University of Suffolk: What it's really like

Want to study at a modern university with exciting facilities? Suffolk could be the place for you!

Suffolk at a glance:

Gemma, a Student Recruitment Officer at the University of Suffolk and former student of the university, tells us what it’s like to study there.
 

What is Suffolk?

The University of Suffolk’s purpose is to change lives for individuals and communities for the better. 

The main campus is in Ipswich, but there are other campuses in Great Yarmouth, Bury St Edmunds, and Lowestoft, with 10-15,000 students studying across them all.

The university emphasises graduate employment, and focuses on preparing graduates for future success, with a range of degree subjects from history to midwifery.

Most courses use a ‘block and blend’ approach, meaning you’ll focus on one module at a time. And most lectures are recorded, so you can watch them back at a later date, or watch remotely if you are unable to attend.

Why apply to Suffolk?

One reason you should consider applying to Suffolk is the relatively small class sizes here. This means you’re likely to have better access to support from academic staff.

Also, as we’re so close to the waterfront, students have a lovely balance between work and social life.

On top of this, we are placed fourth in the Guardian’s university league table for our history degrees.

A reason that international students might choose to apply is due to our excellent relationships with industry. Many of our international students choose to do our masters degree in business, so these relationships are really important when they look to set up their own business or work for a business after graduating.

Who isn’t the right fit for Suffolk?

Suffolk probably isn’t suited to someone who wants to live and study in the middle of a busy city. We are a campus university on the edge of a town centre, within close proximity to London, but we are not based in a large metropolitan area.

Any application tips? 

A way for students to make their application stand out is to be specific in their application with the reasons why they want to come to Suffolk, but also why they want to study their chosen course. They should make sure to give details of any work experience they’ve completed.

What’s the location like?

Our main campus is located on the Ipswich Marina. The train station and shopping centre are a 15-minute walk away from the campus. There are two cinemas, two theatres, two swimming pools, a football stadium, and lots of gyms, bars, and restaurants for students to make the most of.

Students enjoy living on the waterfront, as well as day trips like a hop on the train to visit the riverside town of Woodbridge, the beach at Felixstowe, or London, which is just over an hour away.

What facilities does Suffolk have to offer?

Suffolk’s facilities cater to a wide range of degree subjects. There’s the Waterfront Building, with a mock courtroom, an auditorium, two lecture theatres, and teaching rooms. Each teaching room has state-of-the-art facilities, including the technology to livestream lectures.

The James Hehir Building contains specialist bioscience teaching and research facilities, whilst the Hold is home to Suffolk archives as well as a lecture theatre and cafe.

The Atrium building contains Ipswich Waterfront Innovation Centre, dedicated to business and innovation excellence. The arts building has painting, sculpture, drawing, and print studios; video studios; a film studio; and two dance studios.

And finally, the new Health and Wellbeing Building is a fantastic facility for healthcare students, featuring two state-of-the-art hospital wards, a radiology suite, and counselling and physiotherapy clinic rooms.

What is the accommodation like?

Based on the Ipswich campus, Athena Hall is ideal for new students and those new to the area. You’ll have an ensuite bathroom, a double bed, and a living area shared with three to five other students.

You can live in halls for all three years of your degree, and there is overnight security.

There are also off-campus accommodation options, which are still within walking distance of the university.

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

We are proud to share that all of our campus and its buildings are wheelchair accessible.

As part of the enrolment process, students are asked if they would like to share if they are neurodivergent. If they do disclose this, they are offered a meeting with a disability advisor about what support could be right for them. Reasonable adjustments include having a notetaker and having access to additional software. Financial support in the form of bursaries is also available, in addition to DSA (Disabled Students Allowance) funding.

Students in financial hardship can apply for bursaries, which are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

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