Our heritage

The University is new, modern and growing rapidly. Although we only became a University recently, in January 2005, we have a long, proud history as a higher education provider.

Before our title change, the University of Bolton was Bolton Institute of Higher Education. However, our origins can be traced back to the Bolton Mechanics Institute, founded in 1824.

From that point Bolton became involved in a continuous programme of vocational and educational training: a focus on learning for professional and personal advancement has been part of this higher education institution since our beginnings.