Brunel College of Advanced Technology was awarded its Royal Charter in 1966, becoming Brunel University. Named after I. K. Brunel, the university has sought to emulate the great engineer's energy, creativity and practicality. A succession of developments and mergers has brought the University from modest beginnings to become a major force both within the UK higher education sector and on the international stage. Located in Uxbridge on the outskirts of London, Brunel is one of the very few campus-based universities within the M25. Brunel is just a few miles from Heathrow Airport, the M4, M40 and M25, and is served by excellent bus services. Uxbridge is served by the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines on the London Underground All courses comprise self-contained modules or study blocks, most offering optional topics so you can tailor your course to suit your interests. One of Brunel’s most distinctive features is the commitment to including periods of work experience – sandwich placements – in many courses to help students develop the practical knowledge and skills required to succeed in the competitive graduate job market.
The University offers programmes with an integrated foundation year in Engineering or IT and maths to prepare non-specialists in those areas or those who do not meet the standard entry criteria, for level 1 of relevant degree courses. The latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), carried out in all UK universities in 2008, judged 82% of our research to be of international standing. As a result of this success, the university secured a 54.5% increase in the level of its research funding from the Higher Education Funding Council, rising to £12.9 million for 2009–10. The higher education sector averaged an increase of just 7.8%.
Brunel University Institute for the Environment’s research, revealing the link between chemicals in rivers and reproductive health, won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2011. Students are encouraged to undertake practical placements and projects as an integral part of their course. Brunel’s courses are underpinned by internationally-renowned research in a range of subjects from Cancer Genetics and Human-Centred Design to Contemporary Music and Sport Psychology. High-quality academics are the core of any university and our profile has transformed as more internationally renowned academics continue to join Brunel – Performance Poet Benjamin Zephaniah is Professor of Poetry and Creative Writing, and author Will Self is Professor of Contemporary Thought.
Brunel’s investment in building and infrastructure over the past decade is now in excess of £400 million, with many new and refurbished social, teaching and sporting facilities, halls of residence, and green spaces to enjoy. This investment has transformed the campus, which retains its original 1960s architecture but with the addition of striking new buildings and landscaping. Our latest acquisition is the £30-million flagship Eastern Gateway Building that opened in July 2012 providing teaching and research facilities, a new home for Brunel Business School, a large auditorium, a café and an art gallery. The Schools of Health Sciences and Social Care and Engineering and Design have also benefited from the addition of new, multi-million pound buildings. In addition, the Lecture Centre has undergone an extensive renovation. The refurbished Antonin Artaud building contains drama and performance studios, a music room, a public performance venue and radio and video-editing suites.