Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Hertfordshire is a modern campus university in Hatfield, about 20 miles north of London. It has two campuses, College Lane and de Havilland, less than a kilometre apart and linked by footpaths, cycle routes and a shuttle bus. Most first years live on campus, so lectures, the SU and the gym are a short walk away.
It's a good choice if you want campus life with London within reach. Halls cost about £134 to £289 a week for 2026/27, bills included, and there's a first-year guarantee. Hatfield itself is a quiet town, so most of the social life happens on campus or in London.
Known for
The University of Hertfordshire is 82nd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 44.7, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | Coventry University | 45.3 |
| 81 | Queen Margaret University | 44.9 |
| 82 | University of Hertfordshire | 44.7 |
| 83 | Heriot-Watt University | 44.6 |
| 84 | University of Manchester | 44.5 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
17th of 124 · Safety Score 61.5
23rd of 124 · Inclusion Score 72.1
59th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 51.7
62nd of 124 · Value Score 46.3
69th of 124 · Societies Score 48.2
71st of 124 · Freshers Score 53.4
73rd of 124 · Affordability Score 52.6
76th of 124 · Sustainability Score 46.9
79th of 124 · Innovation Score 51.2
87th of 123 · Happiness Score 42.1
93rd of 124 · Balance Score 37.2
94th of 124 · Nightlife Score 39.3
102nd of 124 · Employability Score 22.2
103rd of 122 · Careers Score 21.7
111th of 124 · Social Score 37.1
Hatfield as a student city
Ranked 43rd of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 50.1.
The University of Hertfordshire appears in 45 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robotics | 2nd | of 32 | 103 |
| Primary Education | 8th | of 59 | 148 |
| Radiography | 4th | of 29 | 88 |
| Teaching | 14th | of 79 | 162 |
| Politics | 14th | of 78 | 147 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 13th | of 66 | 114 |
| Civil Engineering | 13th | of 58 | 122 |
| International Relations | 16th | of 71 | 136 |
| Geography | 15th | of 63 | 135 |
| English Language and Literature | 13th | of 54 | 120 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 21st | of 85 | 157 |
| Economics | 23rd | of 85 | 148 |
| Psychology | 30th | of 108 | 166 |
| History | 22nd | of 76 | 136 |
| Graphic Design | 20th | of 68 | 140 |
| Law | 29th | of 97 | 153 |
| Data Science | 15th | of 50 | 108 |
| Marketing | 28th | of 88 | 151 |
| Sports Science | 25th | of 78 | 139 |
| Human Resource Management | 19th | of 58 | 121 |
| Interior Design | 12th | of 36 | 77 |
| Journalism | 20th | of 59 | 115 |
| Music | 19th | of 56 | 112 |
| Social Work | 23rd | of 67 | 143 |
| Mathematics | 23rd | of 61 | 114 |
| Criminology | 36th | of 94 | 150 |
| Biomedical Science | 37th | of 93 | 136 |
| Electrical Engineering | 27th | of 67 | 118 |
| Business and Management | 46th | of 114 | 159 |
| Pharmacy | 13th | of 32 | 74 |
| Fashion Design | 20th | of 49 | 106 |
| Physics | 19th | of 45 | 97 |
| Media and Communication | 34th | of 79 | 133 |
| Biochemistry | 26th | of 60 | 108 |
| Sociology | 38th | of 86 | 139 |
| Film Production | 39th | of 87 | 146 |
| Aerospace Engineering 2026 table | 14th | of 30 | 73 |
| Computer Science | 48th | of 102 | 144 |
| Animation (2D/3D) | 25th | of 52 | 104 |
| Midwifery | 27th | of 54 | 83 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 41st | of 77 | 119 |
| Philosophy | 30th | of 54 | 91 |
| Physiotherapy | 29th | of 49 | 81 |
| Information Technology | 15th | of 21 | 50 |
| Optometry | 10th | of 13 | 36 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Campus is the centre of life at Herts. The Forum on College Lane is one of the busiest social spaces, with places to eat, study and relax, and the Elehouse hosts performances, society events and cultural nights. Hertfordshire Students' Union runs societies, sports clubs and events. Hatfield itself is fairly quiet, but the university says both campuses are well connected for trips into central London.
