Canterbury Christ Church University

History

• Celebrates 50th anniversary in 2012.
• Established as a teacher Training College founded by Church of England in 1962; wider range of undergraduate and NHS-related programmes introduced later.
• Gained taught degree awarding powers in 1995.
• Full university status awarded in August 2005 and the Archbishop of Canterbury installed as Chancellor.
• Gained Research Degree awarding powers in 2009.

Location and transport

• Main campus in Canterbury is located in a World Heritage Site and England and Wales’ safest university city 2011 according to the Complete University Guide
• Other campuses include Broadstairs Campus, Medway Campus (part of Universities at Medway), Tunbridge Wells Campus (Salomons), and University Centre, Folkestone.
• As a gateway to the rest of the UK and the continent, there is a thriving European and international student population of more than 1300, representing cultures from across the world

Entry standards

• Between 240–300 UCAS points.
• Average 240 UCAS points.
• Find out more a about entry requirements at Canterbury Christ Church University on the website.

Student mix

• 69.5% women: 29.5% men.
• 97% home/EU: 3% overseas.
• 97.4% state: 2.6% public school.
• Applications to places ratio 9:2.
  

Course flexibility

• An extensive combination of courses can be studied via a general modular scheme.
• Some courses can be studied at a choice of campuses.
• The majority of courses can be studied part-time.

Teaching standards

• The University is now the South East’s largest centre of higher education in Kent and Medway for the public services (outside London) – notably teacher training, nursing, policing and health and social care.
• The University is considered to be among the best in the country for initial teacher training (recently rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted), and is actively helping to shape education and healthcare practice, regionally and nationally, through its research and teaching.
• There are now a record number of students – 20,000 – studying at Christ Church both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Graduates have excellent employability prospects – the University is the 3^rd highest university in England for student employability, with 94.3% of recent UK graduates in employment or further study six months after graduating (according to the 2009/10 Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey)..
• A wide range of courses in the arts and humanities, business and management as well as social and applied sciences, with education and research in clinical psychology and clinical reporting considered among the best in the country.

Research standards

• World class research in Education, Music, History and Sport Related Studies; and internationally recognised/excellent research in allied Health Professions, English Language and Literature and Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies (according to the 200 Research Assessment Exercise.
• Five manor research centres: Centre for Research into Children, Families and Communities; the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Music, Arts and Health; the Centre for Sport, Physical Education and Activity Research (SPEAR), and the Centre for Music, Health and Social Care Research.

Academic strengths

• Higher education for the public services.
• Research informing national policy and practice – particularly in the public serves.
• A wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional development courses in business, arts and humanities, education and health and social care

Student facilities, including library and computing

• Library access on each campus.
• The new £35m Augustine House Library and Student Services Centre opened in Canterbury in September 2009. Its award-winning i-Borrow scheme has 200 lap-tops available for self-service loan within the centre

Disability services

Students' union

• Christ Church Students' Union is an inclusive and diverse representational body for the students of Canterbury Christ Church University, constantly adapting to the ever changing needs of itsmembers, whilst inspiring students and enriching lives.
• CCSU exists as the voice of the student body, providing activities and entertainment to enhance the experience of both the traditional and non-traditional members.
• The Students' Union is proud to provide over 50 sports and societies, with over 1,000 weekly active members participating. The SU has a varied and exciting entertainment and media programme with a Summer Ball in the final term. Previous acts appearing at the Ball have included Feeder Example, Girls Aloud, One Night Only, Wideboys, Radio 1 DJs, The Feeling, Blue and many more.
• CCSU was one of the leading partners in gaining the first student-led community FM Radio licence, Canterbury Student Radio 97.4FM (CSR), now broadcasting live across Canterbury and online.

Sport

• The new multi-million pound Christ Church Sports Centre, Canterbury, includes a large adaptable sports hall with eight badminton courts; a sports and exercise studio and performance/analysis room; fitness suite with a comprehensive range of Cybex and Lifefitness cardio vascular, strength and free weights equipment with Concept rowers and plasma screens; associated toilet/changing facilities/offices, spectator gallery overlooking the sports hall.
• Stodmarsh Playing Fields: 12 acres of playing fields, which includes a small changing pavilion with eight changing rooms, four football pitches, one rugby pitch and one lacrosse pitch. Car parking is available for approximately 35 vehicles.
• The University also has facilities at Polo Farm Sports Club, Canterbury, a leading centre ofsports development and achievement in the South East of England.

Recent/prospective new builds

• The University is opening a new accommodation and student centre close to the Canterbury Campus and city centre. It will be made up of 204 single, en suite student bedrooms and 10 three-bedroom family houses around a landscaped outdoor area.
• The University is investing £1.5 million in new music facilities for both performance spaces and rehearsal as part of the St Gregory’s Music Centre project.
• The new city centre Augustine House Library and Student Services Centre officially opened in September 2009.

Availability of part-time work

• Students available to work up to 15 hours per week can find information about part-time work via Canterbury Christ Church University JobShop, the University’s dedicated online job advertising service.
• The JobShop provides information on part-time, full-time and graduate jobs, as well as internships and placements. Over 1,000 employers advertise vacancies to current students and recent graduates looking for graduate, part-time and placement work.

Notable alumni

• Kate Blewett – award winning producer and director with the BBC.
• Jonathan Holmes – writer, script editor and presenter.
• Geraldine McCaughrean – award-winning author.
• Jane Carter – Creative Director Music at BBC Worldwide.
• Joel Hopkins – BAFTA award-winning film writer-director.
• Simon Meyers – TV Director.
• Bob Green OBE – Head of Forensic Science in the Police Standards Unit Home Office.
• David Lewis – award-winning freelance TV editor.

Click here for more information about living in Canterbury