Edge Hill University

Founded in Edge Hill, Liverpool in 1885 as the first non-denominational teacher training college for women, the institution quickly grew and moved to the current Ormskirk location in 1933. It was granted the power to award taught degrees in 2005 and was renamed as Edge Hill University in 2006. It has historic links to the suffragette movement and hosts a suffragette symposium every year, with the university’s colours of gold, green and heliotrope (purple) reflecting this historic link. It is still known for its high quality teacher training courses. It has 11 faculties: biology, business (at the Edge Hill Business School), computer science, English, history and creative writing, geography, law and criminology, media, performing arts, psychology, social sciences and sport and physical activity. The Ormskirk campus is in the administrative centre of West Lancashire and is a traditional British market town, midway between Liverpool and the country town of Preston, which the Woodlands campus is based in Chorley, central Lancashire. Its academic community is made up of almost 12,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, with another 4,000 on part time programmes. Notable alumni include journalist Stuart Maconie, actor Jonathan Pryce, radio DJ Danny Howard and the UK’s first ever female barrister, Helena Normanton QC. An area boasting many nearby sites of natural beauty, students can explore the Lake District and Peak District easily. International travel is made easy with the nearby Manchester and Liverpool airports and the seaside town of Blackpool is easily accessible from Edge Hill University too.