnes, Devon, South West England, it specialized in post-dramatic theatre, music, choreography, Performance Writing and visual performance, focusing on a performative and multi-disciplinary approach to the arts. In addition to this,...
has been cited as an example but was an independent college of higher education and not a further education college. A new building which opened in 2008 is shared between the Peninsula Medical School
Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry is a Medical and Dental school in England, run in partnership with the University of Exeter, the University of Plymouth and the...
and the Faculty of Health and Social Work, highlighting some movement towards Plymouth.
Recently completed developments include Portland Square, a library extension, refurbished and new laboratory and teaching facilities in many of the campus buildings, halls of residence near the Business School and a new £16 million Peninsula Medical School headquarters at Derriford, in the north of the city.
A new maritime centre is being constructed behind the Babbage Building. This will house civil engineering, coastal engineering and marine sciences. This will place the University in a position to increase its engineering teaching and research and compete with larger universities.
Student accommodation
For first year students, halls of residence and cluster flats are approved by the university. About 60% of first year students can gain a room in these facilities.The University Partnership Programme
University Partnership Programme
The University Partnership Programme, known as the UPP, was a PFI scheme between the various Universities and Jarvis plc to build and maintain student accommodation...
(UPP) supplies and manages the student halls of residence at the university. Cluster flat developments close to the university are owned and managed by Unite plc. Places are allocated exclusively to first year students.
The University provides an approved accommodation database. Approximately half of all first year students and virtually all second and third years choose their accommodation from the approved database. Special accommodation arrangements are made for students in some categories, such as postgraduate students and students with medical conditions.
Organisation and administration
Plymouth is a modern university that has undergone a great deal of development, including several new buildings.Jointly with the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
and the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
in the region, the University runs the recently founded Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry is a Medical and Dental school in England, run in partnership with the University of Exeter, the University of Plymouth and the...
. A new £13 million building on the University of Plymouth's main campus provides teaching rooms, office space, a clinical skills laboratory and research facilities for the Plymouth-based activities of the School, along with the Faculty of Health and Social work.
Coat of arms
The Arms, Crest, Badge and SupportersCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
forming the University’s Coat of Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
were granted on 10 April 2008, in Grant 173/189, by the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
.
The books represent the University’s focus on learning and scholarship. The scattering of small stars, represent navigation
Celestial navigation
Celestial navigation, also known as astronavigation, is a position fixing technique that has evolved over several thousand years to help sailors cross oceans without having to rely on estimated calculations, or dead reckoning, to know their position...
, which has played a key role in the history of the city and the university. The scallop shells in gold, represents pilgrimage, a sign of the importance of the departure of the Pilgrim Fathers from a site near the Mayflower Steps in the Barbican
Barbican, Plymouth
The Barbican is the name now given to the western and northern sides of the old harbour area of Plymouth, Devon, England. It was one of the few parts of the city to escape most of the destruction of The Blitz during the Second World War...
aboard the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
in 1620. A Pelican and a Golden Hind
Golden Hind
The Golden Hind was an English galleon best known for its circumnavigation of the globe between 1577 and 1580, captained by Sir Francis Drake...
support the shield and reflect both the original and later, better known, name of Sir Francis Drake’s ship
Golden Hind
The Golden Hind was an English galleon best known for its circumnavigation of the globe between 1577 and 1580, captained by Sir Francis Drake...
. The crest contains the Latin motto, "Indagate Fingite Invenite” which translates as "Explore Dream Discover" and is a quote from Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
, reflecting the university's ambitions for its students and Plymouth's history of great seafarers.
