More than 100 students, new academic staff, new facilities and new industry connections
This week NMITE welcomed its latest, largest cohort of students to Hereford, with more than 100 beginning their studies across its engineering and construction degree programmes. The new cohort includes students studying:
- BEng/MEng (Hons) Integrated Engineering
- BEng/MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering
- BSc (Hons) Construction Management
- BEng/MEng (Hons) Autonomous Robotics
NMITE’s newly launched Autonomous Robotics programme has been developed in response to growing demand for engineers with expertise in autonomous systems, robotics and emerging technologies. The degree has been built to prepare students for careers in one of the fastest-moving areas of engineering and technology.
The latest intake represents another step in NMITE’s planned growth, with the institution expecting a similar size intake each year from now on as it reaches its ideal size: small enough to know every student but large enough to deliver national impact. The growth in student numbers is being supported by the expansion of NMITE’s academic team, with eight new academic staff joining the institution, bringing additional expertise across engineering, robotics, construction and related disciplines.
This newly expanded team enables NMITE to maintain one of the defining features of its educational model: high levels of contact time and close interaction between students and academic staff, alongside challenge-based learning and strong connections with industry. The institution’s accelerated, challenge-based model is designed around preparing students for the world of work from the outset, with students working in teams, tackling real-world challenges and developing technical and professional skills alongside industry partners.
James Newby, President and CEO of NMITE, said: “Our growth is about giving more young people the opportunity to become engineers, while maintaining the distinctive NMITE way of learning. We are now firmly established and enjoying seeing the model mature, with more degree programmes, more students, more academic expertise and increasingly strong connections with industry”. NMITE is also preparing to expand its offer beyond undergraduate degrees, with an upcoming postgraduate degree and a range of short courses expected to launch over the next year, opening up NMITE’s expertise to professionals and businesses as well as traditional degree students.
Alongside this, NMITE plans to significantly increase its community engagement activity, building on the success of initiatives such as the hugely popular summer school, RoboAcademy, which has introduced local young people to robotics, engineering and technology through practical, hands-on experiences.
Jesse Norman, Chair of NMITE, said: “NMITE is not simply a university in Hereford, but a university of Herefordshire. It is creating huge opportunities, attracting talent from across the UK, boosting the local economy and really putting the county on the map.”
NMITE’s graduates are establishing themselves across a range of industries and have gone on to roles with organisations including Airbus, Mondelez (Cadbury), Oakwrights, Balfour Beatty and BAE Systems, among others. This growing graduate success provides evidence that NMITE’s approach is translating into outcomes for students as the institution continues to scale.
Still time to join NMITE in 2026
While the latest cohort has begun their studies, NMITE’s 2026 recruitment remains open for a limited period. Applications for Autonomous Robotics, Construction Management, Integrated Engineering and Mechanical Engineering remain open for the next two weeks, subject to available places. Applications for NMITE’s Foundation Year remain open until 30 October, with Foundation Year students due to begin their studies in November. Student accommodation is also available for a limited time. Applications are also now open for 2027 entry, with prospective students able to apply directly to NMITE at https://nmite.ac.uk/apply-now or through UCAS.