Mock up of Gulbenkian refurb

Gulbenkian Arts Centre Café – closure for refurbishment

We would like to give you advance notice that the Gulbenkian Arts Centre Café will be closed from Monday 25 August – Friday 29 August 2025 (inclusive) for a refurbishment of the café space.

The weekend of Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August there will be a reduced offering, with the café opening fully on Monday 1 September with hot food and grab and go options.

Alongside the newly refurbished space, the café team are excited to introduce Social Impact Coffee, a specialty roastery with a big idea. Their ethos that every cup of coffee served shouldn’t just taste good but should do good, with 65% of their profits go into local community causes – which you choose.

For late September 2025 in time for Arrivals Weekend, the Gulbenkian Arts Centre Café will be launching a refreshed menu, offering a range of delicious eats developed using locally sourced ingredients.

Whether you’re popping by for breakfast and looking to enjoy our full English, a tasty Roman pizza or freshly made deli sandwich for lunch or back on campus to catch a show and feast over our posh dogs and loaded tater tots, they will have something for everyone.

Take a sneak peek of planned refurbishment works – and we look forward to you all visiting when it’s completed and re-opened on Monday 1 September.

Kent launches 60th anniversary celebrations

Kent is proud to announce the launch of celebrations marking its 60th anniversary – a milestone that reflects six decades of progress, innovation, and transformation in higher education. 

Since first opening its doors to ‘the First 500’ students in September 1965, Kent has remained committed to breaking down barriers to education. Born during the 1960s wave of new universities, Kent was created to offer something distinct: an inclusive, forward-thinking academic environment set within a vibrant campus that plays a vital role in the region’s life and identity.

Now, as we mark 60 years, we are celebrating the people who have shaped Kent – our students, alumni, staff, and partners – by sharing their stories and creating opportunities throughout the year to bring the community together. From pioneering research to life-changing collaborations, such as our newly awarded University of Sanctuary status – these stories reflect the powerful connections formed at Kent and their lasting impact.

‘This is a time to recognise everything that makes the University of Kent special,’ said Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, Interim Vice-Chancellor and President. ‘We are proud of the innovation and determination that has driven us from our earliest days, and excited to build on that legacy to ensure the University of Kent continues to be a place where everyone can thrive.’

The anniversary year will also spotlight Kent’s ambitious plans for the future, including industry-linked teaching, community partnership, and inclusive research that tackles local and global challenges. As we navigate the demands of a rapidly evolving world, Kent is reshaping the student experience to ensure future generations are equipped with the skills, confidence, and sense of belonging they need to succeed. 

Events and initiatives will run throughout the 60th anniversary year, inviting alumni, students, staff, and community members to celebrate Kent’s rich heritage and help shape its exciting next chapter, including special guests from our history, light projections and digital stories from across the decades starting with Voices for Sanctuary, An evening of Gospel Music at Canterbury Cathedral this autumn and culminating in a Big Campus Picnic next summer. More details will be shared in the coming weeks. For now, we would love to hear your stories which you can share on our website: Kent is 60.  

mock up of new sibson cafe

Sibson Café refurbishment

We are excited to announce that Sibson Café has had a refresh!

With new, warm and welcoming colour palettes and an improved customer journey, Sibson Café provides a welcoming atmosphere for those much-needed breaks and coffee catch ups.

Sibson Café will be re-opening on Tuesday 12 August 2025 from 08:30-15:30 daily, Monday-Friday, introducing We Proudly Serve Starbucks coffee, alongside a new delicious grab and go food offer.

See the above image for a sneak peek of the space, and we can’t wait to welcome you to Sibson Café from 12 August.

Keep an eye out next week for the second outlet refurbishment plans.

Fuel your studies with £500 in food vouchers from Santander Open Academy. Enter Santander's prize draw to win.

Chance to win £500 in food vouchers

Our partner Santander is helping students with the cost of living by offering the chance to win £500 in food vouchers through the Fuel Your Studies prize draw.

