Established in 1962 by the Church of England as a teacher-training college.
Gained full university status in 2005.
Religious & Academic Ties
Affiliated with the Church of England; Chancellor traditionally the Archbishop of Canterbury .
Member of both the Cathedrals Group and MillionPlus .
Leadership
Vice-Chancellor: Rama Thirunamachandran, noted former deputy VC of Keele, who will serve till early 2026.
Student Body
Approximately 17,000–20,000 students, with around 90% undergraduates and 10% postgraduates.
International students make up roughly 2–6% of the community .
Campuses & Facilities
Main Canterbury Campus (North Holmes)
Set on historic grounds beside St Augustine’s Abbey (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Features a distinctive triangular chapel roof, gothic historic buildings, orchards, and a physic garden.
Additional Sites
Christ Church Sports Centre (built 2009) with a gym, climbing wall, pitches, and hosted training for Puerto Rico’s team at the 2012 Olympics.
St George’s Centre (opened 2012) houses student union facilities and 200+ residences.
Also operates campuses in Medway (part of the Medway partnership) and the Salomons Centre in Tunbridge Wells .
Recent Investments
A major £150 million redevelopment delivered cutting-edge STEM and creative arts hubs, and launched the Kent & Medway Medical School in partnership with the University of Kent.
Academics & Research
Faculties
Arts, Humanities & Education
Medicine, Health & Social Care
Science, Engineering & Social Sciences.
Strong Programmes
Traditionally strong in teaching, healthcare, policing, and social care .
Research Excellence
REF 2021: significant rise in 4* (world-leading) outputs, doubling since 2014.
Recognized for strong sustainability performance (ISO14001, zero-waste-to-landfill) and winners of Green Gown awards.
Rankings & Reputation
UK League Tables
Ranked ~99th in the Complete University Guide 2026 and ~108th in the Guardian University Guide.
Graduate Outcomes
Third best institution in the UK for graduate employment (2022 data).
About 66–90% of graduates in skilled employment or further study .
Entry & Fees (for International Students)
Tuition
International undergrad fees: ~£12,000–£15,500/year.
IELTS Requirements
Undergraduate: 6.0 overall (min 5.5)
Postgraduate: 6.5 overall (min 6.0).
Support & Scholarships
Accommodation guaranteed for new students, plus bursaries for care leavers, music, sports, alumni discounts (20%), and international student support.
Current Issues
Cutbacks in Humanities
The university recently announced the closure of its English Literature degree, drawing concern from experts about the broader decline in humanities education
