Discovering innovative ways to change the world for the better

Our university was founded almost a hundred years ago in the aftermath of the Great War. The men and women who built this new institution hoped that it would be not only a living memorial to the darkness of their recent past, but a beacon of hope for the future. Their aim was that sacrifices made in war should be commemorated through education and research that would change the world for the better.

We are delivering this ambition.

We have launched a new strategic plan, which sets out our vision to pioneer a distinctive new elite of research-intensive universities. Take a look at the Strategic Plan webpages to find out how we intend to do this.

ut vitam habeant, ‘so that they may have life’

Our values reflect our motto. To do justice to the hopes and the expectations of those on whose shoulders we now stand, we strive to make a difference in everything that we do.

Today our University is a lively, energetic and global community, in which dedicated and talented people are anticipating, working towards and helping to shape the future.

We are committed both to undertaking research that saves, improves and enriches lives, and to fostering a teaching and learning environment that transforms the prospects of our students and those they will go on to influence. Find out about some of our greatest discoveries.

We envision being a University which is open to talent, not privilege and accessible to everyone with the ability to benefit from higher education.

Students and staff at the heart of the University

Students and staff are at the heart of our ambition and it is they that will help us deliver it. Our shared values both inspire and permeate everything we do:

Sharing a commitment to excellence
Respecting and appreciating people in a culture of trust and integrity
Championing academic freedom and the importance of constructive debate
Recognising and celebrating achievement and success
Ensuring that the decisions we make about education are always student-centred
Nurturing innovation and solving problems creatively
Being aware that we work better when we work together
Being adventurous and acknowledging that without mistakes, change and innovation are impossible
Being accountable for our actions and promises
Leading by example and doing what we say we will do