The University of Plymouth is a
public research university based predominantly in
Plymouth
Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west.
Plymouth ...
, England, where the main campus is located, but the university has campuses and affiliated colleges across
South West England
South West England, or the South West of England, is one of nine official regions of England. It consists of the counties of Bristol, Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly), Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. Cities and ...
. With students, it is the
largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students (including the
Open University
The Open University (OU) is a British public research university and the largest university in the United Kingdom by number of students. The majority of the OU's undergraduate students are based in the United Kingdom and principally study off- ...
). It has 2,915 staff.
History
The university was originally founded as th
Plymouth School of Navigation in 1862,
before becoming a university college in 1920 and a
polytechnic institute
An institute of technology (also referred to as: technological university, technical university, university of technology, technological educational institute, technical college, polytechnic university or just polytechnic) is an institution of te ...
in 1970,
with its constituent bodies being Plymouth Polytechnic,
Rolle College in
Exmouth
Exmouth is a harbor, port town, civil parishes in England, civil parish and seaside resort, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe and southeast of Exeter.
In 2011 it had a population of 34,432, making Exmouth the List of town ...
, the
Exeter College of Art and Design (which were, before April 1989, run by
Devon County Council) and
Seale-Hayne College
Seale-Hayne College was an agricultural college in Devon, England, which operated from 1919 to 2005. It was the only agricultural college in the United Kingdom whose buildings were purpose designed and built. It was located 3 miles from Newton ...
(which before April 1989 was an independent charity). It was renamed Polytechnic South West in 1989, a move that was unpopular with students as the name lacked identity. It was the only polytechnic to be renamed and remained as "PSW" until gaining university status in 1992 along with the other polytechnics. The new university absorbed the Plymouth School of Maritime Studies.
In 2006, part of the remains of the World War II Portland Square
air-raid shelter were rediscovered on the Plymouth campus.
On the night of 22 April 1941, during
the Blitz
The Blitz was a German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom in 1940 and 1941, during the Second World War. The term was first used by the British press and originated from the term , the German word meaning 'lightning war'.
The Germa ...
, a bomb fell on the site killing over 70 civilians, including a mother and her six children.
The bomb blast was so strong that human remains were found in the tops of trees. Only three people escaped alive, all children.
The university's first vice-chancellor was John Bull. He was succeeded by
Roland Levinsky until his death on 1 January 2007, when he walked into live electrical cables brought down during a storm.
He was temporarily replaced by
Mark Cleary (now vice-chancellor of the
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a Public university, public research university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. A plate glass university, it received its royal charter in 1966, making it the 40th university to be creat ...
),
and then by Steve Newstead. Wendy Purcell became VC on 1 December 2007. She was placed on leave on 2 July 2014 by the university's governors while an internal review was conducted.
A month later the
Higher Education Funding Council for England requested an independent external review of the university's governance. In August 2014, the university was instructed by
HEFCE to undertake an external review of its governance after vice-chancellor Wendy Purcell was placed on leave.
Judith Petts CBE was appointed the University of Plymouth's vice-chancellor and chief executive in February 2016. She joined Plymouth from the
University of Southampton
, mottoeng = The Heights Yield to Endeavour
, type = Public research university
, established = 1862 – Hartley Institution1902 – Hartley University College1913 – Southampton University Coll ...
, where she had been pro-vice-chancellor research and enterprise and previously the inaugural dean of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences (2010–2013).
The university was selected by the
Royal Statistical Society
The Royal Statistical Society (RSS) is an established statistical society. It has three main roles: a British learned society for statistics, a professional body for statisticians and a charity which promotes statistics for the public good.
...
in October 2008 to be the home of its Centre for Statistical Education.
It also runs courses in maritime business, marine engineering, marine biology,
and Earth, ocean and environmental sciences.
Campus
When university status was gained in 1992, the university was based in on multiple sites. Under Vice-Chancellor Levinsky the university began a policy of centralising its campus activities in Plymouth.
The Exmouth campus
Rolle College housed the Faculty of Education and relocated to the new Rolle Building in August 2008. The decision was unpopular with students and the town of
Exmouth
Exmouth is a harbor, port town, civil parishes in England, civil parish and seaside resort, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe and southeast of Exeter.
