University of Staffordshire

Overview

Staffordshire University was founded in 1914 as a polytechnic institution and gained its official university status in 1992. As such, it’s a relatively new uni which now has around 15,000 students, making it average-sized.

The uni’s main campus is situated in Stoke-on-Trent and it houses teaching facilities, the sports centre and creative areas, as well as social spaces like cafes, bars and restaurants. The Centre for Health Innovation, based in Stafford, is where you’ll find the healthcare learning facilities. Here students can use the uni’s clinical simulation suite, which uses virtual reality technology to simulate real-life situations.

It takes around 20 minutes to walk to Stoke’s city centre from the main campus and there are regular bus services that run throughout the day and evening along the route. Stoke’s reputation for nightlife and culture is growing and you’ll find several bars, clubs, restaurants and music venues in the city. In the Cultural Quarter, there’s a theatre, museum, galleries, shops and cafes, and you’ll be able to enjoy cinemas and dining venues in the Potteries Centre.

On top of all this, nearby attractions include Waterworld, Alton Towers and the Peak District, giving students something different to do on weekends and during time off. Stoke is well connected to other major cities by train, including London, Birmingham and Manchester, and you can reach several airports in around an hour’s driving. 

There are three academic schools at Staffordshire University, as well as the Institute of Education. These are the School of Digital Technologies and Arts, the School of Health, Science and Wellbeing, and the School of Justice, Security and Sustainability.

The uni specialises in digitally advanced, flexible learning environments which use simulation technology to create real-life situations. It’s therefore a great uni to study digital and technology courses, like games programming and digital forensics.

Staffordshire’s courses focus on making sure students are career-ready, as all courses are designed to develop subject theory, as well as life skills and industry knowledge. If full-time study isn’t for you, there are other ways of doing a degree at Staffordshire, such as through part-time study, distance learning and accelerated courses.

Typically, full-time undergraduate degrees at Staffordshire take three years to study, but a number of courses include placement years, study abroad options or an integrated master’s year. These courses usually take four or five years to complete. 

Most degrees include optional modules, as well as core modules, meaning you can study the degree topics you’re most interested in.  

Staffordshire University recognises alternative routes into university education, as well as the more traditional ones. Therefore, it accepts applicants with a wide variety of qualifications, skills and experiences. You’ll be able to apply using qualifications like A-levels, VCE Double Awards, Scottish Advanced Highers and the Welsh Baccalaureate.

You’ll be able to find each course’s specific entry requirements online on the uni’s course search pages. The requirements could include having studied a particular subject at A-level (or equivalent qualification). We’ve given you an idea of the kind of grades you’ll need to study certain subjects below.

For instance, to get onto an accounting, business or finance degree, you’ll likely be asked for A-levels ranging from BBC–AE (or equivalent qualification). For health & medicine degrees, you’ll likely be asked for A-levels of BBB–AE (or equivalent qualification), and for computing & IT courses, entry requirements range from A-levels of BBC–AE (or equivalent qualification).

A number of the courses that ask for a lower grade requirement will include a foundation year as part of the course.

It should be noted that entry requirements can change so you should always confirm these with the university before applying. 

As a new undergraduate student, you’ll be guaranteed uni accommodation in your first year of study, as long as you are eligible and apply before the accommodation deadline. Priority will be given to those who make Staffordshire their first-choice uni.

Staffordshire’s halls will put you close to the heart of campus and offer a variety of living styles, facilities and scenery. Accommodation options include both en suite and standard rooms in traditional uni halls and shared student houses. You’ll find around 1,000 rooms on the uni’s main campus, close to the teaching and sports facilities.

Several options have access to outdoor space that comes with built-in furniture, lighting, pizza ovens, fire pits and electricity points that you can plug speakers into. There are also certain accommodations that are specifically adapted to fit different needs and requirements.

Rent prices for self-catered options range from around £3,705 to £4,953 per year. 

You’ll be able to get careers and employment support at Staffordshire University as soon as you begin your time there. The careers support team will give you guidance across a range of employability-related areas to help improve your job prospects.

For example, you’ll be able to book one-to-one appointments to discuss things like your CV, career path and job applications. There’s also a job portal you can use to find vacancies and even a dedicated recruitment agency you can use.

Events are held throughout the year, such as careers fairs and other on-campus events that will give you a great opportunity to meet employers and learn more about different industries.

Also, every student at Staffordshire is guaranteed an offer of a work placement or internship, alongside or as part of their course. The uni has a huge network of professional connections within the public and private sectors, giving you access to loads of placement opportunities. These can be great for your job prospects as you’ll learn a lot, make professional connections and possibly secure employment for when you graduate.

The Get Ahead programme also allows you to get extra experience and skills, while the Start-up Incubation Centre gives specialist support to students who are looking to start their own business. 

Staffordshire University has a number of bursaries and scholarships on offer for students, subject to applications and eligibility. Bursaries and scholarships can help you pay for living and study expenses and don’t need to be paid back.

Among the available bursaries is the Horizon Fund Bursary, which is worth up to £1,500 for first-year undergraduate students who meet certain criteria. The criteria includes living within 20 miles of either the Staffordshire or Shropshire campuses, achieving high grades before uni and coming from a household with a total annual income of less than £25,000.

One of the available scholarships is the Ashwin Kagdadia Scholarship, which is worth £1,500 over three years of study. To be eligible for this funding, you’ll need to come from a household with an annual income of less than £30,000 and have achieved a minimum of 160 UCAS points before uni.

You can find out about all the scholarships and bursaries available, as well as their eligibility criteria, by visiting the uni’s online funding pages.