University of Kent

University of Kent
Former name
University of Kent at Canterbury
MottoLatin: Cui servire regnare est
Motto in English
Literal translation: 'Whom to serve is to reign'
(Book of Common Prayer translation: 'whose service is perfect freedom')
TypePublic
Established4 January 1965 (1965-01-04)
Endowment£3.8 million (2022)
Budget£260.4 million (2021–22)
ChancellorYolanDa Brown
Vice-ChancellorProfessor Georgina Randsley de Moura (acting)
VisitorThe Archbishop of Canterbury ex officio
Students16,070 (2024/25)
Undergraduates13,340 (2024/25)
Postgraduates2,730 (2024/25)
Location
Canterbury, Medway and Tonbridge, United Kingdom; Brussels, Belgium; Athens, Greece; Paris, France; Rome, Italy
CampusSemi-rural
ColoursKent Blue and Kent Red
AffiliationsUniversities UK
SGroup European Universities' Network
EUA
ACU
Eastern ARC
Universities at Medway
Websitekent.ac.uk

The University of Kent (formerly the University of Kent at Canterbury, abbreviated as UKC) is a public research university in Kent, England. Founded by royal charter in 1965, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent served as its first Chancellor.

The university's principal campus occupies 300 acres of land overlooking the World Heritage Site of Canterbury Cathedral, and also maintains a campus in Medway and a postgraduate centre in Paris. The university is international, with students from 158 different nationalities and 41% of its academic and research staff being from outside the United Kingdom. It is a member of the Santander Network of European universities encouraging social and economic development.

Alumni include two Nobel laureates in literature — Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, and Abdulrazak Gurnah — as well as prominent individuals in politics, media, and law.