Over the summer we let you know that we were making some changes to our Academic Management Structure and we can now confirm what the 10 academic Schools at Kent will be called from January 2025: 

What does this mean for me? 

Most of the changes will be behind the scenes so you may not see anything obvious as staff work hard to minimise disruption to your studies.  

You may start to hear staff using these new school names however Divisional email addresses will still work until the end of this academic year. If you’re unsure who to contact, ask Nexus to be linked up with the right service or team. 

I am on a course being phased out. Where do I go for support? 

If you are on a course being phased out, please be reassured that we will continue to support you while you’re at Kent. Heads of School and support staff from your assigned school, as well as central teams, are on hand to support you.

If you’re unsure who to contact, ask Nexus to be linked up with the right service or team.

Courses being phased out will be aligned to one of the new schools (see table below).  

If you have any questions or feedback in the meantime about the new Academic Management Structure, please email kent2030student@kent.ac.uk

In November 2024 the Government announced that for the academic year 2025/26 tuition fees for home students are set to increase by 3.1% to £9,535 for undergraduate degrees in England. We’ve put together a short summary of what this will mean for Kent students.  

Subject to final ratification in parliament, this tuition fee rise will apply for all undergraduate home students studying at the University of Kent for the 2025-26 academic year – both new and returning students. 

If you have a student loan, the fee rise will not result in any new upfront cost for students, and how you repay your student loan remains the same. The loan repayments you make each month when you have a job in the future are based on how much you earn rather than how much you have to repay. 

The Government also announced an increase in maintenance loan support to help students manage the cost of going to university. We have several cost-of-living measures at Kent alongside this to help you make the most of your time with us. 

FAQs 

What does this mean for international and postgraduate students? 

Tuition fees for international and taught postgraduate students are decided through a different process and are unaffected by this Government announcement. You can view the 2025-26 tuition fees for international and postgraduate students on the Kent website.  

When will fees rise and does it impact current students? 

Tuition fees may rise annually, but for UK undergraduates are capped by the Government. See Kent’s Tuition Fee Increase Policy for more information. Both the tuition fee and maintenance loans for UK undergraduate students will rise in the 2025-26 academic year.   

What will the 2025-26 tuition fees be? 

Tuition fees will rise in line with inflation for the first time since 2017, this means current fees will increase from £9,250 a year to £9,535 (full-time). 

How much is the maintenance support increasing by? 

Maintenance loans have increased each year however the increases haven’t kept up with inflation. The Government announced that maintenance loans will also increase in line with inflation from September 2025. This means the students who rely on maintenance loans will have more money in their pockets from the next academic year. If you are currently facing financial hardship, please see cost of living support at Kent. 

Does this change my student loan repayments? 

If you apply for a tuition fee loan, this money is paid directly to the university to cover the cost of your course. If you apply for a maintenance loan, it is paid directly to your bank account to help with the costs of going to university. 

You will not need to repay tuition fee or maintenance loans until you have completed your degree or have left the university. Even though the amount you borrow will be different, the student loan repayment process remains the same.  

Cost of Living Support at Kent 

If you are struggling with the rising cost of living, here’s some of the support available at Kent: 

• Emergency funding – we have funds and emergency short term loans for students facing financial hardship. 

• Finance support contacts – here are some useful contacts to help you with your finance questions and offer advice. 

• Supplemental food support – KSU’s Campus Pantry at Canterbury is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 12:00-16:00. There are no questions asked the first time you use the service. 

• Rutherford Meal Deal – head over to Rutherford (Canterbury) for the £3.50 Meal Deal. Open for lunch and dinner, you can choose between 2 hot meals (one plant-based) with 2 sides. 

• £3 sub and drink meal deal and other offers at The Deep End (Medway). 

• Pick up free sanitary products from KSU’s Mandela Student Centre and the laundry facilities on the Canterbury campus, and from the Deep End at Medway. 

• Campus lounges have microwaves and hot taps so you can reheat leftovers or make yourself a hot drink. See warm spaces map. 

• Borrow a laptop for up to 12 hours for use in the Templeman Library and across our Canterbury campus. In Medway you can use LapSafe in Drill Hall Library (same day or 7-day loans available). 

See all the above support and more on our cost-of-living webpages.  

It’s the last week of the Autumn term! Find out what’s on this week including lots of events to get you in the festive mood.

Need some extra study support? The Skills for Academic Success team are running 15 minute drop-in appointments all week at Canterbury campus and on Tuesday and Wednesday at Medway campus.   

