University of Hertfordshire (UH)

About University of Hertfordshire (UH)

UH describes itself as a modern, dynamic and enterprising university with a strong focus on career-relevant education, industry links and global outlook. University of Hertfordshire+2Hertfordshire International College+2 It has been in education for over 70 years, with roots in the aeronautical industry training in the UK and now offers a wide range of programmes, research and partnerships.

 

Why choose University of Hertfordshire?

Here are some key reasons (especially for international students) why UH may be a good option:

  • Proximity to London: The main campus (Hatfield) is about 25 minutes by train to central London — giving you access to the capital’s opportunities while being based in a campus environment.

  • Global student community: With students from over 110 countries, UH offers a multicultural environment; their international student webpages emphasise this.

  • Industry focus & facilities: UH highlights its strong links to employers, industry-standard labs and facilities (e.g., their new building for physics/engineering).

  • Good teaching credentials: UH has recognition such as being rated “5 Stars (Excellent)” by QS Stars, and a Silver award in the national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023.

 

Rankings & recognition

Here’s where UH stands (overview):

  • According to TopUniversities: UH is in the QS World University Rankings band #901-950 globally.

  • The Guardian / other UK guides: One source suggests UH was placed 83rd in the Times University Guide 2025 and 75th in the Guardian University Guide 2025.

  • UH is the only university to be awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in 2024 (for outstanding continuous growth in overseas sales) — a unique distinction.

  • UH achieved a Silver rating in the TEF (2023) for teaching excellence.

 

Campus Locations & Student Life

  • The main campus is at Hatfield, Hertfordshire — about 25 minutes by train to London.

  • The university site mentions a 125-acre green campus with 24/7 learning resource centres, accommodation and student services.

  • Facilities: UH’s recent infrastructure includes the new “Spectra” building for the School of Physics, Engineering & Computer Science, opened recently with net-zero carbon goals.

  • Student support: The international student pages highlight dedicated services (visas, English language support, accommodation).

 

Types of Courses (Study Levels)

UH offers a full academic spectrum including:

  • Undergraduate degrees (Bachelor’s honours, etc) in many subject areas.

  • Postgraduate taught and research degrees (Masters, PhD) across many disciplines.

  • Pathways, professional courses, and short courses: The international site mentions more than 300 courses available for international students across Schools of Study

  • Research & industry-linked programmes: Given their industrial ties and research environment, there are research degrees and placements.

 

Mode of Learning: On-campus / E-learning / Blended

  • The default mode is on-campus, full-time teaching at Hatfield campus (for most programmes) with physical lectures, labs and student interaction.

  • UH also offers placement years, which means students spend part of their degree in a work-placement context. The international student page mentions “many of our courses also have a placement option”.

  • There is likely blended or flexible learning offered (especially for postgraduate programmes) though the site emphasises campus-based learning. If you require fully online, you should check individual courses’ delivery mode.

  • For distance/online only learning, you’ll need to check each programme’s details page (they may vary).

 

Number of Programmes Offered

  • UH states it offers “more than 700 career-focused degrees” across its schools.

  • The international page says “over 300 courses available to international students” across six Schools of Study.

  • Together, this indicates a wide breadth of choice, making UH a fairly large provider with many options.

 

Highlights & Student Experience

  • Large international community: “nearly 35,000 students from over 110 countries” on campus.

  • Industry-focused: UH emphasises “career-focused degrees”, good employer links, modern facilities (e.g., the new Spectra building for STEM).

  • Recognition: 5 Stars (QS Stars rating), TEF Silver, King’s Award for Enterprise 2024 (unique).

  • Location advantage: close to London, with good transport links and a campus environment — gives you both city access and campus life.

  • Many programmes include placement/internships, which is a plus for employability and international students wanting work experience.

 

Practical Checklist for International Applicants

Here’s how you should approach applying if you’re considering UH:

  1. Choose your programme: Use UH’s course finder to shortlist undergraduate or postgraduate courses that interest you (check “available to international students” flag).

  2. Check entry & English language requirements: UH has country-specific entry requirements and offers in-sessional and pre-sessional English support.