In 2011 it had a population of 34,432, making Exmouth the List of town ...
itself. There were several protest marches and a campaign to keep the campus open.
The Exeter campus
arl Richards Road Northhoused the Arts and Design faculty from 1989 to 2007. Purpose-built in the 1970s to re-locate Exeter College of Art and Design from the city centre, the college became amalgamated with Polytechnic South West in 1989 and permanently relocated its facilities to Plymouth in 2007. In 2011 planning permission was granted to demolish and redevelop the Earl Richards Road North site to provide 39 dwellings with parking and landscaping.
Completed developments include Portland Square, a library extension, refurbished and new laboratory and teaching facilities in many of the campus buildings, halls of residence near the Business School and a new £16 million
Peninsula Medical School headquarters at Derriford, in the north of the city.
A Marine Building has been constructed behind the Babbage Building to house civil engineering,
coastal engineering
Coastal engineering is a branch of civil engineering concerned with the specific demands posed by constructing at or near the coast, as well as the development of the coast itself.
The hydrodynamic impact of especially waves, tides, storm surges ...
and
marine science
Oceanography (), also known as oceanology and ocean science, is the scientific study of the oceans. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of topics, including ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, waves, and geophysical fluid dyna ...
s.
An exception to the trend of centralising activities are the university's extensive activities in education for the health professions. In addition, many of its students are taught at further education colleges throughout Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, such as
South Devon College
South Devon College is a further education college with 9 different campuses within Torbay and the surrounding area. The college is part of The University of Plymouth Colleges network.
In December 2017, South Devon College achieved an over ...
. A building which opened in 2008 is shared between the Peninsula Medical School and the Faculty of Health and Human Sciences.
Roland Levinsky building
The Roland Levinsky Building, designed by architects
Henning Larsen
Henning Larsen, Hon. FAIA (20 August 1925 – 22 June 2013) was a Danish architect. He is internationally known for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Riyadh and the Copenhagen Opera House.
Larsen studied at the Royal Danish Academy ...
with
Building Design Partnership
Building Design Partnership Ltd, doing business as BDP, is a firm of architects and engineers employing over 900 staff in the United Kingdom and internationally.
History
BDP was founded in 1961 by George Grenfell-Baines with architects Bill White ...
, is
clad with copper sheets in a seamed-cladding technique, is nine storeys high and has of floor space.
The Faculty of Arts, previously based in Exmouth and Exeter moved here in August 2007. The building contains two large lecture theatres, the Jill Craigie Cinema, used by the film students to display their films and for showing of films to the public; three performance rehearsal studios; digital media suites; and a public art gallery which displays work by local artists groups, students and famous artists.
Student accommodation
University-managed or approved accommodation in the first year of study is guaranteed for all applicants who choose Plymouth as their first choice institution. The university provides an approved accommodation database, which is available to all continuing students. There are six university-managed halls: Francis Drake, Gilwell, Mary Newman, Pilgrim, Radnor and Robbins. Special accommodation arrangements can be made for students with disabilities or medical conditions.
Organisation and administration
Faculties
There are three faculties which each contain a number of schools:
#Arts, Humanities and Business
#Health
#Science and Engineering
Coat of arms
The Arms, Crest, Badge and Supporters forming the university’s
Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central ele ...
were granted on 10 April 2008, in Grant 173/189, by the
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional Officer of Arms, officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the ...
.
The books represent the university's focus on learning and scholarship. The scattering of small stars, represent
navigation
Navigation is a field of study that focuses on the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another.Bowditch, 2003:799. The field of navigation includes four general categories: land navigation, ...
, which has played a key role in the history of the city and the university. The scallop shells in gold, represents pilgrimage, a sign of the importance of the departure of the
Pilgrim Fathers
The Pilgrims, also known as the Pilgrim Fathers, were the English settlers who came to North America on the ''Mayflower'' and established the Plymouth Colony in what is today Plymouth, Massachusetts, named after the final departure port of Plymo ...
from a site near the
Mayflower Steps
The Mayflower Steps are close to the site in the Barbican area of Plymouth, south-west England, from which the Pilgrim Fathers
The Pilgrims, also known as the Pilgrim Fathers, were the English settlers who came to North America on the '' ...
in the
Plymouth Barbican aboard the ''
Mayflower
''Mayflower'' was an English ship that transported a group of English families, known today as the Pilgrims, from England to the New World in 1620. After a grueling 10 weeks at sea, ''Mayflower'', with 102 passengers and a crew of about 30, r ...
