Plymouth Marjon University

Plymouth Marjon University, legally named the University of St Mark & St John, grew out of two London teacher training colleges: St Mark's College, founded in Chelsea in 1841, and St John's College, founded in Battersea in 1840. These combined in 1923 under the abbreviated name Marjon, and in 1973 the institution moved to Plymouth. University college status followed in 2007, and full university title in 2013.

Its green, spacious campus is at Derriford, on the north side of Plymouth, roughly 15 minutes from the city centre. Around 5,000 students attend, a small figure by UK standards, and the university characterises its ethos as putting students first, supported by students' close contact with their lecturers and with personal development tutors. Teaching is concentrated in health and wellbeing; sport, physical education and coaching; business; education, communities and children, which covers teacher training; criminology; and literature and journalism. Programmes incorporate work placements alongside training in graduate skills, interview preparation among them. The campus has a sports and health centre as well as a swimming pool, and the Olympic rower Helen Glover is a Marjon graduate.

Information for International Students

Students from over 60 countries have studied at Marjon, whose small classes give international students strong academic support. Undergraduates apply via UCAS, and postgraduates can apply directly to the university. Applicants needing a Student visa must hold IELTS for UKVI, scoring at least 6.0 in every component for undergraduate courses or 6.5 in each for postgraduate courses, although nationals of majority English-speaking countries are exempt.

The visa team issues a CAS when every academic and non-academic condition is satisfied and half the first year's tuition fee has been paid as a deposit. The balance must be paid before registration, as overseas fee payers cannot use instalment plans. An arrival guide explains practical matters such as banking, registering with a doctor and getting around locally, and induction activities help newcomers settle. Accommodation is on campus: seven halls of residence plus a student village made up of 38 houses. Bills and broadband are included, and a Resident Life team is on hand overnight and at weekends in term time. Welfare, financial and wellbeing advice comes from the Student Support Service, and eligible graduates can apply for the Graduate Route.