University of Gloucestershire

Summary

University Environment

Gloucestershire University is spread across 3 campuses located in Cheltenham and Gloucester:

Francis Close Hall

Francis Close Hall is a five-minute walk from Cheltenham town centre, which offers lively bars, clubs, specialist shops and cafes. The campus is known for its community feel and historic buildings, and is home to humanities, natural and social sciences, education and public services, art and design students. It includes recently developed on-site design studios for designers and architects and is a 25-minute walk from the train station. 

Close by is the Centre for Art and Photography which is home to students of photography, fine art and fashion. The centre is a thriving hub of creativity, with a dark room, a processing room, a Mac suite, the dedicated fine art studios, the sculpture yard, and fashion design and production studios. The on-campus Hardwick Gallery also offers a diverse programme of public exhibitions, talks and discussions. 

Oxstalls 

Oxstalls is a 15-minute walk from Gloucester city centre giving you easy access to the city's clubs, bars, shops, theatres, venues and cafes. It's home to students of sport, leisure and performing arts and is home to sports facilities including an performance lab, a strength and conditioning suite, sports therapy clinics, a fitness suite and an all-weather pitch. The Growth Hub, the University's new centre of enterprise opened in 2014 to support entrepreneurs and business professionals, whilst in 2015 The Performing Arts and Events Centre opened which includes new dance studios and teaching spaces. The campus is a fifteen-minute walk from the train station. 

The Park

Originally designed as a botanical garden the modern teaching centre is surrounded by stunning landscaped gardens and lakes. The campus is a ten-minute walk from Cheltenham town centre home to a variety of clubs, bars, shops and cafes.  The campus is home to business, computing and technology, media, accounting and law students and is a fifteen-minute walk from the train station. Facilities at the campus include a Media Centre housing an animation suite, and film and TV studios. 

History

Originally founded by Reverend Francis Close, the University began as the Cheltenham Training College at the site that has since become its Francis Close Hall campus. Since then the University has evolved, and in 2001, now known as the Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, the College was awarded University status.

Academics

Faculties & Schools

Faculty of Media and Technology

• School of Art and Design
• School of Computing and Technology
• School of Humanities
• School of Media
• School of Education

Business School

• School of Accounting and Law
• School of Business and Management

Faculty of Applied Sciences

• School of Sport and Exercise
• School of Natural and Social Sciences
• School of Leisure
• School of Health and Social Care

Research

In the 2014 REF, more than 25% of the University's work in all six areas of submission was rated as either internationally excellent or world leading. 

The University is currently developing Research Priority Areas, building on their strengths and recognising the opportunities to contemporary challenges. These areas include: sport, exercise and wellbeing; environmental dynamics and governance; being human; applied design for business; applied design for business; retail, marketing and management; and learning for professional and contexts. 

International & Industrial Opportunities

The Study Abroad Programme is available for students to study at partner universities in other countries. 

Most courses at Gloucestershire include placement modules. This allows you to gain relevant experience working in a professional environment, locally, nationally, or internationally. In any one year there are typically over 3,000 placements.  

Fees & Finance

Scholarships

At least 20 sports scholarships of up to £2,500 are made each ywar to support students who perform at high National or International level.  

Facilities

Learning Facilities

Each campus has its own library with a dedicated customer service team, and group study areas and silent study areas. Across the University, there are over 500 open access computers and full Wifi coverage. The libraries offer twenty-four hour access to a comprehensive range of e-books, journals and databases anywhere in the world whilst you can borrow laptops from between two hours up to one week to help you complete your coursework outside the confines of the library.

Inductions, digital literacy and study skills sessions are fully integrated into an undergraduate course. The University also gives you access to a range of media equipment, including cameras, camcorders and dictaphones. They've recently updated some of their further facilities which now include a moot court, an open newsroom, studios and editing suites.

Sporting Facilities

Facilities at Gloucestershire's Oxstalls campus include an on-site fitness suite, strength and conditioning suite, sports therapy clinics, an all-weather pitch, a sports hall, a fitness studio and a performance lab.

Students' Union

Students' Union

Gloucestershire's Students' Union offers plenty of societies for you to be involved with, from Dumbledore's Army to beekeeping. You've also the chance of joining Raise and Give, which offers plenty of opportunities for organising fun fundraising activities.  Each campus has it's own bar. 

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

The University has a chaplain and a faith venue on each campus. Chaplains at the University support students of all faiths, and organise activities for students as well as university-wide events such as Remembrance and Christmas services. They are also available for confidential support and pastoral care if needed.

Major religious festivals are observed and celebrated across the campuses.  There are prayer rooms with ablution facilities on all campuses and Friday prayers are held by the Muslim chaplain at Park campus. 

Health & Wellbeing

Gloucestershire's counselling service is free and confidential service run by qualified, professional counsellors who understand the pressures of university life. They offers students one-to-one counselling, drop-in sessions, a programme of workshops and courses, couples’ counselling, and specialist sexual health counselling.

If you've a mental health condition, advisers are available  to help you manage your studies. They can help you arrange extensions on written assignments, extra time for exams, assistive software and the provision of note takers tutors and mentors.

The disability, dyslexia and learning support service offers confidential, one-to-one support to students with disabilities, learning difficulties and medical conditions. They can help with advisory visits to the university before you submit your application, advice on diagnosing specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or dyscalculia, support with applying for the Disabled Students’ Allowance and advice on disability access.

Career Facilities

Gloucester University has a supportive career development team to help students secure placements, internships, and volunteering placements. The team offer sessions within your academic programme, plus one-to-one advice, guidance and information to help you understand where your degree could take you. 

The Students' Union's JopShop advertises part-time paid work to fit around your studies whilst they also offer students the chance to volunteer in the local community.  

The team's Degreeplus award helps you recognise your achievements outside the lecture room and will enable you to gain a certificate, identify your skills, write an excellent CV, and perform well at interviews. 

Accommodation

Gloucestershire have approximately 1,400 places in halls of residence on or near all of their campuses. They are all close to the town centres and are also served by the University bus service.  All halls are self-catered. 

International

English Language Requirements

Students whose first language is not English must have an IELTS overall score of 6.0.

International Support

Gloucestershire's international students come from more than 60 countries. If you require further English language support, the team offers specific language support tailored to your needs. They also offer workshops, confidential one-to-one appointments and online resources, to support and develop your academic writing skills, study skills, understanding feedback and language. 

The University offers  free airport transfer services from London Heathrow Airport for all international students. This coach takes you from Heathrow directly to the University of Gloucestershire in time for International Welcome Week. 

International Welcome Week provides you with the opportunity to get all necessary administrative tasks out of the way before you start your course, while also giving you time to get to know other international students.

Media