University of Huddersfield: What it's really like

Interested in receiving high quality teaching whilst studying in one of the most affordable parts of the UK? Huddersfield could be for you!

Huddersfield at a glance:

Peggy, who was a student at the university and now works there as a schools and colleges liaison officer, shares what student life at Huddersfield is like.

What is the University of Huddersfield?

The University of Huddersfield is in West Yorkshire, right next to Huddersfield town centre. Although we’re well-known for our health courses, we offer a wide range of subjects, from forensic science to games development and hundreds more.

Our teaching style varies depending on what subject you choose to study. For more practical courses, you might spend more time in labs or studios; on vocational courses, you might be out and about on work placements; and for more traditional subjects, you’ll be in settings like lecture halls.

We’re a medium-sized university; we have around 17,000 students with 120 different nationalities.

Why apply to Huddersfield?

My top reason to apply is that the lecturers here are excellent researchers as well as teachers, with all of them completing or having completed a doctorate. Providing engaging teaching is a priority here, which makes your experience really enjoyable, but also helps develop your skills as a critical thinker and independent learner.

I can speak from experience on this as a former student. My teachers were really supportive and the lessons were engaging, making my time here extremely positive.

A great reason for international students to apply is that you’ll be getting this high quality of teaching in one of the most affordable places to live in the UK. Your cost of living would be significantly lower in Huddersfield than in other parts of the country.

Who isn’t the right fit for Huddersfield?

You’ll be most successful studying where you’re happiest. For example, some people might want a big city experience whilst they are at university, in which case the University of Huddersfield may not be the right choice. There are also a few subjects we don’t offer, like medicine, dentistry, and veterinary sciences, so you may wish to apply elsewhere to study those.

Any application tips? 

Like most UK universities, you apply through UCAS for Huddersfield. Requirements tend to be around 120 UCAS points, but do check the course(s) you’re applying for. 

When it comes to writing your Personal Statement, you’ll stand out if you’ve gone above and beyond with your wider reading and research. Check out whether you’ll need to mention any non-academic experience, like work experience, for your chosen subject too. 

What’s the location like?

Huddersfield is a campus-based university within walking distance of the town. The town has lots going on for students; as they’re a big part of the population here, it feels like everything has been set up with them in mind!

Students tend to say they enjoy living in a town that feels safe and manageable to get around, surrounded by beautiful countryside. The town also has great transport links to bigger cities, with Leeds, Manchester, and Bradford all accessible by train in 30 minutes or less. In fact, 50% of our students commute in, perhaps because Huddersfield is so accessible.

The town centre has lots of bars and cafes for meeting up with friends, and easy access to outdoor activities in the surrounding areas.

What facilities does Huddersfield have to offer?

Huddersfield is always investing in its facilities for its students. A recent example includes the upgraded Barbara Hepworth building, which contains a hub of creative studios and an immersive virtual reality cave. This simulates 3D environments for architectural drawings, interior design, and 3D product visualisation.

Our sports facilities, called ActiveHud, include multi-purpose studios, squash courts, a sports hall, and a fitness suite with over 80 stations. Students get a super affordable membership here.

Our Student Central has places to eat, study, and relax, as well as our libraries and Students Union, so this a central hub for students on campus.

Excitingly, we’re launching our new health campus in autumn 2024. This will bring together research facilities and specilaist clinical teaching facilities.

What is the accommodation like?

Our accommodation is called Storthes Hall Park, and is run by an organisation called Digs. It’s about a 15-minute drive from the university, and it’s a self-contained student village surrounded by beautiful woodland. 

All of the rooms are en suite, and there’s a gym, bar, cinema, cafe, shop, gaming room, and laundry facilities on-site. But if you do need to visit the town centre for more shopping or anything else, the bus is free for students living at Storthes Hall.

How does Huddersfield meet the needs of students with different accessibility requirements?

The accessibility of all staff, students, and visitors is a priority at Huddersfield. Our accessible map shows the best routes around the campus.

Prospective students can register with the disability service before they’ve even received their results, so support can be put in place as early as possible.

Support can be tailored to individual students’ needs through appointments with our disability advisers. This includes specialist mentors, one-to-one support, note takers, BSL interpreters, campus support workers, and tech support through short-term laptop loans. This is available both to students eligible for the DSA (Disabled Students Allowance), and to those who do not receive funding but still have additional needs.

In addition, HudStudy has been set up for all students to provide assistive software and technologies to help make everyone’s work more efficient.
 

Want to explore more UK universities? Remember, Unifrog’s Shortlisting tool can help you put together a list of great potential courses.