Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Gloucestershire is a small university split between Cheltenham and Gloucester, about nine miles apart. In Cheltenham, The Park is the largest campus and Francis Close Hall sits near the town centre; in Gloucester, there's Oxstalls (sport and business) and a new City Campus in the old Debenhams building. Which town you'll live in depends on where your course is taught.
It's a friendly, manageable place to study, and first years are guaranteed a room in halls near their campus. Halls cost £165 to £265 a week for 2026/27 on 40-week contracts with bills included. Nightlife is modest: Cheltenham is a smart spa town rather than a big student city.
Known for
The University of Gloucestershire is 71st out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 46.7, below the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 69 | Edinburgh Napier University | 47 |
| 70 | St Mary's University, Twickenham | 46.9 |
| 71 | University of Gloucestershire | 46.7 |
| 72 | Aston University | 46.5 |
| 73 | University College London | 46.3 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
32nd of 122 · Careers Score 38.7
34th of 123 · Happiness Score 52.8
36th of 124 · Sustainability Score 57.6
38th of 124 · Safety Score 50.1
39th of 124 · Employability Score 35.9
52nd of 124 · Wellbeing Score 53.7
60th of 124 · Affordability Score 55.1
64th of 124 · Innovation Score 55.6
72nd of 124 · Freshers Score 53.1
85th of 124 · Societies Score 45.5
86th of 124 · Value Score 40.3
96th of 124 · Balance Score 36.4
102nd of 124 · Inclusion Score 40.8
108th of 124 · Social Score 38.3
110th of 124 · Nightlife Score 32.4
Cheltenham as a student city
Ranked 60th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 44.9.
The University of Gloucestershire appears in 39 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biomedical Science | 9th | of 93 | 177 |
| Graphic Design | 7th | of 68 | 168 |
| Animation (2D/3D) | 6th | of 52 | 139 |
| Sports Science | 9th | of 78 | 165 |
| Law | 12th | of 97 | 179 |
| Psychology | 14th | of 108 | 188 |
| Marketing | 13th | of 88 | 177 |
| Journalism | 9th | of 59 | 130 |
| Biology | 10th | of 51 | 127 |
| Primary Education | 12th | of 59 | 144 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | 14th | of 63 | 137 |
| History | 18th | of 76 | 145 |
| Computer Science | 25th | of 102 | 172 |
| Environmental Science | 12th | of 47 | 110 |
| Teaching | 21st | of 79 | 153 |
| Drama, Theatre and Performance | 17th | of 60 | 124 |
| Social Work | 19th | of 67 | 147 |
| Physiotherapy | 14th | of 49 | 116 |
| Film Production | 25th | of 87 | 165 |
| Architecture | 16th | of 55 | 115 |
| English Language and Literature | 16th | of 54 | 113 |
| Zoology | 11th | of 37 | 100 |
| Business and Management | 37th | of 114 | 174 |
| Human Resource Management | 19th | of 58 | 121 |
| Music | 19th | of 56 | 112 |
| Fine Art | 20th | of 58 | 128 |
| Sociology | 30th | of 86 | 148 |
| Performing Arts | 13th | of 37 | 91 |
| Philosophy | 19th | of 54 | 112 |
| Media and Communication | 28th | of 79 | 145 |
| Criminology | 35th | of 94 | 152 |
| Creative Writing | 13th | of 34 | 76 |
| Radiography | 12th | of 29 | 70 |
| Nursing | 36th | of 85 | 133 |
| Photography | 19th | of 44 | 85 |
| Occupational Therapy | 18th | of 40 | 93 |
| Cyber Security | 27th | of 58 | 114 |
| Accounting and Finance | 20th | of 30 | 158 |
| Interior Design | 24th | of 36 | 56 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
The Students' Union supports sports teams and societies, runs an annual summer ball and co-runs the Student-Led Teaching Awards. Pittville Student Village in Cheltenham is the main first-year hub, with a gym that's free for residents. Cheltenham has bars, independent cafés and the famous festivals (Jazz, Science, Literature, plus the races). Gloucester has the docks and cathedral. Bristol and Birmingham are close by train for bigger nights out.
