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University of Salford

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The University of Salford is a public research university in Salford, Greater Manchester, England, 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) west of Manchester city centre. The Royal Technical Institute, Salford, which opened in 1896, became a College of Advanced Technology in 1956 and gained university status in 1967, following the Robbins Report into higher education.

University of Salford
Coat of Arms
University of Salford
MottoLatin: Altiora Petamus
Motto in English
"Let us seek higher things"
TypePublic
Established1850 - Pendleton Mechanics Institute
1896 – Royal Technical Institute, Salford
1967 – gained university status by Royal charter
Endowment£1.4m (2020)[1]
ChancellorLucy Meacock
Vice-ChancellorNic Beech
Administrative staff
2,781
Students26,260 (2022/23)[2]
Undergraduates19,470 (2022/23)[2]
Postgraduates6,790 (2022/23)[2]
Location
Salford
,
England, United Kingdom
CampusUrban, Parkland
ColoursBlack and Red
   
AffiliationsUniversity Alliance
Association of Commonwealth Universities
Northern Consortium
Universities UK
Websitesalford.ac.uk

It has 26,260 students (2022/23) and is in 160 acres (65 hectares) of parkland on the banks of the River Irwell.

History

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Origins of the Royal Technical Institute

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The oldest surviving building, housing the Royal Technical Institute upon its foundation, is now known as the Peel Building.

The university's origins can be traced to the opening in 1896 of the Royal Technical Institute, Salford, a merger of Salford Working Men's College (founded in 1858) and Pendleton Mechanics' Institute (founded in 1850).[3] The Royal Technical Institute received royal letters after the then-Duke and Duchess of York (later King George V and Queen Mary) officiated at its opening ceremony, an event commemorated in the university's Redbrick Peel Building and which allowed 'Royal' to be appended to the name of the institute.

At the start of the 20th century, mechanical engineering, chemical works, textiles and construction dominated the industrial scene in Salford. This heavily influenced the choice of subjects offered in the nine departments initially opened. These were Engineering, Electrical Engineering & Applied Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Building, Dyeing, Spinning & Weaving, Domestic, and Art. Some 1,240 students registered for the first session in these departments. There were originally 19 members of staff.

In 1921 the institute was renamed the Royal Technical College, Salford. In 1958 the institution split into two organisations: the remaining Royal Technical College and a breakaway institution, Peel Park Technical College. This changed its name first in 1961 to Salford Technical College, before becoming the Salford College of Technology in 1970, and finally University College Salford in 1992.

Royal College of Advanced Technology

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The Royal Technical College became a CAT in 1956, and became known as the Royal College of Advanced Technology. In 1963, the government completed an inquiry into the state of higher education in the United Kingdom and produced the Robbins Report, which paved the way for the Royal College of Advanced Technology (and other Colleges of Advanced Technology) to assume university status by Royal Charter.

University status

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The Royal College of Advanced Technology became the University of Salford on 10 February 1967, when Queen Elizabeth II handed over the institution's Royal Charter. A multistorey chemistry tower was built in the 1960s between the Peel Building and the Salford Library, Museum and Art Gallery, but it was pulled down in the 1980s due to the damage it was causing to the foundations of these nearby buildings. The first Vice-Chancellor was Clifford Whitworth, after whom the university's main library is named. The first Chancellor was Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who remained the university's chancellor until 1991. Prince Philip took a keen interest in the university and he visited the university's award-winning acoustics laboratories in 2008.[4] The breakaway University College Salford merged with the University of Salford in 1996, to form a single institution.[citation needed]

In 2012, the University of Salford announced a partnership with the UK's biggest arms company, (BAE Systems), and four other universities in northwestern England (Liverpool, Manchester, UCLAN and Lancaster) in order to work on the Gamma Programme, which aims to develop "autonomous systems". On 5 September 2016, Salford was represented for the third time on University Challenge and faced the Open University. The all male team, who sported the poet John Cooper Clarke as a mascot lost 210 to 115 points.