The Letters Patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
granting Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
to the University of Plymouth were presented by Eric Dancer
Eric Dancer
Eric Dancer, CBE, JP was educated in Sheffield at King Edward VII School and Sheffield Polytechnic, where he was awarded a Diploma in Management Studies in 1965.Former managing director of Dartington Crystal, Eric is the current Lord Lieutenant of Devon...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, JP, Lord Lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, in a ceremony at the University on 27 November 2008, in the presence of Henry Paston-Bedingfeld
Henry Paston-Bedingfeld
Sir Henry Edgar Paston-Bedingfeld, 10th Baronet is an Officer-at-Arms of the College of Arms in London, EC4.He currently serves as Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, the junior of the two provincial Kings-at-Arms, to which office he was appointed 20 September 2010...
, York Herald
York Herald
York Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms. The first York Herald is believed to have been an officer to Edmund of Langley, Duke of York around the year 1385, but the first completely reliable reference to such a herald is in February of 1484, when John Water...
of the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Plymouth, Judge William Taylor, the Recorder of Plymouth, and Baroness Judith Wilcox
Judith Wilcox, Baroness Wilcox
Judith Ann Wilcox, Baroness Wilcox is a Conservative member of the House of Lords. Since May 2010 she has been a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills....
.
The Coat of Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
are rarely seen in use, other than at graduation. The university tends to use the modern globe logo on stationery and signs and are very keen to keep the Coat of Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
exclusive. The use of the arms is therefore restricted to graduations and other formal ceremonies, degree certificates and associated materials and the exclusive use by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.
New Faculty and School structure
Plymouth University revised its academic structure to fully reflect its enterprise vision. Key developments include: the creation of a new Business School; bringing together complementary subjects in a new combined faculty of Science and Technology and creating the largest Marine Science and Engineering School in Europe. This new structure is reflected on the University website. Please check for updated information at www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools.Plymouth University has a wide variety of undergraduate
Undergraduate education
Undergraduate education is an education level taken prior to gaining a first degree . Hence, in many subjects in many educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a bachelor's degree, such as in the United States, where a university entry level is...
and postgraduate
Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
programmes which are currently taught at its main city campus in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
. The University scores well in law, psychology, geographical sciences, computing (including digital media) and computer science, fine art and art history. The Planetary Collegium
Planetary Collegium
The Planetary Collegium is an international platform for research in art, technology and consciousness, with its hub based in the University of Plymouth, with linked centers in Zurich and Milan...
, the international centre for research in art, technology and consciousness is based at Plymouth, with nodes in Milan and Zurich.
Faculty of Arts
This faculty is host to the School of ArchitectureArchitecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, Design and Environment, School of Art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
& Media
Media (communication)
In communications, media are the storage and transmission channels or tools used to store and deliver information or data...
and the School of Humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
and Performing Arts. Arts subjects are usually held in the Roland Levinsky building and the Scott building, a 19th century building located next to Roland Levinsky which was modernized externally in 2008 to keep to the university's current design. The faculty offers degrees in Architecture, English, History, Art History, 3D Design, Music, Photography, Media Arts, Theatre & Performance and Dance Theatre. Advanced research in new media art
New media art
New media art is a genre that encompasses artworks created with new media technologies, including digital art, computer graphics, computer animation, virtual art, Internet art, interactive art, computer robotics, and art as biotechnology...
is provided by the Planetary Collegium
Planetary Collegium
The Planetary Collegium is an international platform for research in art, technology and consciousness, with its hub based in the University of Plymouth, with linked centers in Zurich and Milan...
.
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
Home to the Schools of Social Science and Social Work, Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery and Education. As well as PGCE programmes, the Faculty can offer degrees in Early Childhood Studies and Education Studies, Adult Nursing, Child Health Nursing, Dietetics, Paramedicine and Health and Social Care Studies.Faculty of Science and Technology
Home to the School of Biomedical and Biological Sciences, the School of Computing and Mathematics, the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Studies, the School of Marine Sciences and Engineering, and the School of Psychology. The faculty offers courses in Animal Science, Applied Biosciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Biology, Environmental Science, Human Biosciences, Human Biology with Psychology, Marine Biology, Wildlife Conservation, Psychology, Applied Psychology, Psychology with Sociology, Psychology with Criminology, Composite materials, Computer Science, Computing, Computer Systems and Networks, Computer and Information Security, Web Applications Development, Electronics, Robotics, Civil, Coastal & Structural Engineering, Building & Construction Engineering, and Mathematics and Statistics.Plymouth University is particularly renowned for its courses in maritime business, marine engineering, marine biology and Earth, ocean & environmental sciences.
