Our heritage - University of Staffordshire

University of Staffordshire has a long, proud heritage as a catalyst for change.

Our roots date back to 1914 and the founding of a new type of college in Stoke-on-Trent to support the city’s coal mining and ceramic manufacture and production. Originally, the Central School of Science and Technology, it became North Staffordshire Technical College in 1926.

In 1971, North Staffordshire Polytechnic was created from the merger of the College with Stoke-on-Trent College of Art and Staffordshire College of Technology, based in Stafford. Shortened to Staffordshire Polytechnic in 1988, we became known as Staffordshire University in 1992. In 2024, we evolved into the University of Staffordshire, cementing our position as a centre for learning and progression for the county, and its people.

With courses, facilities and expertise fuelling the Industrial Revolution, the College’s legacy continues today. As does our reputation for innovation: from Stafford’s hi-tech degree courses of the 1960s to the next generation education and hands-on and hyper-real experiences we offer now.

We are committed to strengthening our close ties with employment, culture and industry in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, and beyond.

Our history

1914

Established as the Central School of Science and Technology to support mining and pottery industries.

1971

Formation of the North Staffordshire Polytechnic – merging existing colleges in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford.

1992

Staffordshire Polytechnic gains University status to become Staffordshire University.

The evolution of our campuses

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Cadman was the first of the University’s buildings to open in Stoke in 1914. The launch of the new College of Ceramics in 1957 added the Mellor building. Both buildings continue to house our creative and engineering courses, remaining a driving force for industrial and technological change.

The largest of our three campuses, Stoke-on-Trent campus has benefited from over £80m investment since 2012. Outstanding facilities there include the Sir Stanley Matthews Sports Centre, a dedicated Science Centre, pioneering Games Hub, crime scene house, drama studio, performance centre.

Stafford campus

Established in 1959, Staffordshire College of Technology opened its Beaconside campus in Stafford in the early Sixties, teaching engineering and computing courses. This provision later moved to Stoke to allow our Stafford campus to become a hub of excellence in healthcare and digital innovation.

This transformation began with the opening of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Blackheath Lane in 1955. It has carried on with the launch of our £5.8m Centre for Health Innovation in 2022, with its industry-leading, state-of-the-art clinical simulation and immersion suites.

The Digital Loft at Staffordshire University London complete with dual monitor machines

London campus

Always ahead of the game, the University’s presence in London on the site of the former Olympic Park seems rather fitting. Our London campus in Here East was established in 2019 to concentrate our award-winning tech and digital expertise, teaching computer science, games and cyber security.

Students are immersed in a real-world business and tech working environment. They are surrounded by innovators, disruptors, visionaries and industry-leading facilities, including the latest computer systems and software, a professionally rigged Gaming Arena and broadcasting Control Room.

Our coat of arms

The University of Staffordshire coat of arms reflects our distinguished heritage, our successful present and our prosperous future.

Each element of the coat of arms has a specific meaning relating to Staffordshire’s heritage, the University’s history, and our vision and values.

The Staffordshire University coat of arms

Our coat of arms explained

The owl of the Staffordshire University coat of arms

The crest

The owl perching on the pillar represents Athena, Goddess of Wisdom.
The Stafford knot carved into the pillar is the traditional symbol of our home county: Staffordshire.

The helmet of the Staffordshire University coat of arms

Helmet and mantling

The colours of red and white are derived from the Stoke-on-Trent Coat of Arms.

The shield

The inverted ‘Y’ shape is a symbol of the historic institutions that have formed together to create University of Staffordshire.
The open book represents knowledge, learning and education.
The Stafford knot on the shield is the traditional symbol of our home county: Staffordshire.
The swallows on either side of the shield represents the knowledge and students that the University of Staffordshire welcomes from all over the world.

The motto

Sapere Aude literally translates as ‘dare to know’, representing our University value of being curious and daring.