Edge Hill University

Delivering higher education since 1885, when it was the first non-denominational teacher training college for women in 1885. In 1892 it was one of only two colleges in England combining teacher training and degree course study. The campus moved to Ormskirk, 15 miles outside Liverpool, in 1933. Edge Hill became a mixed college, admitting its first male students in October 1959, when it had about 500 students in total.
In 2005, Edge Hill was granted Taught Degree Awarding Powers by the Privy Council. On 18 May 2006 the institution became Edge Hill University and in August 2008 the university was granted the power to award research degrees. The University now has an academic community of 10,000 full time students, a further 12,000 on part time professional development programmes and nearly 4,000 staff.

Campus located in Ormskirk with locations across the north west and into the West Midlands. A free bus-link between Ormskirk and the campus for all students and staff. The campus is 5 minutes from the M58 by car, 30 minutes from Liverpool and Preston by train and 40 minutes from Manchester by car. A green travel plan which is set up to help the environment and lower the university's carbon footprint.

Commended for Teaching and Learning in every one of the last 5 QAA subject reviews. Faculty of Health: Nursing and Midwifery Council (ex-ENB) combined reviews – highest rated provider in the North West Strategic Health Authority in both 1999 (22/24) and 2004 ('commended' in all cells). In 2008 and 2011 respectively judged as 'outstanding' for practice-based learning and 'good' in all other aspects for our work in Nursing.

In the 2008 RAE assessment, research in History, Education, Geography, Social Policy & Administration, Nursing & Midwifery, and English Literature & Language gained three- or four-star classifications. The Institute for Public Policy and Professional Practice (I4P) is a cross-disciplinary research and knowledge exchange initiative. Work with the institute includes undertaking commissioned evaluations and funded research projects which reflect critically on the developments and possibilities for public and third sector collaboration.

The Institute for Creative Enterprise (ICE) is a practice-led and theoretically grounded interdisciplinary research forum, connecting the university with the digital and creative economy and cultural institutions to share expertise, develop partnerships, contribute to debates and promote citizen engagement.
The Postgraduate Medical Institute, a partnership between Edge Hill University and regional health professionals and providers seeks to improve the quality of health and social care in the North West through education, research and innovation.

Edge Hill University’s Professor Philip Murphy and the Cognitive Science Research Group are currently undertaking research into how the misuse of cannabis and ecstasy (MDMA) impairs cognitive performance such as memory and reasoning as well as its effect on mood disturbances. The group’s research focuses on the effects of drug misuse on working memory (memory which helps us to cope with the immediate world around us) including the ability to update our representations of what is happening, and the ability to switch the focus of our attention.Professor Kevern Verney, an Associate Dean in Research at Edge Hill University, has contributed significantly to the improvement of knowledge and understanding of black civil rights and race relations in the United States.His most recent research focuses on Barack Obama and he is the Co-Organiser/Investigator for The Obama Research Network.


More than 200 undergraduate routes to choose from plus Master’s degrees and research programmes.
Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning. As a result of excellent links with employers, 75% of graduates leave with qualifications that have professional recognition. Edge Hill also boasts strong levels of graduate employment, with 93.4% of full-time degree students finding work or further study within six months of graduating, which places the university in the top 10% nationally (HESA 2013). The university is the largest provider of Initial Teacher Training for secondary education in the UK. Biology is top in the UK for overall satisfaction, teaching and academic support. Psychology and Dance also feature in the national top two for assessment and feedback, with Dance also coming second in the UK for personal development.
Sociology features in the top three in the country for personal development and academic support. Creative Writing is in the top three in the UK for academic support. Physical Geography and Environmental Science is in the top four in the UK for teaching.

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Founded as the Glasgow Athenaeum in 1847, with an inaugural address given by Charles Dickens. Moved to its current location in Glasgow city centre in 1987. Added the Alexander Gibson Opera School in 1997.
In 2003, HRH Prince Charles succeeded his grandmother as Patron. In 2011, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland opened Speirs Locks Studios, a purpose-built campus providing professional-level facilities including specialist dance rehearsal spaces, technical construction workshops, props and wardrobe facilities, and additional teaching space.

Entry to the Conservatoire is based on assessment in the form of audition, interview or workshop (depending on the programme) Academic requirements for undergraduate applicants is generally 3 passes at Scottish Higher level, or 2 A-levels Postgraduate students should have an undergraduate degree in a related area of study Academic entry requirements may be waived or reduced in the case of mature or professional applicants.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland was granted degree awarding powers for taught programmes by the Privy Council in May 1994. The Conservatoire has the greatest number of full-time staff of any British conservatoire and all its teaching staff are practicing professionals in their own right. The Conservatoire has recently introduced a new curriculum, which builds on our reputation for developing effective and adaptable artists by creating the space and support for this to flourish.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s visiting International Fellows are some of the most renowned artists in their field and come to work with students several times a year. Through performances, masterclasses and workshops, the Conservatoire’s students benefit from their tuition and inspiration. These artists include Jane Eaglen, Pavel Steidl, the Brodsky Quartet, Lorna McGhee, Ian Bousfield, Nadine George, and the Lecoq Family.

Staff are expert in their fields, and most are professionally active. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland stages around 500 performances by students and staff every year in its own venues and around 100 in professional venues in Scotland, the UK, and beyond. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland has an impressive number of side-by-side, mentoring and joint projects with national and major performance arts companies. Companies we work with include Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, National Theatre of Scotland, National Review of Live Art, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Playwrights' Studio, Scotland.

