Modern University of the Year 2026
Awarded by The Daily Mail
This prestigious, national honour celebrates our transformative approach to learning, teaching, and student experience.
It highlights the highly impressive achievements Teesside University has made to provide an outstanding experience for its students, while also delivering on its mission to transform lives and economies.
The Modern University of the Year accolade is the latest in a series of plaudits which have recognised the exceptional quality of the University's learning and teaching.
Teesside has been rated as Outstanding by Ofsted in all areas for its apprenticeship provision, along with a triple Gold rating in the national Teaching Excellence Framework 2023.
Teesside University is dedicated to transforming lives and economies, and I am particularly proud of the recognition of the considerable work we have done to ensure that people from all walks of life are able to benefit from a truly outstanding higher education experience.
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Our Future Facing Learning initiative equips students with cutting-edge digital tools to thrive in a fast-changing world.
Over £300m has been invested through our Campus Masterplan, including the new £41.4 million Digital Life building which houses cutting edge digital technology and provides a hub for tomorrow's digital and tech talent.
We received gold overall for student experience and student outcomes in the Teaching Excellence Framework and described as Outstanding by Ofsted for our apprenticeship provision.
Daily Mail University Guide editor Alastair McCall described us as the 'standout candidate' for this honour, praising Teesside as 'progressive and ambitious', highlighting our commitment to widening access to higher education - with almost 55 percent of students being the first in their family to attend university.
From providing iPads and developing innovative programmes to eliminate digital poverty, to regenerating Middlesbrough's university quarter, Teesside is applauded as a model of financial sustainability and social impact.
It is progressive and ambitious for its students, putting them at the heart of everything it does. Teesside University makes a difference.
