With a global student body of 11,000, the University of Bolton offers courses in six academic groups: Arts, Media and Languages; Creative Technologies; Engineering, Sports and Sciences; Business, Accountancy and Law; Education and Psychology; and Health and Community Studies. With roots going back to the founding of the Bolton Mechanics Institute in 1825, the institution was granted University status in 2005.

The University has one of the most ethnically diverse student populations with around 25% of UK students from ethnic minority communities, and it is one of Bolton’s largest employers.