'' in 1620. A Pelican and a
Golden Hind
''Golden Hind'' was a galleon captained by Francis Drake in his circumnavigation of the world between 1577 and 1580. She was originally known as ''Pelican,'' but Drake renamed her mid-voyage in 1578, in honour of his patron, Sir Christopher Hat ...
support the shield and reflect both the original and later, better known, name of
Sir Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake ( – 28 January 1596) was an English explorer, sea captain, privateer, slave trader, naval officer, and politician. Drake is best known for his circumnavigation of the world in a single expedition, from 1577 to 1580 ( ...
's ship. The crest contains the Latin motto, "Indagate Fingite Invenite" which translates as "Explore Dream Discover" and is a quote from
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has p ...
, reflecting the university's ambitions for its students and Plymouth's history of great seafarers.
The
Letters Patent granting Arms to the University of Plymouth were presented by
Eric Dancer,
Lord Lieutenant of Devon, in a ceremony on 27 November 2008, in the presence of
Henry Paston-Bedingfeld
Sir Henry Edgar Paston-Bedingfeld, 10th Baronet (born 7 December 1943) is a British baronet and retired officer of arms.
Family and career
Paston-Bedingfeld is the only son of Sir Edmund Paston-Bedingfeld, 9th Baronet of Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk ...
,
York Herald
York Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms. The first York Herald is believed to have been an officer to Edmund of Langley, Duke of York around the year 1385, but the first completely reliable reference to such a ...
of the
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional Officer of Arms, officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the ...
, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Plymouth, Judge William Taylor, the Recorder of Plymouth, and
Baroness Judith Wilcox.
The Coat of Arms are rarely seen in use, other than at graduation. The university uses the "with Plymouth University" brand on stationery and signs and keeps the Coat of Arms exclusive. The use of the arms is therefore restricted to graduations and other formal ceremonies, degree certificates and associated materials and the exclusive use by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.
Academic profile
A wide variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are taught at the main city campus in Plymouth. The university scores well in law, psychology, geographical sciences, computing (including digital media) and computer science, fine art and art history.
Key developments include: the creation of a new business school; bringing together complementary subjects in a new combined faculty of Science and Engineering; and creating the largest marine science and engineering school in Europe.
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
This faculty is host to the School of Art, Design and Architecture, the School of Humanities and Performing Arts, and the Plymouth Institute of Education. Arts subjects are usually taught in the Roland Levinsky building and the Scott building, a 19th-century building located next to Roland Levinsky which was modernised externally in 2008 to keep to the university's current design.
The
faculty offers degrees in Architecture, English, History,
Art history
Art history is the study of aesthetic objects and visual expression in historical and stylistic context. Traditionally, the discipline of art history emphasized painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, ceramics and decorative arts; yet today ...
,
3D Design, Fine art, Music, Photography,
Media arts
New media art includes artworks designed and produced by means of electronic media technologies, comprising virtual art, computer graphics, computer animation, digital art, interactive art, sound art, Internet art, video games, robotics, 3D pri ...
, Theatre & Performance and
Dance Theatre
Concert dance (also known as performance dance or theatre dance in the United Kingdom) is dance performed for an audience. It is frequently performed in a theatre setting, though this is not a requirement, and it is usually choreographed and p ...
. Postgraduate research degree supervision is available across the disciplines in all three Schools, with specific expertise in artistic research.
Faculty of Health
Home to the Schools of Psychology, Social Science and Social Work, Health Professions, and Nursing and Midwifery. As well as
PGCE programmes, the Faculty offers degrees in Adult Nursing, Child Health Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Midwifery, Dietetics, Optometry, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Paramedicine.
Faculty of Science and Engineering
This faculty is home to the School of Biological and Marine Sciences, the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, and the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences.
