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    Study in Northampton

    City guide

    Located just an hour from London and Birmingham in the ‘Rose of the Shires’, Northampton offers the perfect mix of market town and countryside.

    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)

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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.

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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!

    • 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.

    • 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 :)

    What Northampton's famous for...

    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.

    Kinky Boots billboard

    Northampton nightlife, according to students

    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. (Third year student, University of Northampton)

    Northampton nightlife, according to students

    There are many clubs and pubs scattered throughout Northampton, but the primary area for nightlife is Bridge Street. The Students' Union’s own club, Platform, is a one-minute walk away – it also doubles as a cafe during the day. Wetherspoons is a short walk away, and there are various other pubs like The Optimist, all in a similar location. There are also plenty of fast food places nearby, including McDonalds. (Second year student, University of Northampton)

    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)

    Treat yourself

    Cafe Marseille in town does an amazing breakfast and cocktails, or high tea. Great for birthdays. (University of Northampton student)

    Friday night out

    Bridge Street is the place to go on a Friday night [with] different nightclubs to choose from. Students start at 'Cordies' (The Cordwainer), followed by the short walk to Bridge Street. (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 [Northampton Filmhouse]. Abington Park also has an excellent free museum. (Second year student, University of Northampton)

    Catch up with mates

    Good pubs include The Black Prince, The Lab, The Pomfret Arms, [and] The Mailcoach. All are relatively close to campus. (University of Northampton student)

    Grab a bite

    7Bone Burger Co. on St Giles' Street do a large variety of burgers and hot dogs – also, many veggie/vegan options. My go-to is the Giant Haystacks burger. (Third year student, University of Northampton)

    Living in Northampton

    Housing, travel, and budgeting tips.

    Living in Northampton, according to students

    Abington – I like living in this area. It's not too expensive, and not too far from Wellingborough Road, so [there are] many local food and drink places. A lot of student accommodation (and friends) nearby. Plenty of local mini-supermarkets and larger ones not too far away – about 25-minutes walk, with good bus links nearby. Campus is an easy walk away – roughly around 30 to 40 minutes. Only negative is that the town and other popular areas of Northampton (e.g. Sixfields) are quite a walk away. I have walked to town a few times – it took about 35 to 40-minutes. However, there are bus links to Sixfields too, so it is still accessible. (Third year student, University of Northampton)

    Where you'll find students

    • Abington
    • Semilong
    • Kingsthorpe

    Local transport

    • Weekly ticket: £15.10
    • Stagecoach Northampton 7 Day Megarider (Adult) ticket
    • Bus

    Living in Northampton, according to students

    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. (Third year student, University of Northampton)

    Student money tips

    The local market outside the Grosvenor Centre is amazing for fresh fruit and vegetable. Really cheap, fresh, and lasts a long time. (University of Northampton student)

    The cost of living as a student soon adds up, us our budget calculator to find out roughly how much you'll need each month.

    ​Discover more savings on student life in Northampton with UCAS student discounts. Find the latest deals, from fashion brands and eating fresh, to big discounts on tech and travel.

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