University of Bolton changes its name to University of Greater Manchester

The University of Bolton is now known as The University of Greater Manchester Credit: ITV News

A university has successfully changed its name to improve "graduate outcomes".

The University of Bolton says renaming itself to The University of Greater Manchester will "more accurately reflect the University’s activities which have spread throughout Greater Manchester".

Making the initial application in September 2023 Vice Chancellor Professor George Holmes said he believed the change would "impact positively" on "graduate outcomes".

When the name change plans were brought forward earlier this year it prompted a backlash The University of Manchester objected to the plans, which they described as ‘very misleading and confusing’.

However the regulator, the Office for Students (OfS) rejected the claims that the proposed name was likely to cause significant confusion and would potentially mislead applicants.

When first announced, the proposed name change was opposed by Bolton Council with leader Nick Peel saying keeping Bolton in the title was ‘non-negotiable’ and that other political party leaders agreed with him.

But the name was formally approved on 20 December when the Vice Chancellor made the “historic” announcement on campus to staff who applauded the news.

He said: “I am delighted to announce that in two minutes the Secretary of State will announce that we are the University of Greater Manchester.”

The announcement was made on campus on 20 December. Credit: University of Greater Manchester

The institution celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2025.

Professor Holmes, who will have led the University for 20 years next year, said: “This is an historic moment for this University.

"You are now staff of the University of Greater Manchester.

“Bolton is an amazing town and it is our base, and it is our home where we intend to stay, it is the home of the University of Greater Manchester, now in Bolton.”

The name change was first proposed in September 2023, and since then the Office for Students has carried out discussions with various stakeholders via an Open Letter Consultation process before deciding whether to grant consent.

In its ruling, the OfS said it had received 1,885 responses regarding the proposed new name, of which 64 per cent felt the Greater Manchester name would not be confusing.

The University will now use the new title for its students.