The university provides professional diving qualifications on a number of its courses, the only university in the country to do so. The university's diving centre is located within its Marine Station teaching and research facility based next to Queen Anne's Battery marina, and has a full-time team of instructors and dedicated boats and equipment.
In October 2005, ''
The Sun'' newspaper voted the university as having the most bizarre degree course in the country, the BSc (Hons) in Surf Science & Technology. Commonly known as "
surfing
Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitabl ...
", this course is actually centred on coastal and ocean sciences, surfing equipment, clothing design, and surfing-related business, which is popular owing to the geographical location of the university.
Faculty of Business
The faculty is home to the Plymouth Business School, the School of Law, Criminology and Government, the Plymouth Graduate School of Management and the School of Tourism and Hospitality. Plymouth's Business School has most notably been very successful in national rankings by subject, where subjects like economics have ranked 16th, according to The Guardian.
Plymouth Graduate School of Management also offers
Maritime Studies
Seamanship is the art, knowledge and competence of operating a ship, boat or other craft on water. The'' Oxford Dictionary'' states that seamanship is "The skill, techniques, or practice of handling a ship or boat at sea."
It involves topics ...
through the BSc (Hons) Maritime Business and Maritime Law and the MSc in International Shipping.
The university has strong links with the cruising industry, offering courses in the Maritime and Cruising sector. The school offers BSc (Hons) in Cruise Management, where students can opt to take a year out to work with
P&O or
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is an American cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. The company is incorporated in Bermuda and its headquarters are in Santa Clarita, California. As of 2021, it is the second largest cruise line by net revenue. It w ...
for two four-month periods.
Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry
Medicine and Dentistry were first established as part of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry in 2000, which operated as a partnership between Plymouth University and the
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university , public research university in Exeter, Devon, England, United Kingdom. Its predecessor institutions, St Luke's College, Exeter School of Science, Exeter School of Art, and the Camborne School of Min ...
.
In January 2012 the two founding members of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD) the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, outlined their plans to expand independently and grow the success of the now nationally recognised professional health education provider. These changes came into effect from the start of the 2013 academic year. PUPSMD consists of the School of Medicine, the School of Dentistry, and the School of Biomedical and Healthcare Sciences.
Academic Partnerships
The Academic Partnerships network is a collaboration between the university and local colleges across the South West and South of England. There are hundreds of higher education courses available providing opportunities for progression to other qualifications. For example, someone who has spent two years studying for a foundation degree at their local college – and who has successfully passed their exams – can move on to the final year of a full honours degree at the university.
*
British College of Osteopathic Medicine
The British College of Osteopathic Medicine (also known as BCOM) is an educational organisation based in London. It was one of the first colleges to offer degree-level and Master's degree, master's-level study in osteopathy. The College's Principa ...
*
Bicton College
Bicton College is a college with around 1,000 full-time and 3,500 part-time pupils, located near Budleigh Salterton, Devon, England. It is part of the Cornwall College group. The college specialises in agriculture and currently offers course ...
*
Bridgwater College
Bridgwater and Taunton College is a further education college based in the heart of Somerset, England, with main centres in Bridgwater, Taunton and Cannington. It educates approximately 3000 students between the ages of 16–18 in academic and ...
*
City of Bristol College
City of Bristol College is a further education and higher education college in Bristol, England.
It provides courses for young people and adults aged 16 and above in areas such as: A Levels, Animal Care, Floristry, Horticulture, Applied Forensic ...
*
City College Plymouth
*
Cornwall College
The Cornwall College Group (TCCG; kw, Kolji Kernow) is a further education college situated on eight sites throughout Cornwall and Devon, England, United Kingdom, with its head office in St Austell.
Campuses
There are eight campuses withi ...
*
Exeter College
*
European School of Osteopathy
European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to:
In general
* ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe
** Ethnic groups in Europe
** Demographics of Europe
** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe a ...
*
Greenwich School of Management (GSoM), London
*
MLA College
*
Petroc
*
Plymouth College of Art and Design
Arts University Plymouth is an independent university-sector Higher Education (HE) provider located in Plymouth in South West England. The former Plymouth College of Art was officially granted university status in 2022. In April 2019 the sp ...
