University of Warwick

The University of Warwick is a campus university in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1965 as part of government plans to expand higher education to a mass public and, like the other new universities, its location was decided in response to strong support from councils and other local institutions and in the face of fierce competition from other places. Despite its name, it is located mainly inside the southern boundary of Coventry, some 11 km (7 miles) from the town of Warwick. Part of the campus (the Cryfield site) is built on land donated by Warwickshire. The campus orginally consisted of low-cost Modern architecture (apparently in deliberate contrast with the medieval and classical character of Oxbridge architecture). The low cost was imposed by the government of the day, which required the new universities to be built at rates below those previously used for Britain's older universities. Since its establishment the campus has expanded to 750 acres with many modern buildings and academic facilities, lakes and woodlands. A recent survey by The Times resulted in the campus being voted the best in the UK by a national poll of university students.

Alumni

Famous people to have attended the University of Warwick include:

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Politicians

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• Baroness Amos (Sociology, grad. 1976) - Britain's first female black Cabinet Minister, currently Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council
• David Davis (Molecular Science/Computer Science, 1968–1971) - Conservative Shadow Home Secretary
• Yakubu Gowon (PhD in Political Science) - Nigerian leader
• Kim Howells - Minister for Higher Education at the Department for Education and Skills
• Baroness Morris - former Labour Secretary of State for Education
• Wendy Alexander - politician

Civil Servants

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• Sir Gus O'Donnell (Economics, grad. 1973) - Cabinet Secretary

Mathematicians

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• Ian Stewart, the popular science author

Journalists

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• Jennie Bond (French and European Literature, grad. 1968) - former BBC Royal Correspondent
• Brian Deer - journalist

Writers

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• Jonathan Coe - novelist
• A. L. Kennedy - author

Media presenters / Media people

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• Timmy Mallett (History) - 1980s children's television presenter
• Merfyn Jones, member of the Board of Governors of the BBC

Actors / Directors

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• Paul W. S. Anderson - film director
• Hannah Waterman - actor
• Alex Jennings - actor who has performed in many lead roles at the RSC
• Stephen Merchant - comedy writer/director

Musicians

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• Sting - lead singer of The Police and solo artist (did not graduate)
• Simon Mayo - radio DJ
• DJ Yoda - hiphop DJ

Philosophers

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• David Wood - philosopher at Vanderbilt University
• Andrew Benjamin - philosopher at Monash University