Founded in the year 1930, Teesside University is an open engineering university which is associated with the University Alliance. Earlier, the university was referred to as the Constantine Technical University. In 1992, it gained the status of a university and the degree courses provided at the university were recognised by the University of London. The major focus of the university is in the field of engineering, metallurgy and chemistry. The first technical building of the university was designed and built by the renowned architect of London, Graham R. Dawbarn. He is also known for his contributions in the construction of the Corpus Christie College in Cambridge. Also, Teesside University is among the first universities in the United Kingdom to follow the Further and Higher Education Act. After the 1990s, the university has witnessed a rapid growth in the number of enrolments.