Bolton University

University of Bolton

Established	2004 - gained University Status 1982 - Bolton Institute of Higher Education
Type	Public
Endowment	£160,000
Chancellor	Patricia Morris, Baroness Morris of Bolton
Vice-Chancellor	Dr George Holmes
Admin. staff	700+
Students	9,251
Undergraduates	7,731
Postgraduates	1,520
Location	Bolton, England, UK Coordinates: 53°34′25″N 2°26′9″W / 53.57361°N 2.43583°W / 53.57361; -2.43583
Colours	Gold, navy blue
Website	www.bolton.ac.uk

The University of Bolton (formerly Bolton Institute of Higher Education) is a university in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. It has around 14,000 students across all sites and courses, with 700 academic and professional staff. Around 70% of its students come from Bolton and the North West region. The Times newspaper profile states: ‘The university sees itself as a regional institution, with around three quarters of the students coming from the North West, many through partner colleges.

History

Bolton Institute of Higher Education was formed in 1982 by the merger of the Bolton Institute of Technology and Bolton College of Education (Technical).

Bolton Institute was awarded the right to award taught degrees in 1992, with the powers to award research degrees in 1995.

In April 2004, the institute was awarded university status with immediate effect. The institution then set about searching for a new name to match its university status. A long consultation period considered many titles, including 'Bolton University', 'Bolton Institute University', 'West Pennines University', 'Bolton Metropolitan University' and 'Bolton Leverhulme University', before announcing 'University of Bolton' as the new title on 2 September 2004. The title was approved by the Privy Council on 27 January 2005 and officially adopted.

Academic quality

The UK national Quality Audit of University of Bolton 2005 reports that "broad confidence can be placed in the soundness of the current management of the quality of its programmes and in the university's institutional-level capacity to manage effectively the security of its awards."

In 2006 the university was awarded the highest level of recommendation by the government's quality control agency for universities, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). The university was also ranked top in the North West region for student satisfaction by the Times Good University Guide 2008, coming in the top 15 of all UK universities. The same survey also found the university was within the region's top five universities for the number of students who found graduate-level jobs or carried on with their education six months after graduation. In the Education Guardian one report ranked Bolton first in the "Fastest Growing University" category. Its course in Building Studies is also ranked No. 1 in the UK by students.

As well as offering research opportunities, Masters and PhD degree, it is known for its vocationally focused and industry-relevant taught degree programmes. Among its most popular courses are its Business and Media programmes. The Times states: ‘The university is not research-driven, but engineering, architecture and the built environment, social work and social policy all contained some ‘world-leading’ research in the 2008 assessments’

**UK rankings**
	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001
Times Good University Guide		108th	108th=	111th	93rd	88th	98th
Guardian University Guide		116rd	114th	117th	110th	-	67th	102nd	62nd	86th
Sunday Times University Guide	121st	119th	119th	120th	120th=	121st	115th	107th	108th	97nd=	111th	116th
The Complete University Guide		112st=	112th	112th=	91st=
The Daily Telegraph						91st=

Growth and future plans

Since being granted university status, the University of Bolton has undergone several changes. In 2008 an £8 million building programme was completed, including an £1.7 million specialist teaching centre for the University’s creative courses. £2.5 million was also spent on improvements to Library facilities.

The Bolton One development is a multi-million pound project set for completion in 2012. The university has contributed around £7 million to it and is working in conjunction with local partners, Bolton Council and Primary Care Trust. The purpose built centre will house new health, science and sports teaching and research facilities - as well as a sports complex.

International presence

The University also has a campus in Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates and established international links with a number of overseas academic establishments in Germany, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Malawi and Greece.

A Bolton University Campus in United Arab Emirates

During December, 2011, the University of Bolton will launch their campus in Colombo, Sri Lanka. KES Group of Institutions is partnering with the University of Bolton to launch the Bolton Academic Centre in Colombo.

Students' Union

The main Students' Union building is on Deane Road at the centre of the University Campus. As well as being home to the SU bar (Loft Bar) and the hub of many social events, the union provides numerous other roles, such as student support and advice (The Advice Unit), representation and sporting societies. It can also be followed on Twitter and Facebook

Diversity

The University of Bolton has a diverse student population. Around 13% of home students are from ethnic minority communities, with about 8% of its students being classed as international. This portion of students come from 70 countries outside the UK. The university also has a Chaplaincy that accommodates several different faiths.

Academic schools and research centres

The university has three academic faculties and five research centres

Academic faculties

Faculty of Advanced Engineering and Sciences

Faculty of Arts and Media Technologies

Faculty of Well Being and Social Sciences

Research centres

Business, Logistics and Information Systems Research Centre

Institute of Materials Research and Innovation

Institute of Renewable Energy and Environmental Technologies

Institute for Educational Cybernetics

Centre for Research Health and Wellbeing

Faculties

Faculty of Advanced Engineering and Sciences

Biology
Civil Engineering and Construction
Design Technology
Engineering
Mathematics

Faculty of Arts and Media Technologies

Art, Design and Media
Creative Technology and Live Events
English and Creative Writing
Games Computing and IT

Faculty of Well-Being and Social Sciences

Business, Management, Accountancy and Law
Community Youth and Early Years
Complementary Therapies
Health and Social Care
Psychology
Sport, Leisure and Physical Activity

