University of Roehampton

The University of Roehampton is a modern and ambitious institution located in south-west London, close to the affluent and scenic area of Richmond. Set within a beautiful 65-acre parkland campus, it is recognised as the only parkland campus in central London, offering students a distinctive academic environment that combines natural surroundings with direct access to one of the world's most influential cities. Its strong transport connections to central London provide excellent opportunities for academic, cultural, and professional engagement.

Roehampton has a rich educational heritage spanning more than 180 years. Its origins trace back to four historic teacher-training colleges: Whitelands College, Digby Stuart College, Froebel College, and Southlands College. These institutions came together in 1975 to form the Roehampton Institute of Higher Education, before the University of Roehampton was established in 2004 and later gained university status in 2011. The university continues to maintain its collegiate structure, allowing students to build strong academic and social communities within their colleges and courses.

Academically, Roehampton has built a strong reputation for excellence in teaching and research. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 ranked it as the joint-best modern university in the UK for research, with 77% of its research outcomes recognised as world-leading or internationally excellent. In addition, Roehampton was placed in the top 15% globally in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024, reflecting its growing international standing. It is also ranked among the Top 3 universities in London for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2026.

The university offers research-led teaching with a clear focus on employability, critical thinking, adaptability, and creativity. Students can choose from a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with notable academic strengths in Teacher Training, Dance, Drama, Biological Anthropology, and English Literature. Roehampton has also expanded into online education, including business and health-related subjects, alongside hospitality programmes developed in collaboration with the Glion Institute of Higher Education.

Roehampton supports a diverse and welcoming global community, with around 11,945 students representing more than 110 countries. Its inclusive campus culture encourages students and staff to motivate and challenge one another while valuing individuality. The university's library further strengthens the academic experience, housing over 350,000 books, e-books, electronic journals, and valuable special collections. With its historic legacy, strong academic reputation, career-focused learning, and exceptional London location, the University of Roehampton offers students a professional and supportive environment to shape successful futures.

The University of Roehampton offers a wide range of student-focused services designed to support learners through every stage of university life. From academic guidance and career preparation to well-being support and international student assistance, the university aims to create a campus environment where students can feel at home, achieve their goals, and develop personally and professionally.

A major strength of Roehampton is its personalised academic support. The university is committed to student success from the moment students join. Every student is assigned a dedicated Academic Guidance Tutor, a member of academic staff within their department who provides personalised advice throughout the degree. This support includes help with study planning, module selection, academic progress, and future career decisions. Students have regular access to their tutor through both face-to-face and remote support, helping build strong academic confidence and long-term guidance.

To strengthen learning outcomes, Roehampton also provides 24/7 online academic resources, allowing students to study from campus, home, or other locations. These resources are designed to improve skills, increase confidence, and support better academic performance. In addition, the university's world-class library, recognised as one of the best university libraries in London, offers extensive academic support through thousands of books, journals, learning materials, and advanced IT facilities.

Student well-being is another core priority. Roehampton offers specialist services to support mental health, wellbeing, disability needs, and personal development. Students can access a range of resources designed to help manage stress, anxiety, and more complex mental health challenges. This student-centred approach reflects the university's goal of building a supportive and inclusive campus community.

The university also supports first-year students through the RoeBuddies scheme, which pairs new students with mentors. These mentors help students adjust to university life by offering advice on time management, balancing workloads, and building confidence during the transition into higher education.

Career development is strongly supported through the Student Futures team, which offers tailored employability services for both students and graduates. Career workshops, employer events, CV guidance, interview preparation, and job-search support help students prepare for the workplace. The university also works directly with employers to connect students with graduate opportunities.

Practical work experience is available through URJobs, Roehampton's on-site recruitment agency. URJobs helps students find part-time roles such as student ambassadors, careers interns, conference hosts, and call campaign positions. These jobs provide both financial support and valuable experience that strengthens employability.

The university also encourages innovation through LaunchPad, its enterprise and entrepreneurship programme. Students and alumni can access specialist one-to-one support, business planning advice, events, and a Dragon's Den-style competition to develop entrepreneurial ideas.

For international students, Roehampton offers additional support including a Meet and Greet Service at London Heathrow Airport, Orientation Week, English language support, and ongoing tutor guidance. Combined with placement-year opportunities, Career Development Week, and comprehensive student services, the University of Roehampton provides a professional, supportive, and career-focused environment for academic and personal success.

The University of Roehampton has built a strong reputation as a respected modern university in London, recognised for academic quality, student satisfaction, and growing global visibility. While it generally ranks between #110 and #120 in UK domestic league tables and #800+ globally, its strongest performance is consistently seen in student experience, teaching quality, and satisfaction outcomes.

In national university rankings, Roehampton holds a stable position among recognised UK higher education institutions.

• The Complete University Guide 2026: 115th in the UK.
• The Guardian University Guide 2026: 120th in the UK.
• The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026: 124th in the UK.

These rankings reinforce Roehampton's position as an established modern university within the British higher education sector.

Roehampton stands out particularly for student satisfaction. It was ranked Top 3 in London for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2026. Nationally, it also secured 8th in England for undergraduate student satisfaction in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2024. These achievements reflect the university's strong emphasis on quality teaching, student support, and academic engagement.

At the postgraduate level, the university also performed strongly in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2022, where it ranked among the Top 10 UK universities for postgraduate student satisfaction.

• 10th in the UK for Overall Satisfaction.
• 9th in the UK for Satisfaction with Teaching.
• 9th in the UK for Skills Development.
• 3rd in the UK for Satisfaction with Organisation.

