Why choose Huddersfield
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Huddersfield makes a great first choice university. Here's why.
Choosing your degree course is a big deal. You’re probably looking at various universities, trying to weigh up what’s good about this one? What’s better about that one? Where’s the best location? Who’s got the best facilities?
There’s lots to think about, but to help we’ve picked out just a few of the many reasons to study at Huddersfield.
We're recognised for our teaching excellence.
- We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award. It recognised the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).
- *Triple proof of teaching excellence; our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2022).
- We are joint first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 20 since 2008 (2022 data).
- We were the first and are the only university in UK where 100% of permanent teaching staff are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy**. So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you be the best.
- The University of Huddersfield achieved a Gold Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) award in June 2017. This award expired in June 2021 and the scheme is currently being revised. We look forward to being reassessed when the awards are re-opened in 2023. The award recognised that the University of Huddersfield delivers consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. It is of the highest quality found in the UK.
**Permanent staff, after probation: some recently appointed colleagues will only obtain recognition in the months after their arrival in Huddersfield once they have started teaching.
More than a degree on your CV
Our emphasis on ensuring our students are prepared for the world of work means that you’ll leave university with more than just a degree. You’ll gain skills to get you noticed by employers and be supported in developing a stand-out CV. This includes the chance to achieve the Global Professional Award alongside your degree so that you gain valuable skills and attributes that we know employers are looking for.
One of the many reasons why we won the award for best University Employability Strategy at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021.
Professional work placements are a key part of student life
One of the reasons employers have such confidence in Huddersfield graduates is due to the real-world experience they gain from placements.
Huddersfield is one of the Top 20 universities in the UK for work placements***. You might also know them as sandwich courses.
***HESA Student Record 20/21
Learn more about placements here.
Placements are a valuable part of the courses here at Huddersfield. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, placement opportunities may be more limited, but with our excellent industry links and connections we'll still do everything we can to ensure you have access to real-world experience throughout your course.
We know how much employers value graduates who have real-world experience on their CV and that’s why we encourage our students to make the most of the opportunities available. Our students have worked with companies such as the BBC, Pfizer, UK Ministry of Justice, NHS and Bang and Olufsen to name but a few.
Our campus
To achieve great things at university you don’t just need inspirational teaching. Top class facilities and resources help too. We’ve invested over £156m in some exciting new buildings to make our campus a great place to be. Take our recently opened £30m Barbara Hepworth building. This is the new home of art, design and architecture. An exciting hub of creative studios and technology facilities.
Our University Plaza is the home of Student Central, the hub of University life. This £22.5m building combines access to the library, computing, sport, leisure and eating space all under one roof.
You’ll also get to use some fantastic facilities as part of your course. To find out more visit our course finder.
Find out more about our campus, including accommodation options, on the Explore our Campus page.
“When I visited the campus I was blown away! Everything was close by and I got this really positive vibe”.
Rhys Khan Childhood Studies BA(Hons).
Now what?
Placement year at GTA (Govia Thameslink Railway)
Placements are a key part of the courses at Huddersfield. We know how much employers value graduates who have real-world experience on their CV and that’s why we encourage our students to make the most of the opportunities available.
One of our Transport and Logistics Management students, Zubin Motashaw talked to us about his placement at GTA (Govia Thameslink Railway).
“From a young age, I knew I’d always wanted to work in the transport industry and I was proud to play a part in helping two major rail projects take place successfully during my placement at GTR”.
I worked on the East Coast Upgrade Project and the construction of Brent Cross West Station. For both projects, I was responsible for planning the rail replacement operation and updating the train service specification”.
“My course has helped me prepare for my long-term career. All of my tutors have experience of working in the transport or logistics industries and my work placement has given me a great taste of life in the working world.”
John Calvin Mafura
John-Calvin Mafura, one of our Software Engineering BSc(Hons) students talked to us about his year’s placement with Sony Electronics.
“The Artificial Intelligence (AI) module on my course was great preparation for my year in industry. At uni, the computers also have software that’s used in the real world, like PyCharm, so I was already familiar with it when I started my placement.
“I worked on an AI project at Sony which was to track the performance of the new Sony Bravia TV. The project gave me experience of exciting new concepts like neural networks, object detection and multithreading/processing. My placement year has inspired me to pursue a career in software engineering especially within the artificial intelligence/machine learning field.
“I’ve also gained professional qualifications alongside my degree and digital skills accreditations. And I’ve entered coding competitions and challenges such as Google Kick Start and Hacktoberfest.
“All this, combined with the teaching on my course, has made me a much more confident software engineer than when I started and will really help me to transition into life after uni.”
Dr Todd Borlik
Reader in English Literature at Huddersfield, Dr Todd Borlik talked to us about what he loves about working here.
“The Yorkshire countryside is so striking and atmospheric and I was blown away by the stunning architecture in Huddersfield. The University is a diverse and vibrant community and the teaching staff are truly dedicated to their students”
Having previously taught at the University of Washington and Bloomsburg University, Todd likes how well the UK education system enables teachers to get to know their students, and believes his teaching has been enhanced as a result.
Adapting teaching to the needs of students
“Students learn in different ways and I adapt my teaching methods because of this”
Todd describes how his approach to teaching has been shaped by his students:
“In response to conversations with BAME (black, Asian, and minority ethnic) students at Huddersfield, I developed a module titled ‘Global Shakespeares’, which surveys the vibrant history of Shakespearean adaptation across cultures all over the world.”
The module was met with such enthusiasm from students that it won a ‘Diversity Prize for Curriculum Innovation at the University.’ Todd says of the award,
“It was indisputably one of the highlights of my teaching career.”
What makes a great teacher?
“Perhaps the most important thing a teacher can do is to radiate conviction in the significance of the subject”
English Literature BA(Hons) student Hanfaa Maqsood agrees.
“You can walk into Todd's class believing you know a text and your opinions on it, but you'll come out considering other viewpoints.”
Todd’s passion and enthusiasm for his subject are clearly infectious. “I wear my enthusiasm for Shakespeare on my sleeve” he said.
Hanfaa added:
"Todd’s passion for his subject makes his lessons incredibly engaging.”