The Complete Guide To the University of Northampton

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1. Introduction

1.1 Background

The University of Northampton (UON) started as the Northampton Technical College in 1924. It received university status and became the University of Northampton in 2005. But don’t let its ‘age’ fool you.

The young UON has rapidly grown and bagged many achievements, such as

  • Earning the Changemaker Campus Status from AshokaU in February 2013.
  • Achieving a Gold rating at the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in July 2017.
  • Establishing and moving to the Waterside campus in September 2018.
  • Winning the Royal Society of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Award in May 2019.
  • Partnering with the University of Leicester and other academic bodies to form the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) NHS Group in July 2021. 
  • Placing on the QS Ranking in 2022.
Total Student PopulationOver 13,950 students (2023)
% of international studentsAround 18% (2022/2023) 
Teaching faculty-to-student ratioApproximately 1:17

1.2 University of Northampton Rankings 2025

The University of Northampton ranks #1000 – #1200 globally in the QS World Universities Ranking 2025. What it lacks in Rank standing, it more than makes up for quality teaching and a great student life.

2. Student Life & Living Cost

2.1 University of Northampton Campus

“Spacious, Stunning and Superb.” describes the University of Northampton’s vibe. Its new home creates a fresh environment for more opportunities. Moreover, everything you need is within a 20-minute walking distance, including

  • specialised facilities
  • accommodations
  • modern amenities
  • the town centre
  • public transportation

So, grab this chance to mark down new study and hangout spots!

Waterside Campus

  • Welcome to the Waterside campus 📍University Dr, Northampton UK
  • Creative Hub 📍University Dr, Northampton UK
  • Learning Hub 📍University Dr, Northampton UK
  • Engine Shed Working Space 📍University Dr, Northampton UK
  • Games students group class📍University Dr, Northampton UK
  • Seminar Teaching Lab📍University Dr, Northampton UK
  • Student Experiment Lab📍University Dr, Northampton UK
  • Student Laptop Seminar📍University Dr, Northampton UK
  • Students playing football📍University Dr, Northampton UK
  • Production Team Back office
📍Waterside campus
  • Studio Camera Operator
📍Waterside campus
  • TV Studio Production office
📍Waterside campus

Key Highlights

  • The Waterside campus became the new learning and teaching site in September 2018.
  • With its opening, UON joined forces with Northamptonshire Police to have its University Police Team for a safer environment. It is the 1st UK university to have one.
  • As the name suggests, the countryside campus resides on the banks of River Nene. 
  • The new location also creates a backdrop of greeneries and waters. You can climb to the top of the Learning Hub to savour the stunning views.
  • Bonus: The University’s Energy Centre uses wood chip biomass to heat hot water for all the buildings and student residences.

How To Get Around?
🗺️A 15-minute walk and around 1 km to Northampton

  • Travel by train, bus, bike or on foot
  • The nearest bus stop is at the University Senate, a 5-minute walk away. Plus, buses depart every 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, the Northampton Railway Station is a 25-minute walk from campus.
  • If you are walking, UON’s footbridge connects with Becket’s Park.

2.2 Learning Facilities

Are we done with the campus tour? Nope. The University of Northampton houses many facilities, such as

*P.S: These are just a few “teasers” so look forward to more of UON’s learning resources during your visit. #nospoilers 😉

🔖Time To Touch Grass

UON has a Forest School as part of its curriculum. You can experience teaching outdoors and conduct research. Moreover, this is also a gathering place for group activities, such as

  • Scavenger hunt
  • Forest art
  • Cooking and mud kitchen
  • Den/ shelter building
  • Bug hotels
  • Indoor teaching teepee in the Forest School
  • Journey Stick Inside Forest School
  • karen woolley teaching students forest school skills

2.3 Recreational Facilities

  • Sports Pitch 📍Waterside Campus
  • Outdoor Play Space 📍Waterside Campus
  • Outdoor Swing Bars 📍Waterside Campus
  • Tennis Court 📍Waterside Campus
  • Engine Shed 📍Waterside Campus
  • Engine Shed Exterior 📍Waterside Campus
  • Engine Shed Interior 📍Waterside Campus
  • Engine Shed Interior 2📍Waterside Campus

🔖Fun Fact:

Did you know the Engine Shed was once a locomotive shed in the 1870s? Its original train tracks course through the building! Take a look.

2.4 Student Activities

What do UON students do outside of lessons? For example, Jasmine enjoys scaling walls during her free time

So, put away those books and recharge yourself with 

  • Student’s Union
  • 60+ Clubs and Societies (C&S)
  • Sports
  • Exercise Classes
  • Weekly gatherings (e.g K-pop and Crocheting)
  • Forums and Training
  • Food Time! (E.g: Bottomless Brunch and Pizza Night)

In 2023, the University of Northampton held a Careers Expo with 50 Northamptonshire businesses, employers and organisations.