Monday 9 December: Carols at the Cathedral and festive karaoke 

Did you manage to get a ticket for the sold-out Carols at the Cathedral service? If you were lucky enough to get one, go along for traditional carols and performances from University’s Minerva Voices and the award-winning Kent Gospel Choir! 

Or for a different festive vibe, sing your heart out to Christmas tunes at K Bar’s Christmas karaoke night! 

Tuesday 10 December: Mindfulness colouring with counselling team and create your own foraged wreath 

On Tuesday afternoon, members of the counselling team will be available to answer any queries you may have about therapy and mindfulness in Nexus. There will also be mindful colouring to help you to de-stress and unwind.  

Create your own festive foraged wreath using greenery collected from campus. Enjoy the experience of foraging and crafting your own wreath, along with festive food and drink.  

Wednesday 11 December: Covid and Flu Vaccine Clinic, Coco the therapy dog, cookie decorating (Medway) and GRC Winter Showcase 

Get your covid and flu vaccines from our Covid and Flu Vaccine Clinic at Senate, Canterbury campus, on Wednesday (10:00-15:00).  

Take a break from the holiday rush and spend some quality time with Coco the therapy dog at this special Christmas-themed event in Nexus.  

At The Hub in Medway, you can enjoy some festive cookie decorating. Get creative and decorate your cookie with icing and sprinkles.  

On Wednesday afternoon it’s the Graduate and Researcher College’s Winter Showcase 2024. Open to all postgrads, you can attend research talks, explore research posters and present your own work. It’s the perfect platform to connect, learn, and share your research with peers. 

Thursday 12 December: Christmas paper crafts (Medway) and Carols around the Tree 

Enjoy some Christmas paper crafts at The Hub on Thursday afternoon. Create festive decorations, ornaments and Christmas cards. 

Students, staff, alumni and members of the local community are warmly invited to join us on the Registry Lawn for Carols Around the Tree on Thursday at 16:30. This much-loved annual event offers an opportunity for us to come together to celebrate the season.  

Friday 13 December: End of Autumn term and gardening 

Friday marks the end of the undergraduate Autumn term!  

You can volunteer at the Kent Community Oasis Garden, our students, staff and community members are working to create a sustainability hub centred around growing food.  

See all student events.  

Opportunities  

• Will you be returning from overseas after the winter break? You can use our airport transfer service for your return to campus on 9 January 2025. 

• Staying on campus over the winter break? Let us know by Wednesday 11 December! 

• Students staying on campus can also pick up a free craft kit from Mandela Student Centre until Wednesday 18 December.   

See all student opportunities. 

There’s not long left to be in with the chance of winning one of 10 £1,000 grants for Kent students.

All students can enter, including undergraduates, postgraduates, part-time and full-time students.

The grant, with its no-strings-attached approach, aims to provide financial freedom and gives you the flexibility to use the funds where they’re needed most. Whether it’s investing in textbooks, upgrading your study space, or covering living expenses, the choice is yours.

Santander’s Brighter Futures Grants programme is not just a grant, it’s an investment in your academic journey, providing you with the tools you need to do well.

Entering is quick and easy:

1. If you haven’t already, register for Santander Open Academy – a free online
   learning platform
2. Follow the verification link in your confirmation email
3. Log in and choose ‘Get Started’ to complete your entry into the Brighter Futures Grants programme. From the menu you need to select ‘University of Kent’.
4. Get your entries submitted by 23:00 on 5 December 2024.

Whether you win or not, you’ll still have access to browse the Santander Open Academy website for free, on-demand learning content that can help support you in your studies.

Apply today before 5 December 2024

As we observe the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 Nov), it is crucial to reflect on our collective responsibility in creating a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for everyone. This day shines a light on a distressing reality that affects countless lives and calls us to stand in solidarity, commitment, and action against all forms of violence directed at women.

Recognising the Scope and Impact

Violence against women is an enduring and pervasive issue, taking many forms, from physical and emotional abuse to discrimination, harassment, coercive control and online abuse. Research and lived experiences tell us that these acts often go unreported and unchallenged, and they have lasting impacts on individuals and entire communities. As members of this University community, we all must not only recognise the harm that violence inflicts but also actively work to prevent it.