Whether stocking up on groceries or grabbing a bite to eat, prizes can be used to buy essentials or exchange for a Lifestyle Eat gift card – accepted at popular spots like Deliveroo, Just Eat, Nando’s, Wagamama, Costa Coffee, and more.

150 chances to win
• 25 winners in August
• 25 winners in September
• 100 winners in November

You only need to apply once for a chance to win in up to three draws. The earlier you apply, the more chances you have. Enter now (T&Cs apply)

Who can enter?
All UK students aged 18+, including:
• Undergraduates, postgraduates, full-time and part-time students
• Students enrolled in a degree apprenticeship and Foundation Degrees
• No need to be a Santander customer

Final deadline: 13 November 2025.

Enter now (T&Cs apply)

See all cost of living support at Kent. 

Breaking Barriers: Summer School at Kent

This month, Kent proudly welcomed 55 Year 10 students (aged 15 and 16) for a three-day residential summer school, an inspiring introduction to university life. Delivered by the Outreach team and supported by academic schools and student ambassadors, this annual event is designed for students from local schools, particularly those who may face barriers to accessing higher education. 
 
‘The aim is to convey as much of a university experience as possible, to give young people who, due to systemic barriers, may not have previously considered that higher education was for them,’ explained Claire Allison, Head of Outreach and Widening Participation.
 
Participants are immersed in every aspect of student life, from academic workshops and seminars to social events and independent living. The packed timetable began with icebreakers and a campus tour, followed by a range of hands-on sessions, including The Maths Behind Game Shows, Film Production, Blackout Poetry, and BioBlitz Bingo. Students then collaborated on a group creative project, which culminated in a showcase for their parents and carers on the final day. 
 
Of course, university is as much about community as it is about study. Evenings featured society taster sessions, a lively quiz night at Woody’s—our popular campus sports café—and a formal dinner followed by a disco at the Sports Pavilion. Outreach staff and ambassadors joined the dancefloor fun before ensuring everyone was safely back in halls for lights out at 11pm. 
 
Participants were also encouraged to practice independence and budgeting: while breakfasts and dinners were provided, each participant received a KentOne card with a set allowance to spend on lunches, giving them a taste of real campus life. 
 
‘Most of the students arrive feeling a bit nervous or unsure what to expect. By the end of the summer school we see a real transformation in their confidence and the belief that university can be for them,’ Outreach Officer Nicola Ballantine said. ‘A large key to the success of the Year 10 Summer School is the connection that our Ambassadors build with the students over the course of the week.’  

 


This year, one of those Ambassadors, Owen Craycraft, was once a Year 10 Summer School participant himself. Owen who is now a Kent Computing student, returned to the same programme he experienced as a teenager as a Kent ambassador, paying it forward to the next generation as well as gaining valuable experience for his CV. These ambassadors work on a variety of residentials throughout the summer months, such as the ‘’Ambition to Succeed’ Year 12 programme currently being enjoyed on campus this week by 60 students from local schools and colleges. Providing young people with a taster of university life is evidenced as being really impactful in supporting their progression to Higher Education, by developing both their sense of belonging and confidence, and broadening their academic horizons.

One participant summed up the impact of the experience perfectly: 
 
‘I didn’t want to go to uni —I wanted to go straight into an apprenticeship. But I came here, and after the tours, and after the seminars and everything, I felt comfortable. When we learnt about breaking barriers, I took that all in because it helped me. It showed you the perspective of breaking barriers in life, in general. And that was really good.’

From new friendships to newfound aspirations, Kent’s Summer School continues to open doors —and minds—for young people across our region. 

Sports massage

Summer sports massage offer

After a summer of sports, sunshine and staying active, now’s the perfect time to unwind with our fantastic massage offer!

From Monday 11 August to Friday 29 August 2025, all 30-minute qualified sports massages are available at the reduced rate of just £25 per session.

Whether you’ve been running, swimming, playing team sports – or just dealing with daily life – this is your opportunity to treat tired muscles, reduce tension, and support your recovery.