These results demonstrate Roehampton's strong academic delivery and student support across postgraduate programmes.

Globally, Roehampton continues to improve its international recognition. It was placed within the Top 15% of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024. It also ranked 801–1000 in the THE World University Rankings 2026, 955th in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026, and #2083 in Best Global Universities. According to EduRank 2026, Roehampton was ranked 95th in the United Kingdom and 1390th globally.

Overall, the University of Roehampton is especially recognised for its student satisfaction, teaching excellence, and strong reputation as a modern university in London and beyond.

Student life at the University of Roehampton offers a balanced, engaging, and community-focused university experience in south-west London. With a strong collegiate structure, a green campus environment, modern social facilities, and direct access to central London, Roehampton provides students with opportunities to grow academically, socially, and personally.

One of Roehampton's defining features is its four historic Colleges—Froebel College, Digby Stuart College, Southlands College, and Whitelands College. Every student becomes part of both the university and one of these colleges, creating a close-knit community atmosphere. Each college has its own traditions, events, and social identity, helping students build friendships and feel connected from the beginning of their university journey. This collegiate system strengthens the sense of belonging and creates a campus that feels welcoming and supportive.

The university's south-west London location combines the convenience of a campus university with access to city life. Students can live, study, and socialise on campus while central London is only around 30 minutes away. Nearby destinations such as Richmond, Wimbledon Village, Putney Embankment, Clapham Junction, and Shepherd's Bush provide shopping, entertainment, dining, and leisure opportunities. This gives students the advantage of both a peaceful academic environment and vibrant urban experiences.

Roehampton is recognised as London's only green campus university and is surrounded by outstanding parks and open spaces. Richmond Park, located next to campus, is one of the largest parks in Europe and offers opportunities for walking, cycling, and outdoor recreation. Wimbledon Common, Kew Gardens, and the London Wetlands Centre are also close by, providing excellent opportunities for relaxation, exercise, and nature-based activities.

Campus social life is highly active. The university offers multiple bars, cafés, diners, and communal spaces designed for interaction and student engagement. The Union Bar serves as the main social hub and hosts karaoke nights, open mic events, DJ sessions, quiz nights, and weekly club activities, including THE BOP. The Hive Café, operated by Growhampton, functions as both a café and community space, hosting film screenings, thrift events, live music, and market activities. Additional student spaces such as The Sett, The Digby Den, and The Reef provide informal environments for relaxation, events, and social gatherings.

Student engagement extends beyond campus spaces through regular university events. From Freshers' Fair to graduation, students can participate in welcome formal dinners, RoeFest, varsity competitions, global festivals, and cultural celebrations such as Holi, Eid, Christmas, and Passover. These events reflect Roehampton's diverse and inclusive student community.

The Roehampton Students' Union plays an important role in student life by supporting societies, volunteering, sports, and student-led activities. Students can join academic, cultural, and interest-based societies, including the Wild Collective Society and esports teams. The esports arena features 20 high-end gaming PCs and a dedicated streaming room. Sports opportunities are equally strong, with both competitive and recreational teams across a wide range of activities.

Music, theatre, live performances, sport, food, community events, and cultural diversity all contribute to a rich student experience. Combined with student-centred support such as counselling, mental health services, and academic skills workshops, the University of Roehampton offers a well-rounded and supportive student life designed for both academic success and personal development.

The University of Roehampton offers convenient, affordable, and community-focused accommodation designed to support student comfort, independence, and university life in London. With all halls located directly on campus, students benefit from a practical living environment that keeps essential facilities, academic spaces, and social opportunities close at hand.

One of Roehampton's strongest advantages is the accessibility of its on-campus accommodation. All accommodation is based within the university campus, allowing students to live within walking distance of the library, classrooms, shops, cafés, food outlets, green spaces, gym, and student support services. This campus-based structure makes day-to-day life easier, helping students save time while staying connected to both academic and social activities. At the same time, central London remains easily accessible through bus, train, and tube connections.

The university is recognised for affordability in one of the UK's most expensive student cities. Independent research by Monzo identified the University of Roehampton as the best value university in London for student accommodation, highlighting its commitment to making higher education more accessible. Roehampton also states that it offers some of the most affordable accommodation options in London, making it attractive for both domestic and international students seeking cost-effective living.

Roehampton provides around 1,500 on-campus rooms spread across its four colleges. Most rooms are single-occupancy and self-catered, giving students privacy and flexibility in daily living. Accommodation options include budget-friendly shared rooms, standard rooms with shared facilities, and en-suite rooms for students who prefer additional comfort and privacy. Students can also choose to live with friends, select quieter residential areas, or stay in single-sex flats depending on their needs and preferences.

For international students, Roehampton offers strong housing support, including on-campus accommodation for all first-year international students. In addition, the university guarantees accommodation for eligible students who apply and accept their offer before the stated deadline. This provides reassurance and stability during the transition into university life.

Postgraduate and mature students also have access to dedicated accommodation options that are generally quieter and suited to more private living arrangements. For students who choose to live off campus, the university provides guidance in finding private housing in Roehampton, Wimbledon, and Putney.

Safety and student well-being are also key strengths. Roehampton was ranked the third safest university in England and Wales based on crime rates where students live during term time in the Complete University Guide 2024. Combined with free parking, bike storage, rentable e-bikes, shared social spaces, and a welcoming campus community, accommodation at the University of Roehampton offers a secure, practical, and supportive living experience for students in London.