A Community Commitment

The University of Kent stands firmly against all forms of violence, and each of us has a part to play in fostering an environment where respect, dignity, and safety are non-negotiable. Building a truly safe and inclusive culture is a shared effort, and we can all contribute by speaking out, supporting survivors, and challenging behaviours and attitudes that enable violence. This involves listening with empathy, educating ourselves, and others, about the complexities of abuse, and being alert to signs of harm.

Men as Allies

As I have written before, the role of men in ending violence against women is critical. Men, in particular, must confront toxic norms and behaviours within our own circles, challenge harmful stereotypes, and be active allies to those affected. Silence is complicity, and we must make it clear that violence and harassment have no place in our community. Let us commit to fostering an atmosphere where all voices are heard, respected, and supported. When we engage in these efforts, we become part of the solution, contributing to a more just and equitable world.

Support Resources and Moving Forward

For those impacted by violence, I encourage you to seek support. The University offers various resources, including our Student Support and Wellbeing team, counselling services, and specialist advice. We also have trained staff available to guide those experiencing or witnessing violence. It is essential to know that you are not alone; help is available, and your safety and well-being matter deeply to us. The University of Kent has a sex-positive campaign to cultivate and strengthen a culture of consent in our community of staff and students.

On this day and every day, let us be mindful of our actions, words, and responsibilities toward each other. Together, we can make a difference by actively promoting a culture of respect, safety, and accountability. Violence against women affects us all, and it is within our power to stand against it with strength, unity, and unwavering commitment.

Let’s work together to end violence against women – here, within our University, and beyond.

Professor Richard Reece

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience

First year international students are invited to complete the International Student Survey on behalf of a UK organisation who would like to learn more about your decision to study in the UK.

Start the survey now

The survey takes around 15 minutes to complete, and as a thank you for your participation one randomly selected student will be awarded £200 and three others £50 (x2) – £100 (x1).

Your responses will contribute to understanding about international students’ priorities when thinking about where to study, helping the UK to deliver the best experience for students like you now and in the future. Your responses are anonymous.

*This survey is being conducted by independent research agency Red Brick Research on behalf of a UK organisation. If you have any problems accessing the survey, please email laura@redbricksurveys.net

We are currently seeing an increase in phishing attempts targeting Kent staff and student email accounts.

If you see high levels of spam in your inbox, please do not open or respond to them. Report as Phishing using the “Report” button in the Outlook toolbar, or you can just delete them.

Do not respond to Teams calls from someone claiming to be from IT Support offering to help with this spam. Before accepting any offer of assistance, please contact IT and Library Support using the details below to verify the caller is actually from IS.

If you have already experienced this and been contacted via Teams to install something, please let us know as soon as possible. We operate a “no blame” culture and you will not be in trouble, we just need to verify that your account and our systems are still secure.

What we’re doing to prevent attacks

Information Services are already taking active measures to reduce the impact, but your assistance is essential to help keep your data and our services and systems safe.

Thank you

IT and Library Support
Information Services, University of Kent
Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NZ

• Nexus Self Service
• helpdesk@kent.ac.uk
• Tel: 01227 82 4888

Kent took home the “Benefitting Society” Award at the Green Gown Awards last night in recognition of our work as the world’s first Right to Food University.

The Right to Food civic mission sees Kent, in partnership with the Food Foundation, use our academic experts, catering and sustainability teams to bring about change in the food system as well as working with our students, staff and wider local community to tackle food inequality and insecurity.

Now in their 20th year, the awards recognise outstanding and exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken in the post-16 education sector across the UK and Ireland – with 133 projects from 83 institutions shortlisted this year. This award recognises the powerful and innovative ways that education institutions are realising their purpose in society to benefit the lives of individuals, communities and wider society.

Singling out Kent in this category, the judges said that the Right to Food is: ‘A very well thought out and planned programme, addressing a critical societal issue at present. The judges felt that this stood out as being innovative and having a significant benefit to society. Right to Food standard has developed as a blueprint for other universities. Students can benefit in a variety of ways by engaging on the project. This is something we could all do and should all be doing.’

As well as leading the way, we will support other universities in their commitment to the Right to Food by sharing the knowledge and expertise gained and rolling out a blueprint so that other institutions can embark on their own Right to Food journey.

On winning the award, Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, Interim Vice-Chancellor and President said: ‘We are extremely proud to win this award and excited that our Right to Food project has been recognised in this way. The University of Kent works as a community, collaborating with partners for positive change and our mission on Right to Food is integral to our ethos, woven through pedagogy and civic work. This award will accelerate the impact on the creation of healthier, more environmentally sustainable, and democratically accountable societies.’

