Facts and figures
The University of Plymouth in numbers
Teaching excellence
Research rich
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Top UK university for Marine and Ocean Engineering (Shanghai Ranking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2019)
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More than three quarters of our research ranked either World-Leading or Internationally Excellent in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF)
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A three-time winner of the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education, most recently in 2019 for marine microplastics pollution research
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AEuropean Commission HR Excellence in Research Award
Sustainable university
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Shortlisted for three Green Gown Awards in 2023 in recognition of commitment to climate action
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'One of just six institutions internationally to receive a Global Showcase award from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
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Drake’s Place historic gardens and reservoir – Green Flag Award Winner 2023/2024
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'The House and Marine Station building projects are BREEAM Excellent (an environmental assessment method rating system for buildings)
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59% of waste recycled in 2020–21
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@Our Students' Union has NUS Green Impact ‘Excellence Outstanding’ status
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'Achieved ISO 14001 accreditation for all our operations on the Plymouth campus since 2009
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254% reduction in CO2e emissions since 1990
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'We are a zero landfill University
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Our campus cafes received a Three Star rating (the highest possible) from the Sustainable Restaurant Association in the Food Made Good report 2022
University of Plymouth: the facts and stats
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AOver 18,500 students
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AOver 2,500 staff
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*£239.4m annual turnover
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£24m contracting with local businesses
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,Founded in 1862 as the School of Navigation
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<150 partnerships with institutions from 26 countries for collaborations in teaching and research
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7,500 studying for a Plymouth degree at partner institutions in the UK and around the world
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£155m invested in the campus over the past decade, including the Marine Station, The House and The Wellbeing Centre
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We oversee a £100m network of business support facilities, including incubation, innovation and science park infrastructure
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An alumni community with over 182,000 graduates pursuing their careers globally
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@58% of academic staff are PhD qualified
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The first and only post-1992 university to launch its own medical and dental school
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_The Peninsula Dental School was the first in the UK to achieve RCS Surgical Education Centre accreditation
Latest awards and accreditations
- University wins Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community category at Times Higher Education Awards 2023 8 December 2023
- University recognised for sector leading Climate Action at the 2023 Green Gown Awards 1 December 2023
- Helping musicians play again – clinical academic elected to Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain 25 October 2023
- Project charting the experiences of post-war Japanese families shortlisted for international award 5 October 2023
- Pioneering microplastics researcher receives the 2023 Blue Planet Prize 4 October 2023
- University’s dental excellence earns recognition in the Times Higher Education Awards 2023 7 September 2023
Awards in detail
Queen's Anniversary Prize
In 2019 we were awarded the Ìýin recognition of our ground-breaking research and policy impact on microplastics pollution in the oceans.Ìý
It recognised nearly two decades of world-leading enquiry by Plymouth researchers, led by Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, which has resulted in repeated scientific breakthroughs and influenced national and international legislation.
It is the third time that the University has been honoured with a Queen’s Anniversary Prize, which celebrate excellence, innovation and public benefit. The last occasion was in 2012 when the University was recognised for the breadth and excellence of its marine and maritime research, teaching and training. The University also won the award for widening access to education in rural communities in 1994.Ìý
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Social Enterprise Mark
The University of Plymouth became the first university in the world to be awarded the Social Enterprise Mark, in recognition of our long-standing support for the sector. The University held this accreditation from 2011 to 2018. The award demonstrated our social value to the wider world and community, and was a testament to the commitment, energy and vision that we pride ourselves on.
Stonewall Diversity Champions
In September 2013 we were proud to join the acclaimed Stonewall Diversity Champions programme, Britain's good practice employers’ forum on sexual orientation. This partnership means that as a university we receive one-to-one advice from Stonewall’s workplace team, and benefit from an extensive network of over a hundred high-profile employers.
