Edge Hill University

Summary

History

Edge Hill College opened in Liverpool in 1885 as the first non-denominational teacher training college for women. It moved to its present site in 1933 with the campus serving as a military hospital in the Second World War. Edge Hill took its first intake of male students in 1959.

From its origins as a specialist institution with 41 female trainee teachers, Edge Hill now has almost 10,000 full-time students, another 3,000 part-time students, on a wide range of undergraduate programmes, and almost 5,000 full- and part-time postgraduate students.

University Environment

Edge Hill boasts a vibrant campus community located in 160 stunning acres near Ormskirk in West Lancashire. Lakes, green spaces and even a beach can be found alongside award winning building developments which reflect almost 130 years of history and innovation. Recent additions to the campus include: the flagship £17 million Creative Edge building, which opened in 2013; a new Arts Centre building that houses the Rose and Studio Theatres; a new Biosciences and Geosciences facilities and a £13.5 million Student Hub; new £30 million sports complex that allows students, staff and the local community to enjoy some of the best sports facilities in the country; continued development of on-campus accommodation; and the new Technology Hub, a bespoke home for the University’s Department of Computing.

All new buildings on campus incorporate low carbon technologies and energy efficient lighting, heating and glazing. For the second year running, the University has been given Green Flag status – the national benchmark for parks and green spaces in the UK – for maintaining an attractive, safe and welcoming campus.

Edge Hill University was judged the safest campus in the North West for the third year running by the Complete University Guide.

Academics

Faculties

Faculty of Arts & Sciences

• Biology
• Business School
• Computing
• English, History & Creative Writing
• Geography
• Law & Criminology
• Media
• Performing Arts
• Psychology
• Social Sciences
• Sport & Physical Acivitiy
• The Language Centre

Faculty of Education

• Early Years Education
• Primary
• Professional Education
• Secondary Education
• Further Education & Training

Faculty of Health & Social Care

• Nursing
• Midwifery
• Operating Department Practice
• Paramedic Practice
• Applied Health & Social Care
• Social Work

Research

The years between the national UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008 and its replacement, the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014, saw the launch of a capacity building programme for research and cultivating the potential of Edge Hill’s people, including the building up of a thriving postgraduate community. 

This investment in people and facilities resulted in a strong performance in REF 2014, in which 25% of submitted researchers were early career. All twelve units of assessment (UoAs) returned by the University to the REF featured ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘world-leading’ research, with 4* impact case studies recorded in four UoAs. Our submission was rewarded with a 335% increase in Quality-Related funding for research – the highest percentage increase in the sector. 

International & Industrial Opportunities

Edge Hill has opportunities for sandwich year placements, usually in the third year of a four-year degree for you to gain highly relevant work experience and the opportunity to study abroad, spending an additional year studying abroad through the Erasmus+ programme.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships & Bursaries

The Excellence Scholarship is worth up to £2,000 for anyone who excels in a discipline outside of studies at school or college, for example the creative arts, ICT and enterprise, performing arts or volunteering and citizenship. 

The Sports Scholarship of up to £1,000 per academic year could help you develop your sporting performance and includes free annual Edge Hill Sport and Team Edge Hill membership; free access to gym and other sports facilities; free personal training; and access to strength & conditioning sessions and nutritional advice.

Edge Hill’s High Achievers Scholarship of £1,000 is available to students who achieve 360 UCAS points at A-level or higher.

Facilities

Learning Facilities

The University Library is situated at the heart of the Ormskirk campus and boasts networked PCs and wireless access; access to 200,000 items including books and audiovisual resources; and a range of study zones – group work, quiet work and silent study.

The Creative Edge building houses the University’s two High-definition television studios, with industry-standard broadcast equipment with camera channels operated via either a studio configuration or hand held; production galleries and control rooms with reference lighting; totally tapeless workflow with a Media Asset Management system; and fully independent talk back system to all studio areas. The Building also houses media editing booths and an audio dubbing suite whilst students can rent out video cameras, cameras, lighting, and sound equipment and accessories. 

Uni Skills #library is a package of workshops, hands-on support and online resources created to help you develop a range of essential academic skills and to enable you to produce high quality University assignments.

The £7 million Arts Centre features two theatres, alongside state-of-the-art facilities for Performing Arts students.

The Rose Theatre and Studio Theatre play host to a packed schedule of entertainment during each semester including comedy, dance, drama, music and physical theatre.

Sporting Facilities

Edge Hill Sport provides a focus for all sports and leisure activities on campus. The Sports Centre boasts an 8-court Sports Hall with spectator gallery; a 25m 6-lane swimming pool; an 80-station fitness suite with in-built entertainment technology; a sauna & steam room; an exercise studio; 6 outdoor pitch changing rooms; a Starbucks Coffee shop; and a roof terrace. The Sporting Edge building contains a 4-court sports hall; a 4-court gymnasium with sprung floor; 12 changing rooms; and a sports therapy clinic. The University’s other facilities include floodlit 6-a-side courts; a floodlit astroturf hockey pitch; a floodlit 3G astroturf football / rugby pitch; competition-standard floodlit 8-lane synthetic athletics track with an 2 x 10-lane straights; 6 grass pitches for football and rugby; and a 2.5km fitness trail with exercise stations. 

