Universities in Canterbury
Applying to study in Canterbury? Find out about accommodation, transport and what to do in this popular student city near the sea.
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CONTENTS
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Why study in Canterbury?
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About Canterbury
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University of Kent
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University for the Creative Arts
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Canterbury Christ Church University
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Living in Canterbury
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Entry requirements
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Transport links
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Getting around Canterbury
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Things to do in Canterbury
Why study in Canterbury?
A recently opened leisure centre, lots of independent shops, cafes and restaurants make Canterbury a great place to study. It鈥檚 also close to the coast and North Downs countryside if you fancy taking a break and going exploring.
About Canterbury
Canterbury is a small lively city, around an hour by train from London. Famous for its cathedral, archbishop, and Chaucer鈥檚 Tales, Canterbury is where old, cobbled streets meet modern-day life. A bustling university city, Canterbury offers students a mix of live music, pubs and great shops to explore.
University of Kent
At the University of Kent, you can make the most of industry-standard facilities, access well-resourced libraries, get personal support and outstanding careers guidance.
Location
The university has campuses in Canterbury and also Medway. Both have plenty of places to socialise and offer easy access to London, the coast and countryside. All new undergraduate students are guaranteed accommodation if they meet all eligibility criteria, including halls, shared houses, flats, en suite and shared facilities to suit a range of budgets.
Facilities
As a first year University of Kent student, you鈥檒l receive free membership at Kent Sport, which includes unlimited gym and fitness classes. Libraries on both campuses are open 24 hours a day in key study weeks. There is free, confidential, and impartial advice at the Students鈥� Union Advice Centre, helping with a range of issues including housing, finance, and visas. Kent鈥檚 chaplaincy is multifaith, serving various Christian traditions as well as the Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist communities. There are shops for groceries and cashpoints found within easy reach of both campuses.
For more information on facilities, visit the University of Kent's profile page.
The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) offers courses in architecture, art, design, fashion, film, performing arts and creative business across Surrey and Kent. Students are taught by lecturers who create as well as teach.
Location
As well as Canterbury, the UCA also has creative communities (campuses) in Surrey, in the towns of Farnham and Epsom. Each campus is within an hour of central London by train. Epsom has a relaxed atmosphere with a variety of shops, a popular theatre and a range of great pubs and clubs. Farnham is home to the Farnham Maltings venue. The town has a rich craft history, a host of pubs and bars, and a mix of high street and independent shops.
Facilities
Libraries open seven days a week (except public holidays), with late opening until 10pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays in term time. Each campus has free Wi-Fi and extensive Mac and PC suites running the latest software packages. Specialist advisers support students with their wellbeing/mental health and to help manage their finances, with advice on funding, bursaries, budgeting, debt management, and consumer and employment issues.
For more information on facilities, visit UCA's profile page.
Canterbury Christ Church has a welcoming, supportive, and multicultural community. As part of its £150m campus improvements, Canterbury has a new STEM centre with industry-leading facilities, and a creative arts hub offering collaborative spaces and an innovative learning experience.
Location
The university's campuses are in Canterbury and Medway. The Medway Campus is close to the famous naval town of Chatham, and the city of Rochester.
The university guarantees accommodation to all first-year students who firmly accept a course offer by the relevant deadline. The accommodation team will help students find a place, whether in university accommodation or renting from a private landlord.
Facilities
The main library opens 24/7 for 11 key weeks each semester, providing a range of study spaces to suit different learning styles. Canterbury Christ Church has invested in a range of simulation facilities to develop specialist industry skills, including psychology labs, SportsLab, simulated hospital wards, film, TV and media facilities, and performing arts spaces. Student support advisers offer on-campus and online drop-ins, providing advice and support on finance, budgeting, managing debt and access to funding.
For more information on facilities, visit Canterbury Christ Church's profile page.
Living in Canterbury
Each university guarantees accommodation for first year students providing you meet the criteria. Accommodation is either on site or a short walk away and you鈥檒l have a choice of different room options depending on your budget.
Living in halls often makes student life easier with perks like 24/7 on-hand support, Wi-Fi, bike storage, access to nearby facilities and a chance to meet other people you鈥檒l have things in common with.
From the second year onwards, you鈥檒l need to find your own place to live. It鈥檚 a good idea to think about this during the second half of first year so you have more options. Hales Place, St Dunstan, Barton, Northgate and Wincheap are all popular areas and have large student communities.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements vary from uni to uni and course to course 鈥� the best way to check what you need to get into your preferred course at each university is to use our and see what each course鈥檚 entry requirements are.
Transport links
Average train journey times from Canterbury
| Birmingham | 3 hours 10 minutes |
| Cardiff | 3 hour 50 minutes |
| London | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Manchester | 3 hours 55 minutes |
| Newcastle | 4 hours 45 minutes |
| Glasgow | 6 hour 40 minutes |
Getting around Canterbury
Canterbury is a pocket-size city so walking or cycling are often the best ways to get around, with good public transport routes for travelling further afield.
Bus
Stagecoach runs various services around Canterbury and nearby villages with student discounted tickets. The main bus station is in the city centre and National Express run services from there if you鈥檙e planning a longer trip.
Train
There are two stations in the city, Canterbury East and Canterbury West, both running high-speed trains to London St Pancras. You can also hop on a train to local places like Wye, Margate and Faversham.
Walk
Many students walk to and from campus as all three universities have central campus locations. The narrow, cobbled streets lend themselves to walking rather than driving and there are lots of routes to enjoy; strolling around the city walls or ambling along the River Stour.
Cycle
Cycling is relatively easy in Canterbury with many students using this to get from A to B in a hurry. All the universities have good cycling facilities and there are several traffic-free routes to choose from.
Other
For a more expensive option, there are numerous taxi companies operating in and around the city along with Uber and Lyft.
Things to do in Canterbury
Canterbury鈥檚 medieval past gives the city a special atmosphere, along with modern things to enjoy like cinemas, theatres, and shopping centres.
Nightlife
If you鈥檙e looking for a good night out the city has a great mix of clubs, laid back pubs and live venues. Nightclubs include Club Chemistry and The Venue.
If you鈥檙e more pub than club, the high street and historic alleys offer lots of choice from posh cocktails at The Pound to a quiet pint in the Thomas Tallis Alehouse. And for a completely different night out, why not take the Canterbury ghost tour of the city.
Outdoors
Cricket is big news in this region and Canterbury has its own ground and festival dedicated to the sport. If you鈥檇 rather spend some time on the river, you could take a punting tour or hire canoes and explore the River Stour.
Westgate Gardens is a beautiful green space in which to find some peace and quiet, or you could leave the city behind and head for the seaside town of Herne Bay or Whitstable Harbour.
Arts and culture
Canterbury Cathedral, England鈥檚 first cathedral, is a world heritage site and free to students so it would be rude not to visit at some point in your studies. The Marlowe Theatre in the centre and the Gulbenkian theatre on the University of Kent campus are both worth having on your radar for a really varied programme of arts events.
The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge is an art gallery, museum and library and cafe and Westgate Towers Museum and Viewpoint is another of Canterbury鈥檚 iconic landmarks.
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