How does a polytechnic university differ from a university and a polytechnic?

mibmob

Polys were invented to give poeple degrees and e.g HNDs which concentrated on more vocational and more technical courses e.g. catering, engineering, social work. There was an intellectual stigma attached (needlessly really in many peopel's view)to this but in the early ninties polys were invited to apply for university status so that they had the chance to expand the 'academic' courses too. Now nowhere calls itself a poly that I know of (I used to work in uni admin). Apr 14 03, 1:03 PM

Tabby Tom

The only instance I can find of a 'polytechnic university' is Anglia Polytechnic University at Chelmsford. This is one of the former polys mentioned by mibmob which acquired university status in 1992, and it is a university with the same standing as any other: the name simply reflects its history. Generally, the polys dropped the title 'polytechnic' when they became universities. Some took the name of their city or county (University of {Huddersfield;} University of Hertfordshire): others, in cities which already had a university, took distinguishing titles like Leeds Metropolitan or Liverpool John Moores. Apr 14 03, 3:01 PM

Jac	APU is also at Cambridge, btw. I think that's its main site. Apr 14 03, 8:34 PM