It’s a brand new academic year, and there are lots of new developments and investments around our campus. Here are a few of them!
New courses for 2015/16
We’ve launched our new School of Law and its LLB, or Bachelor of Laws degree. An LLB is the first undergraduate degree in Law most students take, and it’s the beginning of the route to entering the legal profession. It’s also a very interesting course on its own!
Our new BA Liberal Arts is also a very exciting development. Common in the USA but less in the UK, a Liberal Arts degree lets students take a wide range of modules from across many of our departments. It’s ideal for creative and inquisitive students who don’t want to get tied into one narrow area of study, and I’m proud that we’re one of the few universities in the UK offering such a degree.
Other new degrees we’re launching this year include a BSc in Software Engineering, BA and BSc in Digital Communication, BSc in Accounting and Finance and MSc in Forensic Psychology. We’re continuing to invest in our courses and I’m looking forward to launching additional innovative courses next year – including our new BA in Dance and our MSc Internet of Things. Exciting times ahead!
New facilities
Boilerhouse Tank Room
Boilerhouse Tank Room
We’re continuing to work on the Boilerhouse complex. Just a few short years ago the Boilerhouse was a virtually disused and still very industrial building, whereas now it’s home to two lecture theatres and several new study spaces.
This summer we added a large new seminar room, built out of what was once the underground water tank for the boilers that originally heated Founder’s Building. It’s a fantastic, atmospheric space with original brick vaulted ceilings and space for 60 students at a time.
We’re not finished with the Boilerhouse yet: we’ve got a few more ideas for how to make even more out of this lovely building. As with all of our plans for our estate, as they become more developed, we’ll share updates with you here and via our website.
Refurbished computer labs
Our Computer Centre is home to several computer labs which we’ve extensively refurbished over the summer. New carpets, furniture, doors, walls and paintwork all come together to provide bright, light and refreshing spaces. The Computer Centre is next to the Windsor Building and open all day, every day should you need somewhere to study quietly on campus.
Car Park 14
We’re also working to improve the provision for students and staff who have parking permits. Car Park 14 next to Wetton’s Terrace has been reopened with a much improved road surface and more clearly defined bays. Don’t forget that you can find out all about parking (including whether you’re eligible for a permit and where you can park) on our parking webpages
Our new Library and Student Services Centre
Of course, the biggest investment we’re making in our campus is our new Library and Student Services Centre; I’m sure you can’t have missed the work site.
Right now we are busy clearing the site, and expect building works to properly begin in early October. Once it opens in 2017, our new Library and Student Services Centre will deliver modern teaching and learning spaces for everyone who studies here for years to come.
We’re keen to include our student community in the construction project, and we’ve got some exciting plans about how you could get involved in the build – including sneak peek tours and art projects we’re going to be putting together. Watch this space for details!
For now, I’ll leave you with an image of the ‘feature wing’ of our new Library, with it’s large windows letting in lots of natural light and allowing peaceful views of our leafy woodland and our historic Founder’s Building.
The ‘feature wing’ of our new Library and Student Services Centre
There’s lots more information about our new buildings on our estate plan website, which is well worth a look. If you have any questions about what’s happening with the estate plan projects across College, please contact our estate plan team.
Paul Layzell Principal
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