University of Huddersfield
A TEF Gold teaching university in a Yorkshire mill town, with some of the cheapest student rent in the UK.
- Students
- 14,200
- International
- 31%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 19.9:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £17,600
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1841
About Huddersfield
The University of Huddersfield traces its origins to 1841, when a group of young workers in the town founded the Young Men's Mental Improvement Society, and it became a university in 1992. Its compact Queensgate campus sits beside the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in West Yorkshire, mixing restored Victorian buildings such as the Ramsden Building with newer ones, and a National Health Innovation Campus now houses its health courses.
Teaching is the university's strongest suit. Huddersfield holds a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023, with Gold in both the student experience and student outcomes categories, and it says it is the number one mainstream UK university for the proportion of teaching staff with higher degrees and teaching qualifications. The five academic schools cover Applied Sciences; Arts and Humanities; Business, Education and Law; Computing and Engineering; and Human and Health Sciences, with more than 650 courses at all levels.
Entry is accessible rather than highly selective: most degrees ask for BBB to BBC at A-level, and the Headstart scheme can add 8 UCAS points for eligible applicants. Huddersfield suits students who want strong teaching, placements and a low cost of living, and who like the idea of a friendly town with Leeds and Manchester close by.
Sic vos non vobis
“Thus not for you alone” — university motto
Why students choose Huddersfield
Huddersfield was awarded Gold in all three TEF 2023 ratings, one of only 14 universities to achieve this among the 96 results announced in September 2023.
Average student rent in Huddersfield is about £136 a week against a UK average of £211, and HudLets halls start at £95 a week.
Every undergraduate can take the Global Professional Award alongside their degree, and the university reports being top 10 in England for students going on placement.
The music department won a Queen's Anniversary Prize for promoting contemporary music, and students can perform at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
Huddersfield does not publish an overall offer rate. Most undergraduate courses list a typical offer range such as BBB-BBC at A-level (120-112 UCAS points).
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Course-specific ranges for 2027 entry, e.g. BBB-BBC (Psychology, Law, Computer Science, Nursing), BBB-BBC including Mathematics and a science or technology subject (Mechanical Engineering), BBB-BCC plus evidence of music experience (Music) |
|---|---|
| UCAS tariff | 120-112 points from Level 3 qualifications for most courses (120-104 for Music); BTEC Extended Diploma typically DDM-DMM |
| IB Diploma | Expressed as UCAS tariff points: 120-112 points from International Baccalaureate qualifications for courses such as Law |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 87 IELTS Academic 6.0 with no element below 5.5 (online test not accepted), or TOEFL iBT 87 (Reading 22, Listening 21, Speaking 23, Writing 21; Home Edition not accepted), or PTE Academic 59 in each skill. Requirements can vary by course. |
Deadlines
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Deadline for equal consideration for all Huddersfield undergraduate courses.
- UCAS last date before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time
Huddersfield accepts applications until 30 June where places remain; after that, applications go through Clearing.
UCAS dates for 2027 entry. Huddersfield's own how-to-apply page still quoted the 2026 cycle date (14 January 2026) when checked.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS (institution code HUDDS, H60) with a personal statement and reference. Some courses in music, art and design and health require an interview, audition or portfolio.
What admissions looks for
- Grades within the published range for your course, typically BBB-BBC at A-level or 120-112 UCAS points.
- Required subjects where stated, for example A-level Mathematics plus a science or technology subject for Mechanical Engineering.
- For Music, evidence of prior music or music technology experience, through qualifications or a portfolio of creative work.
- A personal statement explaining why you want to study the subject and what relevant experience you have.
Tips for applying to Huddersfield
- 1 Check whether you qualify for Headstart Huddersfield: it adds 8 UCAS points (about one grade) for eligible applicants; Huddersfield does not make separate contextual offers.
- 2 International applicants who achieve the equivalent of AAB at A-level are automatically considered for a £4,000-a-year merit scholarship.
- 3 For health courses such as Nursing and Podiatry, check the NHS Learning Support Fund, a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 a year.
- 4 Look at placement-year options: the placement year costs £1,000 for Home students and £3,300 for international students.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships of £4,000 a year (AAB A-level equivalent) or £2,000 a year (general entry requirements), paid for every year except the placement year. Home students can receive the Student Success Coaching and Bursary (up to £1,000), a £2,000 bursary for care leavers, and music, netball and basketball scholarships.
