University of Portsmouth to open London campus

The University of Portsmouth is set to open a new London campus in partnership with global property investment and development group Northchild Group.

This new campus will be set up in Waltham Forest, the only north east London borough without a higher education institute.

Doors to students are set to open early next year. The campus will initially be located within two floors of an existing building but plans are being developed for a complete new single site campus, able to accommodate up to 7,000 students.

Graham Galbraith, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “I think the mistake that can easily be made is for a university in some part of the country to parachute itself into a community almost uninvited.

“We wanted somewhere where there wasn’t that higher education presence and where around that there wasn’t a university like us – in ranking and positioning in the league tables.

“There’s a growing increase in academic performance overall in London and I think having a local university here is going to help with that.”

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The university is set to recruit equal numbers of international and domestic students. In March 2023, an admissions and recruitment centre was opened in Walthamstow Library as part of its preparations for welcoming the first students to Waltham Forest.

Grace Williams, leader of Waltham Forest Council, said: “The University of Portsmouth is one of the top modern universities in the country and will offer our residents a world-class education right on our doorstep, whatever their age or background.

''I hope people who will benefit from the partnership are care leavers. The university has committed to a bursary, which will support care experienced individuals from Waltham Forest.''

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