University of Hull

The University of Hull was established in 1927 and opened its doors one year later to an initial cohort of just 39 students and 14 departments, all operating out of a single building. Originally an outpost of the University of London, the then University College Hull offered courses in the arts and pure sciences, before becoming an independent institution (and Yorkshire’s third university) in 1954. Today, it offers over 2,000 courses to 18,000 students across six faculties, with its academic portfolio comprising 50 disciplines in the arts and humanities, business, education, health, the sciences and the social sciences. Courses are split between two campuses, with the main one located two miles north of Hull city centre in leafy, redbrick surrounds. Its second campus is in the seaside town of Scarborough, 40 miles from Hull and within an hour’s drive of the city of York. A £28-million refurbishment of the university’s Brynmor Jones Library was recently finalised with other redevelopments underway: a further £70 million is being invested in a performance and concert venue, new student accommodation and a revolutionary ‘health hub’ for medical training. The university is home to plenty of green open space, bars, coffee shops, gardens and plazas, as well as its award-winning, on-campus nightclub, Asylum, which hosts concerts and live music events. Away from the campus, Hull is a cultural hotspot, home to festivals, art galleries, theatre companies, and live comedy and music venues. In 2017, Hull becomes the UK’s City of Culture when a year-long programme of festivities takes place. In the same year it will also host the Turner Prize – one of the biggest events in British art. The University of Hull has been the birthplace of many notable discoveries, including the scientific research that led to the development of LCD screens and the first ever bone density scanner. Its alumni includes the Oscar-winning film director Anthony Minghella, poet Roger McGough, BBC Radio 4 presenter Jenni Murray, and the journalist John McCarthy. The poet Philip Larkin was the university’s librarian for 30 years and wrote some of his most celebrated poetry whilst working there.