(until 2006)
*
Truro and Penwith College
Truro and Penwith College is a Tertiary College and Further Education College in Cornwall, United Kingdom. History
Truro College was founded in 1993 as a new college in Gloweth near Threemilestone, Truro, Cornwall, to replace the Truro Sixt ...
*
Somerset College
*
South Devon College
South Devon College is a further education college with 9 different campuses within Torbay and the surrounding area. The college is part of The University of Plymouth Colleges network.
In December 2017, South Devon College achieved an over ...
Academic Partnerships associates include:
*
Tor Bridge High
Tor Bridge High (formerly Estover Community College) is a mixed secondary school and sixth form located in the Estover area of Plymouth in the English county of Devon.
Previously a community school administered by Plymouth City Council, To ...
*
Highlands College, Jersey
Highlands College (Jèrriais: Lé Collège d's Hautes Tèrres) is a further and higher college in Jersey in the Channel Islands. It has 860 full-time and over 4,000 part-time and adult students. Highlands is a Partner College of the University ...
*
Strode College
*
Weymouth College
Weymouth College is a further education college located in Weymouth, England. The college has over 4,000 students, studying on a wide range of practical and academic courses in many subjects. The college is part of The University of Plymouth C ...
Plymouth is the main sponsor of
Marine Academy Plymouth
Marine Academy Plymouth (formerly Tamarside Community College) is a mixed all-through school located in the King's Tamerton area of Plymouth in the English county of Devon. The school includes a nursery, primary, secondary and sixth form ...
. It is also the main sponsor of
UTC Plymouth
UTC Plymouth is a university technical college (UTC) that opened in the Devonport area of Plymouth, Devon, England in September 2013.
The college is located on the site of the former Parkside Community College on Park Avenue. The campus was ex ...
, which opened in September 2013.
Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
In 2005 the university was awarded four
HEFCE funded Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs). In addition, Plymouth was a partner in a fifth successful bid, led by
Liverpool Hope University
, mottoeng=Hope to all who need it
, established=1844 – Saint Katharine's College (as Warrington Training College)1856 – Notre Dame College (as Our Lady's Training College)1964 – Christ's College1979 – Liverpool Institute of Higher Edu ...
.
The university's CETLs are:
* Centre for Excellence in Professional Placement Learning (CEPPL)
* Experiential Learning in the Environmental and Natural Sciences
* Higher Education Learning Partnerships CETL
* Centre for Sustainable Futures (Education for Sustainable Development)
* Learn Higher
Reputation and rankings
The University of Plymouth ranks 503rd in the CWUR World University Rankings 2017 In ''The Times and Sunday Times University League Table 2018'', the University of Plymouth's world ranking was listed as joint 701st and 601–650 in ''QS World University Rankings 2019''. ''
Times Higher Education
''Times Higher Education'' (''THE''), formerly ''The Times Higher Education Supplement'' (''The Thes''), is a British magazine reporting specifically on news and issues related to higher education.
Ownership
TPG Capital acquired TSL Education ...
'' ranked Plymouth 401–500 in its World University Rankings 2017–18, and ranked it 65th among 200 institutions in its World Young University Rankings 2017.
The results of the 2014
Research Excellence Framework
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a research impact evaluation of British higher education institutions. It is the successor to the Research Assessment Exercise and it was first used in 2014 to assess the period 2008–2013. REF is under ...
showed that, overall, Plymouth was ranked joint 66 of 128 UK institutions, rising 9 places from the previous
Research Assessment Exercise
The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) was an exercise undertaken approximately every five years on behalf of the four UK higher education funding councils (HEFCE, SHEFC, HEFCW, DELNI) to evaluate the quality of research undertaken by British hig ...
in 2008. Across all assessed subject areas Plymouth showed substantial evidence of 3* (internationally excellent) and 4* (world leading) research, and this was particularly evident in Clinical Medicine, Computer Sciences & Informatics, Psychology, Psychiatry & Neuroscience, and Earth Systems & Environmental Sciences, where 79–85% of research was ranked as 3* or 4*.
Plymouth was the first university to be awarded the Social Enterprise Mark in recognition of working as a genuine social enterprise, caring for communities and protecting the planet.