Students' Union

Students' Union

There is something for everyone at Edge Hill Students’ Union with food until 9pm everyday at the SU Bar and Nom, the University’s very own campus takeaway. 

The Quad is the campus’ very own nightclub with three weekly nights and the SU also put together a calendar of events to cater for a wide variety of wants and needs. They show live sport on thier plasma screen TVs, offer late night karaoke on Tuesday, cocktail club on Thursdays and the all the all new Fishbowl Fridays.

VibeMedia combines the student-led radio station, TV channel and an online platform and is for anyone interested in participating in television, radio shows or writing. 

The University also promotes volunteering in the local community, from working on the campus allotment to volunteering in local charity shops, helping in schools to assisting at a local animal sanctuary. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer available through the Students’ Union either for a one-off event or as a regular commitment.

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

The Chaplaincy Service supports Edge Hill students and staff of all faiths and none. Whether you face economic crisis, family and relationship problems, or simply wish to talk to us, the multi-faith chaplains offer a confidential and non-judgemental service from a spiritual perspective. There are currently three Christian chaplains, one Jewish chaplain, and one Muslim chaplain, and they also offer links to local faith communities.

Health & Wellbeing

The Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) Support Team at Edge Hill has a range of tailored and specialised services for students with Specific Learning Difficulties including: informal assessments and diagnostic assessments; guidance in applying for Disabled Students’ Allowance; tailored learning and study skills support packages; and access to technology advice and guidance.

The Counselling and Wellbeing Services is part of Student Services and an established, professional facility that offers a wide range of services to Edge Hill students. Their experienced, qualified counsellors can help you to explore what is happening in your life, what you want to do differently and what your next steps might be. They can offer help in finding solutions to problems, ways of coping, or just a safe place to talk. The Service also provide a range of other services, including: relaxation sessions – how to deal with stress, how to feel calmer and sleep better; workshops – covering topics such as confidence, assertiveness, stress management and procrastination; group work – sessions for particular groups of students, for example, overseas students or those with family responsibilities; support groups – particularly useful for if you’ve suffered a recent bereavement or loss; and access to dedicated electronic resources where you can find information from different organisations on a range of issues and topics.

The Student Wellbeing team provides a range of support on areas including mental health and wellbeing, sexual health, diet and exercise, and drugs and alcohol. Support can take the form of information, advice, signposting or therapeutic intervention. The team takes a proactive approach, working closely with Counselling and other Student Services teams, to deliver a holistic wellbeing experience for all students.

Career Facilities

The Careers Centre aims to help students develop their employability, offering opportunities to learn, gain transferable skills and acquire relevant work experience.

The ‘Edge Hill Works’ team helps students find part-time work within a 20-mile radius of the University. It also handles student jobs on campus.

The centre also writes and provides a range of resources to help you find out more about: careers that are linked to your degree; specific careers; interviews and much more. If you have no idea what you can do with your degree you can talk with one of the Service’s careers advisers. 

Each year the University invite over 400 employers onto campus at events such as careers fairs or as visiting speakers in timetabled lectures. By speaking to employers at these events you can learn about different jobs, gain vital knowledge of specific sectors and develop contacts for the future.

Accommodation

Accommodation

Edge Hill’s halls of residence are at the heart of the on-campus community, providing a safe environment in which new students live, study and socialise. They offer excellent value for money, with a range of rooms and catering packages available depending on your requirements and your budget. You will find everything you need is just a few minutes walk from your room.

Edge Hill University provides more than 2,000 single study bedrooms in halls of residence, divided into seven areas on campus. All rooms are fully maintained and the rent includes utility bills. The University also has 24-hour security and has been voted the safest campus in the North West for the last four years by the independent Complete University Guide. All rooms are furnished with a bed, wardrobe, desk and chair and you can personalise your space with posters, photos and other items. 300 rooms are available as catered accommodation and the remainder are self-catered, with the self-catered accommodation coming with a shared kitchen and living area. Some rooms even come equipped with flatscreen computers in each room and Freeview TVs in the living areas.

International

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you are required to have a minimum of an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with no individual element less than 5.5.

International Support

The Orientation programme is designed to help students to settle into life in the UK and studying in a new country. Edge Hill will send you pre-departure and arrival information as well as let you know about working in the UK, living in the UK, travelling in the UK and moving on from uni.

New International students are also met by a meet and greet service from local train stations and airports and brought to the campus directly. 

International Scholarships & Bursaries

The International Foundation Scholarship is for international students taking an International Foundation Programme based on academic merit. The scholarship is worth £1,200 towards tuition fees for September 2016 entry. 

The Undergraduate Development Scholarship worth £1,200 towards you first year tuition fees is for international students undertaking their undergraduate degree at Edge Hill. 

The International Achievement Scholarship worth £2,000, is for students who display exceptional academic performance (average mark no less than 70%). Awards will be made towards tuition fees in the next year of study. 

Media