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University of Chichester

Coordinates:50°50′41″N0°46′28″W/ 50.844674°N 0.774429°W/50.844674; -0.774429
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University of Chichester
Coat of Arms (official)
Former names
West Sussex Institute of Higher Education (1977–1995), Chichester Institute of Higher Education (1995–1999), University College Chichester (1999–2005)
MottoLatin:Docendo discimus
Motto in English
By teaching, we learn
TypePublic
Established2005
Vice-ChancellorJane Longmore
Administrative staff
600
Students5,545 (2019/20)[1]
Undergraduates4,395 (2019/20)[1]
Postgraduates1,150 (2019/20)[1]
Location
Chichester, West Sussex
,
England,UK

50°50′41″N0°46′28″W/ 50.844674°N 0.774429°W/50.844674; -0.774429
CampusSemi-urban
AffiliationsCathedrals Group
Universities UK
Websitechi.ac.uk
Rankings
National rankings
Complete(2025)[2]82
Guardian(2024)[3]38
Times / Sunday Times(2024)[4]66

TheUniversity of Chichesteris apublic universitylocated inWest Sussex,England, which became a university in 2005. Campuses are based in the city ofChichesterand the nearby coastal resort ofBognor Regisand an associate campus for commercial music on theIsle of Wight.[5]

The University of Chichester has 14 departments, with specialisms including Humanities, Sport, Musical Theatre, acting and Education. Its heritage stretches back into the nineteenth century when, in 1839,Bishop Otter Collegewas established. Since 2013, both campuses have seen major expansion-led building works throughNational Lotteryfunding and other funding.

The University of Chichester is a member of TheCathedrals Group.[6]

History[edit]

In 1840, a school for training 'Masters' was founded byWilliam Otter,Bishop of Chichester, which was rebuilt in his memory as the Bishop Otter College in 1849.[7]The original buildings, created in a neo-Tudorstyle, were designed by the architectJ. Butler.[8]

In 1873, the campus became a training institute for women teachers due to the activism ofLouisa Hubbardafter theElementary Education Act 1870which created demand for school teachers.[9]Fanny Trevorwas appointed as the first "Lady Principal" of this teacher training college for women after she offered to work for nothing, starting in 1873.[10]

Dorothy May Meadswas the Principal of Bishop Otter College from 1936 until her retirement in 1947. Between 1942 and 1945, duringWorld War II,the Air Ministry requisitioned the Bishop Otter College for the planning ofD-Day.Meads moved the facility to the Old Bishop's Palace inBromley(the site ofStockwell College of Education). This was briefly closed when the threat of bombing seemed high.The college moved again in 1944, to Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. The college eventually returned to Chichester at the end of the war. Under Meads the college estate was expanded with her establishing new advanced courses in craft work, gardening and physical education she was also responsible for the building of a new gymnasium.[11][12]

Elisabeth Murraywas the principal from 1948 until her retirement in 1970. Murray purchased sculptures and pictures from the likes ofHenry Moore,Stanley SpencerandGraham Sutherland,and invited national figures to speak to staff and students at the college. She also introduced co-education, instituted responsibility for self-appraisal in student matters and grew the college's governing body.[13]Men were admitted to the college in 1957.[14]

In the 20th century the campus was gradually expanded to meet demand. There was a large extension in the 1960s, including a steep gabled cruciform chapel, designed by the architect,Peter Shepheard.[8]

During the 1970s the Principal of Bishop Otter College was Gordon McGregor, who went on to be Principal ofRipon and York St Johnand latterly Emeritus Professor of Education at theUniversity of Leeds.

AtBognor Regisa teacher training college was founded in the 1940s to support the expansion of education.

In 1977 Bishop Otter College and the Bognor Regis college were merged to form the West Sussex Institute of Higher Education (WSIHE), with degrees being awarded byCNAAand later theUniversity of Southampton.Alumni from this period include the actorJason Merrellsand the authorPaula Byrne.Between 1995 and 1999, it was known as Chichester Institute of Higher Education. It gained degree-awarding powers in 1999, becoming known as University College Chichester, and became recognised as a full university in October 2005.

In 2015 Chichester University secured government andlotteries commissionfunding to the value of approximately £8 million and embarked on a plan of expansions at both academic sites, involving the demolition of several smaller collegiate structures, that were no longer suitable for purpose and the construction of facilities for academia, administration and sports.