- £4,000 a year for AAB equivalent; £2,000 a year otherwise
- International merit scholarship (UG)
- £136 a week (UK average £211)
- Average student rent in Huddersfield
- From £95 a week
- HudLets halls
Academics
Music (BMus)
Huddersfield Music is ranked 8th in the UK (Daily Mail University Guide 2026) and Performing Arts 37th in the world (QS subject rankings 2025).
Psychology (BSc)
BBB-BBC entry, with modules in investigative psychology building on the work of Professor David Canter on offender profiling.
Computer Science (BSc)
Accredited by the British Computer Society, with options to specialise in areas such as AI.
Law (LLB)
Ranked top in Yorkshire for learning opportunities in the National Student Survey 2025, with Westlaw, Lexis and Law Trove access included.
Nursing (Adult) (BSc)
Taught in the Daphne Steele Building on the National Health Innovation Campus, with NHS Learning Support Fund grants of at least £5,000 a year.
Mechanical Engineering (BEng)
BBB-BBC including A-level Mathematics, with an optional placement year.
Research
- Three quarters of Huddersfield's research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent in REF 2021.
- The music department won a Queen's Anniversary Prize for its work promoting contemporary music internationally.
- The university's Centre for Precision Technologies received the Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2022.
Schools & faculties
- School of Applied Sciences
- School of Arts and Humanities
- School of Business, Education and Law
- School of Computing and Engineering
- School of Human and Health Sciences
93.4% of undergraduates were in work and/or further study 15 months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2023/24, UK-domiciled).
Student life
Student life centres on a compact town-centre campus, where Student Central holds the Students' Union and sports facilities. The Students' Union is home to over 100 student-led sports clubs and societies and the HudLets accommodation service, which inspects halls, studios and private houses and charges no admin fees. Music is a strong thread: students can take part in ensembles, choirs and orchestras and perform at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and the Electric Spring Festival. Low rents mean students' money goes further than in nearby cities.
- Over 100 student-led sports clubs and societies and free Social Sport sessions with no membership required.
- Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and Electric Spring Festival bring new and experimental music to campus.
- Students from over 100 countries.
- Global Professional Award scheme to build employability alongside any degree.
Housing. Accommodation is arranged through HudLets, the Students' Union's approved service, with en-suite halls a short walk from campus from £95 a week.
Location
Huddersfield is a Yorkshire town surrounded by Pennine countryside, with fast rail links to Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. The campus is in the town centre beside the canal. It is one of the cheapest places in the UK to be a student, with average rent around £75 a week below the national average.
Nearest airport: Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA); Manchester Airport (MAN) is also reachable by train
Notable alumni
- SG Sir George BuckleyFormer chairman and CEO of 3M; BSc in electrical and electronic engineering from Huddersfield and a PhD studied jointly at Huddersfield and Southampton
- RJ Rosie JonesComedian, writer and actress; studied English Language and Creative Writing
- AR Adil RayActor and presenter, creator of Citizen Khan; BA in Marketing
- SN Sally NugentBBC Breakfast presenter; BA in communication arts and French
- RJ Robert James-CollierActor, Thomas Barrow in Downton Abbey; business degree
- KO Kavita OberoiEntrepreneur and founder of Oberoi Consulting; first-class BSc in chemistry
- KL Kim LeadbeaterLabour MP for Spen Valley; PGCE from Huddersfield
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for the University of Huddersfield?
Most undergraduate courses for 2027 entry ask for BBB-BBC at A-level or 120-112 UCAS points; Music accepts BBB-BCC. Some courses need specific subjects, such as Mathematics for engineering.
Does Huddersfield make contextual offers?
No, but eligible applicants can gain 8 extra UCAS points through the Headstart Huddersfield scheme, or points from other recognised access schemes.
How much does Huddersfield cost for international students?
For 2027/28, most undergraduate courses cost £17,600 a year, with £18,700 for allied health courses and £19,800 for Nursing. Merit scholarships of £2,000 to £4,000 a year are applied automatically.
What is the Huddersfield application deadline for 2027 entry?
Apply through UCAS by 13 January 2027 for equal consideration. Huddersfield considers later applications until 30 June 2027 where places remain, then through Clearing.
What IELTS score does Huddersfield require?
Usually IELTS Academic 6.0 with no element below 5.5, or TOEFL iBT 87. Some courses may ask for more.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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