University of Suffolk
The University of Suffolk is a public UK university in Ipswich offering undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and apprenticeship programmes, supported by six research institutes and an NHS Dental CIC subsidiary, serving domestic and international students via its waterfront campus, regional partner colleges, and a Singapore franchise.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersIpswich, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What University of Suffolk does
The University of Suffolk is a public higher education institution in Ipswich, United Kingdom, established under Act of Parliament and granted independent degree-awarding powers in August 2016 after operating previously as University Campus Suffolk. It serves approximately several thousand undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students through a direct-to-consumer admissions process (UCAS, Clearing, Open Days), supplemented by degree apprenticeships and CPD for employers. Core academic offerings span undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (including IBMS-accredited BSc Biomedical Science, Royal Society of Biology-accredited BSc Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation Science, and the new Master of Pharmacy launching September 2026), six research institutes (Digital Futures, Health and Wellbeing, Social Justice and Crime, Sustainability, Culture and Heritage, and Excellence in Learning and Teaching), and a wholly-owned Dental CIC NHS service subsidiary.
The university operates a distinctive block-and-blend teaching methodology that delivers modules one at a time, supported by a waterfront campus with modern facilities (James Hehir Building, Waterfront Building) and a campus investment programme completing autumn 2026 that adds a new student hub, library, gym, and pharmacy facilities. Revenue is generated from UK full-time tuition at £9,790/year, UK part-time at £2,447 per 30-credit module, international full-time at £16,440/year, degree apprenticeships, CPD short courses, NHS dental services via University of Suffolk Dental CIC, and commercial venue hire. Distribution is direct through the Ipswich campus, supplemented by a network of UK partner colleges (East Coast College, Unitas, London School of Commerce, Global Banking School, Rushmore Business School, Unicaf) and an international franchise via Hanbridge Institute in Singapore.
The institution is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS) and has climbed 71 places in the Complete University Guide over four years to 44th of 130 nationally, winning University of the Year 2025 at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards alongside 1st place for Lecturers and Teaching Quality, 2nd for Student Experience (Good University Guide 2026), and 6th in England and Wales for social inclusion (Times Good University Guide 2026). It holds strategic partnerships with Ipswich Town Football Club, Suffolk and North-East Essex ICB, Ipswich Hospital, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, RSPB, and Colchester Zoo, and reported a 90.8% apprenticeship achievement rate for 2024/25 (ranked 5th in England, well above the 65.4% national average).
University of Suffolk firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- University of Suffolk
- Legal name
- University of Suffolk
- Website
- https://uos.ac.uk
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- The University of Suffolk is a public UK university in Ipswich offering undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and apprenticeship programmes, supported by six research institutes and an NHS Dental CIC subsidiary, serving domestic and international students via its waterfront campus, regional partner colleges, and a Singapore franchise.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
University of Suffolk industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Major Extension & Outreach Missions (EDAHAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)
Keywords
Where University of Suffolk is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ipswich
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
University of Suffolk business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tuition Fees: Full-time UK undergraduate tuition at £9,790 per year, part-time at £2,447 per 30 credit module, and international full-time at £16,440
- Professional Development and CPD: Revenue from degree apprenticeships and professional development short courses for businesses and individuals
- Dental Services: University of Suffolk Dental CIC provides NHS dental appointments, operating since spring 2024
- Venue Hire: Commercial venue hire services for events at university facilities
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | UK Full-time Undergraduate |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | UK Part-time Undergraduate |
| Subscription | Annual | International Full-time |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
University of Suffolk product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The University of Suffolk is a public higher education institution in Ipswich, UK that delivers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, doctoral research, degree apprenticeships, and continuing professional development short courses. It also operates six applied research institutes and a dental social enterprise (University of Suffolk Dental CIC). Programmes are delivered via a block and blend teaching methodology and are offered to UK and international students as well as regional employers.
