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Hertfordshire University

UCAS Code: H36

Location: Hertfordshire, north of London Show on Map

Site: Main Hatfield campus; partner colleges

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Overview
Profile
Courses
Colleges
Student View
Applying
Open Days
Gallery
Contact

A modern university; a member of the University Alliance group of universities.

Student Population

Total Students:	27,705
Undergraduates:	78%
Postgraduates:	22%
FE Students:	0%

Undergraduates

Total undergraduates:	21,650
Male:	45%
Female:	55%
Full Time:	81%
Mature on Entry:	24%
UK Students:	86%
State school entry:	97%

Teaching Staff

670 full-time.

Broad study areas

Aerospace, automotive & design engineering; art & design; business; computer science; education; electronic, communication & electrical engineering; film & media; humanities; law; life science; music; nursing & midwifery; paramedic sciences, physiotherapy & radiography; physics, astronomy & mathematics; psychology; social, community & health studies.

Freshers

Admission Information:	UCAS tariff used; all qualifications count towards tariff but minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent required.
Points on Entry (Mean):	241
Drop Out Rate:	7%
Accommodation:	All first years housed who apply by deadline.

Institution

Founded:	1952. Previously Hatfield Poly until university status granted in 1992.
Site:	Twin campuses (Hatfield College Lane, and Hatfield de Havilland) 20 miles north of London; campuses 1 km apart, linked by paths, cycle routes and continuous shuttle bus.
How to get there:	Hatfield at Junction 3 of the A1(M); fairly near railway stations with regular fast (20 mins) services from London King's Cross.

Student services & facilities

Student advice & services:	Specialist help and personal tutorial system. General medical and nursing facilities, professional counsellors, chaplaincy, day nursery, disabled student officer, financial and legal advisory services. Some residential accommodation on each campus for disabled students.
Amenities:	SU buildings; music and drama centres.
Sporting facilities:	Sports village at de Havilland campus has 100-station health & fitness centre, 12 badminton court sports hall, 8-lane swimming pool, exercise studio, 12-metre climbing wall, squash courts, 4-lane indoor cricket hall, 3 astroturf pitches, 3 grass football and 1 rugby pitches. Over 30 sporting clubs.
Accommodation:	All first years who apply and meet university criteria are in university residences. All places are self-catering, rents £82.50−£100 per week (from £67.50 pw sharing, up to £116 ensuite), contracts Sept-June. Privately-owned accommodation locally, £94–£118 pw plus bills.

Study opportunities & careers

Library & information services:	500,000 volumes, over 10,000 journal titles; networked online information services on- and off-campus, including StudyNet virtual learning environment. Information provision, £108 pa spent for each student (FTE). Integrated computing, library and media services open 24/7. Learning resources centres with 2900 study spaces, 1500 computer workstations (all with internet access) and wireless network for use of personal laptops; ratio workstations to students 1:8. Induction to library & information service (LIS) for all new students; expert advice and support (on-campus helpdesks, telephone helpline, online help guides and drop-in skills sessions).
Other learning resources:	Field centre, observatory, audio-visual aids service, sports science laboratories, multimedia centre.
Study abroad:	Formal exchange links with 70 universities and colleges across Europe, North America, SE Asia & Australia.
Careers:	Advisory and placement service; recruitment fair.

Money

Living expenses budget:	Minimum budget of £130−£140 pw(excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.
Term-time work:	University allows term-time work for full-time students (80% believed to work). Some work available on campus in bars, offices, sports coaches, grounds staff, library, catering etc (own students employed wherever possible); also UHSU employment office helps find work off-campus.
Financial help:	Awards of £3000 in Year 1 (£1500 pa thereafter) for English students whose family income is up to £25k pa and who also live in a specified postcode, are on incapacity benefit or who are care leavers. Also scholarships of 500−£2000 pa for those with high entry qualifications, from specific post codes, on particular courses or for achievement in sports. Also government funds of £841,000. Special help: single parents, low-income families, plus students in severe hardship due to exceptional circumstances (demand for funds always exceeds supply).
University tuition fees:	Home students pay £7400, £7800 or £8500 pa for first degrees (depending on the course; £5800 pa for foundation degrees and extended degrees. International students pay £9000 pa (classroom-based), or £10,000 (lab/workshop based); £500 discount if paid in full at registration.

Courses

Academic features:

Most courses on modular structure; high proportion are sandwich courses. Many joint Honours and combined programmes available.

Awarding body:

University of Hertfordshire.

Main undergraduate awards:

BA, BEd, BEng, BSc, LLB, MEng, MPhys.

