Study in Northampton

Thinking of studying in Northampton? Explore a historic Midlands town with a growing student community, green spaces, and affordable living.

Northampton at a glance

Northampton is a vibrant town located in the heart of England. Known for its leather and shoe-making heritage, it’s now home to the University of Northampton, a modern campus offering strong academic and student support. With great transport links, riverside parks, and an active cultural scene, it’s a popular choice for students looking for both value and quality of life.

It's not too big, but big enough to have lots of opportunities to go outdoors and enjoy nature, or [for] shopping in the big shopping centre in town, that is surrounded by lots of cafes and restaurants. University halls, as well as private rental student houses, are very affordable. Buses to and from town are good, but it's easy to get around by foot as well. Both trains and coaches leave to other cities multiple times every hour. (Second year student, University of Northampton)

Airport

Birmingham International Airport is about an hour away

Train

Northampton Railway Station has direct trains to London

Student population

Around 12,000 students choose to study in Northampton

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Fatemah

University of Northampton

Bsc Occupational Therapy

Jambo/Hello! my name is Fatemah, an aspiring occupational therapist from Mombasa, Kenya. I am in my second year of university and eager to see where this path takes me. Whether its pursuing my passions or serving as a part time ambassador, i am fully committed to embracing new experiences and opportunities. I look forward to connecting with you all :)

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Katy

University of Northampton

Ba Business Management

Hi, my name is Katy and I’m studying business management specialising in Human Resources. In the future I look to be working as a managing director. I have travelled all over the UK for work purposes and love the atmosphere of Northampton - although I’ll always have my northern roots! I’ve worked at the university in a variety of roles and I look forward to sharing my knowledge with prospective students.

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Pranav

University of Northampton

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

I am from India, the land of culture and diversity and I love trying new things, I have a background in Economics with a minor in Business, I'm now pursuing MBA Finance and plan to gain valuable work experience in the UK.

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Jacqui

University of Northampton

Bsc Psychology

I am 50 years of age, originally from Glasgow in Scotland and left school in 1989, with 8 O' Grades (GCSE’s) and 5 Higher (A Levels). Desperate for a new adventure and to start working and earning, I applied for a job in Television Production in London. I successfully worked for an independent company in Soho, initially as a Production Runner, progressing finally to Production Manager. I returned to Glasgow for a year, to work for BBC Scotland as Production Manager, before taking time out to travel in 1999. I travelled throughout Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and America for 2 years. On return, I moved to Brighton, East Sussex where I worked for American Express, a lifestyle magazine called Venus, and as a volunteer for the Brighton Unemployed Family project, between 2001 and 2012. Brighton is where I met my husband and went on to have two children, a girl, and a boy. Ava who is now 15 years old and Lochlan who is 13. 8 years ago, my Husbands job transferred to their other site near Leamington, bringing the family to the midlands. We now live in the village of Weedon, a half-hour drive, west of Northampton. Since living in Weedon I have completed 7 years working in primary education. I began working in Special Needs as a 1:1 and in my 5th year at Weedon Primary, I completed an HLTA course through Northampton University, qualifying me to teach years 1 to 6 in primary school. I have trained in Autism, Attachment Disorder, Dyslexia, Speech, and language among others. I ran nurture groups and introduced a kinaesthetic approach to a lot of my teaching, after researching its efficacy in primary schools. During my school career, I have been fascinated by how children learn. Some by doing, others by seeing. I have come to love the continual questions from children and the challenge and adventure of not always knowing the answers. Throughout my working life, I have loved interacting with people, obsessing over human behaviour and how the mind works and influences decisions. My favourite literature often tackles aspects of psychology and I find it an extremely exciting and alluring subject. Throughout the lockdown period, it became apparent that I was not fully satisfied with my career and felt I was ready to learn and take on a new challenge. My initial thought was to go into Educational Psychology but with more investigation, I decided it was time to move away from education and start something new. My next thought was counselling, which I am still very much keen on exploring and could see a possible future career. As a volunteer in Brighton Unemployed Centre Family Project, I assisted low-income families and homeless people, realising my ability to listen sensitively and offer solace. Completing a course for the British College of Journalism a few years ago, I gained skills in reporting and analysing as well as fuelling my curiosity in psychology. I wrote articles on social, biological, and cognitive psychology. From a piece on music and memory to another on psychology in pain management. Having completed a year of the single honours psychology course I now feel the career direction I want to go into is counselling psychology. I have recently secured a part-time job locally with the group of Northampton psychiatric hospitals (NHFT) and ideally, would love to complete my master's within the NHS but if not I will probably stay at the University of Northampton to complete my master's in counselling.

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Nadeline

University of Northampton

Bsc Accounting & Finance

Hi! My name is Nadeline and I’m from Indonesia. Aside from being an Accounting & Finance student, I love to dance and have been a part of the UON Dance Team since last year. I also enjoy taking a walk in the outdoors, going to museums, and shopping! I look forward to helping new students as a Unibuddy Ambassador, so feel free to ask me anything!

