Canterbury Christ Church University

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) is a public research university located in Canterbury, Kent, England. Originally established in 1962 by the Church of England as Canterbury Christ Church College, it aimed to address the national shortage of teachers, especially in church schools. Initially, classes were held in the priory adjacent to St Martin's Church, with Frederic Mason serving as the founding principal. The institution began offering a Bachelor of Education in 1968 and expanded into non-teaching disciplines with a BA in Religious Studies in 1976. Throughout the 1980s, it introduced health studies and experienced growth in student enrollment. In 1995, it gained university college status, enabling it to award its own taught degrees. To avoid confusion with similarly named institutions, it was renamed Canterbury Christ Church University College. Full university status was granted in 2005, prompting a rebrand to Canterbury Christ Church University. The Archbishop of Canterbury became the ceremonial chancellor, with Rowan Williams installed during a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral. In 2007, the university faced criticism for not allowing civil partnerships on its premises, a policy later reversed. CCCU began awarding research degrees in 2009 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012 with a special ceremony. Justin Welby became chancellor in 2013 upon becoming Archbishop of Canterbury. Rama Thirunamachandran became vice-chancellor in 2013 and was officially installed in 2014. In 2025, he announced plans to retire in January 2026 amid controversy over proposed job cuts despite a reported financial surplus. This decision led to a 96% vote of no confidence from the University and College Union (UCU), although he and the senior leadership team remained in their roles. CCCU is a member of both the Cathedrals Group and MillionPlus, reflecting its Church of England heritage and position among modern UK universities.