University of Hertfordshire

Overview

The University of Hertfordshire is a modern university based largely in Hatfield, in the county of Hertfordshire, about 35km north of London. Described as “the UK’s leading business-facing university”, Hertfordshire has more than 25,000 students enrolled from nearly 90 different countries.

The University of Hertfordshire won the Guardian University Award for Student Experience in 2015, while 95.2% of University students are in work or further study six months after graduating.

The University has many close links with industry, and every British Formula One team has at least one Hertfordshire graduate. Degrees in healthcare science and the pioneering paramedic science BSc make Hertfordshire a preferred provider for the NHS in the east of England and the Universities Careers and Placements Service offers graduates lifelong support on employment and career development.

Services for International Students

The International Student Support Team is fully trained to help with employment, visas, financial and personal matters. Free in-sessional English lessons are available for all international students and are tailored to be relevant to the course of study. Pre-sessional English courses are also available. Before term starts, the University runs a free airport collection service from Heathrow.

Ranking

• 83rd in the Times University Guide 2025
• 75th in the Guardian University Guide 2025

The University of Hertfordshire continues to be one of the top 100 universities in the world under 50 years old and is currently 71st among post-1964 UK universities. In the latest Research Excellence Framework, 90% of submitted research was judged to be of international quality, while History was rated first in the UK in terms of impact. 57% of Hertfordshire's submitted research was judged to be of world-leading and internationally excellent quality across all 12 units.

The University of Hertfordshire made one of the biggest jumps in research impact results across the higher education sector, according to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). Results show that the University now ranks in the top 25% nationally at 32nd, the highest position for a post-92 university, and a huge rise of 61 places compared to the previous REF in 2014, the biggest rise of any university.

Accommodation

On-campus accommodation is guaranteed for all first-year students at the University of Hertfordshire. Halls of residence including flats, houses and traditional corridor halls are available on both the College Lane and the de Havilland campuses and students can choose to live at either, regardless of the campus at which they are studying.

Off-campus accommodation is available from the University at Ridgeview Lodge, a short drive away. There are numerous private rented properties in the area, as well as the option to live with a local family as a lodger.

Location

The University of Hertfordshire is located just 25 minutes by train from London in the beautiful countryside north of the capital. The University of Hertfordshire’s two campuses in Hatfield are only ten minutes walk apart, connected by a network of pathways, cycle routes and shuttle buses. Hatfield is a town of almost 30,000 people in the county of Hertfordshire. It features several pubs and The Forum, a popular entertainment venue with students. The town centre is small but features a regular market and a farmers’ market each month.