University of Kent, Medway Campus

Services & Facilities

The University of Kent’s expansion at Medway is one of the most exciting developments in higher education in the United Kingdom. The University offers a vibrant and modern campus, with innovative buildings and facilities. You can expect outstanding teaching, learning and leisure opportunities, and an exceptional level of personal support.

Kent at Medway

The University has invested millions of pounds in purpose-built facilities. The flagship Medway Building has won several awards for design excellence and houses;

• lecture theatres and seminar rooms equipped with the latest technology
• specialist studios and rehearsal rooms for the Music Technology programme
• facilities for the Centre for Sports Studies, such as exercise suites and a private treatment clinic.

The Gillingham Building houses;

• fully equipped teaching rooms and academic departments
• an industry standard multimedia newsroom for the Journalism programme
• a new one-stopshop student services area.

The Drill Hall Library on campus is truly exceptional, offering spacious study facilities of the highest quality.

The University of Kent also has some prominent buildings at Chatham Historic Dockyard, close to the main Medway campus. These include Bridge Wardens College and the Galvanising Shop. The latter is a fully-renovated, split-level design studio and workshop, used by students on our Creative Events: Design and Production course. The Galvanising Shop is equipped with sophisticated lighting and sound facilities and also houses teaching rooms and a lecture theatre.

Student facilities

The Pilkington Building, which received an award-winning, multi-million-pound renovation, includes a 180-seat lecture theatre, an exhibition room, teaching facilities, the Venue café and a social meeting area. Nearby is Essentials, the Medway campus shop, run by the Students’ Association, which stocks food and household goods, and is also a mini off-licence.

The Rochester Building, adjacent to the Medway and Gillingham Buildings, includes the popular Gulbenkian Café, as well as large rooms for seminars and executive meetings.

The University’s new accommodation at Liberty Quays, adjacent to the Medway campus, offers high-quality accommodation for more than 600 students on a 20-acre site.

A state-of-the-art sports centre, Medway Park, is also available to all students at discounted rates.

Universities at Medway

The University of Kent is part of a unique partnership that includes the University of Greenwich, Canterbury Christ Church University and MidKent College, known collectively as Universities at Medway.

The four institutions share the specially developed Medway campus, adjacent to the Historic Dockyard at Chatham Maritime. The site was built originally as a naval base, HMS Pembroke, at the start of the 20th century. The University of Kent moved onto the Medway campus in 2005, and most of our buildings are new or have been completely renovated.

Medway accommodation

In conjunction with Liberty Living, the University offers Medway students accommodation at our state-of-the-art facilities at Liberty Quays. This development is adjacent to our campus and is part of the new ‘waterside village’ set on the banks of the River Medway. Accommodation is offered to all eligible, new full-time students.

Accommodation is arranged in clusters of flats and provides the latest in comfort and amenities.

All bedrooms have their own shower and toilet and each room is networked.

The flats are for five, six or eight students, each sharing a fully-equipped kitchen. Subject to availability, students also have the option of studio flats with their own en-suite bathroom, shower and cooking facilities.

The Liberty Quays development has its own social area, launderette, Tesco Express store, Subway and Domino Pizza.

As with all accommodation provided at Kent, the security and welfare of our students is of the highest priority and Liberty Quays features comprehensive CCTV coverage, 24-hour security and electronic entry systems.

Accommodation at Liberty Quays is offered on a 39-week contract.

Off-campus accommodation

For students who prefer to live in private houses off campus, our Accommodation Office can offer advice and assistance when looking for accommodation in the private rented sector.

On the Accommodation Office website you can access up-to-date details of off-campus housing in the nearby towns of Chatham, Gillingham and Rochester. Private landlords usually rent their properties on a 12-month contract, although some may reduce rental costs for the period of the summer vacation.

All off-campus accommodation has been checked to make sure it meets the standard safety requirements and that it holds current gas and electricity safety certificates.

Support and services

There is a thriving student community at Medway and all students have access to our first-class facilities and the wide range of services and support provided by the University and Universities at Medway Students' Union (UMSA).

All students have access to our first-class facilities and the wide range of services and support provided by the University and Kent Union.

