What is a Sustainable University and why Should you Choose one?

For many students, when they start to look at how to choose a university, one of the important factors they are now considering is sustainability. But what exactly is a sustainable university and how do you choose one?

What makes a University Sustainable?

Universities contribute to sustainability in a number of different ways. The most significant are the way in which they impact on water and energy use, biodiversity, and waste. There are also several different indirect impacts that they may also have that assist with their biodiversity. These could include the type of food options that they have available on campus, and the methods of travel that students and staff might use.

Universities can contribute to sustainability through their activities, from the research conducted and educational programs and opportunities available to students, to engagement with businesses and local communities. 

How To Choose a University that is Sustainable

If you are looking at how to choose a university based on its sustainability then you may want to take a look at the accreditations, league table and awards that they may have received for their sustainability. Ones to look out for include The Impact Rankings and UI GreenMetric. EcoCampus could also help.

These are a good place to start. However, they all work with different criteria making it rather difficult to use them to fully compare a range of universities. If you are truly interested in the sustainability of any universities that you are considering, then ask if it is a part of your chosen degree. The more students ask this question the more likely is that it will become a part of the course, which could be a great push when it comes to how to make a university more sustainable.

Why are Students Choosing Sustainable Universities?

Today’s students are increasingly aware of just how important it is that we have a positive impact on the environment, and that we all take positive steps moving forward. Choosing a university that offers more sustainability means the opportunity to be around like-minded students and having the opportunity to get involved in the type of practical projects that have the opportunity to drive real change. Most of all, it offers the opportunity to be part of the solution and not the problem.

A sustainable university may also open doors for research opportunities that can offer students the chance to take on paid work that fits with these ideals.

Sustainability at the University of Bolton

At the University of Bolton, we take the subject of sustainability very seriously. We understand just how important it is to our students and strive to do our part, whether this is in respect of the impact we have with our energy use or the food that is served in our on-campus facilities.

We want to ensure that the university experience that you sign-up for is #UniAsItShouldBe which is why we have listened carefully to our students and made a note of their increased desire for a sustainable education. We are fully committed to this, and our sustainability committee is consistently working to evolve practices in line with sustainability goals. You can find out more about how we’re doing this here.  This may have contributed somewhat to the fact that we have been voted Top 10 in the UK for 'satisfied with feedback' for the third-year running*. Together we are learning how to make a university more sustainable.

If you would like to learn more about life at the University of Bolton or any of our courses, we would be delighted to talk to you. Our team of friendly advisors can be contacted on +44 (0)1204 900 600 or you could send our team a message at enquiries@bolton.ac.uk and we’ll be delighted to respond to your query.

*Guardian University Guide - 2022, 2021, 2020.