Slogans are so important in any field, whether its products, services, business, sports, education, food, and many others. Some brands are known by their slogans, e.g., “Just do it” is of course Nike’s; “I am worth it” is Loreal, “creating a knowledge society” is ours.
So, let’s go back to the university slogans, each university has a committee that must come up with a sentence that would be used on all its advertising campaigns that will help to attract students to it. I was part of such advertising campaign when I worked at a university in New Zealand, and we came up with the slogan “trades are hot” meaning that students who join a trade are going to be “a hot commodity and will have a hot job”. We had meetings after the other to decide on the slogan, each came up with ideas, we sorted, mixed and matched until we came up with this slogan. The slogan is like a book title, you will buy the book because of its name, not because of the content, hence the university slogan, you will enter the university because of its slogan, you will buy a product because of its slogan, you will be influenced because of the slogan.
However, I did a collection of slogans from 100 universities, and then checked the ranking of each. The better the ranking, the nicer is the slogan. For example, Harvard’s is “Veritas” (says it all), Oxford’s is “Dominus illuminatio mea” which means the Lord is my light, Cambridge’s is “Hinc lucem et pocula sacra” which means, from here [we derive] light and sacred draughts. Only few universities use Latin in its slogan/motto, others use English or Arabic or any other language depending on where the university is located.
Below you will find a few slogans of universities located in Australia, USA, UK, Canada and New Zealand. I encourage you to read them and ascertain to yourself that you are not going to any university just because of their nice slogan. Choosing universities must be a very well calculated decision, as you are going to spend the best 4-5 years of your life in it. It is not a bottle of perfume that you can chuck away if you didn’t like it. Choosing a university is like wearing a tattoo on your face, you are stuck with it. Enjoy reading.
Australia:
| University | Slogan |
| University of Adelaide | The light [of learning] under the [Southern] Cross |
| Charles Darwin University | Change your World |
| Deakin University | Worldly |
| Griffith University | Know More. Do More. |
| La Trobe University | Whoever seeks, finds |
| University of Newcastle | I look ahead |
| University of South Australia | Educating professionals. Creating and applying knowledge. Engaging our communities. |
| Western Sydney University | Unlimited |
| Australian National University | First to learn the nature of things |
| Charles Sturt University | For the public good |
| Flinders University | Inspiring Achievement |
| University of Sydney | The constellations change, [but] the mind [remains] the same |
| University of Western Australia | Seek Wisdom |
Canada:
| University | Slogan |
| Simon Fraser University | We are ready |
| University of Manitoba | “Flourish” or “Prosper” |
| Royal Roads University | Life. Changing |
New Zealand:
| University | Slogan |
| University of Canterbury | Therefore your fields will remain (yours) |
| Auckland University of Technology | Explore your future options |
| Massey University | Let knowledge flourish |
| University of Auckland | By natural ability and hard work |
United Kingdom:
| University | Slogan |
| City, University of London | To Serve Mankind |
| Glasgow Caledonian University | For the Common Weal |
| Manchester Metropolitan University | Many Arts, Many Skills |
| University of Gloucestershire | In spirit and truth |
| University of Exeter | We follow the light |
| University of East Anglia | Do Different |
| University of Manchester | Knowledge, wisdom, humanity |
| Queen’s University Belfast | For so much, what shall we give back? |
| Bournemouth University | To Learn is to Change |
| Cranfield University | Out of darkness, light |
| University of Aberdeen | The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord |
| University of Birmingham | Through efforts to high things |
| University of Glasgow | The Way, the Truth, and the Life |
| University of Liverpool | These days of peace foster learning |
| University of Salford | Let us seek higher things |
| University of Westminster | The Lord is our Strength |
| University of York | On the threshold of wisdom |
| University of the West of England | Light Liberty Learning |
| Anglia Ruskin University | Excellence through partnership |
| Birmingham City University | Do what you are doing; attend to your business |
| Napier University, Edinburgh | Without knowledge, all is in vain |
| Plymouth University | Explore, Dream, Discover |
| RGU University | Now by all your mastered arts |
| Swansea university | Technical skill is bereft without culture |
| University of Hertfordshire | Seek Knowledge Throughout Life |
| University of Northampton | Transforming lives, inspiring change |
| University of Portsmouth | Let us follow the Light |
| Birkbeck university | In night is counsel |
| Queen Mary University of London | With united power |
| Royal Holloway, University of London | To be, rather than to seem |
| Royal Veterinary College | confront disease at onset |
| University of Central Lancashire | From the Ground to the Sun |
| University of Hull | Bearing the Torch [of learning] |
| University of Sunderland | Sweetly absorbing knowledge |
| Durham University | Her foundations are upon the holy hills |
| Keele University | Thank God for All |
| Kingston University | Through learning we progress |
| University of Lancaster | Truth lies open to all |
| Liverpool John Moores University | Fortune Assists the Bold |
| University of Sheffield | To discover the causes of things |
| University College Dublin | To the stars |
| University of Huddersfield | Inspiring tomorrow’s professionals |
| University of Leeds | And Knowledge Will Be Increased |
| University of Leicester | So that they may have life |
| University of Lincoln | Through Wisdom, Liberty |
| University of Strathclyde | The Place of Useful Learning |
| University of Sussex | Be Still and Know |
United States:
| University | Slogan |
| Drew University | Freely you have received, Freely give |
| George Mason | Freedom and Learning |
| Marshall University | BE PROUD |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Knowledge that will change your world |
| Saint Louis University | Wisdom Builds |
| University of South Florida | Truth and Wisdom |
| Northeastern University | Light, Truth, Courage |
| Pace University | Opportunities |
| University of Tulsa | Wisdom, Faith, Service |
| Florida Atlantic University | Where Tomorrow Begins |
| Richard Bland College | Create your journey |
| University of Massachusetts | By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty |
| University of Idaho | Open Space. Open Minds. |
| University of New Hampshire | Science, Arts, Industry |
| University of Rhode Island | Think big. We do. |
| University of North Texas | We are the Mean Greens |
| Wheelock College | Tough Enough to Inspire a World of Good |
| James Madison University | Knowledge is Liberty |
| Long Island University | To the city and to the world |
| Merrimack College | Through Knowledge to Wisdom |
| Roosevelt University | Dedicated to the enlightenment of the human spirit |
| Texas A&M University | To develop leaders of character dedicated to serving the greater good. |
| City College of New York | Look behind, look here, look ahead |
| University of Vermont | Through Studies and Upright Affairs |