2.5 Student Services

When leaving the nest starts to feel hard, the University of Northampton supports aspiration with its

  • Student Support and Advice Team
  • International Student Support
  • Personal Academic Tutor
  • Careers and Employability Services
  • Emotional and Mental Health
  • Additional Needs Disability Support
  • Financial Support

If you have not registered with a GP, UON has on-campus doctors’ surgery. So, visit the university’s Student Hub during your first week.

2.6 University of Northampton Accommodation and Cost

UON owns on-campus and off-campus lodgings. Take a look at this section to find your home for your studies. We also added a list of locations to help you get around.

Waterside Campus Accommodations

  • Waterside Accommodation Dining Living Area📍Waterside Campus
  • Waterside Accommodation Interior📍Waterside Campus
  • Waterside Accommodation Kitchen📍Waterside Campus
  • Waterside Accommodation Living Area📍Waterside Campus
  • Waterside Accommodation Single Studio Kitchen📍Waterside Campus
  • Waterside Accommodation Small Ensuite Bedroom📍Waterside Campus
  • Waterside Accommodation Standard Bedroom📍Waterside Campus
  • Waterside Accommodation Large Ensuite Kitchen📍Waterside Campus
  • Waterside Accommodation Large Ensuite Dining Area📍Waterside Campus
  • Waterside Accommodation Large Ensuite Bedroom📍Waterside Campus

On-campus

  • Waterside Halls Student Village (GBP 150 – 195/week

Town Centre Accommodations

  • St John Halls Exterior📍Waterside Campus
  • St John Halls Communal Area📍Waterside Campus
  • St John Halls Ensuite Kitchen📍Waterside Campus
  • St John Halls Single Studio Kitchen📍Waterside Campus
  • St John Halls Single Studio Bedroom📍Waterside Campus
  • St John Halls Standard Single  Bedroom📍Waterside Campus
  • St John Halls Twin Study Bedroom📍Waterside Campus

Off-campus

  • St. John’s Hall (GBP 132 – 190/week) *per person
  • St. John’s House (GBP 98 – 135/week) *per person

Scholars Green Accommodations

  • Scholars Green Halls Communal Area📍Waterside Campus
  • Scholars Green Halls Games Tables📍Waterside Campus
  • Scholars Green Halls Single Ensuite Kitchen📍Waterside Campus
  • Scholars Green Halls Single Ensuite 
 Bedroom📍Waterside Campus

Off-campus

  • Scholar’s Green Student Village (GBP 88 – 141/week)

Nearby areas /towns/cities /suburbs

  • Northampton, Little Houghton, Hardingstone, Queens Park

Cost of Living in East Midlands England

The living expenses in the East Midlands region can cost about GBP 1,112 – GBP 1,522 monthly. The costs involve rental, food, transportation and utilities. (Sources: WhatUni and NimbleFins)

First-time students must present financial evidence with 9 months of course fees and living expenses. And, it needs to be in your bank account for 28 days before your application.

*Note: Your lifestyle will change your weekly expenses. So, plan your budget accordingly.

How Can Uni Enrol Help?

Uni Enrol’s experienced counsellors help you compare the pros and cons of studying at the University of Northampton with different universities offering your preferred courses.

3. Courses, Fees & Scholarships

3.1 Courses You Can Study At The University of Northampton

Fields Of StudyCourses
Accounting & FinanceAccounting & Finance, Finance
Advertising & MarketingAdvertising & Digital Marketing, Marketing
Art & DesignGraphic Communication Design, Illustration, Product Design, Architectural Technology, Fine Art
Biological SciencesBiomedical Science, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry
Business Management & EntrepreneurshipInternational Business Management, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Business Management
Computing ScienceComputer Science, Business Computing, Artificial Intelligence & Data Science, Software Engineering, Web Development
Esports & Game DevelopmentGames Design, Esports, Games Art, Animation, Games Programming
Economics, Politics & International RelationsEconomics, Politics & International Relations
EngineeringElectronics & Computer, Engineering, Mechanical
Law, Policing & CriminologyLaw LLB, Criminal & Corporate Investigation, Professional Policing, Criminology
Leather & FashionLeather Technology,
Fashion Marketing & Promotion;
Fashion, Textiles, Footwear & Accessories; 
Media & JournalismCreative Film, TV & Digital Media ProductionFilm & Screen Studies, Multimedia Journalism 
Nursing & MidwiferyAdult Nursing, Dental Nursing, Midwifery, Children & Young People’s Nursing
Public & Professional HealthcareOccupational Therapy, Paramedic Science, Podiatry
Sociology, Psychology & CounselingPsychology, Forensic Psychology, Sociology
Sport SciencesHealth Sciences, Sport & Exercise Science, Sport Management & Leadership, Sport & Exercise Psychology, Sport Coaching

3.2 Course Fees At The University Of Northampton

We have also saved you the hassle and compiled the full list of UON’s detailed course fees into one article below. Check it out and share it!