Campus and facilities

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University of Salford Building MediaCity UK
 
The Old Fire Station, used for conference events
 
Clifford Whitworth Library

The main Peel Park campus is less than 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres) from Manchester city centre on the banks of the River Irwell, adjacent to Peel Park, possibly the first public park in the world, which opened on 22 August 1846.[5] A former president of the Students' Union described Salford in 2007 as "a relaxed campus close to Manchester, but cheaper and greener."[6] Salford Crescent railway station is adjacent to the campus, and high frequency bus services operate to Manchester, Salford and Bolton and Liverpool. There are other university facilities within a mile of the main campus, namely the Frederick Road and Adelphi campuses. Most of the university administration buildings are along Salford Crescent, opposite the Peel Campus. The Salford Museum and Art Gallery, said to be the first unconditionally free public library in England,[7][8] is located on the Peel Park Campus.

MediaCityUK

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In October 2010 the university opened a learning, teaching and research space at MediaCityUK.[9] They will study in 39 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.[10]

Major investment projects

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Aerial photograph of the campus in 2011, with proposed new buildings added digitally

The university embarked on a £150 million programme of investment in 2004, to deliver new buildings and carry out major refurbishment projects. These included:

  • £22m Mary Seacole Building, opened in 2006, the purpose-built five-storey facility for the College of Health and Social Care.
  • £10m Lady Hale Building for the Salford Law School which opened in February 2008. The whole building acts as its own night storage heating and cooling system thanks to a "Termodeck" system.
  • £10m Innovation Forum Building
  • Joule Physics Laboratory[11] provides a suite of new, purpose-built physics teaching laboratories and is named after James Prescott Joule, whose former home is situated opposite the Peel Building.
  • Opened in October 2011 - A new building for the university's College of Arts, Media & Social Sciences designed by 3XN Architects[12] on the MediaCityUK site in Salford Quays - which will be home to five BBC departments.

In summer 2013 construction work started on the £55 million New Adelphi building. The building opened in September 2016 and houses music, performance, art, design and architecture students. Facilities include a 350 capacity theatre with flexible seating to suit a range of events, 140sqm studio theatre, 2 large TV acting studios, 36 dedicated rehearsal rooms, 6 industry-standard recording studios, 12 amplified performance spaces (music ensemble rooms), 2 dance studios, 3 floors of dedicated wood, metal, textiles, print and plastics workshops, 7 photographic studios, 14 instrumental tuition rooms, a double-height 100 sq m band-room/live room and a suite of flexible performance and studio spaces. It also features a small gallery space.[13]

An extension to the existing Newton Building, which houses the School of Computing, Science and Engineering, was awarded planning permission in May 2016. The £16 million project, known as the Engineering Showcase, was due to feature exhibition space to display engineering solutions, research/demonstration spaces, open-plan collaborative learning spaces, informal and formal presentation spaces, a café and 'maker-space'. Plans for the extension were put on hold in favour of a wider campus redesign, with the possibility of a brand new building to house teaching and laboratory facilities for a range of disciplines in Science, Engineering and Environment. An autonomous vehicle research centre was built in place of the proposed extension.[citation needed]

In July 2020 work started on a £65 million new engineering building to replace the aging Newton building, as of the time of writing, the new building is still being completed with work to move the equipment to the new building being carried out over the summer of 2022 with an anticipated opening date in September/October 2022.[14]

Library

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The Library was opened in 1971 by Prince Philip, the then chancellor of the university. It was renamed the Clifford Whitworth Library in 1984 following the death of the university's first vice-chancellor, Clifford Whitworth. A two-storey extension was added to the left of the building in the 1990s and was further extended in the 2000s into the top floor of Lady Hale Building via a link bridge. Between 2016 and 2018 the Clifford Whitworth Library went under a major £6.2 million refurbishment.

Facilities

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The Maxwell Building on the edge of the Peel Park Campus

Peel Hall has seating for nearly 400 people, hosts many musical performances and is the main venue for the midday recitals. The hall is housed in the Peel Building, a red brick and terracotta Victorian building on the Peel Park Campus.