University halls cost £165–£265 per week (2026/27 university-managed halls, 40-week contracts, bills included) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
The university says: "We guarantee our first year undergraduate, postgraduate and international students accommodation on, or near, the campus you're studying at." You apply online once you hold an unconditional firm (UF) or conditional firm (CF) offer. For 2026/27 there was free room cancellation until Friday 28 August 2026, with the £200 advance rent refunded. Blackfriars and Upper Quay in Gloucester are partner halls run by external companies, with contracts direct with them.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Challinor Hall (non-en-suite) | The Park campus, Cheltenham | shared bathroom | £165/wk | The cheapest room: £6,660 for 40 weeks. En-suite rooms here are £191 a week. |
| Pittville Student Village (townhouses) | Pittville, Cheltenham | shared bathroom | £184/wk | Non-en-suite townhouse rooms at £184 (small) or £190 a week, 40 weeks. Free gym for residents. |
| Park Villas | The Park campus, Cheltenham | en-suite | £191/wk | On campus, £7,640 for 40 weeks. |
| Oxstalls Halls | Oxstalls campus, Gloucester | en-suite | £191/wk | 21 cluster flats on Oxstalls campus, £7,640 for 40 weeks. |
| Pittville Student Village (en-suites) | Pittville, Cheltenham | en-suite | £199/wk | Original en-suites £199 a week; Enhanced en-suites £205 (small) to £214. |
| Pittville Studios | Pittville, Cheltenham | studio or one-bed flat | £265/wk | The priciest option: £10,600 for 40 weeks. |
| Blackfriars (partner hall) | Gloucester city centre | mix of room types | Not published | Run by Cityheart Living; contract is direct with them. Price not on the university's rent list. |
| Upper Quay (partner hall) | Gloucester city centre | en-suite | Not published | Run by Collegiate; contract is direct with them. Price not on the university's rent list. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Smart spa-town streets; university-approved house shares average £130 a week (2025/26).
£130 (university-approved housing average, 2025/26)/wk
Near the student village and Pittville Park; popular with returning students.
Generally cheaper than Cheltenham, handy for Oxstalls and City Campus.
Top tip
Apply online as soon as you've made the university your firm choice (conditional or unconditional). Pick halls in the town where your course is taught: Cheltenham for The Park and Francis Close Hall, Gloucester for Oxstalls and City Campus. You pay £200 advance rent, which is refundable if you cancel before the late-August deadline.
Halls cost £165–£265 a week for 2026/27, on 40-week contracts with heating, power, water, internet and contents insurance included. The university's own averages put en-suites at £191 a week (£7,640 a year). Private house shares are cheaper per week: university-approved housing averaged £130 a week in 2025/26, but contracts are longer (about 48.5 weeks) and bills may be extra.
Getting around
Cheltenham and Gloucester are about nine miles apart, linked by frequent buses and trains. Within Cheltenham, The Park, Francis Close Hall and Pittville are walkable or a short bus ride from the town centre. Oxstalls and City Campus are both in Gloucester. Cheltenham Spa and Gloucester stations have direct trains to Bristol and Birmingham.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Gloucestershire is 71st out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 46.7. Its strongest results are for career prospects (32nd), student happiness (34th), sustainability (36th).
Both. The Park and Francis Close Hall campuses are in Cheltenham, and Oxstalls and the new City Campus are in Gloucester. The two towns are about nine miles apart. Where you live and study depends on your course.
Yes. First-year undergraduates, postgraduates and international students are guaranteed accommodation on or near the campus they study at. You apply online once you hold a firm offer, conditional or unconditional.
For 2026/27, rooms cost £165 to £265 a week on a 40-week contract (12 September 2026 to 19 June 2027). Bills, internet and contents insurance are included. Standard en-suites are £191 a week.
It's the university's big student village in Cheltenham, with townhouses, en-suites and studios at £184–£265 a week for 2026/27. It's the main first-year hub and includes free gym access for residents.
For 2026/27, the university offered free cancellation until Friday 28 August 2026: email the accommodation team in writing and the £200 advance rent is refunded. Partner halls (Blackfriars and Upper Quay) have their own terms.
Per week, usually. University-approved house shares averaged £130 a week in 2025/26, against £191 for an en-suite in halls. But private contracts run for around 48–50 weeks and bills may not be included, so the yearly gap is smaller.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