Jobs and careers

Employers are looking for more than just academic knowledge: they expect you to use your time at university to gain employability and life skills. At Kent, the University, Universities at Medway Students’ Association (UMSA) and Kent Union (the Students’ Union) combine to offer you a comprehensive package of volunteering opportunities, paid work while you are at university and careers advice for when you leave.

Kent also gives you opportunities to enhance your CV by studying abroad, going on a sandwich year, or taking a module in Enterprise, in addition to the transferable skills training you get on your course. Kent also has its own student website promoting all the events on employability that run on campus, RoundOne. It’s easy to see why; in 2007, only 3.2% of Kent graduates were still looking for a job six months after graduation.

Drill Hall Library

The Drill Hall Library is a Grade II listed building, and thought to be the longest open library space in Europe. The Drill Hall provides a joint service for all institutions participating in the Universities at Medway initiative. The Library offers state-of-the-art study facilities in an inspiring and historic setting.

The rapidly expanding collection contains more than 100,000 items, including books, journal articles and electronic media to support your studies. Kent students also have access to the Templeman Library on the Canterbury campus, easily accessible using the inter-library loan service. Kent’s library web catalogue provides a powerful search facility to help you trace and then reserve or renew items.

Facilities

• Over 280 study spaces zoned to provide silent, quiet and group study facilities and approximately 370 open access PCs offering high-speed web access.
• Self-service printing and use of Microsoft office and other study-related software packages.
• Free access to a range of subscription-only online resources via the library website, which offers a wealth of support for research and study. Examples include full text journals, e-books, newspaper archives and reference works.
• Free high-speed wireless network and internet access.
• A library enquiry service to help you find the resources you need.
• IT support offering help and advice in person.

IT services and facilities

Kent provides computing and IT facilities to help with producing essays and coursework, conducting research and communicating online.

• Computers: there are a large number of computers in PC classrooms and open access areas across the Medway campus. All PCs have a high-speed connection to the internet and offer access to your own area for saving work.
• Software: all public PCs run Microsoft Windows and offer Microsoft Office software, as well as specialist and course-specific software.
• Printing: self-service printing (in colour or black and white) is widely available for a small fee.
• Email: you will be given your own Kent email address, accessible online from anywhere in the world.
• Wireless: there is free wireless access to the Kent network and the internet widely available on campus.
• Help and support: you can get help and advice for accessing Kent IT facilities by phone or online. Additionally, there is an extensive range of self-help user guides available in print and online.

Student learning advisory service

The Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) is a free, friendly advice service providing guidance and information on all aspects of effective learning and study skills to all students from the minute they arrive at the University until they finish their studies. SLAS is part of the Unit for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching and is a popular resource for undergraduates, postgraduates, full-time, part-time, mature, European and international students.

We also work with academic schools through the Advantage Initiative to help them to embed study skills within their core modules.

Advice and support

All our advice and support services at Medway, with the exception of UMSA, are in the Gillingham Building, providing a one-stop shop for student support.

Medical Care

Students should register with a local GP in order to receive treatment under the NHS system in the UK and in many reciprocating countries abroad. Students should also register with a local NHS dentist.

Disability and Dyslexia

Our core services include:

• support for students with specific learning difficulties including dyslexia and dyspraxia
• support for students with physical or sensory impairments, medical conditions and mental health difficulties
• help with applications for the Disabled Students’ Allowance.

We have a team of tutors who can provide individual specialist tuition and support assistants who can help with note-taking and other learning support requirements.

We recommend that if you have a specific learning difficulty and/or disability, you apply for the Disabled Students’ Allowance as soon as you make your UCAS choices. You can get further information from the following website: www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance/

We encourage all students who have a disability or specific learning difficulty to contact us before starting at the University of Kent to discuss their support needs.

Nursery

The Leapfrog Day Nursery is situated close to campus and provides childcare for Medway students. Full and part-time places are available and the nursery has flexible opening hours. The nursery is OFSTED registered and has been rated as ‘outstanding’.

