University of Hertfordshire

Summary

History

In 1952 Hatfield College was opened, with degrees conferred by the University of London. In 1969 it became Hatfield Polytechnic and by the mid-80s was one of only 8 polytechnics to be accredited for research degrees. In 1992 it became the University of Hertfordshire and has since been expanding. Developments include the £120m de Havilland campus, the Hertfordshire Sports Village and a £4.5m Innovation Centre which provides office space for sin-out and start-up companies. A number of schools have also been created, such as the Bedforshire and Hertfordshire Postgraduate Medical School, the School of Pharmacy and the School of Film, Media and Music. 

In 2004 the University was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade, acknowledging its entrepreneurial success, and in 2010 it was named the Times Higher Education Entrepreneurial University of the Year. 

University Environment

The University of Hertfordshire is located in Hatfield, just 20 minutes from London’s King's Cross station and within easy access of the A1(M). There are two campuses; College Lane and de Havilland which are situated less than a kilometre apart. A network of pathways, cycle routes and handy shuttle buses connects the sites. College Lane Campus includes the main reception, an art and design gallery, the Forum Hertfordshire and the Innovation Centre. De Havilland Campus includes the Weston Auditorium, the Sports Village, the Law Court Building and Club de Havilland.

Academics

Schools

• Academic Partnerships Office
• Hertfordshire Business School
• School of Computer Science
• School of Creative Arts
• School of Education
• School of Engineering and Technology
• School of Health and Social Work
• School of Humanities
• School of Law
• School of Life and Medical Sciences
• School of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics

Research

In the 2014 REF 57% of the University's research was judged to be world-leading or internationally excellent. 85% of the University's research in History was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

International Opportunities

Hertfordshire offers the opportunity to spend part of your course studying abroad. The University has partnerships with universities around the world in the USA, Canada, Latin America, South Africa, China, Korea and Japan, South East Asia, and Australia. Hertfordshire also takes part in the EU Erasmus programme, which gives you the chance to live, study and work in around twenty European countries. You can study for 3 months, a semester or a whole year, depending on your course and where you want to go, and perhaps have the chance of taking a work placement too. For students who cannot take a semester or year abroad the University also offers summer schools in France, Germany, Korea and Thailand.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships

Hertfordshire offer a whole range of non-repayable scholarships recognising academic achievements and individual talents.

They also have a number of University of Hertfordshire Sports Scholarships including the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme and the Bricket Hall Golf Scholarship which offer talented athletes top quality coaching by National Governing Body Coaches, access to resident physiotherapists, strength and conditioning support, a free annual gym and swim membership and a financial contribution. 

Facilities

Learning Facilities

Both the campuses have a Learning Resource Centre which provide over 3,000 study places and over 1,200 computer workstations, study spaces and study rooms for individuals and groups, and a helpdesk. 

The University holds over 860,000 books, including 305,000 online books, over 40,000 journal titles, online information databases, and past papers. StudyNet is Hertfordshire’s own online student portal that provides a gateway to all your personalised course and study information, and access to University online services. Hertfordshire also has a number of specialist facilities including astronomical teaching observatories, a flight simulator and wind tunnels, a simulated intensive care unit and pharmacy, film music and media studios, a mock courtroom, and environmental and anechoic chambers. 

Sporting Facilities

Based at the de Havilland Campus, the Sports Village is home to a wide range of activities, classes, and state-of-the-art sports training facilities and services. Indoor facilities at the Village include a 100 station gym, 2 exercise class studios, a 25 metre swimming pool, 2 squash courts, sports halls, a cricket hall and an indoor climbing wall. Outdoor facilities include artificial pitches for hockey and football, grass pitches for football and rugby, netball and tennis courts. There is also an Active Students programme offering free sports sessions on and around campus. 

Students' Union

Students’ Union

The Students' Union on College Lane Campus is the hub of university life, with bars, regular live music and events throughout the year, including the famous Summer Ball, a chance to let your hair down at the end of term. Within the SU there are over fifty clubs and societies to get involved in to make the most of university life outside of the lecture hall. There is a new entertainment venue called 'Forum Hertfordshire' which opened in September 2009. The Forum offers a number of venues for students including a 1,500-capacity auditorium, The Ele House bar, The Balcony bar, Club de Havilland, more than a dozen cafes and eateries and a student shop. The University also boasts its very own theatre and galleries, with links to the arts community, both locally and in London. 