The University provides professional diving qualifications on a number of its courses, the only university in the country that provides this. The University's own diving center provide this, which is based next to Queen Anne's Battery Marina, with its full time team of instructors and dedicated boats and equipment.
In October 2005, The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
newspaper voted the University as having the most bizarre degree course in the country, the BSc (Hons) in Surf Science & Technology. Commonly known as "surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
", this course is actually centred on coastal/ocean sciences, surfing equipment/clothing design and surfing-related business, which has its popularity increased by the geographical location of the University.
Plymouth Business School
The faculty is home to the Plymouth Law School, the School of Management and the School of Tourism and Hospitality. Courses on offer include in the areas of: Accounting Banking and Finance, Business, Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies, Economics, Hospitality, International Relations, Law, Management and Leadership, Marketing, Politics, Public Services, Shipping and Logistics, Events Management, Tourism.The University has strong links with the cruising industry; the Plymouth Business School, offers courses in the Maritime and Cruising sector. The school offers BSc (Hons) in Cruise Management, where students can opt to take a year out to work with P&O
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line based at Carnival House in Southampton, England, and operated by Carnival UK. Originally a constituent of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, P&O Cruises is the oldest cruise line in the world, having operated the world's first...
or Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Santa Clarita, California in the United States. Previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises PLC, the company is now one of ten cruise ship brands operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC and accounts for approximately 19% share...
for a period of two, four month periods.
Plymouth University's MSc in International Shipping is regarded as one of the best in the UK.
Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
The Peninsula Medical School, part of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, was established in 2000, and operates as a partnership between Plymouth University and the University of ExeterUniversity of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
.
University of Plymouth Colleges
The University of Plymouth Colleges (UPC) network is a partnership between the University and local colleges. There are hundreds of higher education courses available. UPC also provides many opportunities for progression on to other qualifications. For example, someone who has spent two years studying for a foundation degree at their local college – and who has successfully passed their exams – can move on to the final year of a full honours degree at the University.- Bicton CollegeBicton CollegeBicton College is a college with around 1,000 full-time and 3,500 part-time pupils, located near Budleigh Salterton, Devon, England. The college specialises in agriculture and currently offers courses in such topics as animal care, countyside management, horticulture, outdoor leisure, veterinary...
- Bridgwater CollegeBridgwater CollegeBridgwater College is a further education college primarily based in Bridgwater, Somerset, England. It has centres in Cannington, Yeovil, and Paignton....
- City of Bristol CollegeCity of Bristol CollegeCity of Bristol College is one of the largest further education colleges in the UK. Based in Bristol, the College continues to gain national recognition for its work with adults, young people and employers.- Awards :* LSIS Beacon status...
- City College PlymouthCity College PlymouthCity College Plymouth is a tertiary institution and further education college in South West England having two main sites: the Goschen Centre in Keyham and the Kings Road Centre in Devonport, both in Plymouth, Devon. The Kings Road Centre is built on the site of the former Devonport Kings Road...
- Cornwall CollegeCornwall CollegeCornwall College is a further education college situated on various sites throughout Cornwall with its main centre in St Austell. The college is a member of the 157 Group of high performing schools...
- East Devon CollegeEast Devon CollegeEast Devon College was a further education college situated in Tiverton, Devon, England. The college operated on four sites; the main campus being located in Tiverton, with three additional sites being located in Honiton, Exmouth and Tiverton. In 2005 the college enrolled 3,144 learners, of which...
