Keele University, often known as the University of Keele, is a public research university in Staffordshire, England, roughly 4.8 kilometers (3.1 miles) from Newcastle-under-Lyme. Keele was established in 1949 as the University College of North Staffordshire and was given university status by Royal Charter in 1962. The university is the largest main campus university in the UK and is located on a 620 acre (250 ha) rural campus adjacent to the village of Keele. It also contains a science park and a conference center. At a separate location at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, the university's School of Medicine runs the clinical component of its courses. The neighboring Clinical Education Centre serves as the home of the School of Nursing and Midwifery.