In 2016, the Chichester campus underwent redevelopment with a new Academic Building for lecture and seminar rooms,student unionshop and a sprun dance space.[15]Other work included construction of a sports dome, chapel extension, courtyard, Sports Hall and Gym refurbishment, as well as major development work on the Library or Learning Resources Centre (LRC) which has three floors. In January 2017 the multi-million pound purpose built Academic Block was opened, hosting lecture and seminar rooms, a brand new Students' Union shop and a sprung floor dance space.[15]

In 2018 the university opened a new £ 35million Tech Park which houses the Creative Industries and Engineering, Computing and Maths departments. The Tech Park was opened by theDuke and Duchess of Sussex.[16]

In 2021, it opened its Nursing and Allied health building on the Chichester campus. This 1,600-square-foot teaching headquarters was part of a multimillion-pound development.[16]

In 2022, the University of Chichester appointed former NHS leader Dame Marianne Griffiths as its first Chancellor.[17]

Campuses[edit]

'The Dome', home of the Business School at the University of Chichester, built as a Royal Palace in 1787

College Lane[edit]

University House completed in 1849

Chichester campus or Bishop Otter campus is situated at College Lane,Chichesterand is set in surroundings which include historic buildings and modern facilities. It is a five-minute walk from Chichester city centre.Chichester Festival Theatreis adjacent to the campus.Chichester City Football club, Chichester rugby club and Chichester racquets and fitness club are all adjacent to the campus.

TheOtter Gallerywas located within the LRC. It offered public art exhibitions and workshops throughout the year. It was permanently closed against public protest at the end of 2018.[18]

Bognor Regis[edit]

The Bognor Regis campus is in a leafy environment five minutes from the sea, and has three mansion houses with Georgian architecture: St Michael's, the Dome and Mordington House. The Bognor Regis campus is close toHotham Park., The park surroundsHotham House,built in 1792 by SirRichard Hotham.[19]Also nearby is the Ice House – the original 18th Century refrigerator of Hotham Park Estate.[20]

The university's £35million[21]Tech Park was opened on Wednesday 3 October 2018 by theDuke and Duchess of Sussex.[22]

Organisation[edit]

University of Chichester Chapel completed 1962

The university department structure can be found below.[23]

  • Business School
  • Childhood, Social Work and Social Care
  • Creative Industries
  • Computing
  • Dance
  • Education
  • Engineering and Design
  • English and Creative Writing
  • Fine Art
  • Humanities
  • Music
  • Nursing and Allied Health
  • Psychology and Counselling
  • Sport including Adventure Education, Sport Sciences, PE, Sport Development and Sport Management
  • Theatre (Performing Arts)

Academics[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abc"Where do HE students study?".Higher Education Statistics Agency.Retrieved1 March2020.
  2. ^"Complete University Guide 2025".The Complete University Guide. 14 May 2024.
  3. ^"Guardian University Guide 2024".The Guardian.9 September 2023.
  4. ^"Good University Guide 2024".The Times.15 September 2023.
  5. ^Commercial MusicArchived2017-12-29 at theWayback MachineChi.ac.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  6. ^"Cathedrals Group (CCUC)".www.cathedralsgroup.ac.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2018.Retrieved2 January2018.
  7. ^"Otter, William (1768–1840), bishop of Chichester".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/20935.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
  8. ^abNairn, Ian; Pevsner, Nikolaus (1965),Sussex,The Buildings of England, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, p. 173
  9. ^Kelley, Serena (2004), "Hubbard, Louisa Maria (1836–1906)",Oxford Dictionary of National Biography,Oxford University Press
  10. ^Edwards, Sarah (14 March 2019),"Trevor, Sarah Frances [Fanny] (bap. 1818, d. 1904), college principal",Oxford Dictionary of National Biography,Oxford University Press,doi:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.109607,ISBN978-0-19-861412-8,retrieved9 July2023
  11. ^Edwards, Elizabeth,Women in Teacher Training Colleges, 1900-1960,London: Routledge, pp. 58–61,ISBN0-415-21476-9
  12. ^Edwards, Sarah (15 February 2018),"Meads [née Gladish], Dorothy May (1891–1958), historian and college principal",Oxford Dictionary of National Biography,Oxford University Press,doi:10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.109606,ISBN978-0-19-861412-8,retrieved9 July2023
  13. ^"Elisabeth Murray; Obituary".The Times.17 February 1998. p. 23. Retrieved 10 August 2020 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
  14. ^admin (5 December 2011)."Our History".University of Chichester.Archivedfrom the original on 27 April 2019.Retrieved27 April2019.
  15. ^abjhaigh (3 June 2016)."New build for 'next generation of students'".University of Chichester.Archivedfrom the original on 3 January 2018.Retrieved2 January2018.
  16. ^abNewsroom, The (5 July 2024)."Prince Harry and Meghan open University of Chichester's £35million Tech Park in Bognor".Sussexx Express.Retrieved3 October2018.
  17. ^Pole, Sam (12 July 2022)."NHS leader Dame Marianne Griffiths appointed Chancellor at University of Chichester".Sussexx World.Retrieved7 May2024.
  18. ^"An update and a lament: the Bishop Otter Collection".Archivedfrom the original on 27 March 2019.Retrieved27 March2019.
  19. ^Historic England."Hotham House (1027745)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved30 May2018.
  20. ^Historic England."The Ice House of Hotham House (1027753)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved30 May2018.
  21. ^"Students start to use new £35million tech park".Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2018.Retrieved29 November2018.
  22. ^jhaigh (28 September 2018)."Royal opening for Tech Park".University of Chichester.Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2018.Retrieved29 November2018.
  23. ^"University of Chichester".University of Chichester.Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2018.Retrieved29 November2018.

External links[edit]

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