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Rock & Enrol: Universities named after bands

Let’s not forget those universities which were either named after bands or perhaps provided the inspiration for the naming of popular beat combos. The list is longer than you think.
This article is more than 8 years old

Paul Greatrix is an HE expert and was until recently Registrar at the University of Nottingham

Music and higher education have a long and close association. As previous posts here have noted there are some big bands everyone associates with universities as well as some forgotten ones (and some other even less well-remembered outfits).

 

 

Also, in terms of the top Higher Ed songs we have Vice-Chancellor Desert Island Discs and, of course, your top Teaching Excellence Framework playlist.

But let’s not forget those universities which were either named after bands or perhaps provided the inspiration for the naming of popular beat combos:

  • Rush University
  • Emerson College
  • (James) Brown U
  • Genesis University
  • Yes Academy
  • Kean(e) University
  • Queen’s University (Belfast or Canada)
  • University of (John) Denver
  • Asia University
  • Université de Saint-Etienne
  • University of (Whitney) Houston
  • Boston University
  • (Leonard) Cohen University
  • (Lou) Reed College
  • Hatfield (and the North) Polytechnic (as was)
  • University of Chicago
  • Focus University  (NB not actually a university)
  • Bowie State University
  • (Dionne) Warwick University
  • Drake University
  • Ottawa(n) University
  • Madonna University
  • (David) Essex University
  • University of Texas
  • Abba University (no really, but seems to have gone a bit quiet lately judging by its Facebook page)
  • (Dusty) Springfield College
  • (And, of course, Frankie goes to) Digital Hollywood University in Japan
  • Kansas State and University of Kansas (Ed.)
  • Prince(ton) University (No? Ed.)
  • (Wu-Tang) UCLAN (This is getting a bit silly… Ed.)

And, finally, there is the Invincible Donovan University. However, this is sadly yet to happen. Following a big announcement back in 2007 everyone is still waiting for the first courses to be offered.

There does seem to be a bit of a prog rock bias there. I’m still hoping to stumble across The Fall University, Buzzcocks College and University of the Damned. Have I missed any others?

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fechtbuch
8 years ago

University of Regina (Spektor)
Sorbonnie Tyler

Laura Davies
8 years ago

Keele-ing Joke? (I’ll just get me coat)

Ian Child
8 years ago

A few more…

(Liverpool) Hope
King (‘s College London)
(St) Andrews Sisters
The (Notting) Hamsters
Lincoln Park (Linkin Park)
Stone Roses (Bruford)
The Tee(s) Party
SO(A)S Band
East (London) 17
Jesus and (Queen) Mary Chain
(University College) Cork

Jez
8 years ago

(Didn’t We Have A Lovely Day The Day We Went To) Bangor University