Product overview
The University of Suffolk is a higher education institution offering a portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, doctoral research opportunities, professional development courses, and degree apprenticeships. The university's academic schools cover Business, Arts, Social Sciences and Technology, and Health Sciences and Society. Core undergraduate offerings include BSc programmes in Biomedical Science (accredited by IBMS) and Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation Science (accredited by Royal Society of Biology), with foundation year variants available. A new Master of Pharmacy programme launches in 2026. The university operates six research institutes: Digital Futures Institute (technology-focused), Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Institute for Social Justice and Crime, Suffolk Sustainability Institute, Suffolk Centre for Culture and Heritage, and Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. Additional services include the University of Suffolk Dental CIC healthcare social enterprise, degree apprenticeships across multiple sectors, and CPD/short courses for professional development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science
Quantifiable outcome
- 1st in UK for Lecturers and Teaching Quality (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use University of Suffolk
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
University of Suffolk technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
University of Suffolk partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ipswich Town Football ClubcoreGrowing partnership with Ipswich Town Football Club as part of civic university pledge and community engagement initiatives
- Brighten the CornersminorPartnership with Brighten the Corners music festival based in Ipswich for cultural community engagement
- Suffolk and North-East Essex ICB (SNEE)coreJoint development with SNEE ICB to address NHS dental provision shortfalls in Suffolk through University of Suffolk Dental CIC, providing NHS-only dental appointments
- Leiston Education Partnership / Kingfisher Schools TrustminorPartnership bringing together schools and partners with funding from Sizewell C to raise aspirations and create opportunities for children in Leiston area
- Suffolk Wildlife TrustminorPartner organisation for Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation Science students providing practical experience and industry connections
- Colchester ZoominorPartnership with Colchester Zoo for Animal Behaviour and Zoological Management module, providing practical learning opportunities
- RSPBminorRoyal Society for the Protection of Birds partnership for field trips and conservation work for wildlife students
- Debach LtdminorIpswich-based company that donated to fund student field trips to London museums and botanical gardens for wildlife students
- ConcertusminorConstruction company engaged to deliver campus development projects including new student hub
- Partner Colleges (East Coast College, Unitas, London School of Commerce, Global Banking School, Rushmore Business School, Unicaf, Hanbridge Institute)coreNetwork of academic partner institutions delivering or franchising university programmes regionally and internationally (Singapore)
- Department for Work and Pensions – Ipswich Job Centre PlusminorCollaboration for Suffolk Careers Fair ensuring enhanced footfall and wider audience for student recruitment
- Ipswich HospitalcoreClose working relationship with Ipswich Hospital ensuring biomedical science course is relevant and contemporary
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
University of Suffolk competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Derby: Mid-sized UK public university with a similar focus on applied teaching, apprenticeships, and regional employer engagement. Comparable revenue mix and tuition-fee exposure.
- University of Hertfordshire: Post-92 public university with similar size and a teaching-focused portfolio spanning health, science, and business. Comparable apprenticeship and CPD positioning to University of Suffolk.
- University of Essex: Public university serving the East of England region with a comparable mix of undergraduate, postgraduate, and research offerings. Comparable size, sector positioning, and tuition-driven revenue model.
- Staffordshire University: Modern UK public university with similar teaching-led positioning and a portfolio including health, life sciences, and digital technologies. Comparable scale and student demographics.
- University of Bedfordshire: Mid-sized modern UK public university with a similar student-recruitment, apprenticeship, and widening-participation profile in the South East. Closely comparable scale and institutional mission.
- Anglia Ruskin University: Modern UK public university with a comparable portfolio of vocational and professional programmes including health sciences and apprenticeships. Closely comparable scale, mission, and East of England catchment.
- Bournemouth University: Modern UK public university with comparable size, regional positioning, and a teaching-led portfolio across health, science, and business. Similar widening-participation and employer engagement emphasis.
- Edge Hill University: Post-92 UK public university widely cited for strong teaching quality rankings and student satisfaction, mirroring University of Suffolk's recent rise in NSS and Complete University Guide metrics.
Regional players
- University of Greenwich: London/South East public university with overlapping health sciences and apprenticeship programmes. Adjacent geography and similar institutional scale make it a relevant benchmark for Suffolk's positioning.
Broad incumbents
- University of East Anglia: Public research university in Norwich, East Anglia, with similar regional positioning and a comparable portfolio of undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programmes. Direct overlap with University of Suffolk on East Anglia student catchment and civic engagement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
University of Suffolk social profiles
Digital presenceUniversity of Suffolk compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
University of Suffolk financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
University of Suffolk leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
University of Suffolk subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
University of Suffolk funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
University of Suffolk M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about University of Suffolk
What does University of Suffolk do?
The University of Suffolk is a public higher education institution in Ipswich, UK that delivers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, doctoral research, degree apprenticeships, and continuing professional development short courses. It also operates six applied research institutes and a dental social enterprise (University of Suffolk Dental CIC). Programmes are delivered via a block and blend teaching methodology and are offered to UK and international students as well as regional employers.
Is University of Suffolk a public or private company?
University of Suffolk is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was University of Suffolk founded?
University of Suffolk was founded in 2016. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is University of Suffolk based?
University of Suffolk is headquartered in Ipswich, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does University of Suffolk make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition Fees are the primary driver. The others are professional Development and CPD, dental Services and venue Hire.
Who are University of Suffolk's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Derby, University of Hertfordshire, University of Essex, Staffordshire University, University of Bedfordshire, Anglia Ruskin University, Bournemouth University and Edge Hill University. University of Greenwich is listed as a regional player. University of East Anglia is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does University of Suffolk have an API?
No public API is recorded for University of Suffolk.
What industry is University of Suffolk in?
University of Suffolk's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAG, Public Research Universities with Major Extension & Outreach Missions, with a secondary code of EDAAAEAA, University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.