Middlesex University

Middlesex University, based in Hendon, northwest London, is a public research university with additional campuses in Dubai and Mauritius. Its origins date back to 1878 with the establishment of St Katharine's College, a teacher training college for women in Tottenham. Over time, several institutions, including Hornsey College of Art (1882), Ponders End Technical Institute (1901), and Hendon Technical Institute (1939), merged to form Middlesex Polytechnic in 1973. In 1992, Middlesex Polytechnic gained university status and became Middlesex University.

The university has since expanded its international presence, opening overseas campuses in Dubai (2005), Mauritius (2009), and Malta (2013, closing in 2022). It consolidated its London campuses into the Hendon campus by 2013, closing several former sites such as Tottenham, Enfield, and Trent Park.

Middlesex is organised into three faculties: Arts and Creative Industries; Professional and Social Sciences; and Science and Technology. These faculties cover a wide range of disciplines, including media, business, law, health, biomedical science, computing, and engineering. The university conducts research across multiple areas, with 58% of its research rated world or internationally excellent in the 2014 UK Research Excellence Framework.

The student body consists of over 19,000 students in London and more than 37,000 globally, representing over 140 nationalities. Middlesex maintains student exchange agreements with over 100 universities worldwide.

The university has received several recognitions, including three Queen’s Anniversary Prizes and two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise. In 2023, it was awarded a Silver rating in the UK Teaching Excellence Framework. Middlesex ranks within the 501–600 bracket globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 and has strong subject-specific rankings in business, health, and social sciences.

Middlesex University, legally known as Middlesex University and abbreviated as MDX, is a public research university based in Hendon, northwest London, England. It also maintains campuses in Dubai and Mauritius. The university's name originates from its location within the historic county boundaries of Middlesex.

The origins of Middlesex University can be traced back to 1878 with the establishment of St Katharine's College in Tottenham. This college was initially founded as a teacher training institution for women. Over the years, the university's formation involved the merging of several educational institutes in north London. Hornsey College of Art was founded in 1882, Ponders End Technical Institute in 1901, and Hendon Technical Institute opened in 1939. In 1973, these colleges and additional institutions in the area combined to form Middlesex Polytechnic.

In 1992, Middlesex Polytechnic was granted university status under the Further and Higher Education Act and officially became Middlesex University. This transition was marked by the appointment of Baroness Platt of Writtle as the university's first Chancellor, and David Melville as the first Vice-Chancellor. During this period, Middlesex expanded further by incorporating additional institutions, such as the London College of Dance in 1994 and the North London College of Health in 1995.

The university’s international presence began to develop in the 1990s with the opening of its first overseas regional office in Kuala Lumpur in 1992, followed by the establishment of several regional offices across Europe in 1995. Middlesex University opened its first overseas campus in Dubai in 2005, followed by campuses in Mauritius in 2009 and Malta in 2013. The Malta campus was later announced to close by September 2022.

Middlesex University has undergone considerable campus consolidation, aiming for a strategy of “fewer, better campuses” to reduce operational costs and enhance sustainability. Most of its London-based teaching has been centralised at the Hendon campus since 2013. This consolidation led to the closure of several older campuses including Bounds Green (2003), Tottenham (2005), Enfield (2008), Cat Hill (2011), Trent Park (2012), and Archway and Hospitals (2013). The Hendon campus has since received significant investment to accommodate new students and programmes, with facilities such as the refurbished neo-Georgian College Building, the Sheppard Library, and the Ritterman Building, which houses the UK’s first Cyber Factory.

Historically, several of the former campuses have had specialised focuses. For instance, Tottenham was originally St Katharine's College and later the College of All Saints, known for teacher training and humanities. Trent Park housed departments such as dance, drama, performing arts, and English literature before closing in 2012. The Archway and Hospitals campus primarily served health and social sciences, and Enfield focused on engineering and information technology until its closure in 2008.

The university has experienced organisational and academic restructuring over the years. In the mid-2000s, Middlesex discontinued some courses, such as history, as part of measures to reduce financial deficits. The philosophy department was closed in 2010 despite its high research rankings, with the postgraduate programme transferring to Kingston University. The university also made voluntary redundancies and consolidated various departments to maintain financial sustainability.

Governance at Middlesex University is overseen by a Board of Governors and an Executive Team, led by the Vice-Chancellor. Since its establishment as a university, the institution has had several Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors. The current Chancellor is Janet Ritterman (since 2013), and the Vice-Chancellor as of 2024 is Shân Wareing.

Middlesex University is divided into three faculties: the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries; the Faculty of Professional and Social Sciences; and the Faculty of Science and Technology. These faculties deliver courses across a wide range of disciplines, including media, performing arts, business, law, health, biomedical science, computer science, engineering, mathematics, and psychology.

