City, University of London
Case study
City, University of London explained
City, University of London is a leading global university specialising in business and the professions. Founded in 1894 and located in the heart of London, the institution supports around 20,000 students and more than 2,200 staff across five specialist schools. Almost half of its student population comes from outside the UK, creating a highly diverse and digitally connected learning environment.
Delivering a world-class student experience relies on secure, reliable and high-performing technology. From teaching and research to collaboration and administration, the University's network infrastructure plays a critical role in enabling staff and students to access the applications and services they depend on every day. As digital demands continued to evolve, the University recognised the need for a networking environment capable of supporting its long-term ambitions and growing user requirements.
The business challenge
Managing a university network presents unique challenges. Thousands of users, personal devices, connected systems and business-critical applications all place significant demands on the underlying infrastructure. The University needed to provide secure access to services while delivering a consistent experience across multiple sites and user groups.
Its existing environment was struggling to keep pace with increasingly complex requirements. The wireless network had evolved organically over many years and no longer delivered the performance, reliability or scalability needed. At the same time, the University required broader expertise across its networking estate, including wired, wireless, management and network access control technologies. To support future growth and improve operational efficiency, a more capable technology partner and a modernised network architecture were required.
The solution
Following a competitive tender process, Charterhouse was selected to support the modernisation of the University's network infrastructure. Working closely with the internal IT team, Charterhouse designed and delivered an end-to-end networking solution capable of supporting the demands of a large, multi-site higher education environment.
The project included the deployment of a modern network architecture, enhanced network management capabilities and improvements to secure user and device access. It also incorporated a major wireless refresh, replacing an ageing Wi-Fi estate spanning more than 800 access points across multiple university locations.
Beyond implementation, Charterhouse provided the specialist expertise and engineering resources required to support the University's evolving networking strategy, helping establish a scalable foundation capable of supporting teaching, learning and operational services long into the future.
The transformation
The transformation created a network environment designed around flexibility, simplicity and performance. Students, staff and visitors can securely connect a wide range of personal and institutional devices while accessing the applications and services they rely on every day.
Network onboarding became easier to manage, while improved visibility and control reduced operational complexity for IT teams. The refreshed wireless environment delivered enhanced coverage, capacity and performance across the University's campuses, helping support increasing demand for digital learning platforms, streamed content and connected devices.
By modernising both wired and wireless infrastructure, the University established a more resilient and adaptable networking foundation capable of supporting future technology initiatives and changing user expectations.
The outcome
The University now benefits from a more scalable, manageable and future-ready network environment. Improved connectivity, simplified administration and enhanced security have created a stronger foundation for delivering outstanding digital experiences to both students and staff.
The new infrastructure supports growing demand for media-rich content, connected devices and digital services while giving IT teams greater confidence and flexibility when managing change. Automated network operations have reduced complexity, freeing internal resources to focus on strategic projects rather than day-to-day administration.
Most importantly, the project has provided a platform capable of supporting the University's ongoing digital transformation, ensuring technology continues to enhance learning, teaching and operational excellence across the institution.