Established in 1965, the University of Kent has a proud track record of excellence in teaching and research, with an ambition to achieve even more as it celebrates its 60th anniversary. Kent offers degrees across a range of subjects including STEM, social sciences, humanities, business and the arts.
Set on a hill overlooking the historic city of Canterbury, the largest of Kent's two campuses is a beautiful green space with accommodation, teaching facilities and services such as shops, restaurants, bars, a nightclub and even a cinema, all on site.
At Medway, the campus is a former naval base beside the river, cleverly reinvented as a 21st-century study space. Both campuses are around an hour by train from London and within easy reach of the coast and open countryside.
Both campuses are equipped with modern facilities to meet all the needs of students, both academic and social. Support services are also widely available, catering to any requirements that students may have during their time at university.
The University of Kent is renowned for its high-quality research, ensuring students are learning alongside leading academics and using the very latest information.
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4.0Academic facilities include the Templeman Library at Canterbury and the Drill Hall Library at Medway, home to large collections of books, journals and specialist databases, as well as study spaces for group work and private study.
The university has excellent academic and social facilities at all of its locations. During term-time students can travel for free between the Canterbury and Medway campuses on the shuttle bus.
Other facilities include, at Canterbury, two Co-op shops, a theatre and cinema at the Gulbenkian Arts Centre and a campus nightclub, The Venue.
At Medway, the place to go on campus for food, drinks, live music and other events is The Deep End.
Canterbury
Canterbury is a fascinating place to live. It's simultaneously historic with medieval alleyways, cobbled streets and a world-famous cathedral, and contemporary with cafes, pubs, rooftop bars, independent shops, restaurants, a theatre and cinemas – all a 20-minute walk from Kent's campus.
Medway
Medway is a great place to study, with fantastic transport links and lots to do in the local towns of Rochester and Chatham: exploring the area's history, relaxing in the cafes, bars and restaurants, or having a night out at one of the local theatres or cinemas. When they feel the need for green space and fresh air, students can visit a countryside park or walk by the river.
3.7There are many different ways for students to give themselves a head start in the job market while studying at Kent.
With the Employability Points scheme, students earn points for taking part in a wide range of activities, such as joining a sports team or society, getting a part-time job, supporting fellow students as a mentor or taking part in careers workshops. They can then exchange points for employment-related rewards, which can be anything from work shadowing to a summer internship.
The Study Plus programme offers skills development workshops to prepare students for the workplace and enhance their employability. The ‘Business Start-up Journey' is available to students of any subject. They'll learn how to come up with a great business idea, work out how to finance it, and then pitch to potential investors.
The careers and employability team provide expert advice to help students find the career path that's right for them, as well as support with job-hunting, CVs and preparing for interviews. If students are looking for part-time work while they're at university, Kent Union's JobShop is the place to start the search.
3.8Students who make the University of Kent their firm choice and apply for accommodation by 30 June are guaranteed a room in their first year.
At the Canterbury campus, there are over 5,000 rooms set within green parkland. Accommodation options include shared flats and houses, as well as traditional college-style accommodation. Many rooms are en-suite, with adapted rooms available for students with specific accessibility requirements. Most accommodation is self-catered, with part-catered options also available for those seeking additional flexibility.
At the Medway campus, accommodation is provided at Pier Quays, located just a short walk from campus. This offers modern, self-catered shared flats, with all rooms featuring en-suite facilities.
The university considers applications from students holding a wide range of qualifications. For some degrees it's possible to take a foundation year, which is an opportunity to reach the academic level required to start the first year of an undergraduate honours degree.
Students who do not speak English as their first language will need to demonstrate a minimum competency in English language by submitting recognised test results. Details of each course's language requirements can be found on the university website.
For international students, the international foundation programme provides a way for them to familiarise themselves with academic study in the UK and improve their English language skills, if necessary.
The entry requirements for each course are detailed on the university's website. Students can also find out more about the university's contextual admissions policy, which involves taking a more rounded view of an applicant's achievement and potential rather than focusing on exam results exclusively.
At Kent students who excel in sport or music can access scholarships designed to help them develop their talent, regardless of their chosen degree subject.
Students from households with an income below a specified threshold, who meet additional eligibility criteria, may be entitled to the Kent Financial Support Package. This provides £1,000 for each stage of undergraduate study. Care leavers, carers, and students who are particularly financially vulnerable may also apply for tailored financial support packages.
Students can find out more about the many scholarships and bursaries available and the eligibility criteria on the university website.
UK students per year: £9,790
International students per year: from £20,700 (full time)
On most courses at Kent, students study a mixture of compulsory and optional modules, allowing them to gain essential skills and knowledge while specialising in the areas that interest them most. Lecturers are involved in active research, and the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) rated the majority of the research submitted by Kent as ‘world-leading' or ‘internationally excellent'.
Hands-on experience is an important element of many degrees, whether it's working at the Kent Law Clinic to support people in the local community or searching for forensic evidence in the crime scene house. On some courses students can choose elective modules from other degree subjects – there's a wide range from learning a modern foreign language to how to set up a business.
Putting theory into practice is a great way to prepare for life after university, so on many degrees students can choose to spend a year in industry or professional practice. Another option is to add a ‘Year in …' to a degree to broaden options after graduation. Current ‘Year in …' options include computing, management, data analytics, television and online broadcasting, or a language.
Students keen to expand their horizons might like to study abroad. The ‘Go Abroad' scheme has links with universities across Europe and around the world, including Japan, the USA, Singapore and Canada.
The University of Kent has a reputation for world-leading research, reinforced by its outstanding results in the Research Excellence Framework 2021. This means new Kent students are joining a community that pushes boundaries, is ambitious, innovative and intent on making a positive difference to people's lives.
At Kent, students learn from leading thinkers whose work informs their teaching. Lecturers inspire them to open their minds, push the boundaries of their subject and exchange ideas with confidence. Students are introduced to cutting-edge knowledge and have every opportunity to test new theories and even contribute to regional, national or international change.
Kent builds real-world experience into students' degrees involving facilities that mirror those they will encounter in industry, ensuring they hit the ground running and have a real advantage in the graduate world. The partnerships established with real businesses and industries ensure that all courses are tailored to meeting the needs of the workplace, making Kent graduates best placed to fill the gaps and find work fast.
Both Kent Union (Canterbury) and The Hub (Medway) offer a huge range of clubs and societies – from Adventure Gaming to American Football, Musical Theatre to Mountaineering, K-pop Dance to Korfball.
3.7All Kent students become members of Kent Union; those at Medway can also become members of The Hub, which represents students from all three universities on the Medway campus.
Student unions provide services such as campus shops, student hubs, the advice team, and JobShop, where part-time jobs are listed.
4.0Student support is available both from the university and from the student union, and there is a broad range of services to ensure that all student needs are met.
For students with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, long-term health conditions, autism and physical disabilities, the student support and wellbeing service can help to arrange tailored learning plans, mentors, access to assistive technology and funding.
The wellbeing team offers free and confidential support for students with emotional or mental health issues. The student union also offers an advice service and a buddy scheme.
One of the unique features offered is the Kent Community Oasis Garden, a multi-use space that allows students to undertake a number of projects aimed at improving mental and physical wellbeing, while also making new friends.
All students are assigned an academic adviser who is there to support and encourage their academic development. Academic peer mentors are fellow students who can help with specific aspects of a course. Students can also get help with academic skills such as numeracy, essay writing and how to tackle research, so that they can meet the challenges of their chosen course.
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