Notable academics
Staff include political scientists/psephologists
Colin Rallings
Colin Rallings is a British academic, Professor of Politics in the School of Sociology, Politics & Law at the University of Plymouth. Rallings’ first degree was in Politics and Modern History from the University of Manchester. Subsequently, he ...
and
Michael Thrasher
Michael Thrasher is a British academic, Professor of Politics in the School of Sociology, Politics & Law at the University of Plymouth. He is also Sky News' election analyst.
Thrasher was born in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire in 1953. he receive ...
, who have written extensively on
electoral system
An electoral system or voting system is a set of rules that determine how elections and Referendum, referendums are conducted and how their results are determined. Electoral systems are used in politics to elect governments, while non-political ...
s, voting behaviour, polling results and British politics. Other notable academics include mathematician
Richard Jozsa
Richard Jozsa is an Australian mathematician who holds the Leigh Trapnell Chair in Quantum Physics at the University of Cambridge. He is a fellow of King's College, Cambridge, where his research investigates quantum information science. A p ...
; health informatician
Maged N. Kamel Boulos; composer and filmmaker
Alexis Kirke
Alexis Kirke is a composer and filmmaker known for his interdisciplinary practice. He has been called "the Philip K. Dick of contemporary music". Alexis is British and lives in Plymouth, in South West England. Alexis says he takes his inspiration ...
; Professor in
Computer music
Computer music is the application of computing technology in music composition, to help human composers create new music or to have computers independently create music, such as with algorithmic composition programs. It includes the theory and ...
and composer
Eduardo Reck Miranda
Eduardo Reck Miranda (born 1963) is a Brazilian composer of chamber and electroacoustic pieces but is most notable in the United Kingdom for his scientific research into computer music, particularly in the field of human-machine interfaces wh ...
;
Roy Lowry
Roy is a masculine given name and a family surname with varied origin.
In Anglo-Norman England, the name derived from the Norman ''roy'', meaning "king", while its Old French cognate, ''rey'' or ''roy'' (modern ''roi''), likewise gave rise to ...
who in August 2006 broke the world record for launching the most rockets at once;
Iain Stewart who has fronted BBC documentaries such as ''Journeys into the Ring of Fire'' and ''Journeys from the Centre of the Earth'';
Alexis Kirke
Alexis Kirke is a composer and filmmaker known for his interdisciplinary practice. He has been called "the Philip K. Dick of contemporary music". Alexis is British and lives in Plymouth, in South West England. Alexis says he takes his inspiration ...
an interdisciplinary performer and artist; sociologist
John Scott, a sociologist focused on elites, power, social stratification, and social network analysis;
Jacqueline Andrade
Jacqueline Andrade, also known as Jackie Andrade, FAcSS (born 20th century) is a British psychologist. She is a professor of psychology in the School of Psychology at the University of Plymouth, located in Plymouth, England. Life
She finishe ...
, professor of psychology; and
Richard Thompson, who coined the term "
microplastics
Microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic less than in length, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the European Chemicals Agency. They cause pollution by entering natural ecosystems from a v ...
". Emeritus Professor
Jonathan St B. T. Evans from the school of Psychology has contributed greatly to the discussion of
Dual-Process theory and has been publishing for over 40 years. Dr. Mike McCulloch, physicist and developer of the Quantised Inertia Theory.
Notable alumni
Alumni include the world's youngest single-handed cross-Atlantic sailor
Seb Clover
Sebastian Clover, more commonly known as Seb Clover (born 15 January 1987), is a former English record-breaking sailor and paramedic.
Clover is a former young adventurer from Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England, who, at the age of 15 years a ...
, historian
Philip Payton
Philip John Payton is a Cornish-Australian historian and Emeritus Professor of Cornish and Australian Studies at the University of Exeter and formerly Director of the Institute of Cornish Studies based at Tremough, just outside Penryn, Corn ...
, BBC wildlife presenter
Monty Halls, television presenter
Michael Underwood
Michael Paul Underwood (born 26 October 1975) is an English television presenter, best known as a children's TV presenter on CBBC and CITV. He can be seen as a fifteen-year-old in an episode of '' The Crystal Maze'', then presented by Richa ...