The Whittaker Library contains one of the most comprehensive collections of performance materials for music and drama in the UK and internationally.The IT Department provides access to a growing number of electronic resources with a dedicated in-house IT Trainer.

Student access to The Culverhouse Classical Music Collection via Film & Sound Online.The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland has some of the best facilities in Europe. There is an ongoing development programme, and a recent investment of £8.5m in the superb new facilities at Speirs Locks Studios and in the refurbishment of the Renfrew Street Campus. They include six professional performance venues, a high ratio of practice rooms per student, three recording studios, percussion studios, professional stage technology, four bespoke dance studios, new studios for technical, design, scenic art, set-building and costume design and construction. All these are backed up by the latest IT and digital technologies.

Heythrop College

Founded in 1614, Heythrop is the oldest College of the University of London, and one of the oldest Higher Education establishments in the UK. Heythrop College is the specialist Philosophy and Theology College of the University of London.

Heythrop is located in the beautiful Kensington Square in one of the most exclusive areas of London. A stone’s throw from both leafy parks and a bustling High Street it couldn’t be better situated. Heythrop students also have access to the college’s private gardens.

Heythrop is less than five minutes’ walk from High Street Kensington Underground Station, linking it to the entirety of the tube network and the rail network beyond.Regular, and 24 hour, buses connect the High Street to the West End and the rest of Central London.Much of Central London is within walking distance (by far the cheapest form of transport), with Oxford Street, Hammersmith, Shepherd’s Bush and Knightsbridge all within an easy distance of Heythrop.London also has an extensive cycle network. Heythrop provides space to park bikes securely, and the closest cycle hire dock is two minutes from the front door.

All of Heythrop’s degree programmes can be taken part-time.As a specialist college, with an extensive range of programmes within the subject areas, many students are offered one of the widest ranges of modules of any UK degree in the field. 

Heythrop boasts one-to-one tutorials for all of its undergraduate students for each of their assessed pieces of work. Heythrop is currently the only public HE institution outside of Oxbridge to offer this. Heythrop’s small numbers allow for more intimate class sizes, facilitating learning through discussion and good results for students across range of entry standards. Heythrop has one of the largest libraries and academic faculties in its field. Heythrop scored 92% for satisfaction with teaching in the most recent National Student Survey, compared with a nationwide average of 86%. 

Two dedicated computer suites on site provide all students with a good chance of access to a machine whenever they need, as well as free wireless internet throughout the site.
Students are given an§ allowance of free printing and photocopying and topping up this allowance is easy and reasonably priced. Heythrop’s extensive library is split onsite into the Theology and Philosophy libraries, both of which also contain computers for student use.

As students of the University of London, Heythrop students have full access to the University library at Senate House, home to roughly 3 million volumes, as well as the libraries of all the other University of London colleges.

Heythrop is committed to making the adjustments needed to ensure that students with disabilities are fully included in the life of the College.Some students have found that Heythrop’s size helps – it would be hard to slip through the net, and you benefit from the eagerness of all concerned for you to be able to succeed.
Examples of help given can include producing learning materials in different formats, providing a note-taker in lectures and supplying technological aids such as mini-disc recorders or specialist software. The vast majority of the Heythrop site is wheelchair accessible.For more information on disability services at Heythrop please visit the website.

Heythrop has an active Student's Union which organizes many activities, events, clubs and societies. The executive team is headed up by the sabbatical President and the sabbatical Vice-President, students who have either completed their studies or have taken a year out in order to fill these full-time positions.In 2013 a new bar opened, along with enhancements to student space within the Students' Union.Heythrop also houses The Lion newspaper, which was started in 2010 to provide the students of Heythrop with an independent source of information about the College as well as providing a platform for discussion and debate. The Lion is a founding member of the London Student Journalism Support Network, which won the NUS 'Best Student Media' Award in 2011.

All Heythrop students are also members of the University of London Union (ULU), situated next to Senate House in Bloomsbury. This provides students with a wider net of social and extra-curricular activity, a gym and a swimming pool, as well as a student bar and venue for student events.
All Heythrop Students' Union societies are free to join. Heythrop students are also welcome to join the student societies of all the other colleges of the University of London, as well as our Kensington neighbours Imperial College.

Glyndŵr University

Glyndŵr University has a 120 year history of delivering higher education in north Wales. The university traces its roots to 1887 when the Wrexham School of Science and Arts was formed from miners' 'Whisky Money', a tax on beer and spirits. In July 2008, the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI) was awarded university status, and Glyndŵr University was inaugurated.

More than 240 courses are on offer. For a full list visit the website. Programmes are modular, allowing students to study topics from other subject areas of interest. Students can choose to study a second language, or learn skills and gain experience with the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL).

The university has eight research centres, including the Centre for Applied Internet Research and the Materials Science Research Centre. Research in Computer Science and Informatics and Metallurgy and Materials was deemed to be 'world leading' in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE2008).
Glyndŵr University's Centre for Solar Energy Research is one of the UK's leading centres for photovoltaics research. The university awards Masters and PhDs of the University of Wales.

Two new centres, the Centre for the Creative Industries and Centre for the Child, Family and Society opened in 2011. The university has also acquired the Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium, the world's oldest international football stadium still in use and the home of Wrexham FC, as well as sports training facilities at Colliers Park.