University of Salford

University of Salford

Motto	Altiora Petamus "Let us seek higher things"
Type	Public
Established	1850 - Pendleton Mechanics Institute 1896 – Royal Technical Institute, Salford 1967 – gained University status by Royal charter
Endowment	£0.49 m (2015)
Chancellor	Jackie Kay
Vice-Chancellor	Helen Marshall
Administrative staff	2,781
Students	18,920 (2014/15)
Undergraduates	14,895 (2014/15)
Postgraduates	4,025 (2014/15)
Location	Salford, Greater Manchester, UK
Campus	Urban, Parkland
Colours	Blue and Gold
Affiliations	University Alliance Association of Commonwealth Universities North West Universities Association Northern Consortium
Website	www.salford.ac.uk

The University of Salford is a public research university in Salford, England, 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres) west of Manchester city centre. The Royal Technical Institute, Salford, which opened in 1896, became a College of Advanced Technology in 1956 and gained university status, following the Robbins Report into higher education, in 1967.

It has 18,920 students and is in 60 acres (24 hectares) of parkland on the banks of the River Irwell.

The university's origins can be traced to 1896 with the opening of the Royal Technical Institute, Salford, a merger of Salford Working Men's College founded in 1858 and Pendleton Mechanics' Institute founded in 1850. The Royal Technical Institute, Salford received royal letters after the then-Duke and Duchess of York (later King George V and Queen Mary) officiated at its opening ceremony, an event commemorated in the university's Redbrick Peel Building and which allowed 'Royal' to be appended to the name of the institute.

At the start of the 20th century, mechanical engineering, chemical works, textiles and construction dominated the industrial scene in Salford. This heavily influenced the choice of subjects offered in the nine departments initially opened. These were Engineering, Electrical Engineering & Applied Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Building, Dyeing, Spinning & Weaving, Domestic, and Art. Some 1,240 students registered for the first session in these departments. There were originally 19 members of staff.

In 1921 the Institute was renamed the Royal Technical College, Salford. In 1958 the institution split into two organisations: the remaining Royal Technical College and a breakaway institution, Peel Park Technical College. This changed its name first in 1961 to Salford Technical College, before becoming the Salford College of Technology in 1970, and finally University College Salford in 1992.