University of Keele, Britain

With its pioneer four-year dual degree programme, Keele boasts the UK’s highest rates for graduate employment with over 92 percent finding work within six months

Featuring Britain’s largest integrated campus sprawling across a 600 acre estate in north Staffordshire, the University of Keele (estb. 1949) is internationally acclaimed for offering its 5,600 students a broad, inter-disciplinary education. Since its promotion 48 years ago, Keele has pioneered its four-year dual degree programme under which students graduate in two subjects after completing a foundational one-year multi-disciplinary study programme. It also offers a range of single honours degree programmes across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and medicine and the health professions.

Moreover Keele has one of the UK’s highest rates for graduate employment with over 92 percent of graduates finding work or enrolling in higher study programmes within six months of graduating.

Comments Janet Finch, vice-chancellor of Keele: "Our reputation nationally has been enhanced by a series of reports and league tables published by the national press during the year. A report in the Daily Telegraph based on HESA’s performance indicators placed Keele in ‘an Ivy League’ of 12 universities which had a graduation rate of 90 percent or more and one of the lowest drop-out rates in the country. Figures produced by the Times Higher Education Supplement acknowledge Keele as one of the fastest growing universities in the UK, while the university moved up 13 places in the Times Good University Guide and the Guardian University Guide."

Keele was the first new UK university of the twentieth century, established with degree granting powers in 1949 as the University College of North Staffordshire. University status, as the University of Keele, followed in 1962. Located centrally within the UK, in Staffordshire, the university is a major contributor to the local economy. With a turnover in excess of £50 million, (Rs.400 crore) and a total staff of some 1,400, the university generates around £40 million of business in the region.

Newcastle-under-Lyme. Keele is situated in a region of the West Midlands in north Staffordshire popularly known as the Potteries. The nearest town is Newcastle-under-Lyme (ten minutes by bus) and Stoke-on-Trent (including Hanley, a huge shopping hub) is just a couple of miles further. Newcastle-under-Lyme is a small but bustling town offering a variety of bars, cafes, restaurants, department stores, shops and a cinema, while Hanley is a premier stopover of the national club scene. The area dotted with stately homes and castles, also boasts a proud industrial heritage — it is here that Wedgwood, Royal Doulton and Spode china are all made. Moreover the cities of Birmingham and Manchester are only an hour’s drive away, while London is under two hours by train. The weather in Keele is rainy and windy with temperatures dipping to -5o C in winter.

Campus facilities. The University of Keele is set on 600 acres of landscaped parkland fields, woodlands, and lakes. Modern teaching and living blocks contrast with the 19th century Keele Hall and the Clockhouse, while hip cafes and restaurants buzz with student activity. Academic support is provided by the university library which offers access to a vast collection of books, reports, and articles supplemented by a wide range of digital resources, such as electronic books, full text online journals and bibliographic databases, as well as CD and DVD recordings.

Given its sprawling campus, Keele boasts perhaps the best sports facilities in the UK. The University Leisure Centre offers indoor and outdoor games facilities, a well-equipped fitness centre, an indoor climbing wall, courts for basketball, badminton, squash, netball, karate and aerobics. Outdoors there is a sand-based astro-pitch and 46 acres of playing fields for grass hockey, football, rugby, netball, tennis, cricket and two golf courses.

On the social and cultural fronts, the Keele University Students’ Union offers non-stop entertainment for students through the academic year. The Students’ Union building is situated in the centre of campus and houses five bars and two purpose-built venues: a nightclub and the ballroom. In addition there are over 40 active student societies on campus. Other on-campus facilities include restaurants and cafes, a supermarket, bookshop, newsagent, post office, bank, plus general physicians and a dentist.

Admission. For entry into all full-time higher education courses at universities and colleges in the UK including Keele University, students must apply through the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS). Students need to apply online at www.ucas.com. The institution code for Keele is K12 while the codes for courses at Keele are given on the UCAS website as well as its print directory.

The minimum eligibility requirements for admission into undergrad programmes is successful completion of Plus Two and English language fluency (overseas students whose first language is not English have to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores). However some degree programmes require specific eligibility criteria.

For further information contact Ms. Gill Coleman, international recruitment officer, Undergraduate Office, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG. Tel: +44 1782 584345; e-mail: overseas@keele.ac.uk; website: www.keele.ac.uk.

Accommodation. More than 70 percent of Keele students live on campus. The five halls of residence (Barnes, Lindsay, Horwood, Hawthorns, Holly Cross and the Oaks), all within walking distance of the departments and campus facilities, offer a range of room types, from single rooms sharing bathrooms and kitchens, to rooms with en suite facilities. Other facilities include bars, games and TV rooms, launderettes, a bicycle store, music rooms, internet access and car parking spaces. Moreover each hall has a student-run council that organises a range of events including balls, discos, films and sports meets.

Students also have the option of living off campus in private halls of residence (Stoke-on-Trent) and other private accommodation.

Degree programmes. Keele offers students a choice of over 700 degree courses — dual honours (two subjects combined) degrees and inter-disciplinary single honours (see box). The flexibility to combine subjects and study across academic disciplines is Keele’s unique selling proposition.