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Juliet

University of Northampton

Msc Project Management (Placement Route)

As a project management master's student, I plan to access the free career support platforms provided by the university to enable me to make good grades, increase my employability skills and enhance my career opportunities in the UK. I am passionate about social impact. Becoming a UON Changemaker Level 3 professional, Student Union Committee member and a Unibuddy Ambassador has allowed me to interact with different people from different cultures, understand cultures, corporate social responsibility, sustainability and gain career opportunities. It feels good to experience a welcoming community that promotes inclusion and diversity and appreciates projects that achieve the UN Goals.

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Browse through the universities and colleges in Northampton to find one that suits you.

Universities and colleges in Northampton

City highlights

Northampton’s Cultural Quarter is home to the Royal & Derngate Theatre, Northampton Museum & Art Gallery, and 78 Derngate – an iconic Charles Rennie Mackintosh house. Abington Park offers a large green space for walks and sports, while the town centre has a mix of high street and independent shops. Regular student events and live music nights bring energy to the local scene.

Shoes and leather: Northampton's shoe-making legacy goes back over 900 years. The film Kinky Boots was based on a local factory that began making women’s boots for the transgender community.

Student life in Northampton

Local gems, tips, and things to do, as recommended by students.

Low on cash

There are some nice places to explore, like the Racecourse which hosts a free firework display on Guy Fawkes Day, or the nearby lakes. (Second year student, University of Northampton)

Sunday chilling

Beckett's Park on the outskirts of Waterside Campus has a really nice walk alongside the river. (University of Northampton student)

When family visit

If you have a sporty family, I would highly recommend a rugby match at Franklin’s Gardens. Nothing beats a Saturday afternoon in a 15,000-seat stadium, full of passionate supporters. (Second year student, University of Northampton)

Feeling cultural

Northampton is very lucky to have two theatres: The Deco, as well as the Northampton Filmhouse. Abington Park also has an excellent free museum. (Second year student, University of Northampton)

Transport tips

Northampton benefits from excellent transport connections. Trains to London Euston take around an hour, and regional buses connect the town with nearby cities. Stagecoach runs local bus services, with discounted tickets for students. Cycling and walking are popular for getting around the university campus and town centre. The nearest international airport is Birmingham, about an hour away.

Acommodation

Students live in town centre locations or near the University of Northampton’s Waterside Campus. The town is relatively affordable, with a good selection of student housing, university halls, and shared rentals. International students benefit from university-run support services, including help with housing, finances, and settling into UK life.

Accommodation advice

International student information

Discover everything you need to know as an international student planning to come to the UK.

Whether you're coming for the first time, returning for postgraduate, or are still waiting to make a decision, our international pages can help you prepare as best you can for life in the UK.

International advice

Where to eat

Northampton’s food scene includes everything from global flavours to local pub classics. Try Zap Thai for fast, affordable Thai meals, or eat at Nuovo for modern Mediterranean sharing plates. Market Square has a range of food stalls, and you’ll find vegetarian, halal, and international supermarkets around town for home cooking.

What to visit

Visit Delapré Abbey, a historic house and parkland just outside the town centre. The Northampton & Lamport Railway and Billing Aquadrome offer fun weekend trips. Sports fans can catch matches at Sixfields Stadium or watch Northampton Saints Rugby at Franklin’s Gardens. The university also hosts creative exhibitions, music nights, and student-led festivals throughout the year.

Northampton nightlife

Third year student, University of Northampton

There are plenty of family-friendly pubs, and pubs that feature live music on certain days, outside of the centre. Since all of the clubs are situated in one location, you can move between [them] if you want. There is a local taxi rank nearby, which is great if your phone has died and you need to get home. Town is busy on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, but quiet on most other nights.

Living in Northampton

Third year student, University of Northampton

Wellingborough Road – it is an affordable and really nice area to live in, and is close by to pretty much everything you need. It is within a ten-minute walk from a university bus stop, an 18-minute walk from the town centre, a 21-minute walk from Avenue Campus, and a 25-minute walk from Waterside Campus. I am a two-minute walk from a Sainsbury's Local and a six-minute walk from a Tesco Metro. I am near plenty of fast food shops, corner shops, and fresh fruit, veg and meat shops. I honestly don't think I could be situated in a more perfect area to live in.

On your doorstep

From Northampton, you’re well-placed to explore the Midlands and beyond. Visit the Cotswolds for walking and countryside escapes or spend a day in Oxford, Leicester, or Milton Keynes. Nearby canals and reservoirs are great for relaxing or cycling, and London is just over an hour away by train.

Bibury in the Cotswolds

Basic safety

It’s important to adhere to basic safety practices when studying and living in any city. Being aware of your surroundings is always wise, especially in busy and populated areas.

Some basic advice from the Metropolitan Police will help to ensure you stay as free from crime as possible:

Keep your valuables hidden and don’t carry large amount of cash.
Beware of scams, such as street hustlers, unlicensed taxis, and non-official sellers.
Keep your belongings, shopping, and luggage close to you at all times.
Don’t leave your drinks unattended or accept them from strangers.
Travel as a group and always make sure you tell your friends you got home safely, and vice versa.
Double check all taxis have a visible and valid licence before using them.

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