Professor Iain Wilkinson, Right to Food Lead, said: ‘The Right to Food work at Kent is key in supporting our role in ensuring the health, wellbeing and prosperity of the county and the region, as well as wider society. It challenges and inspires us to create a world where everyone has the right to healthy and affordable food. This award recognises what we have done so far and helps pave the way for the next steps.’

As well as leading the way, we will support other universities in their commitment to the Right to Food by sharing the knowledge and expertise gained and rolling out a blueprint so that other institutions can embark on their own Right to Food journey.

Find out more about what the Right to Food is, what we’ve achieved so far and how you can get involved. 

Find out what’s on this week including careers events, the start of Disability History Month and an opportunity to ask your questions to the Vice-Chancellor. 

Monday 11 November: Time management essentials and games afternoon (Medway) 

Feeling disorganised? Join this online Study Plus workshop on time management essentials. Learn how to identify and prioritise your most important tasks, time management techniques and more.  

At Medway campus there’s a games afternoon you can join at The Hub.  

Tuesday 12 November: Careers events, fresh fruit giveaway and negotiation skills for PGT students 

Good negotiation skills are important in both your work life and home life. PGT students are invited to join this two-hour workshop where you can explore effective negotiation techniques and theory through a series of practical exercises.  

As part of the University’s Right to Food initiative, on Tuesday you can pick up some fresh fruit for free from Templeman Library! And while you’re there you can check out the new Right to Food exhibition which sheds a light on key issues related to food justice, health and sustainability.

Find out more about our mentoring scheme which connects you with a Career Mentor from our global alumni community. Learn about the benefits of mentoring, choosing the right mentor and making the most out of the mentoring relationship.  

At Medway campus you can join a session about utilising LinkedIn for the application process, including job searching, commercial awareness and interview preparation.  

Wednesday 13 November: Advanced essay writing skills, free lunchtime concert and Vice-Chancellor’s Question Time 

Improve your essay writing skills with an advanced essay writing skills workshop from the Skills for Academic Success Team. This workshop will include techniques to help you make the effective transition from beginner to advance essay writer. The workshop is taking place at both Canterbury and Medway campuses.  

Enjoy a free lunchtime concert from Cellist William Jack in the Colyer-Fergusson on Wednesday. William is best known for incorporating his jazz guitar background into an unconventional style of cello playing, with a passion for breaking boundaries between genres and cultures. 

Do you have a question for the Vice-Chancellor? This is your opportunity to put questions to the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Georgina Randlsey de Moura in the Gulbenkian Cinema. Your Kent Students’ Union president Lulu Collins will ask your questions. You can submit a question in advance.  

Thursday 14 November: Help with CVs and cover letters (Medway), Employability Points and comedy open mic night (Medway) 

Get help with CVs and cover letters at this session in Medway. Critique an example CV and cover letter and reflect on your individual next steps for updating your CV and cover letter.  

Come and meet your EP team who will explain what the Employability Points scheme is and how it benefits you during your studies at Kent. Find out more about how the scheme works, claiming Employability Points and when you will be able to apply for rewards.  

On Thursday evening at The Deep End you can join the LGBTQ+ Society and Debate Society for comedy open mic night!  

Friday 15 November: confidence for speaking and presenting, writing a PG personal statement and creative ResLife events 

For many people speaking in meetings, in public and in 1:1s can be one of the most nerve-wracking aspects of work. But it’s also one of the most necessary. This building confidence for speaking and presenting in the workplace online session gets the attendees talking, with practical exercises and tips on how to structure how to speak to build teams and get things done. 

If you are considering postgrad study, join this online session about how to write a postgraduate personal statement. Explore differences between a PG and UG application, look at examples of application requirements and find out top tips for how to structure your personal statement.  

If you live on campus and want to get creative, try one of the ResLife events including friendship bracelet making, a nail tech night or a calligraphy session.   

See all student events. 

Opportunities and reminders 

• International students – have you got your eVisa yet? Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) are due to expire at the end of 2024.  
• 10 Kent students will win £1,000 each with the Brighter Futures Grants from Santander. You don’t need to bank with Santander to get involved.  
• ASPIRE has secured free stalls at Discovery Park Christmas Market. If you have a product that would make the perfect gift, get in touch and book a stall.  
• Have your say on Kent Students’ Union with the opportunity to win amazing prizes by completing their survey. The survey closes at 10:00 on Friday 15 November 2024. 

See all student opportunities.