, life peer
Judith Wilcox, Baroness Wilcox, (Plymouth Polytechnic), travel writer and physician
Jane Wilson-Howarth
Jane Wilson-Howarth CF, BSc (hons), MSc (Oxon), BM, DCH, DCCH, DFSRH, FRSTM&H, FFTM RCPS (Glasg) (born 1954) is a British physician, lecturer and author. She has written three travel health guides, two travel narratives, a novel and a series o ...
, children's author
Steve Augarde, artists
Sue Austin,
Julian Bovis,
Pen Dalton,
Andrea Polli
Andrea Polli (born 1968) is an environmental artist and writer. Polli blends art and science to create widely varied media and technology artworks related to environmental issues. Her works are presented in various forms, she uses interactive web ...
,
Hatice Güleryüz, multimedia artist and scholar
Ellen Levy
Ellen K. Levy is an American multimedia artist and scholar known for exploring art, science and technology interrelationships since the early 1980s. Levy works to highlight their importance through exhibitions, educational programs, publications ...
, computer scientist at IBM
Mandy Chessell, MP for
Bristol North West
Bristol North West is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Darren Jones of the Labour Party.
Constituency profile
The seat covers northwest parts of Bristol, extending to the Severn Estuary. ...
Darren Jones, journalist
Matt Cooke
Matthew David Cooke (born September 7, 1978) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played sixteen seasons and 1046 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). Cooke won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the ...
, politicians
Laura Anne Jones,
Mark Williams and
Darius J. Pearce, marine biologists
Heather Koldewey and
David Sims, meteorologist
Clare Nasir
Clare Lyn Nasir (born 20 June 1970) is an English meteorologist, author, and TV presenter.
Early life
Born in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Nasir's family is musical, with Nasir playing the saxophone, while three of her brothers are profess ...
, members of the band
Meeky Rosie
Meeky Rosie was a band based in Devon, South West England, UK.
The members became friends while studying at the University of Plymouth and were signed to independent record company 'Wandering Star Records' in 2001. The band spent many years wri ...
, Indonesian businessman and politician
Jaka Singgih
Jaka Aryadipa Singgih (born 10 July 1958) is an Indonesian businessman and politician. He is the CEO and managing director of the Bumi Laut Group and served as a member of parliament of the Republic of Indonesia from the Indonesian Democratic ...
, and
Tom Rivett-Carnac, Officer of the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established an international environmental treaty to combat "dangerous human interference with the climate system", in part by stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in th ...
.
Students' union
University of Plymouth Students' Union, usually abbreviated "UPSU" is a
non-profit making organisation. Each year, students elect the officers who will represent them for the following year. The Union offers a range of services and stages a number of events throughout the year. As well as events, the Union is the base for most of the sports teams and societies at the university.
Controversies
In 2014 a clash of personalities at the top of the university led the then vice-chancellor Wendy Purcell to be suspended.
Part of the dispute was over the commissioning of ceremonial chairs at a cost of £95,000 without the board's approval. A linked case saw the chair of the board of governors, which had suspended Purcell,
William Taylor investigated of sexual harassment of female staff. Purcell was later appointed to a newly created role of president with compensation of £125,000 for loss of office and maintaining her salary of £250,000.
See also
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Armorial of UK universities
The armorial of British universities is the collection of coats of arms of universities in the United Kingdom. Modern arms of universities began appearing in England around the middle of the 15th century, with University of Oxford, Oxford's bei ...
*
Greenwich School of Management,
Greenwich
Greenwich ( , ,) is a town in south-east London, England, within the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is situated east-southeast of Charing Cross.
Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich ...
, south-east London
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List of universities in the UK
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Post-1992 universities
In the UK, a post-1992 university, synonymous with new university or modern university, is a former polytechnic or central institution that was given university status through the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, or an institution that ...
*
Schumacher College
Schumacher College is a college near Totnes, Devon, England which offers ecology-centred degree programmes, short courses and horticultural programmes. The College is internationally renowned for its experiential approach to learning, encouragin ...
References
External links
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Plymouth University Students' Union– UPSU
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Educational institutions established in 1992
1992 establishments in England
University
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
Plymouth
Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west.
Plymouth ...