Coming Soon!

3.3 University Of Northampton Scholarships

These are some of the scholarships offered by UON to international students. Check out the full list here. (Coming Soon)

ScholarshipsDetails
The UON International ScholarshipValue: 10% – 30% tuition fee reduction, excluding placement year.

– For Undergraduate and Postgraduate International Students who meet the academic criteria.

– Applicants must be offered a full-time course.

Got Scholarship?

Use our Pathway Match tool to accurately get matched with your preferred courses, fees and scholarships you qualify for in 5 minutes.

Leather Fashion

Did you know Northampton is the ‘Home of English Fine Shoes’? With vast oak forests decorating the area, it has been famous for tanning since the Middle Ages. Moreover, the town produced 70 million pairs of footwear during WW1 and houses 25 shoe manufacturers! As such, the University of Northampton (UON)’s Leather Fashion degrees make heads turn.

Today, UON is the sole university in Europe with a tannery on campus. While studying, you have access to

  • footwear and accessory workshops
  • leather production machines
  • flatbeds and overclockers
  • a print room

The University also takes you down the business or production route of leather fashion. If you love creating apparel, your Y1 curriculum teaches you to develop your designs. Then, you build skills from group projects, life briefs and portfolios. In Y3, you will see your work shine in front of esteemed guests at the Graduate Fashion Show and Degree Show.

Meanwhile, budding entrepreneurs study the inside outs of planning fashion events and campaigns. UON’s Fashion Marketing and Promotion course is a joint delivery between 3 faculties. Namely,

  • Business and Law
  • Science and Technology
  • Arts

Above all, the institution is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and #8 in the UK for marketing on the 2024 National Student Survey. The University of Northampton immerses you in the subject with valuable experiences. It offers study trips to fashion capitals. Previously, its students visited Milan, Tokyo and New York.

🔖Student Highlight

Jebin Johny, a UON graduate, created his clothing line with textile prints for women’s wear in India. He became a finalist in the British Council’s 2024 Study UK Alumni Awards. One of his works even “walked” the red carpet of Lakme Fashion Week.

Games Development

“Congratulations, traveller. You’ve cleared the College Level of your education!”

In this next mission, you will explore an interesting option at the University of Northampton (UON). The game development courses take you to the moon and back in game development. You may land yourself in either

  • Animation
  • Game Arts
  • Game Design
  • Esports

Furthermore, your degree can pair you with cross-disciplinary subjects. For instance, the Esports degree teaches you sports and exercise psychology while exploring marketing communications. Other examples are

  • Storyboarding and VFX
  • Programming with 3D Modelling
  • Database Design and Graphics (3D and Animation)
  • Concept Art and 3D Art for Game Engines

You also partake in different ‘side quests’ and ‘events’ based on your selected route. Students studying game design, game development, and game art get 1 group project each year. Meanwhile, guest lectures are part of the animation degree’s curriculum. Past guests include experts from:

  • Sony
  • Ubisoft
  • Splash Damage
  • Aardman Animations

No matter what you choose, remember to equip a strong foundation and practice your skills with UON’s resources, such as

  • Game development software like 3DS Max and Unity3D
  • Wacoms Cliniqs and Intuos
  • VR headsets
  • Game and Computer labs

🔖Student Highlight

When the pandemic drained placement opportunities, UON’s gaming graduates created a virtual preschool for their university’s Early Childhood students. As such, their fellow mates could safely probe and spot safety hazards in a simulated environment. 

Check out their labour of love

Meet the team:

  • Artists: William Marshall, Wednesday Garrett, Adelaide Essex, Thomas Mew Myatt, Reece Bowey, Cameron Torrie
  • Designer: Serena Green
  • Programmer: Bartosz Bielinski

Early Childhood Studies

They say kids are having too much screen time. But, the University of Northampton (UON)’s Early Childhood Education course teaches you to put more play and learning. Outdoors.

