The University of Suffolk was originally established as University Campus Suffolk (UCS) in 2007, and transformed the provision of higher education in Suffolk and beyond. Subsequently, on the 1 August 2016, the first independent University of Suffolk was officially launched. The story actually stems back to the Tudor period, when Cardinal Wolsey established Cardinal College (now Christ Church College), for which he planned a number of feeder colleges; the main one of which was to be in Ipswich. Some 500 years later, Suffolk now has its own university and the legacy of Cardinal Wolsey is firmly rooted within the history of education in Ipswich. We recognise the significant role that the student body has played in this transformation and are sure our students and graduates have lots of memories of how our Ipswich Campus and each of our partner colleges have developed and changed. The gallery below gives a small snapshot of how much our Ipswich Campus has changed.The University of Suffolk is all about transformation – transforming individuals, our community, our region and beyond. We have absorbed the best traditions in higher education and aligned them with the modern world of employment and entrepreneurship. We are a distinctive, thriving academic community making a clear and immediate impact. Our purpose is to change lives – of individuals and communities, for the better. In a world where nothing ever stays the same, we all need to change, evolve, succeed and change again. That’s what we do. Be bold and do the same. Together we achieve more.Our vision: by 2030 we will be recognised as an empowering force for individual and community growth and development. We will be recognised for the major contribution we make to the health and wellbeing of the people in our region and acknowledged for lasting social and sustainable economic transformation.We are strongly embedded in our local region - a University of, and for the people. Through research and innovation, our national and international impact brings recognition and opportunity to the region supporting growth and development. The University of Suffolk is all about transformation – transforming individuals, our community, our region and beyond. Education, training and research are powerful tools to support transformation and change; we believe that by facilitating the development of skills, knowledge and behaviours we will enable our students, our community and our region to be enriched, enhanced and impacted socially, culturally and economically. We are committed to putting students at the centre of our thinking and the strong partnership between students and staff at the University is central to our ambitions. In a rapidly changing world, we have created a stable and supportive community where our students experience the highest quality in teaching, learning and social environments. Scholarships and high impact research are ingrained within the institution and we offer our students a transformational experience to prepare them for their future. In 2003 Suffolk County Council established a "stakeholder group" to investigate the possibility of establishing a university in the county. Suffolk was the largest English county that didn't host a university. The group included representatives from the University of East Anglia, the University of Essex, West Suffolk College, the East of England Development Agency, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Suffolk Learning and Skills Council, Suffolk County Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Suffolk Chief Executive's Group and the Suffolk Development Agency.Following funding pledges from Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council in 2004, the plan was backed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) with £15m worth of funding in 2005 and attracted a £12.5m grant from the East of England Development Agency in 2006 The institution was officially launched under the name 'University Campus Suffolk' on 1 August 2007 and welcomed its first students in September of the same year. Because UCS did not have degree-awarding powers, its students received their degrees from either the University of East Anglia or the University of Essex via a cooperative agreement. The institution was later granted degree-awarding powers by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in November 2015, and in May 2016 it was awarded University status by the Privy Council. As a consequence, UCS was renamed The University of Suffolk in August 2016 and began awarding degrees in its own right.The University of Suffolk's main hub is located in Ipswich on the historical Ipswich Waterfront. The Ipswich campus is spread across a compact area on the Waterfront with various university buildings. The principle university building is known simply as the Waterfront Building and was designed by RMJM Architects, the Waterfront Building was opened in September 2008 and cost £35 million to build. It has three lecture halls, and 34 smaller teaching rooms.The six-storey James Hehir Building was officially opened in March 2011 at a cost of £21 million It is named after the former chief executive of Ipswich Borough Council and includes Cult Cafe. Campus North houses the library or "Learning Resource Centre". Onsite student accommodation is provided in the 600-room Athena Hall, located adjacent to the James Hehir building. The most recent addition to the growing campus is The Hold, this building houses the majority of the Suffolk Record Office's collection and provides various facilities to the university including a lecture hall. The Ipswich campus offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including Art and Design, Business Management, Computing, Education, Film, Law, Nursing and Midwifery.
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Watch the videos to learn about the student life-cycle and the teaching environment at the University.
The University of Suffolk is celebrating after its green credentials earned it a place in the top ten of a national league table.
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