  3. Decide campus vs online: Ensure your programme is on-campus (if you want full UK experience) and check mode of delivery and placement options.

  4. Check fees & scholarships: Review international tuition fees, check if you are eligible for scholarships (UG Tri Annual, Chancellor’s Intl, etc) and pay attention to deadlines.

  5. Visa & accommodation: Since you’ll be living in the UK, check UH’s international student support pages for visa guidance and housing. Arrange accommodation early.

  6. Plan for career/placements: If your programme offers placement years, plan ahead for that — it’s a valuable feature.

  7. Stay updated: Keep an eye on UH’s website for latest news, scholarship updates, intake changes (e.g., January/September start dates) and UK policies affecting international students.

Scholarship

UH offers a number of scholarships and tuition-discount schemes for students classified as international for fee purposes. Some of the key awards include:

  • Chancellor’s International Scholarship – For first-time international fee-paying students (UG or PG taught) joining UH in the UK. Amounts vary between £500 to £4,000.

  • UG Tri Annual Scholarship – For international undergraduate students joining a full-time UG taught programme at UH’s UK campus. Discount of £1,500 per year (for each year of the programme) up to a total (e.g., £4,500 for a 3-yr degree, £6,000 for a 4-yr) for those who meet conditions.

  • Vice Chancellor’s Regional Scholarship – For international postgraduate taught students joining UH in the UK, one-off tuition fee reduction, based on country Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), for first-time enrolment.

  • QS Stars Excellence Scholarship – Merit-based for international postgraduate taught students joining UH for the first time in the UK campus; you must apply for this one.

  • Full Payment Discount – Not strictly a “scholarship” but a tuition-fee discount: international students who pay their full tuition fee by a set deadline may get a £1,000 deduction.

  • Sports Scholarships and other subject-specific or talent-based awards – e.g., UH’s Sports Scholarship Scheme for athletes (international students may apply).

 

Fee status & first-time study

  • You must be classified as an international (overseas) fee-paying student by UH.

  • Most of these scholarships are for first-time enrolment at UH (i.e., you are joining UH for the first time, not transferring or returning). For example, Chancellor’s International Scholarship says: “applicants … offered and accepted a place on a full-time award-bearing University of Hertfordshire programme and be paying the full cost of the tuition fee from their own resources.”

 

Course type & campus

  • The UG Tri Annual Scholarship is specifically for undergraduate taught courses at UH UK campus, not work-placement or study abroad years, and not necessarily for advanced entry or online courses

  • Some scholarships (e.g., Chancellor’s) are not available for certain schools/courses. For example, the Chancellor’s International Scholarship excludes some courses in the School of Health & Social Work.

 

Automatic vs application required

  • Some awards are automatically applied — you do not need to submit a separate scholarship application. For example, Chancellor’s International Scholarship is noted as “You do not need to apply … we automatically assess your course application”.

  • Others require a separate application form (for instance, QS Stars Excellence Scholarship) and meeting additional criteria.

 

Conditions & combinations

  • Many awards apply only in the first year of your programme (especially PG awards, or first-time entrants) and may not renew for subsequent years. For example, Vice Chancellor’s Regional Scholarship is a one-off tuition fee reduction for first-year only.

  • Some scholarships cannot be combined with others. The UH page states that for the UG Tri Annual Scholarship, you cannot qualify for any other scholarships or discounts (unless exceptionally awarded by the university) alongside it.

  • The discount is applied against tuition fee debt once you register — not from your deposit amount. For example UG Tri Annual Scholarship: “… will be offset against tuition fee debt once applicants register … not from their deposit amount.”

  • Students who withdraw or are discontinued may have the award adjusted on pro-rata basis.

 

Application & residency

  • Some awards will only be awarded once you have met all registration conditions, accepted the offer, and paid any required deposit.

  • Ensure your application includes strong academic credentials, English language proficiency, and meet any personal statement or motivation criteria (for automatic awards these may be implicitly assessed). For example the eligibility for Chancellor’s International: assesses “academic and English language criteria as well as personal statements and personal circumstances.”

Programs

London, United Kingdom