The historic Dreadnought (its name means “fear nothing”) building makes an imposing centrepiece to university life at Greenwich. Occupying a world heritage site overlooking the River Thames, the refurbished 18th-century building is now shipshape for students, with a students’ union, bar, gym, media suite, radio station, and student and academic services. 

Greenwich’s drive to grow to more than 40,000 students in the UK and overseas appears to be on track: the university has increased its recruitment of international students from outside the EU, whose numbers of new starters were almost twice as high in 2023 than in 2014.

The university counts two recent Nobel laureate associations: Abiy Ahmed, who became Africa’s youngest leader aged 42, when he became prime minister of Ethiopia, and went on to win the Nobel peace prize in 2019; and the late Sir Charles Kao, who won the prize for physics in 2009 for his work in fibre optics.

What is the University of Greenwich’s reputation?

Greenwich is based at three campuses: Avery Hill in southeast London, Greenwich Campus in central London and Medway in Kent. In 1890 Greenwich was one of the first UK’s polytechnics. It has been a university since 1992. It was rated gold overall in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023) — a step up from its silver in the previous assessment six years before — with gold for student experience and silver for student outcomes. 

The TEF panel rated the course content and delivery outstanding, noting that “student engagement is embedded, leading to continuous improvement”.

Last year Greenwich was on the verge of entering the top 40 in the National Student Survey, getting 41= for teaching quality and 42= for the wider student experience. Now it sits in the middle of the table, at 67th and 60th respectively.

A student-to-staff ratio of 20.9:1 puts Greenwich 122nd, and a relatively low rate of firsts and 2:1s (70.8 per cent) contribute to the university’s confinement to a position outside the top 100 of our main academic ranking.

More than 50 of Greenwich’s courses now include sustainability modules, and the university is making progress towards its goal of net-zero carbon by 2030. All university buses are electric and the next phase is making buildings carbon neutral. It has installed its first air source heat pump, at the Avery Hill campus.

The university gained government accreditation as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research, received £9 million in funding for computer modelling to tackle emerging environmental and societal challenges. Its Natural Resources Institute at Medway was awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2019 for developing smart solutions to tackle pests that cause plague, famine and disease. 

Greenwich’s improved performance in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) spurred an impressive 19-place rise up our research rankings compared with the previous assessment in 2014. Double the number of academic staff were entered (400) and agriculture, building and food science produced some of the best results.

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

The course offering broadened by more than 30 degrees in 2023, including wine production, and horticulture and animal-related courses. New for 2024 are degrees in computing for emerging technologies and data science. Sustainability management and entrepreneurship and innovation are also planned.

What are the University of Greenwich’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?

Standard offers range from 104 and 128 Ucas tariff points. Contextual offers (16 points lower) are available for those from a low-participation postcode or who have spent time in care. 

What are the graduate prospects?

Barclays, Alcatel Submarine Networks and RSK are among companies represented on advisory boards that help guide the curriculum. Professional placements are built into some courses. But graduate prospects remain one of Greenwich’s weaker suits, and it ranks 100th in our rankings for this measure —  based on the proportion of graduates in high-skilled jobs or further study 15 months after leaving.

What is the University of Greenwich campus like?

The Stockwell Street development in Greenwich has a landscaped roof terrace, large architecture studio, model-making workshop and television and sound studios. At the nearby Avery Hill campus, facilities include a refit of a Victorian mansion, which has added three clinical skills laboratories and a library. 

At Chatham, the university shares the Medway campus with the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University. 

Everything you need to know about the University of Greenwich’s student life and wellbeing support

A choice of 130 societies means everyone can find their tribe. Each campus has its own local amusements, but for bigger nights out students tend to hop on the Tube to central London. 

There are gyms and student centres at all three campuses and wellbeing services include one-to-one counselling and a chaplaincy. Sports halls at Avery Hill and Medway offer badminton, basketball, netball, futsal and volleyball. Avery Hill’s facilities include four grass football pitches, a 3G pitch for football and rugby, a hockey pitch, tennis courts, and an indoor 3G training facility shared with Charlton Athletic FC. 

For arts and culture, the Stephen Lawrence Gallery exhibits contemporary work; its name honours the teenager who was murdered in a racially motivated attack, whose mother, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, is a Greenwich alumna. 

What do the students say?

“Greenwich is defined by its vibrant and inclusive community. Throughout my time at university I have undergone a remarkable transformation both personally and academically. I am filled with gratitude for the wealth of skills, knowledge and lifelong friendships that I have made.”
Anuj Baral, president of Greenwich students’ union, and a politics and international relations student

What about student accommodation at the University of Greenwich?

First-years are guaranteed a room in halls of residence if they apply before the June 30 deadline.

How diverse and inclusive is the University of Greenwich?

Greenwich is ranked 20th in our social inclusion table, buoyed by counting 58.4 per cent of undergraduates from ethnic minorities (20th) and 57.1 per cent the first in their family to go to university (13=). A broad programme of outreach activities helps widen access.

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Greenwich

Extensive support includes means-tested financial help for those from low-income households, such as commuter bursaries worth 50 per cent of a student’s monthly travel costs (up to £1,000 a year); accommodation bursaries of up to £700; and the one-off £700 Greenwich Bursary.

A choral exhibition bursary worth £1,000 per year of study (up to three years) is open to all students who successfully audition to join the University of Greenwich choir. Those who enrol having participated in at least five of Greenwich’s GREat Skills outreach activities qualify for a £2,000 scholarship.