Northampton had a university in the thirteenth century, but it took until 2005 to get it back after Henry III dissolved the original version – allegedly because his bishops thought it posed a threat to Oxford. More than 80 places separate the two universities in The Times League Table, but Northampton will hope to narrow that gap somewhat in years to come. It has already registered good results in the first four National Student Surveys, finishing in the top half of the table in 2008. Education, psychology, accounting and history had the most satisfied undergraduates.

Courses

The modern university has its origins in teacher training, but had developed a wider range of courses, including vocational courses for the leather industry, occupational therapy, nursing and midwifery, by the time university status arrived. All remain in a surprisingly broad portfolio of more than 100 degree and diploma courses. The business school is taking part in a national pilot to develop two-tear degrees and four-year work-based equivalents. Specialisms such as leather technology, fashion and waste management have helped to build up the recruitment of overseas students to some 700 a year from 100 different countries.

Investment

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• The Times University Guide table

Related Links

• The University of Northampton

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• University of Northampton official site

The university has two sites: an 80-acre campus on the edge of Northampton, where £73 million has been spent on improvements, and the smaller but more central Avenue campus, which specialises in art and design, media, technology and the performing arts. Both sites have new halls of residence, and the main Park Campus has also seen several new teaching developments, a management centre and a research centre. Another £80 million of investment will be completed in 2010. New arts facilities at Avenue will form the centrepiece of the town’s “cultural mile”, while an innovative student centre on the Park Campus will provide administrative and support services. Work has started on the conversion of a school next to the Avenue campus, which will house the School of Applied Sciences, as well as a £10 million Technology Realm project featuring the latest 3D visualisation technology and LCD presentation facilities.

Applications

Student numbers have been steady for several years, but are expected to rise from the current 11,000 to about 12,000 by 2010. Applications have been rising steadily and were up by another 9 per cent at the start of 2009. Foundation degree students pay £1,125 a year less than the £3,225 fee for honours degrees. Business is the most popular area, but teacher training and health subjects are not far behind. The School of Education was awarded the Training and Development Agency's highest grade for quality, but the university was close to the bottom of the ranking for the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. There was some world-leading research in four of the ten subject areas, with history producing by far the best results.

Access

Northampton takes its mission to widen participation in higher education seriously: almost all the undergraduates attended state schools or colleges, while more than a third come from working-class homes. The projected dropout rate had improved again in the latest official figures and, at 17 per cent, is now below the national average for the university’s courses and entry qualifications. Some of the degrees – such as podiatry and product design – recruit from all over Britain (and farther afield) but in other subjects most of the students are from the region. As a result, the 1,620 residential places are enough to guarantee accommodation for all first years who make Northampton their first choice.

Recreation

Sports enthusiasts have a Premier League rugby club and the home of the British Grand Prix on their doorstep, as well as a more modest football club and first-class cricket. The university has added a £100,000 gym to its sports facilities, which include a sports hall and outdoor pitches. The town of Northampton has a number of student-oriented bars, but the two campuses’ union bars remain the hub of the social scene. Students receive a free discount card to use in high street and independent shops and entertainment and health venues.

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