Student Support

Health and Wellbeing

There is a Medical Centre located in the heart of the campus which is especially for University of Hertfordshire students living on campus or in the local area. The Campus Pharmacy, run by its own Department of Pharmacy, provides an over-the-counter service, and advice to students and staff at the University. Services include general health and nutrition information, minor ailments advice, travel health advice, pregnancy tests, chlamydia testing, emergency contraception and a stop smoking service. 

The Counselling Centre helps students who are experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties at university. It is staffed by qualified and experienced counsellors. It offers individual and group counselling, workshops on topics such as exam anxiety and procrastination, self-help information and telephone and Skype counselling for students on placement. 

The Disability Service offers a range of specialist services to students including specialist study skills, mentoring, assistive technology training, loan of specialist equipment, note takers and assistants and sign language interpreters. 

Religion and Spirituality

The Key Centre is a multi-faith and multi-cultural centre which offers a place for prayer and reflection. It is also home to the Chaplaincy. The Robert Runcie Rotunda provides space for reflection, prayer and worship, while the Meeting Room offers space for a range of study or discussion groups to meet. It also holds a small selection of spiritual books, videos and newspapers. 

Career Facilities

Hertfordshire focuses heavily on enterprise, and there are plenty of opportunities and facilities for budding entrepreneurs. These include events such as high-profile entrepreneurs delivering key note speeches, and focus-on events whereby alumni return to tell their start-up success stories. There is an Enterprise Fund which supports students with innovative and viable business ideas, and the Enterprise Knowledge initiatives which run interactive workshops and events to develop students’ business skills. There are Enterprise Advice Sessions which are one-to-one drop-in sessions hosted by experts and business advisors. At these you can discuss your business idea and get feedback on how to move forward. There is also the Enterprise Incubation Centre which is located opposite the de Havilland campus and provides one year's free access to office space, business advice, and other support services to new and budding start-ups. 

The Graduate Consulting Unit is an innovative and award-winning resource, which can provide background and market research to support your start-up activity. The Unit employs talented students and graduates to undertake the research, closely monitored by expert academics.

The Business Start-up Programme is a structured programme of practical support aimed at helping students and recent graduates take their business ideas from concept to market readiness within one year.

Through the Business Start-up programme, students and graduates can benefit from dedicated resources and support, including a series of facilitated workshops, business advice and mentoring through each stage of the programme, admittance to other useful Enterprise events and activities as a secondary source of support, the opportunity to apply for the Enterprise Fund and access to office space and facilities in the Incubation Centre.  

Accommodation

There are halls of residence with self-catered accommodation on both campuses, and students may live on either regardless of their degree. There is a fantastic range of halls on campus so you're always close to the social and learning facilities you need. However, prospective students should be aware that on campus accommodation is extremely popular so to be in with the best chance of securing a room students must apply early. College Lane Campus has a mix of accommodation styles including flats, houses and traditional halls of residence, with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. All rooms have network connections. There are some twin rooms at the College Lane campus. The de Havilland Campus offers modern, self-contained flats for around eleven students with single bedrooms, en suite facilities, fridges and network connections. The shared kitchens are comfy and have all the latest appliances. Off campus there is Ridgeview Lodge which is a short drive from Hatfield and a number of private properties managed by the University. The University also provides information and advice on finding privately rented properties or homestays.  

International

English Language Requirements

Scholarships

To help attract the most talented students from across the world, the University offers 130 achievement-based partial scholarships worth £2,000 each for international students known as the Chancellor's International Scolarships. The scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to candidates who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and potential, and the ability to make a significant ongoing contribution to the university community. 

International Support

There is a dedicated International Student Support Team made up of experienced welfare advisers who can help and advise you on a variety of subjects, including immigration, work permits, and financial and personal matters. They also organise a social programme for international students, which includes trips to other parts of the UK and Europe. On arrival at Hertfordshire international students will partake in an Overseas Students Orientation programme where information on the full range of support services at the University will be given. 

As an international student it is possible to gain a scholarship at Hertfordshire. The Chancellor’s International Scholarship offers 130 achievement-based partial international scholarships, worth £2,000 each to support the international community and ensure Hertfordshire continues to attract the most talented students from across the world. There is also the Family Scholarship which is available to the children of overseas graduates. Worth 20% of the first year’s tuition fee this Scholarship recognises the importance of the University’s international alumni community.

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