University of Bolton

Summary

History

The origins of the university stretch back as early as the 1820s when the first mechanics institute was built with the aim of reaching the mass working people to educate them in science and literature. In 1891, Bolton Mechanics Institute merged with the Bolton Technical School.

In the 1960s, saw the building of the Bolton Institute of Technology (BIT) and the development of the Bolton College of Education. Over time, the Art College merged with the Technical College and then with BIT. In 1982, BIT and Bolton College of Education merged to form Bolton Institute of Higher Education.

In 1992, the Institute received its own taught-degree awarding powers, quickly followed by the ability to awarding research degrees in 1995. Throughout the 1990s, the number of degree subjects expanded enormously, and in 2004 the Institute was awarded university status.

University Environment

The University is situated around the modern, compact Deane Campus in Bolton town centre with accommodation a short walk away. There is a student body of around 11,000. Bolton itself is a friendly, thriving town close to the big cities of Manchester and Liverpool, surrounded by stunning countryside including the West Pennine Moors, Lake District and Peak District. It has an excellent transport links locally and nationally.

UoB in recent years invested multi-million pound in campus facilities, equipment and student experience. These include:

• improvement in Social Learning Zones
• the opening of the National Centre for Motorsport Engineering, providing a world-leading environment for advanced performance engineers, games developers and design engineer
• new Institute of Management in the heart of the town centre, at the newly developed Bolton Central facility
• Queen’s Specialist Building, home to UoB Medical Biology, Dental Sciences and Theatre & Performance courses
• development of a new Student Village with new halls of residence, right in the centre of Bolton.

Academics

Schools & Faculties

Bolton School of the Arts

• Art & Design and Fine Art
• Textiles & Fashion
• Media & Photography
• Theatre & Performance
• English & Creative Writing
• Graphic Design
• Animation & Illustration

Institute of Management Greater Manchester

• Accountancy
• Business, Logistics & Supply Chain Management

Faculty of Health & Wellbeing

• Nursing
• Health & Social Care
• Dental Sciences
• Early Years & Childhood Studies
• Community Work & Youth

National Centre for Motorsport Engineering

School of Creative Technologies

• Computing
• Games
• Special & Visual Effects

School of Engineering

• Construction
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Biomedical & Medical Engineering
• Motorsport & Automotive Performance Engineering
• Electric & Electronic Engineering
• Mathematics

School of Education and Psychology

• Education & Teacher Training
• Psychology
• Access Courses
• International Foundation Programmes & English Pre-Sessional Courses

School of Law

• Law
• Centre for Contemporary Coronial Law

School of Sport and Biomedical Sciences

• Medical Biology
• Sports & Sport Rehabilitation/li>

Research

In the 2014 REF six of the seven subjects submitted by the University demonstrated world-leading research, whilst the seventh was deemed to be of an internationally excellent standard. General Engineering was particularly distinguished, with over 70% of its work judged to be world-class or internationally excellent.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships

A total of ten Stoller Scholarships are available to students studying a full-time undergraduate course, who are funded via the Student Loans Company or self-funded, and come from the Oldham area. The value of each award is £3,000 and will be paid at a rate of £1,000 cash per academic year subject to continual fulfilment of the terms and conditions of the award.

Bursaries

The High Achievement Bursary is a cash award which is available to full-time undergraduate students who commence their course of study in a subject area covered within the Institute of Management or School of the Arts. In addition, students must achieve a minimum 128 UCAS points at A2 Level from an OFS approved qualification.

The Care-Leavers Bursary is awarded to full-time UK undergraduate students who are Care Leavers, having lived in a Care setting for at least 12 months in the last five years. The award is £1,000 cash per academic year subject to continual fulfilment of the eligibility criteria.

The 100 Year Anniversary of the Great War Award is offered to students who are ex-service personnel and have completed a minimum of three years military service since their eighteenth birthday. The amount of the award payable is £500 per academic year. The award is payable at the end of each academic year. A maximum of ten awards will be available in each academic year.

The Bolton Sports Bursary is worth up to a maximum of £3,000 in total, and is not household income assessed. The bursary is paid as a £1,000 cash payment in each academic year of your studies up to a maximum of three academic years. It is awarded to athletes competing at International, County and/or Professional Club Level.

Facilities

Learning Facilities

The Peter Marsh Library is a modern library designed to help you learn in whatever way suits you best. It contains more than 170,000 books, 17,500 print and electronic journals, 7,700 e-books, videos, DVDs and CDs. The library has a number of group study rooms as well as printing and photocopying facilities and binding services available. The Library has a friendly team of staff on hand to give you advice and assistance during opening hours. It is opened 24/7 during the first and second semesters. If you learn best by discussing ideas, you can book the group study rooms, and if you prefer to just get your head down and work undisturbed, head to the silent study areas. The library also has a self-service laptop loan facility.

