Teesside University

Summary

History

Teesside’s foundations can be found in Constantine Technical College, which was opened in 1930 by the future King Edward VIII. The College served as both a further and higher education college with degree courses validated by the University of London. It taught courses in metallurgy, engineering and chemistry. The College merged with Teesside College of Education in the 1970s and was granted University status in 1992.

In 1997 the old library was replaced by a Learning Resource Centre. Subsequent additions included the Virtual Reality Centre and Centre for Enterprise, as well as, more recently, the Phoenix and Athena buildings.

In 2009, Teesside University won University of the Year and Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative in the Times Higher Education Awards, while in 2010 it was a finalist for the Times Higher Education Entrepreneurial University of the Year Award.

University Environment

The University’s main campus is in Middlesborough. Campus heart, the University’s latest phases of development includes The Curve, a £22m teaching facility which opened in September 2015 and includes a 200-seat lecture theatre, and teaching and learning space. It sits within a pedestrianised and landscaped area which is seen as a focal point to the campus.

Other facilities on the campus include Centuria South, the £17million sport and health sciences building providing a state-of-the-art learning environment for students studying dental nursing and technology, and sports therapy; Phoenix, the broadcast quality sound and high definition video production facilities; Athena, teaching and learning environments for all digital aspects of computing, design and media; and Centuria, the health and social care facility with lecture theatres, seminar rooms, open-access information technology labs and dedicated labs consisting of specialist equipment and simulated practice environments.

Further developments to the Middlesborough Campus in the pipeline include £6m, to expand, upgrade and refurbish the University’s science and engineering facilities, including a flight simulator and jet engine simulator; a new £2.5m health and fitness centre opening in January 2016 including a fitness and free weights areas, sprint track, multi-purpose studios and sauna; a recent £1.1m refurbishment of multi award-winning Students’ Union, and a further £2.5m to follow; and a £5m library refurbishment investment.

The Darlington campus, known as The Forge, is the University’s central business hub, and opened in 2011 at Central Park. Each year, the University works with hundreds of different companies providing research and innovation, consultancy, knowledge exchange, start-up incubation and mentoring and graduate placement.

Academics

Schools

• School of Arts & Media
• School of Computing
• School of Health & Social Care
• School of Science & Engineering
• School of Social Sciences & Law
• Teesside Business School

Research

Research produced at Teesside University was considered to have strong impact. 100% of the Social Policy, History and Allied Health submissions, and 90% of the General Engineering submission, was rated as having outstanding or very considerable impact.

International & Industrial Opportunities

Teesside have partnerships with institutions in over 40 European countries through the Erasmus scheme as well as offering three exchanges with American universities.

There are possibilities to spend a year in industry on placement depending on the course you choose.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships

If you have applied for a course where the normal fee is at least £9,000 a year, you are eligible for the Teesside Extra scholarship, worth up to £2,500, if you achieve 300 or more UCAS tariff points (equivalent to at least BBB at A level). This scholarship awards you with £1,000 cash in your first year - paid in three equal instalments during the year. When you successfully complete each year, you receive a further £500 in three instalments for each subsequent year of your degree course.

Known as the Kickstart award, Teesside award you £500 cash to support you in your first year. You could use it for travel, accommodation or other living expenses.

Facilities

Learning Facilities

The University Library combines library services with IT and multimedia. There are a third of a million volumes of printed material as well as 1,300 study spaces, 400 of which are equipped with networked workstations. Across campus there are over 2,800 workstations with multiple platforms for computer-aided design and media production. There is Wi-Fi across campus.

Other facilities include the University’s forensic facilities consisting of a crime scene house with over 30 crime scene areas, a replica police stations, a vehicle examination suite, a forensic investigation lab and two digital evidence labs.

The Learning Hub provides practical advice, workshops and tutorials on developing study skills and maths skills. Workshops include advice on Harvard referencing, reading journals, doing literature searches and critical thinking. One-to-one tutorials can help students develop their academic skills and they are tailored to individual needs whereby tutors provide guidance on how you can further develop your skills to study.

E@T (pronounced EAT) is the University’s VLE where students can access their modules, and receive announcements from their tutors such as room changes or additional assignments. There is also general information provided to Teesside students including help for new students or careers information, such as upcoming events.

