De Montfort University

De Montfort University stands in Leicester, a city in the East Midlands. It began in 1870 as the Leicester School of Art and became a university in 1992. The university is named after Simon de Montfort, a 13th-century Earl of Leicester. It has three faculties: Business and Law; Health and Life Sciences; and Technology, Arts, and Culture. The university has around 23,000 students and is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. It also operates campuses in Dubai, Kazakhstan, and Cambodia, as well as a new London campus focused on postgraduate courses. The university’s origins lie in the Leicester School of Art, which expanded to meet the needs of late 19th-century industry. In 1897, £25,000 was raised to build the Hawthorn Building, which still houses the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. The building was extended several times, including a new west wing opened in 1927 by the Duchess of Atholl. By 1938, the Hawthorn Building had four phases of extensions to accommodate growing demand. In 1948, the university converted Downings Warehouse to provide more space, and in 1966, the Fletcher Building was opened by The Queen Mother. The university’s fashion and textiles department became nationally known for its work in contour fashion and knitwear technology. It was the only contour fashion degree in Europe, starting in 1947 after a request from the Corset Guild of England. The department worked closely with companies like Marks & Spencer and the British Clothing Industry Association. In 1992, the university gained its current name, De Montfort University, and in 1993, it launched a national advertising campaign to attract students. The university also expanded into other parts of the East Midlands, including Milton Keynes, Bedford, and Lincolnshire.