The university's Robert Powell Theatre, named after the Salford-born actor, mostly stages live performances of modern works and participatory work for younger audiences.

At the heart of the Peel Park Campus, the Chapman Gallery hosts a wide range of modern and contemporary art exhibitions that showcase the work of up and coming artists, university staff, students and the community of Salford.

The Tom Husband Leisure Centre is on the Peel Park Campus and adjacent to the Students' Union. It contains a gym, 25m swimming pool, sauna and spa, squash courts, climbing wall, and a multi-use sports hall.

The Adelphi Studio Theatre is a small theatre venue based in the School of Music, Media and Performance's Adelphi Building.

Organisation and administration

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The installation of Chancellor Professor Jackie Kay MBE, 2015

Chancellors

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Vice-Chancellors

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Research and development centres

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The United National Institute for Prosthetics and Orthotics Development[17] is located in the university's Prosthetics and Orthotics division of its School of Health, Sport and Rehabilitation Sciences. It is the only prosthetics and orthotics higher education provider in England.[citation needed]

The KidsCan Children's Cancer Research Centre is in the university's John Armstrong Welsh Laboratories at the Centre for Biochemistry, Drug Design and Cancer Research.[18] It was established in 2002 to develop treatments with fewer side effects for children and young adults.[19]

Academic profile

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The university was organised into seven schools:[20]

  • School of Arts and Media
  • Salford Business School
  • School of Health Sciences
  • School of Health and Society
    • NB — The university's Schools of Health Sciences and Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work and Social Sciences have strong links with teaching NHS hospitals in the north-west of England and maintain a presence at the Salford Royal Hospital.
  • School of Computing, Science and Engineering
  • School of Environment and Life Sciences
  • School of the Built Environment

After a series of mergers, in 2018 and 2019, the university is now organised into four schools:[20]

  • School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology
  • School of Science, Engineering and Environment
  • School of Health and Society
  • Salford Business School

International students come from China, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Greece, Nigeria, the Republic of Ireland, Romania, Malaysia and Bulgaria. Previously, with its three colleges, 12 schools, nearly 20,000 students, and over 2,500 staff, Salford had a turnover of some £156m in 2006/07. A report from social and economic impact report published in 2019, sets the turnover to £180.5m in 2019,[21]

The university is a founding member of the Northern Consortium of universities.

In October 2008 it was announced that compulsory redundancies were likely at the university, as part of a plan to save £12.5 million over three years. A notice by the university registrar said that Salford needed to invest £300 million in university estate and £40 million in moving the arts and media faculty to the "MediaCityUK" site at Salford Quays, where the BBC is to establish its northern headquarters. The notice went on to say that these additional costs came in the context of a number of pressures: salary bills that had "exceeded the university's expectations"; a "serious problem" with student retention; the "credit crunch"; and three "seriously underperforming" schools. Affected schools include the School of Nursing, Salford Business School and the School of Community Health Sciences and Social Care.[22]

Teaching quality and rankings

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Rankings
National rankings
Complete (2025)[23]73=
Guardian (2025)[24]83
Times / Sunday Times (2025)[25]72
Global rankings
QS (2025)[26]901–950
THE (2025)[27]801–1000

In the 2018 Guardian University League Tables, the University of Salford placed 99th, down from 83rd in 2017.[28] The Times newspaper ranked Salford 105th out of 123 UK institutions in 2015, from 84th of 114 in 2010.[29][30]

Student life

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University House on the Peel Park Campus is home to the University of Salford Students' Union (USSU). As well as representing students, the union plays host to a number of services, including shops and a bar.

The Two Cities Boat Race is an annual boat race that has been running since 1972. It is now an established event in the sporting and social calendar of Salford and Manchester. The event is also significant for the amount of work put in by volunteers from both universities, to help with event set-up, stewarding, and programme selling, raising money for many different charities. In 2007 the recipient of the proceeds was SPARKS, a charity that supports medical research for children.

In 1971–72, the University Rugby League club won the UAU Championship, beating Sheffield University in the final at The Willows, then home of Salford Rugby League Club.

