Coventry University is implementing a significant overhaul of its academic structure, introducing six student intakes annually and a modular teaching system, with the aim of improving student progression, completion rates, and satisfaction. This new model, which moves away from the traditional academic year, will see all undergraduate courses offer entry points in September, November, January, March, May, and July.
Students will study one module at a time across six-week teaching blocks, with assessments concluding each block. This approach has been piloted at various Coventry University Group campuses, including Dagenham, Greenwich, Coventry, and Scarborough. The university stated that this new format and calendar emerged in response to successive financial deficits, with £60 million deficits posted for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years.
Following widespread cuts and an institutional restructure, Coventry University anticipates breaking even in the 2025-26 academic year. The university hopes that these changes, alongside new degree apprenticeship programs in areas like accounting, finance, and artificial intelligence, will help revitalize applications and admissions, which reached a ten-year low for courses starting in September 2025.
International Expansion and Support
Coventry University is also expanding its global presence, with plans for a new branch campus in Gift City, Gujarat, India, to complement its existing campus in New Delhi. Additional campuses are planned for Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Wroclaw, Poland, while a Singapore campus will offer around 20 Coventry-accredited courses. This international strategy reflects the university's broad brand recognition both domestically and overseas.
For financial support, Coventry University offers rent-free accommodation and pastoral care for care leavers under 25. A support fund is available for short-term financial emergencies, and scholarships of £1,500 or £3,000 per year are offered to talented athletes. Beyond these specific provisions, students are directed to government-funded schemes for assistance with childcare, dependants, and disabilities.
Admissions and Student Welfare
The university offers contextual admissions, which can reduce standard entry requirements by up to 16 UCAS tariff points for eligible students. Eligibility includes factors such as postcode, care leaver status, disability, age over 21, or estrangement from parents. The university stated that its contextual offer process reviews qualifications within the context in which they were achieved.
Students admitted through widening participation initiatives are assigned success coaches to aid in accessing resources like peer mentoring and developing life skills. The university's Student Wellbeing team addresses mental health and wellbeing concerns, with additional 24/7 support available through the Spectrum.Life app, offering counseling sessions and resources for issues such as depression, anxiety, and relationship problems. A separate Safezone app allows students to report safety concerns and request escorts after dark, with all staff receiving mandatory safeguarding training.