- Exeter CollegeExeter College, ExeterExeter College is a tertiary college in the city of Exeter, Devon, England, providing further education for 16-18 year old students, including apprenticeships, A levels and the International Baccalaureate, as well as a range of courses for 14-16 year-olds, higher education and adult courses,...
- Greenwich School of Management
- North Devon CollegeNorth Devon CollegeNorth Devon College was a further education college in Barnstaple, North Devon. It is now part of Petroc.-History:North Devon College first opened in 1952....
- Penwith CollegePenwith CollegePenwith College is a further and higher education institution based in Penzance, Cornwall. The college takes its name from the former local government district it was located in, Penwith. The college was founded in 1980 from the sixth form departments of the Humphry Davy Grammar School for Boys and...
- Somerset College of Arts and TechnologySomerset College of Arts and TechnologySomerset College of Arts and Technology ' is a community college based in Taunton, in the county of Somerset, England. It was formed in 1974 after the merger of Somerset College of Art and Taunton Technical College. The college provides further and higher education courses, as well as a variety of...
(SCAT) - South Devon CollegeSouth Devon CollegeSouth Devon College is a large sized further education college providing a range of learning opportunities for the diverse communities within Torbay and the surrounding area...
- Truro CollegeTruro CollegeTruro College is a tertiary institution located in Truro, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. Following an exchange of governing bodies, Truro College merged with Penwith College in April 2008—the combined institution is known as Truro and Penwith College, though the sites retain their original names...
UPC Associates include:
- Estover Community College
- Highlands College Jersey
- John Kitto Community College
- Strode College
- Weymouth College
- Plymouth Devon International CollegePlymouth Devon International CollegePlymouth Devon International College, usually referred to as PDIC, is a for-profit college in association with the University of Plymouth. PDIC is a member of Navitas Limited, an international provider of pathway colleges.-PDIC:...
(PDIC)
From September 2010 Plymouth University is the main sponsor of Marine Academy Plymouth
Reputation and rankings
On the basis of the results of the 2008 RAE Plymouth has leapt 15 places to join the top 50 universities, showing the greatest improvement in the UK in research performance since the last RAE, in 2001. It is settled at 35th place in the 2007 publication; The TimesThe Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
table, which unlike The Guardian takes research performance into account, places it 55th and bills it as one of the top two modern universities in the UK. The Guardian 2011 Guide describes the University as "delivering a first class campus", as well as placing Plymouth in the "top 20" for Anatomy and Physiology 2, Art and Design 20, Electronic and Electrical Engineering 19, Mechanical Engineering 20, Mathematics 13, Music 18, Nursing 19, Sport Science 15 and Tourism Transport and Travel 11. In conjunction with the current restructuring, the university's aim is to become the enterprise university, pivotal in a city acknowledged as the enterprise capital of the south west.
| 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guardian University Guide | 49 | 51 | 48 | 35 | - | 40 | 73 | 59 | 46 | ||||||||||
| Times Good University Guide | 63 | 62= | 60 | 55 | 57 | 53 | 52 | 53 | 57 | 56 | 56 | 64 | 68= | 63 | 64= | 62 | 70= | 79= | |
| Sunday Times University Guide | 61 | 63= | 61 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 60 | 61 | 60 | 58 | 58 | 58= | |||||||
| The Complete University Guide | 65 | 75 | 70 | 57 | |||||||||||||||
| The Daily Telegraph | 57 | 48 | |||||||||||||||||
| FT | 64 | 69 | 72 | 74 |
Notable academics
Staff include Colin RallingsColin Rallings
Colin Rallings is a British academic, Professor of Politics in the School of Sociology, Politics & Law at the University of Plymouth.With his colleague Michael Thrasher, Rallings has written extensively on electoral systems, results and British politics. He is Co-Director of the Local Government...
and Michael Thrasher
Michael Thrasher
Michael Thrasher is a British academic, Professor of Politics in the School of Sociology, Politics & Law at the University of Plymouth.With his colleague Colin Rallings, Thrasher has written extensively on electoral systems, results and British politics. He is Co-Director of the Local Government...