Accommodation

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Horlock and Constantine Courts on the Peel Park Campus, now demolished after the completion of Peel Park Quarter.
 
The view from the 'Lowry 2' building of the University of Salford's Peel Park Quarter student accommodation looking towards Manchester.

There are five self-catered halls of residence:

  • Peel Park Quarter
  • Eddie Colman and John Lester Courts
  • Bramall Court
  • iQ Salford, Seaford Road
  • Sanctuary Students - Tramways, Seaford Road

Peel Park Quarter encompasses nine buildings of flats owned by Campus Living Villages, comprising a total of 1,367 rooms.[31] There are six variations of rooms, including wheelchair accessible en-suite rooms. This complex opened for students in summer 2015.

Eddie Colman and John Lester Courts are two blocks of flats containing 755 rooms in total, and each flat is shared between two, three or four people. The flats are the closest accommodation to Salford Shopping City in Pendleton – colloquially referred to as the Precinct. Eddie Colman and John Lester Courts were sold by the University of Salford to Campus Living Villages in December 2008. These became CLV's first British properties. Eddie Colman was a resident of nearby Archie Street, the model for the television series Coronation Street, and was a player for Manchester United. He was killed in the Munich Disaster of 6 February 1958 along with seven other players.[32][33]

Constantine Court was the only en suite university-owned accommodation, which consisted of 80 rooms in seven houses. This accommodation was in the centre of the main university campus, close to the Students' Union shop, a bank and Salford Crescent railway station. Adjacent Horlock Court comprised 168 rooms in 14 houses.

Bramall Court contains flats close to the Adelphi Campus. The flats are shared between two, three or four. Bramall Court is now owned by Campus Living Villages.[34]

Castle Irwell Student Village was the largest area of accommodation, housing up to 1,600 students, and is on the site of the old Manchester Racecourse.[35] Castle Irwell was a popular choice for first years, due to the cheap rent, however Castle Irwell is no longer in use and has been superseded by the on-campus Peel Park Quarter. In 2016 the main building on the Castle Irwell site, known as 'the pav', was burned down in an arson attack.[36] Shortly after, demolition of the burnt and other derelict buildings on site commenced and completely cleared by early 2017.

iQ Salford, Seaford Road is owned and run by iQ Student Accommodation. This accommodation site consists of a square of houses around a central reception, lounge, and laundry building, with an independent gym. Each house contains six flats, which are typically shared by six people with en suite bathrooms. The site also has deluxe rooms available for an extra cost. This accommodation is very close to Castle Irwell. The site includes purpose-built SPAR, Subway and Greggs shops.

Tramways, Seaford Road is independently run by Sanctuary Students. Its name originates from the old tram depot, run by Manchester Corporation Tramways, that was located on the same site.

Sports

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The university currently has 35 sports clubs ranging from football to ultimate (originally known as ultimate Frisbee). Each year, Salford and Chester University take part in a varsity challenge. This began in 2016 at Chester's campus. In 2016, 19 sports were involved and Chester won 12-7 overall. The following year took place at Salford, and with an overall score of 12–8, Salford took the trophy.

Student body

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At Salford there is still a difference in the degrees obtained by White students and those obtained by BAME students. The reported gap for 2017/2018 for first and 2.1 class degree level is 15% between white and BAME students as published in a university report.[37] The students' union believe that the Black attainment gap is a result of institutional and systemic failures within the institution, including a lack of diversity within teaching, inadequate support services and covert racism and microagressions towards BME students.[38] The university intend to respond by creating an 'inclusive environment'. To date this has involved surveying students and signing up to the Race Equality Charter. This is crucial, as The university has 10% more BAME students than the national average at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. As of 9 August 2018, BAME staff representation (13%) does not match the BAME student population representation. Whilst there have been a 2% increase in BAME lecturers being hired, there is an 8% decrease in promotion to senior lecturer level and a 3% increase at Professorial level. The university report states that '...it is important that we consider the pipeline for BAME academics to address this decrease.'. In October 2019, the university hosted a two-week festival on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, with the theme, 'belonging at Salford'. As part of this, a one-day symposium featured keynote speaker, Nicola Rollock, a leading figures with a vision for equality, diversity and inclusion. There were presentations on the BAME Attainment Gap, a panel discussion of BAME women in HE, and networking opportunities for academics and students.[39]

Representation of female staff is 51% compared to 56% undergraduate students. The number of staff who are LGBT is 4% and is equivalent to the number of students who report as being LGBT, however it is worth noting that 49% of students didn't report their sexuality. There is an underrepresentation of disabled staff (4%) compared to undergraduate students (21%).

