Edge Hill University: What it's really like
Get to know Edge Hill University
Want to become part of a tightly-knit campus community in a quirky town in the North of England? Come learn more about Edge Hill University.
Edge Hill at a glance:
| Founded | Founded as Edge Hill College in 1885; became Edge Hill University in 2006. |
| Locations | Ormskirk, England (main campus), Manchester, England (Paramedic Practice and Operating Department Practice - the latter is also taught at the main site) |
| Length | 3 years |
| Courses | The university is organised into three faculties: Arts and Sciences, Education, and Health, Social Care, and Medicine. |
| Students | 13,560 |
| Great for | Students who want to feel like part of a supportive, close-knit community. |
| Not for | Students who want to spend their uni years in an urban centre. |
Becky Barritt, Education Liaison Officer at Edge Hill, explains what makes Edge Hill unique - and how to put together a strong application.
What is Edge Hill?
Edge Hill is a campus-based university founded in 1885 as an all-women’s teacher’s college with historical links to the Suffrage movement. It has around 10,400 undergraduate students and 3,400 postgraduates.
The main campus is located in Ormskirk, in Lancashire, but students on medical courses in particular may find themselves studying at the St. James campus in Manchester. Otherwise, everything you need is all in one place.
Why apply to Edge Hill?
Students who visit are often impressed by the beauty of Edge Hill’s campus. There are two lakes at the centre of the campus, and gorgeous greenery all around. Ormskirk itself is a fun, quirky town with a lot of personality that students tend to fall in love with as well.
But it’s not just nature: Edge Hill has excellent facilities as well. The accommodations, for example, are high quality and great value for money. The newly-built Catalyst Centre houses student services and a new library, and there are great, modern facilities for subject-specific use as well.
At Edge Hill, you’ll find a tight-knit, supportive community. Because it’s a campus-based university, when you’re just walking around, pretty much everyone you meet will be a fellow student or a member of staff, which makes it really easy to start conversations and make friends around campus. There are really strong systems for student support, in terms of careers planning and navigating your academic path, but also in terms of making sure you stay mentally well and just really enjoy your time at university.
Who isn’t the right fit for Edge Hill?
Ormskirk is a small town, and students looking for the true urban experience are not going to find it at Edge Hill. Liverpool is half an hour away by train, so it’s easy to spend a day taking in the city sights, but you won’t be stepping out of your flat and into the bustle of an inner city in Ormskirk.
Any application tips?
Start early! It might seem like deadlines are very far away, but you want to make sure to give yourself plenty of time to do research and make sure that you’re confident about your choices of universities or other future paths.
Make the most of the resources that universities themselves offer. Things like subject taster days, summer residentials, and open days can not only give you a glimpse into whether you’ll enjoy studying on a particular course or at a particular university - they also give you material you can include in your personal statement. Talking about something you learned on a taster day demonstrates your passion for your subject, and shows that you really are interested in the specific university you’re applying to, and both of those things are really appealing from a university’s perspective.