The University of Bolton has applied to change its name to the University of Greater Manchester.
The application, which will involve a full consultation, has been made to the Office for Students and the Department for Education.
It is supported by the University’s Board of Governors and its Students’ Union.
Vice chancellor professor George E Holmes said: “We are proud to be based in Bolton and indeed our roots are firmly embedded in this town, having been here for almost 200 years when the Bolton Mechanics Institute was formed.
“Moreover, we are committed to being part of the fabric of the community which is something we continue to demonstrate day in day out.
He added: “Our primary focus is our students – it is paramount that they get the best possible experience and outcomes.
“We and our students via the students’ union, believe that graduate outcomes would be impacted positively by the name change.
“The fact is, the University of Bolton has developed massively since I took the helm almost 20 years ago and has grown to become significantly active across Greater Manchester. We now have a University presence in Wigan, Trafford, Manchester City centre, Farnworth and Horwich.
“The proposed new title would more accurately reflect the geographical area beyond Bolton in which the University is already very active.
“We want to become the first, and only, higher education provider to have its geographical designation drawn specifically from the Metropolitan County of Greater Manchester, which has no university carrying its name.”
The vice chancellor continued: “The University has risen rapidly in The Guardian league table in recent years to 30th in the UK in 2024.
“We continue to be first in the North West, and eighth in England, for Teaching Quality and first in the North West, and 12th in England, for Student Experience in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2023).
“The University believes, along with its students via the Students’ Union, that a change of name to reflect the strong and recognised geographical brand of Greater Manchester will help address graduate outcomes in terms of employer recognition.”
Famous alumni of the University of Bolton, or its previous incarnations as Bolton Institute or Bolton Mechanics Institute include football legend Sam Allardyce, radio and TV presenter Stuart Maconie and The Buzzcocks’ Pete Shelley.
