Our awards

No 1 in England for teaching

We were the first university in England to achieve recognition as having the highest proportion of professionally qualified teaching staff. This came after the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) released figures comparing the number of academics holding a teaching qualification in 130 universities across England. (HESA – First awarded in 2016, maintained in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Joint first in 2020.)

A gold-rated University

The University of Huddersfield achieved a Gold Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) award in June 2017. This award expired in June 2021 and the scheme is currently being revised. We look forward to being reassessed when the awards are re-opened in 2023.

The award recognised that the University of Huddersfield delivers consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. It is of the highest quality found in the UK.

Learn more about TEF

Global Teaching Excellence Award

Leading educationalists from around the world have selected the University of Huddersfield as the first winner of the Global Teaching Excellence Award. The feedback from one of the judges said: “This University is truly inspiring and innovative.”

This award further recognises the University's commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

Learn more about the Global Teaching Excellence Award

A gold-rated University

The University of Huddersfield achieved a Gold Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) award in June 2017. This award expired in June 2021 and the scheme is currently being revised. We look forward to being reassessed when the awards are re-opened in 2023.

The award recognised that the University of Huddersfield delivers consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. It is of the highest quality found in the UK.

Learn more about TEF

Enterprise

We excel in enterprise and innovation and in 2012, the University was named the Times Higher Education Entrepreneurial University of the Year. This was followed up in 2013, when Professor Elizabeth Towns-Andrews, the University’s 3M Professor of Innovation won the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion. In 2022, we were awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.

Learn more about our awards for enterprise.

Leadership

The University relies on strong leadership. Headed by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bob Cryan CBE who in 2013 was awarded the Guardian Higher Education Award for Inspiring Leader and won the Leadership Award at the Educate North Awards in 2015. In 2019 he won the Examiner Business Person of the Year award.

Our leadership and management team have also been shortlisted in the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards and in 2015 we won Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development at the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards.

In 2019 the University's HR Staff Development Team won the CMI Outstanding Innovation and Delivery Award for their work on a study programme for managers at the University. This programme helps managers achieve the CMI's Level 7 Award and gain chartered status. 

 

Internationality

We are invested in building our profile and reputation globally, continuing to foster strategic partnerships and collaborations with world-class academic institutions to create a world-leading and inspiring student experience.

Amongst the best in the world

In the 2023 QS World University Rankings, we have been named as one of the top universities globally for the following subjects*:

• We rank 27th globally and 9th in the UK for Performing Arts
• We're in the top 150 in the world for Communication & Media Studies
• We're in the top 300 in the world for English Language and Education and Training.

*QS World University Rankings by subject 2023.

Reducing inequalities

We ranked 6th out of 796 global institutions for reduced inequalities in THE Impact Rankings* - recognising our research on social inequalities, policies on discrimination and commitment to recruitment staff and students from underrepresented groups. 

We also ranked:

• 45th out of 850 global institutions for decent work and economic growth - which measures universities' economic research, their employment practices and our share of students taking work placements.*
• 50th out of 745 global institutions for peace, justice and strong institutions - which measure universities' research on peace, justice and our participation as advisors for government policies and academic freedom*.

*THE Impact Rankings 2022

World-leading

We are in the top 50 UK universities for Research Power, and three quarters of all our research is world leading and internationally excellent**. 

Over 60% of our research environment is classified as world-leading and internationally excellent, especially in Music, Biological Sciences, Architecture and Built Environment, Social Work and Social Policy, History and Communication and Media Studies**.

**REF2021

Award-winning

In 2013 and 2022, we were awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade

In 2020 we were proud to be recognised with 5 stars by QS (an international ratings organisation).

Workplace

In 2014, we were awarded the Times Higher Education Best University Workplace and topped the tables in all four main categories in a survey carried out amongst staff in higher education across the country.

In 2015, we were also recognised for our commitment to gender equality – including the recruitment and career development of more female scientists and engineers – by being granted the Athena SWAN Bronze Award.

Innovative employability strategy sees University win top national award

The University of Huddersfield’s innovative approach to helping students find work after graduating has seen the institution win the best university employability strategy award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021.

Different programmes at the University ensure that undergraduates are preparing for the world of work throughout the duration of their courses, and it is also helping to improve the employability skills of local graduates and non-graduates on work placement schemes around the campus who are at risk of long-term unemployment without these interventions.

96.8% of our undergraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating

(HESA Graduate Outcomes 2018/19, UK domiciled, other activities excluded.)

Global Professional Award

The Global Professional Award (GPA) is studied alongside an undergraduate degree* to give students valuable skills and attributes that we know employers are looking for.

By completing the GPA, student will also receive a Level 5 Award in Leadership & Management from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), meaning they graduate from the University of Huddersfield with a recognised management qualification in addition to their degree, which may help to set them apart from other graduates.

*full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.