All students are given the opportunity to study a foreign language. Language modules can be studied as an option within a degree course or as an additional stand alone module alongside your main programme of study. If students choose the stand alone module and successfully complete the year-long module, they will be awarded a University Certificate in Continuing Education. French and German are offered at all levels, Spanish from beginners to intermediate level, and Chinese at beginners level.

Sporting Facilities

At Teesside, sport centres around the Olympia sports complex, which has a large sports hall for major tournaments with a 500 spectator capacity. Their facilities include sport and exercise labs, a temperature controlled environmental chamber, a climbing wall, a floodlit artificial turf pitch, a sauna and steam room, a fitness suite, squash courts and two sports halls.

The Elite Athlete Scheme provides a comprehensive support package to a number of high calibre athletes, and includes physiological and biomechanical assessment and training support, monitoring of training loads, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and sports psychology support. Financial support is also available to enable greater access to training and competition.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

The Terrace bar offers free live entertainment, as well as drinks promotions, a bistro menu, big screen football, pool and video games. In the day, The Hub contains big screens and a separate study and meeting area with computers and WiFi. At night, The Hub is the place to go clubbing and also provides entertainment such as live music and comedy.

There are a number of opportunities for media including the newspaper Media Coverage, Teesside Student Radio Click Teesside, and TUSU TV.

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

The Chaplaincy team consists of a number of Christian chaplains.

The Little House is a small welcoming house used by the Chaplaincy and other associated groups for a variety of activities. There is a dedicated Islamic prayer room on the University campus.

Health & Wellbeing

The University provides a service to students who are visually impaired, the hearing impaired, those with mobility difficulties, medical conditions, autistic spectrum disorders, mental health service users and people with specific learning difficulties.

There is no medical centre on campus.

The University's counselling service is able to support students through any personal or academic difficulties. Students are given a 45 minute initial appointment with a member of the counselling team and are offered advice through on-line self-help resources, Moving Forward Group sessions or personal counselling.

The Well-being Centre is a friendly and relaxing place where student can attend drop-in sessions, short courses and workshops, have complementary therapy treatments or find out more about a particular health issue.

Career Facilities

The Careers Service offers an impartial service to help students choose their future careers, search for a job, and give advice on interviews and applications. They run drop-in sessions so students can see a careers adviser at short notice and get feedback on a CV or application form, or discuss a career. They also offer a number of events such as talks on graduate sales careers, PGCE, interview success and an annual careers fair is held in November.

E-learning@Tees is where the careers service holds a number of on-line resources which are not available on the careers website. This includes videos, information guides, workbooks and presentations relating to applications and interviews, careers presentations, career workshops, employer presentations, and employer visits, information and reports.

entrepreneurs@tees offers a range of events and challenges to help students become an entrepreneur. Previous challenges have included the Beer Mat Business Challenge, the Social Enterprise Challenge and the Design a Music Festival Challenge.

Volun-tees is the University’s dedicated volunteering website and aims to promote volunteering opportunities in the local community. There are over 200 registered organisations, promoting 425 opportunities to over 2000 registered volunteers. The scheme also helps volunteers enhance their employability skills by linking in opportunities to academic programmes of study. The Volun-tees Impact Programme (VIP) develops students’ skills even further with the volunteers themselves leading developing opportunities both within the University and the community.

Accommodation

Teesside provides self-catered accommodation on or within walking distance to the Middlesborough campus split across five sites. All have communical kitchen and living areas, as well as laundry facilities, an on-site warden and 24 hour security. There are also en-suite or shared room options depending on your taste and budget. 

University managed houses are also available in the streets surrounding the University campus. All are within walking of the University, and the University rents these terrace houses from landlords and sublet them to you to keep standards high and give you peace of mind. 

International

English Language Requirements

International Support

The University's International Student Advisors can give advise on entry into the UK and extending your stay, changing your immigration status, travel visas to other countries, residency and settlement, work permits and funding study in the UK.

Teesside run a meet and greet service from Durham Tees Valley Airport or Newcastle International Airport.

Scholarships

An International Scholarship of £1,500 a year is available to all self-funded international students as a fee reduction for every year of full-time study.

Media