The University of Northampton traces its origins back to 1261, when King Henry III granted a charter for England’s third university, though it was closed in 1265 to protect Oxford’s dominance. Modern higher education in Northampton began in 1924 with the creation of Northampton Technical College, later joined by teacher training and technical schools. These merged in 1975 to form Nene College of Higher Education, which gained the power to award its own degrees in 1999 and became University College Northampton. In 2005, it achieved full university status as the University of Northampton. Recognised as a “Changemaker Campus” in 2012 for its focus on social enterprise, the university reached a new milestone in 2018 with the opening of the £330-million Waterside Campus, uniting teaching, research, and student life in one modern hub. Today, it is known for its academic diversity, sustainability, and commitment to social impact.

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Ranking & Award

• Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025: Placed in the 1201–1500 band worldwide.

• QS World University Rankings: Ranked 1001–1200 in 2025, and in the 1201+ band for 2026, showing a slight drop.

• Shiksha Rankings: 2025 global rank 613, UK rank 103.

• Webometrics 2025 (July): Global rank 1877, UK rank 107.

• Impact Rankings (Sustainability & Social Goals)

• THE Impact Rankings 2025: Top 50 in the world for SDG 10 (Reducing Inequalities).