UON built a Forest School for lessons and research. If this is your first time hearing about it, a forest school hosts classes with Mother Nature around. For example, the teacher may show children the different insects in a forest or encourage teamwork while playing in a stream. Likewise, lecturers use this method to introduce another way to deliver a subject. So, don’t be afraid of getting your hands dirty to expand your toolkit!

students in the forest house
students in the forest house

Furthermore, your degree combines various disciplines into one, including

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Law
  • Early Years Pedagogy
  • Health

This means that you explore all aspects of nurturing infants and children. UON covers the little ones’ development, well-being, health and safety.

During your studies, you can undergo yearly placements and study trips. Placements last between 25 days (Y1, Y3) and 30 days (Y2). For anyone keen on spreading their wings, the University opens opportunities to

  • London
  • Burghley House
  • another European country

The best part is that this UK university paves pathways into and after your Undergraduate studies. UON partners with Methodist College Kuala Lumpur (MCKL) to offer MCKL’s diploma students a year at UON. Plus, completing the UG degree grants you a guaranteed interview for a Postgraduate Primary Education course.

*Do get the details from our Study Abroad Consultants before embarking.

🔖Student Highlight

Kym Chalmers, a 2018 graduate worked in a residential care home for children in 2019 and 2020. She landed a place in the challenging Frontline Programme and was set to become a qualified social worker. 

“As a young person, I wasn’t particularly confident in my academic skills, but whilst studying at the University of Northampton my tutors helped to build my confidence and nurtured my passion to advocate for young people.”

Multimedia Journalism

Flash floods in Perak? Or the 3rd Trump Assassination Attempt? UON’s Multimedia Journalism degree will sniff out the latest news.

The University of Northampton has dedicated facilities for the juiciest scoops. Its radio studio has a recording suite for broadcasts, podcasts and audio works. Meanwhile, the TV studio hosts cameras, greenscreens and broadcasting tools.


Moreover, UON is accredited by the British Journalism Training Council (BJTC). This is because it has quality subjects to keep you on your feet with the essential skills and knowledge. In class, you will learn about

  • the law and regulations
  • broadcast and design skills
  • news writing
  • history and ethics of journalism

Above all, there are many opportunities to unleash the journo in you. This degree incorporates a 15-day placement where you detail interesting news or create a programme. You can also volunteer at the community radio station, NLive or report exciting events. In the past, UON students have covered

  • The Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022
  • King Charles’ Coronation in 2023
  • Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain in 2024

“I was thrown into the deep end with some of the world’s greatest athletes and had to be professional getting interviews arranged and done. To be able to write on my CV that I worked at Birmingham 2022 is special and something that is going to go a long way with my future employability.” – Richard Smyth.

(Source: Students sprint to first place with Commonwealth Games coverage | UON)

🔖Student Highlight

Will Oelrich won Silver at the 2020 Community Radio Awards for his weekly Monday Morning Sports Show. He was buzzing as an NLive Radio presenter and has been studying multimedia journalism.

And, CUT! That’s a wrap for Section 3.2.

4. Entry Requirements & Intake Dates

4.1  University of Northampton Entry Requirements 2025

Minimum entry requirements for a Foundation:

  • SPM/ UEC: 5 passes

Accepted qualifications for Undergraduate Degree:

  • UEC
  • STPM
  • A-Level
  • IB Diploma
  • South Australian Matriculation
  • Canadian Pre-University
  • International Foundation

For specific entry requirements, reach out to our Study Abroad Consultants for more details.

Minimum entry requirements for Postgraduate Degree:

  • Undergraduate: Complete with a Class 3 grade.

Minimum language proficiency requirements (IELTS):

  • Foundation: 5.5 Overall
  • Undergraduate: 6.0 Overall

Postgraduate:  6.5 Overall

Some courses may require you to earn higher entry requirements and additional qualifications.

4.2 University of Northampton Intake Periods for 2025

The intake periods for UON in 2025 are as follows:

  • Degree: January, September
  • Postgraduate: January, September

Please note that the intake periods may vary depending on the courses. For specific intake periods and dates, click here (Coming Soon!).

4.3 Admission Process To Study In The UK

Need more information about how to study in the UK? Here are some articles that will be able to help you!

Check Eligibility With Uni Enrol

Talk to our experienced counsellors who will instantly let you know the requirements for your preferred courses!

5. Student Testimonials & Alumni

6. Conclusion

Why wait for opportunities when you can create them? The University of Northampton moved to its Waterside campus in 2018 and has over 170 courses. Its centralised location keeps everything you need at arm’s length, including your education.

With over 60 clubs and societies available there is no better place to find your passion. After all, it is never too young or too old to begin. You just need an experienced guide, like Uni Enrol to show you the first steps.

SEE OTHER UNI GUIDES

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