Shoot for the stars. The University of Hertfordshire’s Bayfordbury Observatory houses one of the largest telescopes available to undergraduate or postgraduate students in the UK and from autumn 2024, the new Spectra building for the School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science promises to inspire a generation of Stem students. The early academic focus of the university, founded as Hatfield Technical College in 1952 on the former de Havilland aerodrome site, was on mechanical and aeronautical engineering and the natural sciences. Today, the Automotive Centre is the base for its engineering teaching and many of its graduates have gone on to work in Formula One teams.
Trains to central London take 25 minutes to King’s Cross, while Hatfield and neighbouring St Albans and Broxbourne have local charm of their own. Students can study abroad under partnerships with 135 universities around the world — for a term, a summer or a year. The Go Herts award scheme recognises skills gained through extracurricular activities and travel.
What is the University of Hertfordshire’s reputation?
The university rose 26 places to 60th in our research quality index according to our analysis of the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) with some of the best results in allied health subjects; computer science; and psychology. Overall, 78 per cent of the university’s submission was rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
In the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), Hertfordshire achieved silver overall — down from gold in 2018. The TEF panel said that staff created “opportunities for students to engage in research and with industry, resulting in an outstanding academic experience”. The university was rated silver for the student experience and for student outcomes. Assessors commended Hertfordshire for its clearly articulated “ambition to transform students’ lives through ‘employability, global perspectives and skills for life”.
Our analysis of the National Student Survey shows improvement, with Hertfordshire in 42nd place for satisfaction with teaching quality (up from 59th last year) and 32nd for satisfaction with the wider student experience (up from 66th).
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
BSc honours courses in professional policing, and business management joined the curriculum from September 2024. No details on discontinued courses were provided.
The university offers 20 degree apprenticeship programmes in engineering; nursing; business; and computer science and introduced health and social work in 2024.
What are the University of Hertfordshire’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?
Entry requirements for degree courses range from 96-144 Ucas tariff points. For foundation or extended degrees students must have at least 48 Ucas points. Hertfordshire started making contextual offers in 2024-25 in a scheme that offers an eight-point reduction from the standard requirements to eligible students. The demand for undergraduate places at Hertfordshire has halved in the past decade, however.
What are the graduate prospects?
Professional accreditations or approvals are often built into courses, and students leave with CV extras such as Microsoft qualifications or City & Guilds awards. Most courses offer work placements and the university’s careers team supports students for four years following graduation to help prepare for interviews or start their own enterprise. Flare Ignite is a competition for students to submit entrepreneurial ideas — and they can win up to £3,000 plus help to bring them to life.
Hertfordshire has risen eight places year on year to 86th in our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey, based on the numbers who find highly skilled jobs or return to study within 15 months.
What is the University of Hertfordshire campus like?
Modern facilities are a hallmark of Hertfordshire’s two main campuses in Hatfield. Robotics laboratories, cybersecurity facilities, a flight simulator, supersonic wind tunnel and automotive workshops are among the additions to the School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science. The university also has a £12 million Enterprise Hub with a business incubator for start-ups and graduate entrepreneurs, as well as an Institute of Sport housing extensive facilities. College Lane is a 20-minute walk from the main de Havilland base and the two are linked by a free shuttle bus, footpaths and cycle lanes. The £61 million science building and the Hutton Hub, which hosts student services and an art gallery, are on the College Lane campus.
Everything you need to know about the University of Hertfordshire’s student life and wellbeing support
The £15 million Hertfordshire Sports Village on the de Havilland campus caters for all abilities with a 25m pool, large gym, physiotherapy and sports injury clinic, climbing wall, cricket hall and multipurpose sports halls. The campus also hosts the Performance Herts suite for elite sports. The Institute of Sport has a biomechanics laboratory with one of the few Gait Real-Time Analysis Interactive Lab (Grail) systems available in the UK.
Visual and live arts and music feature on campus and in the community. Performances by the de Havilland Philharmonic Orchestra are staged at the Weston Auditorium on the de Havilland campus.
The redeveloped Forum nightclub at College Lane has an informal bar and a nightclub, each with capacity for 530 people. Counselling, mental health and disability support are available and students who are struggling can reach out to the wellbeing team as needed. There is also a 24-hour helpline and a chaplaincy with volunteers from a range of faiths.
What do the students say?
"State-of-the-art facilities foster academic and social pursuits, with both campuses providing independent study rooms, cafés and sports facilities. The students’ union is at the “Hert” of student life, providing everything from Freshers’ Fair and K-Pop to Holi and Shrek parties.You can even turn to the SU for advice and support."
Hamnah Baig, student opportunities assistant and computer science undergraduate
What about student accommodation at the University of Hertfordshire?
All first-years who meet the deadline for applications are guaranteed a study bedroom on campus.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of Hertfordshire?
Hertfordshire is one of the UK’s more socially inclusive universities, up nine places to 27th. Links with primary and secondary schools across the county encourage wider participation and the institution runs outreach events such as GCSE booster workshops, student shadowing and summer schools.
A university since 1992, Hertfordshire has more than 30,000 students (both undergraduates and postgraduates) on campus and is proud of its international reach — attracting students from over 140 countries.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Hertfordshire
The university has removed postcode restrictions and increased the household income banding to £30,000 on its undergraduate bursary (worth £1,000 in the first year of study) so that a greater number of undergraduates may qualify for financial aid. Applications to hardship funds have risen by up to a quarter in recent years. Students who have left care, are displaced from their country or who are adult carers are eligible for further support.