150 with Plymouth University
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150 with Plymouth University

150th legacy

Plymouth University started out as a School of Navigation in 1862 and the year 2012 marked our 150th anniversary. This heritage is our foundation and we continue to grow and develop. Today we are a leading university, with a world class reputation - a university on the ascendancy.

We celebrated our special anniversary with events and activities open to staff, students, partners and our community. More than 50,000 people celebrated with us!

We demonstrated how Plymouth University is making a difference and how what we do here matters. We glanced back but leapt forward!

Our 150th anniversary demonstrated how our approach to partnership creates a lasting legacy for our community. View our 150th legacy.

Nick Park commission

Wallace and Gromit 150 postcardsDuring our 150th anniversary year we were most fortunate to be gifted with a specially commissioned Nick Park creation of his iconic Wallace and Gromit characters. This 150 gift has been printed up as commemorative postcards and distributed at 150th anniversary events throughout the year.  

Official opening of new Marine Building

Marine BuildingHRH Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh officially opened Plymouth University’s Marine Building on 30 October 2012. Find out more on our marine building pages.

Useful links

 Image of Plymouth campus history of 150  

 

 Queen's Anniversary Prize 150th highlights  

 

 Image of 150 badge Student experience  

 

150 aerial photo  150th legacy  

 

 Anniversary day 150th birthday  

 

 Image of interns Prestige lectures  

150th OPPORTUNITY

The University embraced the anniversary as an opportunity to:

  • Glance back and leap forward
  • Articulate the future direction of the University
  • Celebrate and showcase achievements
  • Mark a new era and approach
  • Highlight the uniqueness of Plymouth and the added value we deliver through partnership
  • Establish a lasting legacy including through fundraising towards 150 new student awards
  • Demonstrate the University's impact on the city and region over the last 150 years

Are you an alumni and want to reconnect with the university? Find out more on our  alumni community. 

​150th highlights

View our slideshow

150 highlights

Watch the highlights from our 150th anniversary year:

queen's anniversary prize

At Plymouth University we are transforming lives through education and enterprise is at the heart of everything we do, it's about what we do and how we do it.

The Queen's Anniversary Prize

We were especially proud to be awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education during our anniversary year.

View more information about the Queen's Anniversary Prize.