The Chaplaincy

The chaplaincy works in co-operation with chaplaincy colleagues at the University of Greenwich and Canterbury Christ Church University. It serves all the main Christian denominations as well as the Jewish, Islamic, Hindu and Sikh faith communities on campus. A chaplain is regularly available on Thursday mornings during term time in the Gillingham Building and may be contacted at other times as needed.

Muslim students are able to meet for prayer in the Rochester Building and there is a regular chaplain who can arrange introductions to local places of worship and offer spiritual advice to all students.

Counselling Service

Going away to university is a time of transition and personal development, and there may be a time of difficulty when you begin to feel that you would benefit from some professional counselling. The goal of counselling is to empower, encourage and support you and to help you to help yourself. Evidence suggests that the vast majority of students who have been for counselling find it a valuable experience.

The University Counselling Service, based on the Medway campus offers a completely confidential service. In addition to individual counselling sessions, we run groups, workshops and courses on relaxation, confidence building, increasing motivation, assertiveness and other issues according to demand. We are also helping to develop workshops on well-being and stress reduction and open walks using the University’s indoor labyrinth at Medway.

Equality and diversity

The University is committed to creating and supporting a balanced, inclusive and diverse community that is open and accessible to all students. We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment or bullying of any groups or individuals, and we provide comprehensive student guidelines that outline ways of ensuring fair and consistent behaviour. We also have equal opportunity representatives or harassment contacts you can get in touch with if you have any problems.

Security

Access to the Medway campus is monitored by the gatehouse staff and members of security patrol the site 24 hours a day. There is a Police Community Support Officer based in the Pilkington Building who regularly patrols the campus and all areas are covered by CCTV. The new accommodation at Liberty Quays features comprehensive CCTV coverage, 24-hour security and electronic entry systems.

Student Life

There is a lively atmosphere on campus and a thriving student community, which gives you plenty of opportunities to play sport, join a society, socialise or take up a new interest.

Student union

Many social activities are run by the Universities at Medway Students’ Association (UMSA), which represents all students at the shared Medway campus and is responsible for making sure you will never be stuck for something to do when you put down your books.

UMSA organises social activities and runs the student bars and the campus shop. Ultimate control of UMSA lies in the hands of the students – each year the student body elects officers to lead and oversee the direction of the Association and to make sure that students’ voices are always heard.

UMSA has achieved great success, winning three major awards including the National Union of Students (NUS) Best Bar None award and accreditation from the NUS Services Sound Impact Scheme, which rewards good environmental practice. Most recently, UMSA was granted Investors in People (IIP) status after receiving recognition for its staff communication, training and development programmes.

College master

The College Master for Medway is there to offer advice, help and support for all Kent students, and is your first port of call when you need assistance of any kind. Students can arrange to see the College Master at any time during the academic year, and all matters will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.

The College Master also runs a busy calendar of social and sporting activities for students at Kent, in addition to those provided by the Students’ Association. On the social side, activities include cultural visits, trips to theme parks, club nights, quizzes, stand-up comedy evenings and shopping trips via coach to the famous Bluewater Shopping Centre. Sporting activities in recent times have included specially arranged ‘taster’ sessions for trampolining, horse riding and dry slope skiing, to name just a few.

The College Master also has the role of upholding the University’s student regulations and code of conduct. All students are expected to abide by this code while they study at the University, whether they reside on or off campus.

Sports

Medway Park

To enhance Medway’s sports facilities, the University of Kent has committed £3 million towards the creation of a regional centre of sporting excellence called Medway Park. This £11 million project, led by Medway Council, has produced a multi-sport, state-of-the-art facility, located very near to the campus. Kent students receive preferential rates to use its sports halls, pools, squash courts, health suites and athletics track. The University also has dedicated seminar, research and therapy rooms within Medway Park. The venue has even been approved as a pre-Games training camp venue for 13 Olympic and eight Paralympic sports.

Sport is a great way to get involved in university life and meet new people. There are a growing number of UMSA sports teams based at Medway, which welcome both serious athletes and beginners. Available sports include football (women’s and men’s), rugby, cricket, netball, hockey, golf, rowing, tennis, canoeing, snow sports, badminton and basketball. The men’s football team has even won some silverware in recent times. The Universities at Medway Boat Race is an annual contest between all the universities on the Medway campus. It started in 2007 and has now become a major fixture in both the sporting and social calendars.