, who have written extensively on electoral systems, voting behaviour, polling results and British politics and have regularly appeared on national television election programmes for both the BBC and ITV. Other notable academics include Dr Roy Lowry who, in August 2006, broke the world record for launching the most rockets at once, Dr Iain Stewart who has hosted BBC documentaries like Journeys into the Ring of Fire and Journeys from the Centre of the Earth, and Dr Angela Smith who has published several celebrated works on the subject of gender and 20th Century warfare.
Notable alumni
Alumni include the world's youngest single-handed cross-Atlantic sailor Seb CloverSeb Clover
Sebastian Clover, more commonly known as Seb Clover from East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, England, was the youngest person to sail across the Atlantic Ocean single-handed before Michael Perham took the record from him in 2007...
, BBC wildlife presenter Monty Halls and Jane Wilson-Howarth
Jane Wilson-Howarth
Jane Wilson-Howarth is a British physician, lecturer and author. She has written three travel health guides, two travel narratives and innumerable articles and scientific papers.-Early life:...
, a travel writer.
Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
In 2005 the University of Plymouth was successful in being awarded four HEFCE funded Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs). In addition, Plymouth is a partner in a fifth successful bid, led by Liverpool Hope University College.The University’s CETLs are:
- Centre for Excellence in Professional Placement Learning (CEPPL)
- Experiential Learning in the Environmental and Natural Sciences
- Higher Education Learning Partnerships CETL
- Centre for Sustainable Futures (Education for Sustainable Development)
- Learn Higher
Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research
The Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research team (ICCMR) at Plymouth University is formed of scholars from different backgrounds and from different departments across the University: School of Computing, Communications and Electronics, Faculty of Education, Music, and the School of Art and Media. The team is led by Professor Eduardo Reck MirandaEduardo Reck Miranda
Eduardo Reck Miranda, Ph.D, , is a Brazilian composer of chamber and electroacoustic pieces but is most notable in the United Kingdom for his scientific research into computer music, particularly in the field of human-machine interfaces where brain waves will replace keyboards and voice commands to...
.
ICCMR is a member of the Arts, Science, Technology Research Consortium (AZTEC) at Plymouth University.
The ICCMR comprises 4 interconnected research teams. The Evolutionary Music Team is concerned with the problem of musical evolution. Research themes include origins of emotions, ontogenesis, evolution of grammars and generative performance. The Music and the Brain Team is mostly concerned with the problem of representation of musical experience. Research is focusing on active perception, role of timbre in musical expectancies, development of experience-dependent abstractions and brain–computer interfaces. This team overlaps with the Auditory Group at the Centre for Theoretical and Computational Neuroscience led by Dr Sue Denham.
The Music Technology Team is concerned with the conversion of basic scientific research into practical music technology. Projects include tools for composition and sound design, music controllers,sound synthesis algorithms and musical robotics. The Musical Practice Team is concerned with musical practices using new technology and contemporary music. Projects include music in the community, music facilitation for disability and sonic arts. The team works in close collaboration with Peninsula Arts
Peninsula Arts
Peninsula Arts operates from within the Faculty of Arts and serves as the Arts and Culture programming umbrella organisation for the University of Plymouth. The year round public programme includes exhibitions, music, film, talks and performing arts...
.
Students' Union
The Plymouth University Students' Union, usually abbreviated "UPSU", is the third largest union in the UK. The Union is a non-profit making organisation. Each year, students elect the officers who will represent them for the following year.The Union offers a range of services and stages a number of events throughout the year. As well as events, the Union is the base for most of the sports teams, namely UPFC, and societies at the university.
The Students' Union has a garden that has been set up by the Centre for Sustainable Futures (CSF). The students of the Plymouth University are free to use this garden.
External links
- Plymouth University – Official website
- Plymouth University Students' Union – UPSU
- Centre for Sustainable Futures - CSF
- 3D Design Website