Canterbury Christ Church University

Canterbury Christ Church (CCC) has its main campus in the rather picturesque town of Canterbury, South-East of the capital in Kent. The university also runs smaller campuses across the county in Folkestone, Medway, Broadstairs and Tunbridge Wells.

 

Background and History

CCC started out life as a teacher training college for the Church of England (back then it had an impressive four Cs to its name). It was founded in 1962 and initially taught out of St. Martin's Priory but eventually grew and began offering joint honours and degrees in subjects other than teaching. CCC became a full university in 2005 and was granted the authority to award research degrees in 2009.

Location and Accessibility

By Rail: Trains pull into both Canterbury East and Canterbury West Stations, both of which are about a mile from the campus. Connections to London have improved recently with the introduction of a high speed service.

By Road: The best way to access the Canterbury campus is via the M2 which leads onto the A2. Parking in the town is very limited but some is available around the campus if you're visiting for an open day.

Most facilities are wheelchair friendly and accommodation is available designed for usage by people with disabilities.

What's on Offer

Ba, MA, PGCE, BSc, MSc, MBA, Graduate Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, MRes, MPhil, PhD.

Entry Requirements

CCC is quite flexible about entrance requirements and will consider each application on merit. The standard offer is CCC at A-level, MMM at BTEC, 24 points in the IB or a recognised Access Course. Some courses have specific subject requirements (such as Music) or will require you to have achieved a grade C or above at Maths GCSE.

University Accommodation

There is a wide range of university accommodation including flats and houses at the different campuses and some have parking spaces available to rent. Prices are competitive.

Private Accommodation

Housing options in Canterbury are limited slightly by the size of the town and the fact most students won't be able to afford to live in the historic centre. Moving away from the UNESCO World Heritage site at the Cathedral makes things an awful lot cheaper and rooms can be found in shared houses at a reasonable price.

Faculties and Departments

Canterbury Christ Church University is divided into four faculties: the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Health and Social Care and the Faculty of Applied Sciences.  

Academic Strengths and Research Profile

CCC has always focused on education and preparing people for work in public service. As such it is strongest in teacher training, allied health subjects and social care, although the new campuses are broadening the horizons of the university. The Tunbridge Wells site has a centre for Applied Psychology that has a good reputation and performs research in the field of Clinical Psychology, while at Broadstairs digital media has become the focus, with a lot of work being undertaken on video and sound production.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees at CCC vary depending on the course of study and what academic level you wish to study at. For a full list of fees it is advisable to contact the university directly or visit their website.

Financial Support

A number of methods of financial support are available including the National Scholarship Programme, Canterbury Fee Waivers, Canterbury Bursaries, Sports Scholarships and Music Scholarships.

Academic Facilities

CCC has excellent IT services across its campuses with online learning resources so students can study from home and catch up on lectures. There are a number of libraries across the sites, including specialist collections in Clinical Psychology at Tunbridge Wells and what is apparently the longest library in Europe at the Medway campus (although length may not be the best criteria to judge a library by). There is a wealth of digital media facilities at Broadstairs including recording and editing suites, and there are numerous performance and practise rooms for Music students in Canterbury.

Other on-site Amenities

The university has recently opened a new multi-million pound sports facility with a sports hall, badminton courts and a fitness centre. This is complemented by an impressive 12 acres of playing fields at Stodmarsh and the Polo Farm Sports Club, which offers hockey, cricket and other sports. There are the usual selection of cafes and eateries on the campuses and a student bar.  

Medical and Social Care

There is a student medical centre at the Canterbury campus, which offers standard GP services as well as immunisations and sexual health services. CCC does not have its own nursery, but has allocated places at a nearby childcare centre in Canterbury, or can offer financial assistance to students who need childcare whilst studying at the other campuses. There is a student counselling service and an active chaplaincy for mental and spiritual well-being. As CCC was founded as a Christian organisation there are numerous retreats, pilgrimages, prayer groups and choirs for students to get involved with as well as Islamic and multi-faith prayer rooms.  

What's on in the Area

Canterbury is a small town but it has a developing student nightlife due to the considerable growth in student numbers at CCC and the University of Kent, Canterbury Campus. This has meant an increase in the quality and frequency of gigs, DJs and nights out in the town, although there are still plenty of options for those wanting to enjoy the quieter life. The town has many architectural highlights, including World Heritage sites and some fantastic surrounding countryside. The Local Marlowe Theatre (named after local boy Christopher Marlowe) is the largest in the region and there's always the option of taking the train up to London to experience the West End plays.

Moving On

Employability is high at CCC due in part to its focus on teacher training and NHS related courses. There is a good careers service which can help you find placements while you study, and which runs a number of employability workshops to improve CV writing and interview skills.

The university chose the ordering of its new name carefully in order not to  be confused with the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. Cycling fans will be pleased to know the Tour de France has visited the city twice and often takes a route through Kent for one of its stages.

Is CCC right for you?

It has a very strong reputation for teacher training and psychology courses. It has excellent performance facilities for music students, particularly if you're interested in organ or choral music. Why not also consider King's College for music with a theological slant, or the nearby University of Kent for a quality PGCE course in the area.