How to book

To take advantage of this offer, book your massage via your Kent Sport online account or by calling 01227 823623.

You’ll need a minimum of a Kent Sport Pay to Play membership, which is free when you create an online booking account.

Appointments must be attended between 11–29 August 2025 to qualify for the discounted price. Bookings are open now!

For questions about the Clinic or services, email sportsclinic@kent.ac.uk.

About the Kent Sports Clinic

We’re not just here for sports-related injuries. The Kent Sports Clinic combines Kent Sport’s physiotherapy and massage expertise with the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, offering one of the most extensive performance, rehabilitation and therapy services in the region.

Services include:

  • Performance – athlete-focused support and bespoke programming
  • Physiotherapy – injury management, recovery, and prevention
  • Sports rehabilitation – targeted recovery support
  • Respiratory clinic – advanced testing and custom solutions
  • Massage – for recovery, relaxation, and wellbeing

Young men playing football in the sunshine

Why massage?

Massage therapy isn’t just for athletes – it’s for everyone. Whether you’re feeling stiff, stressed, or sore, massage can help. It supports your body by:

  • Increasing dopamine and serotonin levels to reduce stress
  • Enhancing blood flow and circulation
  • Promoting muscle recovery and toxin removal
  • Helping ease tight muscles and knots

Our qualified massage therapists will work with you to target problem areas and support your wellbeing – whether it’s stress relief or injury recovery.

Ready to relax?

Qualified massages are 30-minute appointments as standard. If you’d like a 60-minute session, please contact sportsclinic@kent.ac.uk directly.

If you’re already a customer, simply book and pay through your online booking account. If you’re new, you’ll need to create a free account first – it only takes a few minutes!

Once booked, all that’s left to do is arrive at the clinic, take a deep breath, and let our expert staff work their magic.

Staff member giving lecture

Collaborative Doctoral Partnership: opportunity for Master’s students

The Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) programme have an exciting opportunity for MA and MRes students.

They are running an in-person conference taking place during the week of 13 October 2025 in London, designed specifically for Master’s students. The event offers a supportive space for students to present and reflect on substantial pieces of pre-doctoral research, particularly work undertaken at Master’s level.

While doctoral research often benefits from strong institutional support, MA-level research is frequently overlooked and rarely published. This conference aims to address that gap by providing a forum for students to share their early work, receive constructive peer feedback, and explore potential routes to publication.

About the Conference

Proposed activities include:

  • Themed 10-minute presentations, grouped into panels with Q&A
  • A roundtable discussion, “From Master’s to Publication”, offering guidance on developing research into publishable outputs
  • Informal networking with academic publishers and digital repository leads

Who can attend and how to apply

They are inviting up to 15 Master’s students from relevant programmes who are:

  • Considering doctoral study
  • Interested in publishing their research

To express interest, students are invited to submit a 250-word abstract outlining their research. If the event is oversubscribed, applications will be reviewed and evaluated to ensure a diverse and balanced programme.

The conference is free to attend and supports the CDP’s commitment to professional development and cohort building. It will be held at a centrally located higher education institution in London, easily accessible by train.

Please email your 250 word abstract outlining your research to Alpheaus Lien-Talks at at1186@york.ac.uk with Cameron Huggett at c.huggett@tees.ac.uk copied in, by 18 August 2025.

Two students talking over a desk

Year In deadline for stage 2 students, 31 July

Have you considered completing a year learning a new subject? This is an initiative where students can broaden their degree experience by adding an additional year but in a different subject. You could obtain skills and experience in Computing, Data Analytics, a Language, Television and Online Broadcasting and Business Management.

Your additional year can be taken between stage 2 and 3, or after you have completed stage 3. The programme will be added to your degree title, letting employers know about your increased employability.

This is a real opportunity to learn about a completely different area and gain some industry skills, which employers value. The deadline for stage 2 students to apply for the Year In programme is Thursday 31 July 2025, so get your application in soon!

Learn more about the Year In programme.