Located across the historic towns of Cheltenham and Gloucester in southwest England, the University of Gloucestershire (UoG) is an innovative, career-driven institution that combines rich academic tradition with a bold vision for the future. With a student community of over 11,300 and 900 dedicated staff members, the university is fast emerging as a preferred choice for students seeking real-world skills, academic excellence, and global exposure.
1. Campuses and Location
UoG operates across three campuses:
- Park Campus (Cheltenham) – Home to computing, engineering, creative arts, media and design programmes.
- Francis Close Hall (Cheltenham) – Dedicated to humanities, sciences, architecture, and illustration.
- Oxstalls Campus (Gloucester) – Focused on business, law, sports, health, and hospitality.
An exciting new City Campus is due to open in 2025 in the heart of Gloucester. Housed in the former Debenhams building, it will serve as a hub for over 4,000 students, featuring cutting-edge facilities including an EEG lab, VR room, simulation space, and a public library in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council.
Gloucestershire’s central location connects students to major cities like Bristol and Birmingham within an hour’s travel, while offering the calm and beauty of the Cotswolds – the UK’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
2. Academic Excellence and Postgraduate Opportunities
University of Gloucestershire is ranked in the Top 15 for postgraduate studies in the UK (WUSCA, 2023), offering over 100 postgraduate degree paths across 28 subject areas. With four academic schools – Business, Computing & Social Sciences; Creative Arts; Education & Science; and Health & Social Care – the university ensures teaching is grounded in both academic research and industry practice.
It has six priority research areas:
- Creative practice and theory
- Health, life sciences, sport and well-being
- Society and learning
- Applied business and technology
- Place, environment and community
- Culture, continuity and transformation
Research submitted across all subject areas was recognised as “internationally excellent” in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF).
UoG holds a TEF Silver rating, reflecting the high quality of teaching, student experience, and learning outcomes.
3. Teaching, Facilities & Real-World Learning
UoG prides itself on small class sizes, personalized academic support, and modern teaching methods. Many lecturers are National Teaching Fellows, industry practitioners, and active researchers.
Students benefit from:
- Cyber and computing suites with a high-performance computing cluster and cyber control labs.
- Mock hospital wards and clinical skills labs for healthcare training.
- Business School with a live trading room, moot court, and customer experience labs.
- Media studios, editing suites, radio/TV studios and an immersive sound lab for creative students.
- EEG and VR labs for psychology students.
- Sports facilities including a world-class sports arena, biomechanics labs, and therapy clinics.
Recent investments include:
- £5.8m to enhance cyber and computing facilities
- £3.3m for healthcare training spaces
- A £20m Oxstalls Business School and Growth Hub
- £2.6m redevelopment of science and biosciences labs at Francis Close Hall
4. Global Recognition & Sustainability Leadership
In 2023–24, UoG made its debut in the:
- QS World University Rankings: Sustainability, ranked in the top 300 globally for environmental sustainability.
- Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, placed in the top 1,000 globally.
UoG aims to become net zero carbon by 2030, and was the first UK university to switch to a fully digital undergraduate prospectus – a move that earned a Gold Award at the Heist Awards.
5. Career Support & Employability
Through its unique ‘Your Future Plan’ initiative, students receive personalized career coaching, workshops, and employer networking. UoG boasts strong industry links with NHS providers, CyNam (Cyber Cheltenham), Golden Valley, and the wider Gloucestershire economy.
- 95% of graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months (HESA, 2023)
- Career studios rated 9.6/10 by students (2024)
- The Growth Hub at Oxstalls supports over 150 businesses annually, offering placements, mentoring, and workshops.
6. Student Life, Community & Accommodation
UoG offers on-campus, en-suite accommodation starting from £150/week. All full-time postgraduate students are guaranteed housing. Off-campus support and housing listings are also provided.
Student life at UoG is vibrant:
- Over 80 clubs and societies
- Inclusive Students’ Union
- Events like Cheltenham Jazz, Science & Literature Festivals
- Outdoor activities in the Cotswolds
UoG is home to over 2,000 international students from 92+ countries, creating a truly global and welcoming environment.
7. Scholarships & Tuition Fees
For international students:
- Global Scholarship – £1,500 tuition discount (automatic)
- Postgraduate Merit Scholarship – £5,000 waiver (academic excellence)
- Sports Global Excellence Scholarship – £5,000 waiver (postgraduate athletes)
Tuition (2024/25 estimates):
- UK students: £8,075–£11,350/year
- International students: £17,100–£17,800/year
8. So Why Choose the University of Gloucestershire?
The University of Gloucestershire stands out as a future-focused institution rooted in over 175 years of teaching excellence. With inclusion in both the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024 and THE World University Rankings, it reflects a growing global reputation built on real impact.
The university offers a career-driven education, with 95% of students in employment or further study within 15 months, supported by its strong industry partnerships, applied research, and professional accreditations. Facilities include state-of-the-art cyber labs, media studios, mock hospital wards, and the upcoming City Campus in Gloucester set to open in 2025.
With three established campuses across Cheltenham and Gloucester, a thriving international community, and access to the stunning Cotswolds, students benefit from a uniquely supportive and connected environment.
Whether you’re pursuing creative arts, business, healthcare, education, or computing, the University of Gloucestershire delivers a learning experience that blends innovation, employability, and personal growth.
👉 Learn more at www.glos.ac.uk
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