There is wireless access throughout the University and more than 500 PCs available for students across campus. At the centre of the campus is the Social Learning Zone (SLZ). The SLZ gives you space to study in a relaxed atmosphere where you can work in a group, online, and in networks – or just use the space to relax and meet up with friends.

Learning Excellence Academic Pathway (LEAP) Academic aims to help UoB students to achieve their potential and become more successful. It offers students opportunities to develop skills for study and employment via structured courses in academic writing, numeracy, ICT, study skills and research methods. Sessions are informal and group sizes are kept small. The Academy also offers bespoke one-to-one sessions. The sessions are free of charge to UoB students. LEAP is also available online.

Sports Facilities

Bolton One is the University sports complex. It houses a 25m swimming pool, 15m climbing wall, competition-level trampoline, large sports hall and a modern gym. You’ll also have the chance to use the University Athlete Development Centre, which helps athletes, sports teams and coaches at all levels improve their performance, and the physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation clinic at the Sports and Spinal Injury Clinic is open to all UoB students. In Bolton One, you will also find the sport science lab facilities, teaching and seminar rooms.

The University also has a huge range of student sporting societies, from rock climbing to mixed martial arts, hockey to quidditch that you can join. Joining a sports team and clubs is a great way to make new friends and you could even represent the University in the inter-university BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) leagues.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

Bolton Students’ Union (SU) provides advice and support on benefit, budgeting, hate crimes, wellbeing, housing; organise events and societies, and represent you to the university.

Bolton SU has a range of societies available for you to participate, giving you great opportunities to meet people with similar interests to yours, share your ideas and express yourself, you may even be inspired to take up a new hobby! All the SU activities are run by students and are fully supported through their team of Community Engagement Coordinators. Their Entertainment Committee organise regular themed nights such as a weekly quiz, pizza party, bingo disco and open mic karaoke night.

The SU runs Vista Meet and Eat, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, light bites and a drink with a view at the only licensed cafe on campus. The Bolton SU Shop on campus provides students with an alternative to going into town.

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

The UoB has a multi-faith Chaplaincy team. As well as Chaplains, the University also has Pastoral Assistants who regularly visit the University to give support to students and staff. The Chaplaincy Office is where you will find the Co-ordinating Chaplain or one of the volunteer Chaplains or Pastoral Assistants. The Chaplaincy is open at all times when there is access to the library including its out-of-hours opening, except when the University is closed for a long period, for example, over the Christmas closure. In the resource area in the Chaplaincy you will find lots of leaflets to take away about different world-views and local worship places. There are also books to borrow about many different faiths and belief systems.

The Prayer Room is open to all but is designed specifically to help Muslim staff and students fulfil their religious duties. You may use the Quiet Room for your own personal use - for prayer, meditation, contemplation or simply being quiet. It is available to all students irrespective of belief.

Health & Wellbeing

The University Customer Service Excellence Team, based in the Student Centre at the Chancellor's Mall, is available to answer queries on accommodation, academic studies, finances and funding, heath and wellbeing. Dedicated disability advisors, including the university’s mental health advisor, provide help regarding early intervention, accommodation and car parking, support in liaising with academic tutors and other relevant staff members, equipment loans such as laptops, individual exam arrangements, and library loan extensions.

The Life lounge brings together specialist services, free for students to access, including Duty Student Advisors, Student Liaison Officers (SLOs), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Clinic and Counselling. The Duty Student Advisor or Student Advisors are your first point of contact for all academic enquiries. They can make appointments for you to see the specialist staff working in the Life Lounge including the Student Liaison Officers, Counsellor and CBT Clinic. The Student Liaison Officers provide LEAP group study skills workshops in the Hub each lunchtime (except Fridays), which cover a variety of topics including referencing, essay structure and planning, critical thinking, time management, etc.

Career Facilities

The University Careers Service offers students one-to-one guidance interviews with professional, qualified careers advisers and an extensive range of career resources and information on placements, internships, graduate employers and their vacancies. The service can help students with self-employment, postgraduate study, gap year activities and voluntary work within the UK. It runs a wide range of group sessions and workshops covering self-presentation and confidence, preparing CVs and covering letters, completing application forms and interview procedures and puts on a series of career fairs and events.

Accommodation

The University of Bolton owns and manages Orlando Village which provide 381 single study, self-catering bedrooms. It is 10 minutes’ walk away from the campus and is close to both road and rail links. The University staff are available throughout the day and evening to give advice on domestic matters.

The accommodation includes share kitchen, bathroom, and dining area; full internet access; laundry rooms; round-the-clock security and free parking. There are facilities for disabled students. All first-year undergraduates students who submitted their application before the application deadline, are guaranteed a place in the Halls of Residence.

International

English Language Requirements

International Support

The International Office has a team dedicated to answering queries and they hold information on fees and funding, and campus life. Members of the Student Advisor Team are also able to help with any problems that international students may face at the University.

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