The cobbled streets of Canterbury offer a charming backdrop to student life in a cathedral city richer in real ales than raves. University status was conferred in 2005 on this former Church of England teacher training college. Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) has the blessing of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby – who is its chancellor. It remains a Church of England foundation but admits students of all faiths and none. And it’s a broad church — with a burgeoning curriculum, rising numbers of degree apprenticeships and ambitions to support wider access into higher education.

What is Canterbury Christ Church University’s reputation?

CCCU was awarded a triple silver, for its overall grade, student experience and outcomes, in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023). The panel commended the university for “very high quality teaching, assessment and feedback practices” and found “highly effective and tailored approaches to support students’ to achieve educational gains”.

Teacher training courses are rated “good” by Ofsted and CCCU is also known for its strong programmes in health and social care, nursing and policing.

The university offers the CDIO (conceive, design, implement, operate) model of international engineering education, developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in collaboration with business. In 2024, it achieved international accreditation by the Institution of Chemical Engineers for its chemical engineering degrees. Industry partnerships allow students to work on real-world projects during their studies.

In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), CCCU more than doubled the proportion of its work that was judged to be world-leading compared with the previous national assessment in 2014. The university sits (just) inside the top 100 in our research quality index.

There were 200 degree apprentices at the last count in fields such as manufacturing engineering, occupational therapy and policing.

Student satisfaction has little changed year-on-year according to our latest National Student Survey analysis, where CCCU ranks 77th for feedback about teaching quality (down six places) and 110th for the wider undergraduate experience (up four places). One of the worst 15 continuation rates in England and Wales (126th) continues to hold CCCU back in our main academic rankings (109th, up five places).

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available? 

A suite of ultrasound courses has joined the curriculum, designed to be flexible to suit healthcare workers wanting to boost their skills without pausing their career. They follow CCCU’s collaborations with business institutions — the Global Banking School, Elizabeth School of London, and the London School of Commerce — to offer courses with more flexible teaching patterns. Some classes are available at weekends and there are intakes throughout the academic year.

What are Canterbury Christ Church University’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?

Foundation years are offered as a way into a number of degree courses. The standard offer for foundation year entry is DDE at A-level (64 Ucas tariff points). First-year entry to a degree course usually requires BBC (112 points), rising to ABB (128 points) for physiotherapy. Almost a quarter of students entered through clearing in 2023. 

What are the graduate prospects?

Employability is embedded in courses and the university teams up with industry and local businesses to keep courses up to date with required skills. An enterprise and employability team offers dedicated support, from personalised careers advice and “earn while you learn” job opportunities, to specialist careers events and support with creating start-ups. CCCU has fallen one place to 68=  in our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey, with three quarters of graduates in highly skilled work or further study 15 months after finishing their degree.

What is Canterbury Christ Church University’s campus like?

The Verena Holmes building for Stem subjects — which also incorporates the Kent and Medway Medical School — opened in spring 2023 as part of an ambitious £150 million campus redevelopment. The Daphne Oram Creative Arts Building — named after the pioneering electronic music composer and former CCCU tutor — has professional facilities with the latest technology using drones, motion capture and XR (extended reality). 

Courses in commercial music, digital media, photography and early childhood studies are based in the purpose-built campus at Broadstairs, while the expanded Medway site at Chatham’s historic dockyard specialises in education and health programmes. CCCU courses are also delivered at Global Banking School campuses in Greenford, west London, Birmingham and Manchester and there is a postgraduate centre in Tunbridge Wells. 

Everything you need to know about Canterbury Christ Church University’s student life and wellbeing support

The students’ union has returned to the main Canterbury site, where most students are based, to boost the sense of community on campus. A new multi-use games area — for football, basketball, futsal and table football — is free for students to use, while the sports centre and playing fields are a mile away at Stodmarsh. Cricket, hockey and tennis facilities are at Polo Farm Sports Club, two miles from the main campus. Canterbury Rugby Club allows free membership to CCCU students, and they can use Canterbury Golf Club and an athletics track at a local college.

Mental health services counselling, drop-ins and workshops, and students can seek support at the chaplaincy. The Safezone app alerts security staff if a student needs urgent assistance.

What do the students say?

“Canterbury Christ Church University is ideally located in the fun and safe city of Canterbury with campuses in Medway and Tunbridge Wells. Our vibrant student population encompasses everyone from local, mature, international and many more and our sports clubs, societies and give-it-a-go scheme mean there's something for everyone.”
Inés Abella Romero, CCCU students’ union president (community, diversity and inclusion) and criminology and sociology graduate

What about student accommodation at Canterbury Christ Church University?

All CCCU’s accommodation is off campus, none of it catered. For first-years who want to live in, university-approved rooms are guaranteed – as long as students apply by the end of July.

How diverse and inclusive is Canterbury Christ Church University?

CCCU, 24th in our social inclusion index, works with more than 50 schools and colleges in Kent and Medway to raise aspirations and attainment, and to support wider access into higher education. 

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at Canterbury Christ Church University

Nearly three in ten of undergraduates (27 per cent) received some form of financial assistance in 2022-23. Support includes academic scholarships for students who achieve at least ABB at A-level or equivalent, as well as sports and music scholarships.