University halls cost £134–£289 per week (2026/27 undergraduate rooms, mostly 42-week contracts, bills included) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
Herts guarantees a room in its on-campus accommodation for eligible first-year applicants who apply and accept their offer by the published deadlines. For 2026 entry through the UCAS main cycle, that meant applying for accommodation by 13 August 2026 and accepting your offer by 20 August 2026. The guarantee covers standard university accommodation at College Lane and de Havilland, but not a specific room type. The university says it also covers returning students (terms and conditions apply).
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin en-suite | College Lane campus | twin room (per occupant), shared en-suite | £134.12/wk | The cheapest option: a 25m² room with two single beds, shared with one other student. Price is per person. |
| Single (shared bathroom) | College Lane campus | single room, shared bathroom | £165.97/wk | Queen-size bed, with bathrooms usually shared between six students. 42-week contract. |
| Campus townhouse (single) | College Lane campus | single room, bathroom shared with one other | £215.67/wk | Queen-size bed, sharing a bathroom with one other student of the same sex. 42-week contract. |
| Single en-suite | College Lane campus | en-suite | £228.97/wk | Compact 12m² room with its own bathroom. 42-week contract. |
| Enhanced en-suite | College Lane campus | en-suite with queen-size bed | £242.90/wk | 14.5m² room with a queen-size bed. 42-week contract. |
| Premium en-suite | College Lane campus | en-suite with double bed | £251.09/wk | The largest en-suite rooms (16.5m²), on a 38-week contract. |
| Studio en-suite | College Lane campus | studio with private kitchenette | £289.10/wk | Your own bathroom and kitchenette. The top of the range. 42-week contract. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Close to both campuses, with lots of shared student houses.
A historic city a short bus or train ride away: lovely but pricier.
A quieter town nearby with good train links.
Top tip
Apply for accommodation and accept your offer by the August deadlines (13 and 20 August in 2026) to secure the guarantee. Remember the guarantee covers a standard room, not a specific type, so apply early if you want a particular one. If budget matters, the twin rooms and shared-bathroom singles on College Lane are the cheapest. For private housing later, look for landlords accredited under Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council's scheme.
Herts halls include electricity, gas, water and internet in the rent. For 2026/27, a twin room costs about £134 a week per person, single rooms with shared bathrooms £166, and en-suites from about £229, mostly on 42-week contracts. That's cheaper than London but not a bargain. The university doesn't publish a total living-cost estimate, so build your own budget for food and travel.
Getting around
Most students walk between halls and lectures. College Lane and de Havilland are less than a kilometre apart, with walking, cycling and shuttle bus links between them. Uno buses and local routes serve both campuses, and Hatfield and St Albans stations give onward train links, including into London.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Hertfordshire is 82nd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 44.7. Its strongest results are for safety (17th), inclusion (23rd).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of Hertfordshire places highest for Robotics (2nd of 32). Across our awards, it also stands out for safety.
Yes, for eligible applicants who apply for accommodation and accept their offer by the deadlines. For 2026 entry through the main UCAS cycle, that was 13 August (accommodation application) and 20 August (accepting your offer). The guarantee covers a standard room, not a particular room type.
For 2026/27, rooms cost from about £134 a week (per person in a twin room) to £289 a week (a studio). Single rooms with a shared bathroom are £165.97, and single en-suites on College Lane are £228.97, mostly on 42-week contracts with bills included.
They're the university's two Hatfield campuses, less than a kilometre apart. De Havilland is a hub for business, law, education and sport. College Lane is home to The Forum, the main social space, and most undergraduate halls.
Hatfield is about 20 miles north of London. The university says both campuses are well connected for travel into central London, using Uno and local buses plus trains from Hatfield or St Albans.
No. Herts rooms share a kitchen (or have a private kitchenette in studios), so you'll cook for yourself. There are places to eat on campus, including in The Forum.
Yes. Herts is a member of University Alliance, a group of professional and technical universities.
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.