Notable people

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Main article: List of University of Salford people

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Financial Statements for the year ending 31 July 2020" (PDF). University of Salford. p. 46. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. ^ Baseline Retrieved on 19 March 2009.
  4. ^ "Royals visit Manchester". Manchester Evening News. M.E.N. Media. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  5. ^ City of Salford's Parks. Archived 11 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine Date of page creation: 6 August 2007. Retrieval Date: 1 October 2007.
  6. ^ The Times Online, Review of the University of Salford. Date of page creation:21 September 2007. Retrieval Date: 1 November 2007.
  7. ^ manchesteronline: Eye witness in Manchester Retrieved on 5 September 2008.
  8. ^ "Report of the Lead Member for Planning to Council on 21st May 2008". Salford. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  9. ^ Laura Oliver (5 August 2010). "University of Salford to move 39 courses to new MediaCityUK campus". Journalism.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Programmes | University of Salford - A Greater Manchester University". Mcuk.salford.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  11. ^ "Physics - School of Computing, Science & Engineering - University of Salford, Manchester". Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  12. ^ "2XWinners". arcspace.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  13. ^ "New Adelphi". www.salford.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 26 October 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  14. ^ University of Salford. "NEW SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENT BUILDING".
  15. ^ "Professor Sir Martin Harris CBE, DL: The Chancellor". University of Salford. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
  16. ^ "Amnesty International's Secretary General becomes the University of Salford's new Chancellor". University of Salford. Archived from the original on 6 January 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
  17. ^ "School of Health Sciences - University of Salford, Manchester". University of Salford. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  18. ^ Biomedical Sciences Research. Centre for Biochemistry, Drug Design and Cancer Research. University of Salford, p. 1.
  19. ^ KidsCan, 2002, p. 2.
  20. ^ a b "About Us". www.salford.ac.uk. Manchester: University of Salford. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Salford untold" (PDF). www.salford.ac.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Jobs threatened as Salford looks to save £12.5 million". Times Higher Education. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  23. ^ "Complete University Guide 2025". The Complete University Guide. 14 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Guardian University Guide 2025". The Guardian. 7 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Good University Guide 2025". The Times. 20 September 2024.
  26. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2025". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. 4 June 2024.
  27. ^ "THE World University Rankings 2025". Times Higher Education. 9 October 2024.
  28. ^ "University league tables 2018". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  29. ^ "The Times and Sunday Times University League Tables". The Times and Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 December 2014.[dead link‍]
  30. ^ Watson, Roland; Elliott, Francis; Foster, Patrick. "University Rankings League Table 2010". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  31. ^ Manchester, University of Salford (6 October 2015). "£81m Peel Park Quarter officially opened | University of Salford, Manchester". www.salford.ac.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  32. ^ Manchester, University of Salford. "Accommodation - Life at Salford - University of Salford, Manchester". Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  33. ^ Loo, Daryl. "Student homes shine amid Europe property gloom." Reuters. Friday 10 July 2009. Retrieved on 5 October 2011.
  34. ^ CLV Salford website Archived 27 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^ "Racecourse opponents hold meeting". BBC News. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  36. ^ Britton, Paul (13 July 2016). "Castle Irwell student village fire was arson, say police". men. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  37. ^ "Archived" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2023.[dead link‍]
  38. ^ "Wayback Machine has not archived that URL". www.salfordstudents.com. Retrieved 9 April 2023.[dead link‍]
  39. ^ "Launch event – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Symposium". Retrieved 28 December 2019.
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