Salford moves up ten places in our main academic rankings this year, helped by a 16-place rise for student satisfaction with teaching quality (89=). Students’ feelings about the wider undergraduate experience also improved — but only by two places — to 103= in our analysis of results of the National Student Survey. 

The university received much-improved results in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) compared with the previous national assessment in 2014, and moves up three places in our research quality index against even steeper gains at other universities. Overall, 78 per cent of Salford’s research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent. Some of the best results were produced by social work and social policy; earth systems and environmental science; music drama, dance, performing arts, film and screen studies; communications and media studies; and engineering. 

New facilities are launching that will further enhance Salford’s research, such as the £16 million North of England Robotics Centre — building on Salford’s expertise in robotics and automation and housing specialist resources in which industry can develop cutting-edge solutions in robotics. The aim is for the centre to be a hub for small to medium-size businesses to collaboratively design, test and validate the latest technologies.

The Z House, constructed by housebuilder Barratt, is a zero-carbon home designed to represent the future of UK housebuilding. Salford students are living in the Z House this year to emulate the experience of the customer in the transition to net-zero living. At Peel Park the £55 million New Adelphi teaching centre houses the latest facilities for art, performance, and design and technology students, including a 350-seat theatre, screen acting studios, six recording studios and a range of dedicated art and design workshops.

Founded in 1896 as the Royal Technical Institute to provide for the workforce that powered the Industrial Revolution, the University of Salford continues to foster industry links that benefit its students. An agreement with the BBC Philharmonic, for instance, has allowed students first access to technology that turns classical concerts into immersive musical experiences, while free virtual events run with the BBC Academy over the past year have covered topics from scriptwriting to location management. 

Salford prioritises real-world education for students, building work experience placements and live briefs from industry experts into degree courses to boost employability. For example, a partnership with Harvey Nichols facilitated more than 30 fashion design graduates to present in excess of 150 one-off garments for display and retail at the company’s Manchester store. Siemens partners with the university to offer an engineering qualification. 

However, Salford was awarded bronze in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and an appeal to upgrade the assessment was rejected in 2018. Despite its good links with employers and a commitment to learning by students, the TEF panel found progression to employment or further study remained “exceptionally low” — a position now countered by results of the latest Graduate Outcomes survey, which showed that 71 per cent of graduates were in high-skilled jobs or postgraduate study 15 months after finishing their degree. The proportion puts Salford just outside the top half in our comparison. 

At the last count, Salford’s portfolio of 14 degree apprenticeships in business, construction, health and science had 765 student apprentices enrolled on programmes. Two new undergraduate degrees joined the curriculum in 2022: nursing (adult), taught at Bury College; and business with supply chain and project management. From next year an esports management course will welcome students, as will a degree in creative computing. 

Salford is in the upper half of universities in our social inclusion index and the top 25 for its proportion of students from non-selective state schools (96.1 per cent). Outreach work aims to raise aspirations among young people from low-participation neighbourhoods around Greater Manchester and Salford. Among widening participation initiatives are contextual offers up to two grades below the advertised tariffs, currently made only to students who have been in care, but eligibility is likely to broaden by 2023 entry. 

Financial support includes the Salford Inspire fund for UK and EU students, which gives them £150 a year for learning resources. Laptops may also be provided for those who cannot afford one via the Educational Technology fund. Scholarships for UK students target those from low-income backgrounds, while Salford’s international scholarships award high-achievers from overseas.

Completion rates hold Salford back in our main academic ranking, as more students are projected to drop out (13.3 per cent) than the benchmark proportion (11.4 per cent) based on their academic and social backgrounds.

A swimming pool, five fitness suites and a multiuse sports hall are among Salford’s facilities. First-years are not guaranteed a room but they are allocated most of the 2,111 available, and about 80 per cent are able to live in. For most students, Salford’s proximity to Manchester’s bright lights is a big selling point.