The Medway area includes a range of other sporting facilities, such as a dry ski slope and toboggan run, an ice rink, a go-karting circuit, an Olympic-standard trampoline centre and a number of sports and leisure centres. The Deansgate Ridge Sports Complex has an 18-hole golf course, athletics track and gym, and the Arethusa Venture Centre offers a great climbing wall and sailing activities.

Clubs and bars

Coopers is the bar at the heart of the Medway campus and serves quality pub food at studentfriendly prices. It has a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere and is equipped with comfy sofas, widescreen TVs (which show all the major sporting fixtures), a Nintendo Wii, an X-box and a separate pool room. There are regular themed nights and you can party the night away as it has a late licence.

Off campus, the Medway towns have great pubs and clubs which offer regular discounts. A student favourite is Preach nightclub in Gillingham, which is open four nights a week. There are three rooms offering themed parties and a range of music styles including dance, R&B/urban and a great mix of 70s and 80s. The Blues Rock Café at Gillingham football stadium is a short walk away from Liberty Quays and is another popular student haunt, with a dedicated student night on Wednesdays, which offers great discounts and plays the very latest in dance, garage and R&B.

Medway’s excellent location also means you can easily venture out and explore other areas. Maidstone is about 25 minutes away and offers great bars and clubs to suit everyone. London is easily accessible by train.

The campus is five minutes’ walk from a multiplex cinema and there are two theatres in Chatham that offer the very best in comedy, art, drama and music. Medway is a prime location and regularly attracts big names to its venues. Recent acts include Derek Acorah, Derren Brown, Frankie Boyle and The Backbeat Beatles. The Brook Theatre is home to the Medway Comedy Club, where you can spend an irreverent evening with some of the best comics on the UK circuit.

Societies and groups

The wide range of societies available at Medway reflects the diverse nature of the campus community and we aim to have something for everyone. Our societies include Amnesty International, Dance, Irish, Islamic, Spanish, Music, RAG and gaming, to name just a few. Different faiths and nationalities are also well represented. UMSA also runs a campus student newspaper and is always on the lookout for budding journalists. Alternatively, if you can’t find something that reflects what you’re interested in, UMSA offers help and financial support to start your own society.

The Medway region

Kent’s Medway campus is part of Chatham Maritime, on the mouth of the river Medway, and it is next to Chatham Historic Dockyard. The Chatham Maritime area has received a huge investment in recent years and includes a multiplex cinema, a large retail outlet and a number of bars and restaurants, all within walking distance of the main campus.

Culture and leisure

Medway is a vibrant and bustling area with lots of things to see and do. Students are entitled to concessions at many of Medway Council’s leisure centres, attractions and entertainment venues. There are six gyms, five leisure centres, and a fantastic soccer centre, Kicks, which has third-generation astroturf – the best possible artificial surface. There are exciting arts programmes at The Brook and The Central entertainment venues, which are less than ten minutes from the campus. The Brook also hosts a monthly comedy club. There is an annual arts festival and a variety of other festivals are held throughout the year.

History

Medway has a rich and fascinating history. Rochester Castle was one of the first large stone keeps built by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest, while Rochester Cathedral – where Kent holds its Medway graduation ceremonies – is more than 1,400 years old, making it the second oldest cathedral in the United Kingdom.

Medway also has a long and distinguished naval history. For instance, the first ship built at Chatham’s Dockyard took part in the defeat of the Armada; Lord Horatio Nelson joined his first ship at Chatham; and his famous flagship, The Victory, was built here.

One of Medway’s most famous inhabitants was Charles Dickens, who lived in Chatham as a child, and later at Gadshill Place in Rochester for 14 years until his death. The Medway region also features in many Dickens novels and every year the Dickens Festival celebrates his legacy. The £62 million Dickens World tourist attraction is located at Chatham Maritime and has been used as a location for music videos and various BBC programmes. It is a multi-purpose venue, hosting special events such as Jongleurs comedy and theme nights.