The name of this small university is derived from its founding London institutions — St Mark’s College and St John’s College – whose aim was to educate young orphans from the workhouses and help them to escape poverty by training them as teachers. Formed by the colleges’ 1923 merger, Marjon moved to Plymouth in 1973, occupying an attractive campus on the north side of the city (eagle-eyed students can spy the sea as well as Dartmoor National Park). It gained university status in 2007. Widening participation is deeply ingrained, and Marjon ranks fourth in our social inclusion index. It retains Church of England control but welcomes students of all faiths and none. The university is diversifying its academic focus too, and developing facilities in step, while consistently recording high rates of student satisfaction: it comes third in the UK for students’ evaluation of teaching quality in our analysis of the National Student Survey. It is also in the top 20 for the wider undergraduate experience.

What is Plymouth Marjon University’s reputation?

Health-related courses are the latest focus as the university plans its growth, after introducing programmes in arts and business subjects. Marjon was awarded a gold rating overall in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), underpinned by gold for the student experience and silver for student outcomes. The panel commended Marjon for “drawing on evidence-based practice and creating opportunities, resulting in an outstanding academic experience for students”. It also took the university’s mix of students – which includes more mature, disabled and white working-class students from underrepresented backgrounds than most other universities — into account when making its assessment and noted that Marjon “tailors its approaches to its students”. However, the university is held back in our main academic table by its continuation rate (placing 120=), with only 86.5 per cent of students projected to carry on from the first to the second year of their studies – although this is often a side-effect of diverse student populations.

Teacher training remains a strength and in June 2023 Ofsted rated its early-years provision outstanding. Training for primary and secondary age was rated good.

Marjon benefited in our rankings from its decision to enter the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), after opting out in 2014, although it placed towards the bottom of our research quality index, at 119th. The university operates franchise programmes in colleges elsewhere in the southwest of England, including in Cornwall and Devon in subjects ranging from business management to professional golf. It also has a partnership with Bristol School of Acting.

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

A nursing degree is new for 2024. In September 2025 the university is launching three degree apprenticeships: physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and public health. A few courses are closing: acting, musical theatre, health and wellbeing practitioner, English language and communication, physical education with dance, and business. The journalism with photography programme will close in 2025. 

What are Plymouth Marjon University’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?

Entry requirements start from 64 Ucas tariff points and top out at 120 points. Fewer than 10 per cent of entrants gained their places through clearing.

What are the graduate prospects?

Marjon’s vocationally focused courses have close links with local employers in relevant fields. The university is 64th in our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey, with 75.7 per cent of its graduates in highly skilled jobs or further study 15 months after leaving university. 

What is Plymouth Marjon University campus like?

The Plymouth Allied Health Centre has been refurbished and turned into a new Health Education and Community Wellbeing Hub, thanks to £5.8 million of funding from the Office for Students. The upgrade includes clinical skill, diagnostic and simulation laboratories, supporting the university’s launch of technical and clinical programmes such as nursing and allied health professions. An osteopathy clinic on campus is run by third and fourth-year osteopathy students and treats the public, with sessions observed by students from other years as part of their training. Marjon also has its own theatre and 24-hour IT facilities. The nearby woodland is used for outdoor adventures and allotments, where green-fingered students can grow their own food. 

Everything you need to know about Plymouth Marjon University’s student life and wellbeing support

The university’s manageable size creates a close community, and the Barjon bar and coffee shop is renowned for its reasonable pricing and regular events. Plymouth is a bus ride away and has plenty to offer — from watersports to lively nights out and a cultural scene that includes the Theatre Royal Plymouth. Marjon’s sports facilities are all on campus; there is a climbing wall, a 25m indoor swimming pool and a gym. Outdoors there are two artificial hockey pitches, a padel court and a 3G football pitch, another of which will be added in 2025 along with a grass pitch. The thriving sports science courses have access to a rehabilitation clinic and a sports science laboratory with a climate chamber and an anti-gravity treadmill. 

A new health and wellbeing programme within the Sport & Health Centre encourages physical activity. Marjon was an early adopter of the Student Minds Mental Health Charter framework and students can self-refer to its in-house counselling service. University chaplains work with the students’ union and the wellbeing and support team to create a broad safety net. Same-day appointments are usually available.

What do the students say?

“Students look out for other students and lectures have a somewhat intimate feel, and you are always more than just a name or number to your lecturers. With all resources located on campus, nothing is ever more than a ten-minute walk away. The SU and the sports federation all want to offer you opportunities to develop personally, professionally and academically."
Liam Williams, Plymouth Marjon Student Union president, and sports coaching and PE student

What about student accommodation at Plymouth Marjon University?

First-years holding a firm offer take priority in the allocation of the 454 self-catered rooms.

How diverse and inclusive is Plymouth Marjon University?

Based in an area with low take-up of higher education, Marjon succeeds in recruiting the highest proportion (13 per cent) of under-represented white working-class male students. Overall it takes third place in our social inclusion index, with the proportion of disabled students the fourth highest at 16.6 per cent, and nearly all of its students coming from non-selective state schools.

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at Plymouth Marjon University

About 10 per cent of entrants receive some form of hardship funding. There are grants of £2,000 a year for care leavers and students who are estranged from their families. Sports performance scholarships include in-kind support worth up to £4,000 a year.