Roehampton is now making its mark as a university in its own right, after four years in a federation with Surrey University.

There have been record intakes, despite rising entry scores.

Although applications were down by more than the national average at the start of 2008, with the reduction in choices per applicant, there were still four candidates for every place.

The university had bucked the national trend with increases both when top-up fees arrived and in the following year.

Roehampton, fully independent since 2004, is continuing to collaborate with Surrey on research projects and joint programmes. It comprises four distinctive colleges, which still maintain some of the traditional ethos of their religious foundations: the Anglican Whitelands, the Roman Catholic Digby Stuart, the Methodist Southlands, and the Froebel, which follows the humanist teachings of Frederick Froebel.

Students need not follow any of these denominations to enrol in the colleges. The university also has a Jewish resource centre and Muslim prayer rooms.

Parkland

All four colleges are based in a 26- hectare campus, with stunning parkland and lakes, on or adjacent to Roehampton Lane. Whitelands moved from Putney in 2004 to the 18th-century mansion, Parkstead House, overlooking Richmond Park, which also houses the School of Human and Life Sciences.

The buildings have been refurbished with IT facilities, student accommodation, laboratories and teaching space. The colleges all have their own bars and other leisure facilities, although they are open to all members of the university.

A new dance and PE building opened on the main campus in 2005. The institute had already spent £20 million relocating Southlands, providing a new site for the social sciences.

Development

Recent projects include a £4-million facility for the School of Arts, which opened in 2006, and a new national centre of excellence for teaching on citizenship education, human rights and social justice. A 15-year programme will bring further improvements, designed to enhance the student experience and provide an environment that can be enjoyed by the local community.

The four schools of Arts, Education, Human and Life Sciences, and Business and Social Sciences encourage interdisciplinary work. Themes such as “creativity”, “childhood”, “wellbeing” and “social justice” are explored in two or more schools and permeate many of the university’s activities.

In line with the university’s origins, education remains the largest subject area, accounting for more than a quarter of the students. Anthropology and history were rated internationally outstanding in the last research assessments, with dance in the next-highest category, the music and dance component achieving the best possible score.

Having entered 45 per cent of its academics for assessment – a higher figure than at any of the former polytechnics – Roehampton outperformed all of its new peer group in terms of average grades per member of staff.

The Quality Assurance Agency has complimented Roehampton on the accessibility of academic staff to students and the positive ways in which they responded to student needs. However, the results from the 2007 National Student Survey were disappointing.

Ratings

Teaching grades were respectable, rather than spectacular. Despite the predominance of arts students, biological sciences produced the best score, with psychology and linguistics close behind. A Work and Study Scheme gives local employees credit towards their degree for relevant tasks performed in the workplace.

The programme is designed to help employers recruit and retain key staff, as well as helping those who cannot afford to study full time. Nine out of ten undergraduates were educated in state schools and more than a third come from working-class homes.

The projected dropout rate had been coming down, but the latest figures suggest that 20 per cent of students will fail to graduate in the expected time – significantly more than average for the university’s courses and entry grades. About 80 per cent of first years who want a hall place are offered one, with priority going to those who make Roehampton their first preference. Two new residences opened in 2005, adding 300 places to the residential stock.

Rents are not cheap for those who miss out on a place or prefer the private sector, but students like the proximity of central London and the lively and attractive suburbs around Roehampton.

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