Library
Opening Times

Mon - Thur	8:45am - 9:00pm
Fri	8:45am - 5:00pm
Sat	9:30am - 12:30pm

Vacation opening

Mon - Fri

9:00am - 5:00pm

Library Services

Getting Started

About the Library Catalogue(www.bolton.ac.uk/library/LibraryServices/LibraryCatalogue.aspx)
Self Service Facilities (www.bolton.ac.uk/library/LibraryEssentials/SelfService.aspx)
Borrowing (www.bolton.ac.uk/library/LibraryServices/Borrowing.aspx)
Inter-Library Loans (www.bolton.ac.uk/library/LibraryServices/ILL.aspx)
Book Purchase Suggestion Scheme (www.bolton.ac.uk/library/MailForms/BookPurchaseSuggestions.aspx)

Request a book/journal from the Library store

Due to space restrictions, some of our library materials are kept in a store outside the Library. If the item that you are looking for has the location of 'store' on the Library Catalogue, you will need to request it using the links below. We aim to retrieve items from the store twice a day, so please allow for a short 'waiting' period before you can collect your requested item.

Request a book from the store (www.bolton.ac.uk/library/MailForms/StoreBooks.aspx)
Request a journal from the store(www.bolton.ac.uk/library/MailForms/StoreJournals.aspx)

Dissertation Binding Service

The Library offers a professional hard back dissertation binding service in conjunction with Walkers Binding based at Salford University.

Timescale:
Please allow three working days

University of Bolton Prices:

Volumes up to 250 pages £32.50
Volumes up to 500 pages £34.50
Extra lines of lettering £2.50 per line

Course flexibility

Pre-degree and further education courses: access courses; foundation years and semesters; Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art and Design) - Edexcel.
Undergraduate Courses: single and joint honours are available; bachelor degrees e.g. BA (Hons), BSc (Hons), Eng (Hons), BDes (Hons), LLB (Hons); foundation degree e.g. FdA, FdSc; Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and Higher National Diplomas (HNDs).
Many of our courses can be studied on a part-time basis.

Student facilities, including library and computing

One main university library on campus.
Open six days a week with late night and vacation opening times.
Full printing and photocopying facilities are available along with a range of self-service facilities.
Staff on the information and library desk can assist with any enquiries.
Regional and national schemes allow the University of Bolton students and staff to join other university libraries in the UK via the various access agreement schemes available.
Internet enabled PCs are available in the library and design studio and across the campus.
The ratio of workstations to students is one of the best in the UK.
The University of Bolton is one of the first universities in the country to offer a free extended wireless campus.
Room 365 is the university's 24/7 computer room, accessed by a student card.

Disability services

Visit the website for information on the disability services at the University of Bolton.
Telephone 01204 903733 or email a Disability Adviser.

Students' union

The students' union has just relocated the new £2.5 million Social Learning Zone.
Their mission statement is 'To enhance the student experience'.
The University of Bolton Students' Union (UBSU) is the representative body for students at Bolton.
UBSU exists to represent the student, to provide services (social, commercial and welfare) without discrimination
There are a range of clubs and societies at the university. They are open to everyone to join. Most of the clubs and societies are organised by the students' union and are run by students for students. New volunteers are always needed, and students can get involved in the running and promotion of a club or society that interests them.
The new students' union bar space - The Loft - strives to 'enhance the student experience' through the leadership of the students' snion elected representatives. It provides a relaxed and safe environment, free from intimidation and discrimination.

Sport

Facilties include a fitness suite with weights, cardio and resistance training; sport courts and a climbing wall.
There is a full and varied timetable of classes and sessions, offering something for everyone.
Students can join the fitness centre or attend classes on a 'pay as you go' basis.
Annual membership is on £25 and includes the use of the gym and classes.
There is a wide range of sports clubs affiliated to the students' union. They are run by students for students, and open to students wishing to play sports competitively or just for fun.
A new £30-million Sport and Health Centre named Bolton One is due to be completed in February 2012 and will offer students the use of sports hall and courts, gym, swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, NHS health services, physiotherapy and rehabilitation services. Students on related sports and health courses will also use the facilities to learn from industry professionals and to practice the theory they have learnt.

Recent/prospective new builds

There has been a multi-million pound redevelopment of the university campus including a new design studio, teaching rooms, lecture theatre and social learning spaces.
The latest development, which was unveiled at the end of September 2008, was the £2.5 million Social Learning Zone with new 24/7 computer rooms, students' union bar and offices.
The Social Learning Zone is a more relaxed version of a library. It is packed with sofa seating and wireless networked so students can use a lap top, grab books from the next door library, maybe a coffee from the café and settle down to study in a relaxed atmosphere.
The new students' union bar space – the Loft – has amazing views across campus for those wanting a peaceful drink, and a full-on events programme for those looking for something more lively. The Social Learning Zone can convert into an events space for the union as well, and live bands are set to be a regular attraction.

Availability of part-time work

The university's Careers Service can provide help and impartial guidance to all students.
Practical help and advice on CVs and portfolios, job hunting and skills development is provided by a professional team of careers advisor.
The team works with employers, agencies and other organisations involved in student and graduate recruitment.
The JobShop is designed to help student who would like to find part-time work in and around Bolton.
It keeps in close contact with employers, job centres and schools within the university.
The team advises students on the minimum wage, tax and national insurance, becoming self-employed, and gaining additional skills like leadership, communication or organisational skills which are in great demand by employers.
Students can also find out more about volunteering.