Length of courses:

3 years; 4 years (sandwich); 4−5 years (extended degrees); 2 years (LLB).

Main subjects offered:

Accountancy
Advertising
Aerodynamics
Aeronautical Engineering
Air Transport Engineering
Animation
Art
Artificial Intelligence
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Automotive Engineering
Avionics
Biochemistry
Biological Chemistry
Biology
Biomedical Science
Biotechnology
Broadcasting
Business Administration
Business Economics
Business Studies
Ceramics
Childhood Studies
Communication Engineering
Computational Mathematics
Computer Science
Computer Technology
Computing
Contemporary Decorative Arts/Crafts
Counselling
Creative/Performance Writing
Dietetics
Digital Microelectronics
Ecology
Economics
Education
Electrical Engineering
Electronic Engineering
Electronics
Energy Engineering
Engineering (General)
Engineering Mathematics
English
Environmental Management
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
European Business Studies
European Studies
Events Management
Fashion
Film Music
Film Studies
Finance
Geography
Glass
Graphic Design
Health
History
Human Biology
Human Resource Management
Human Sciences
Humanities
Illustration
Industrial Design
Informatics
Information Science
Information Systems
Information Technology
Interactive Games Production
Interior Design
International Business
Internet Technology
Journalism
Law
Linguistics
Management
Marketing
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Media Studies
Media Technology
Medical Imaging
Medical Microbiology
Microbiology
Microelectronics
Midwifery
Molecular Biology
Motor Sport Engineering
Multimedia
Music
Music Technology
Nursing
Palliative Care
Performance Arts
Pharmacology
Pharmacy
Philosophy
Photography
Physical Education
Physics
Physiology
Physiotherapy
Popular Music
Product Design
Psychology
Radiography
Social Work
Software Engineering
Sports Sciences
Sports Studies
Teacher Training
Telecommunications Engineering
Textiles
Three-Dimensional Design
Tourism
TV Studies
Video
Virtual Design
Visual Arts
Web Development/Design

Student view

Ricky Valdiny, SU President (Cognitive Science)

Living

What's it like as a place to live? Hatfield at first sight looks like a pretty bleak town, but after living here for four years it has developed a subtle charm. The town itself is made up of little more than a shopping mall and a supermarket but its links with other cities is outstanding. In 20 minutes you can be in London and 15 will take you into the historic city of St Albans.

How's the student accommodation? Student accommodation varies a great deal in Hatfield. On campus it comes in two forms, cheap and cheerful or expensive and stylish. Cheap and cheerful are halls on the College Lane campus and although at first sight they look like reformed prison cells, actually feel very homely once you get used to it. On de Havilland campus you will find luxury accommodation but this is rather pricey. Off campus generally is of less quality and more expensive with a few exceptions.

What's the student population like? Student population is incredibly diverse with around 80 different nationalities, with a sizeable international cohort from China, India and Africa.

How do students and locals get on? Students and locals for the most part do not get on but the university and students' union are developing a new £37 million venue which will be open to the public in an attempt to mend this rift.

Studying

What's it like as a place to study? It is highly dependent on the course you study. Subjects such as business and law are particularly good, engineering has a good tradition at UH and Psychology has some world-class lecturers. Subjects such as art and humanities can be less fulfilling.

What are the teaching staff like? Again depending on course, but there are some amazing lecturers with world class reputations and a few that aren't.

Socialising

What are student societies like? Societies have really taken off in the past year or so with the addition of around ten new ones emerging since 2007. These include everything from the discussion society to slick and glamorous (a talent society).

What's a typical night out? Student union bar followed by the Font (student union club).

And how much does it cost? Varies. Because of our proximity to London, prices are higher than some competitor unions but with numerous promotions like pound-a-pint this restores value.

How can you get home safely? Shuttle buses are available to ferry students home safely.

Money

Is it an expensive place to live? It's affordable for most students but not cheap.

Average price of a pint? £2.10.

And the price of a takeaway? £4.

What's the part-time work situation? The students union has its own employment agency and actively seeks to pair students with part-time jobs. The university is also a large employer of students.

Summary

What's the best feature about the place? Old Hatfield and Hatfield House.

And the worst? Hatfield town centre.

And to sum it all up? Don't judge a book by its town centre.

More info?

Contact UHSU on 01707 285000 or visit www.uhsu.herts.ac.uk.

Open days

16th June 2012

University open day, 9.30 am to 3.30 pm. Find out what studying at Hertfordshire is really like; visit College Lane and de Havilland campuses; talk to staff and students; see the accommodation and new entertainment venue (the Forum); find out about student finance. Book online.