The university’s research activities cover diverse fields such as art and design, education, social and economic geography, law, music, professional practice, and software engineering. According to the UK’s 2014 Research Excellence Framework, 58% of the research submitted by Middlesex was rated as world or internationally excellent, with 90% considered internationally recognised.

The student population comprises over 19,000 students in London and more than 37,000 globally. Middlesex has established student exchange programmes with over 100 universities in 22 countries across Europe, the United States, and other regions. The university represents over 140 nationalities at its Hendon campus alone. Although the number of students declined in the late 2000s, there has been a recovery with increased applications and enrolments in recent years.

Middlesex University has received various awards and recognitions. It has been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize three times and has received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise twice for its international work. In 2023, the university was awarded a Silver rating in the UK Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework. It also features in several national and global university rankings, including the QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education (THE), and the Complete University Guide.

In terms of rankings, Middlesex University is placed in the 501-600 bracket globally by THE and 721-730 by QS for 2025. Subject-specific rankings place its business and economics courses within 401-500 globally and medical and health subjects within 301-400 globally. The university is also recognised among the top young universities and has been ranked for its contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Middlesex Students’ Union operates as a non-profit organisation separate from the university. It has a history of student activism dating back to the 1980s. The union continues to represent student interests and organise activities.

Middlesex University offers a broad range of courses across three main faculties: the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries, the Faculty of Professional and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Science and Technology. Each faculty covers multiple academic disciplines and provides undergraduate and postgraduate programmes designed to meet diverse educational and professional needs.

The Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries includes departments such as Media, Performing Arts, Design, and Visual Arts. Students can study courses related to film production, photography, performing arts, design, and other creative disciplines. This faculty also houses the London Sports Institute, which offers specialised programmes related to sports science and sports management.

Within the Faculty of Professional and Social Sciences, students can find courses from the Business School, Institute for Work Based Learning, School of Law, and School of Health and Education. Programmes cover areas such as business, finance, marketing, law, psychology, social sciences, education, nursing, midwifery, and social work. This faculty provides pathways for students interested in professional careers across a variety of sectors, including healthcare, legal services, and education.

The Faculty of Science and Technology includes departments covering biomedical science, computer science, design engineering, telecommunications, mathematics, statistics, information systems, and environmental science. It offers courses focused on scientific research, technology development, engineering principles, and computing skills. This faculty supports students aiming for careers in technology, science, engineering, and related industries.

Across its faculties, Middlesex University provides a variety of study modes including full-time, part-time, and distance learning, as well as opportunities for work-based learning and professional development. The university emphasises practical and applied learning alongside academic study, aiming to prepare students for employment and career advancement.

Courses at Middlesex are delivered with consideration of international standards, particularly at its overseas campuses in Dubai and Mauritius, ensuring consistency in curriculum and assessment. The university also maintains student exchange links with over 100 institutions globally, broadening academic and cultural exposure for its students.

Middlesex University holds recognised positions in various national and international university rankings. According to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, the university is placed within the 501–600 range globally. Its subject rankings include the medical and health disciplines in the 301–400 bracket, business and economics between 401–500, and computer science within 501–600. Psychology and law are ranked between 251–300, while social sciences fall in the 501–600 range.

In the QS World University Rankings 2025, Middlesex University is ranked between 721 and 730 globally. The university is not listed among the top institutions in the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

Nationally, Middlesex University is ranked 113th in both the Guardian University Guide and the Complete University Guide for 2024. The Times Good University Guide 2024 places it at 117th.

Subject-specific rankings show variations across disciplines. For example, social work is ranked 19th by the Times Good University Guide, while education and law are ranked 69th and 70th respectively. Business and management are ranked 86th by the Guardian University Guide, and computer science holds the 73rd position in the Times Good University Guide. Psychology is ranked 86th by the Complete University Guide.

According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Graduate Outcomes Survey, 92% of Middlesex University graduates are employed or engaged in further study within six months of graduation . This statistic underscores the university's effective strategies in preparing students for the workforce.

The university's MDXworks Careers and Employability Service offers a range of services to support students' career development. These include one-on-one appointments with faculty employability advisers, CV and application feedback, mock interview assistance, and access to careers fairs and networking events.

Middlesex University provides students with various opportunities to gain practical experience. The Unitemps agency has facilitated over 22,000 paid roles for students since its inception in 2017, contributing to more than £11 million in earnings . Additionally, the MDX Internship Scheme offers 50 exclusive discipline-specific opportunities each academic year, both within the university and the local business community.

The university collaborates with a diverse range of employers, including PwC, Sky, Warner Bros. Discovery, Amazon, Microsoft, KPMG, GSK, Civil Service, Harper Collins, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. These partnerships provide students with access to valuable industry insights and potential employment opportunities .

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