university of Bedfordshire, details of Bedfordshire university

Bedfordshire 

University ranking

• 2010  =72
• 2009   85
• 2008   86

History

• The University of Luton merged with De Montfort University’s Bedford campus on August 1 2006 and became the University of Bedfordshire.
• The Bedford campus has a long history of sporting excellence that dates back to 1882, when it was the Bedford Training College for Teachers. 
• The Luton campus became a university in 1993 and has academic roots that date back to 1904.

Location and Transport

• The university’s Luton campus is located only 30 minutes north of London by train. It is in the heart of the town centre and near to the M1, junctions 10 and 11.
• London Luton International Airport is 5 km (3 miles) from the main campus and is now one of the UK's largest airports.
• The Bedford campus is only 40 minutes by train from London and has easy access to Cambridge and Oxford.

Accommodation

• £20 million has been invested into new student accommodation at the Bedford campus, which provides over 500 en-suite residences.
• Work on new student accommodation is expected to get underway at the Luton campus in March 2009 and will feature a new student accommodation block.  Existing halls are set to benefit from a renovation programme which also gets under way next March.     
• Hall wardens are on duty 4.30pm –9.00am Monday–Thursday, and 4.00pm–9.00am Friday–Monday.  There is also a 24 hour emergency out-of-hours call out service.
• More information on accommodation at the University of Bedfordshire is available here.

Entry standards

League Table

• Dependent on the course. Many of the teaching courses, including physical education, are very competitive.
• Other courses have requirements that range between 160 and 200 UCAS tariff points.
• The university welcomes students with a range of qualifications and considers experience as well.
• More information about entry standards at the University of Bedfordshire is available here.  

Bursaries and Scholarships

In receipt of full Maintenance Grant (2008)  £820

In receipt of partial Maintenance Grant (2008) £310–£615

Academic achievement Scholarship

• Tuition fees (2009): £3,225
• Tuition fee for Foundation degree is £1,285 for home/EU students. Tuition fees for 'Sandwich year-out' home/EU students is £1,615. (Full cost fees apply to non-EU students and 'second degree' students.)
• 40% of additional fee income to be earmarked for bursaries.
• Eligibility for bursaries will be assessed using UUK/SLC model bursary scheme (HEBSS).
• For more information on bursaries and scholarships at the University of Bedfordshire, click here and here.

Student mix

• The university welcomes people from all walks of life within a vibrant and multicultural society.
• 50% of students are mature (aged over 25 years).
• 76% of students are from the UK
• 12% are from other EU countries
• 12% are from countries outside the EU.  

Course flexibility

• Option to study on a full-time or part-time basis, by flexi-learning or long-distance learning.
• The university takes on an innovative approach to teaching that combines traditional lectures with the use of new media.
• Some students also get the opportunity to undertake projects for companies as part of their course as well as pitching business, marketing and PR ideas company bosses.
• Interactive study materials are used to offer flexibility and individuality of the student learning experience. 

Teaching standards

League Table

• The university has an excellent teaching record.
• Three staff members have been awarded National Teaching awards for their outstanding contribution to teaching and learning.
• The School of Education on the Bedford campus is one of the largest teacher training providers in the UK.

Research standards

League Table

• Award-winning researchers in Climate Change and Applicable Computing.
• Eight specialist research institutes – Applied Natural Sciences; Applied Social Sciences; Art, Media and Design; Business and Management; Applicable Computing; Health; Education and Sports
• Many researchers are experts in their field and have authored or co-authored an impressive collection of journals and publications.
• The university has attracted several key new members of staff in Tourism and in English Languages Acquisition with highly experienced and active professors leading the development of research in areas central to the university's mission.
• The university's research income is growing at 15% per annum with significant new grants in wireless technologies and in health from charities, research councils and the EU framework programmes.  

Academic strengths

• Media-related courses, Sports Science, Education and Health.
• Rated as top for teaching among new universities in 2003 and 2004.
• In 2007 there has been a 41.2% increase in the number of applications, placing Bedfordshire at the top of the universities league table, according to UCAS.
• In 2008, there was a further 9% increase in applications. 
• The latest destination of leavers survey from the university showed that just over 90% of students either found work or chose to go on to further study within six months of graduation. 

Student facilities, including Library and Computing

League Table

• The £8-million Learning Resources Centre at Park Square offers a modern learning environment and has over 300 networked PCs.
• There are more than 200,000 books and 9,000 journals in print and most in digital form, to help with research and assignments.
• The £6-million, four-storey Polhill Library on the Bedford campus features 360 study places, and the new Learning Hub provides students with an information-rich and socially interactive environment.
• Based at the Luton campus, the university's Centre for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL)  has fifteen members of staff who support personal, career and professional development through the undergraduate curriculum and in the transition from HE to the workplace.
• There are multi-faith chaplaincies at the Luton and Bedford campuses.  In Luton, the 'Tree House' chaplaincy is open during term time.  Both have several multi-faith prayer rooms and the teams offer a warm welcome to students of all faiths, as well as those with none.

Disability Services

• For information on the disability services at the University of Bedfordshire, contact Gillian Malins, Senior Disabilities Adviser and NNAC Assessor: telephone 01582 489342, email or visit the website.

Students’ Union

• Based at the Luton campus, with facilities in Bedford.
• A great way to meet new people. The union team is also on hand to offer help and advice.
• The union is home to a bar, nightclub, advice centre, and an outdoor barbecue area.
• Wide and varied range of societies and clubs as well as regular outings/trips.
• More information about the students' union at the University of Bedfordshire is available here. 

Sport

• The £8-million Physical Education and Sport Science Centre at Bedford, contains state-of-the art sport science labs, two gyms and two dance studios.
• The Alexander Sports Centre has extensive playing fields, an indoor multi-purpose sports hall with badminton courts, tennis courts and a climbing wall.
• The Vauxhall Recreation Club is home to the Luton campus’ sports facilities. It includes a fitness studio, tennis and squash courts, and five-a-side football pitches.
• Physiology labs also have full accreditation by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES).
• For more information on sport at the University of Bedfordshire, visit the website.  

Recent/prospective new builds

• £60 million has been invested in developing the university's facilities, including £8 million on a PE Centre and £20 million on student accommodation at the Bedford campus.
• A massive £70 million redevelopment of the Luton campus is expected to begin in March 2009.  This will begin with a new student centre, right in the heart of the Luton campus, as well as new student halls. This central building will act as a base for a whole range of student services, including the Students' Union. 
• The Bedford campus also has a brand new Campus Centre, which houses a 280-seat theatre, dance studios, café and social space.
• £1.2 million has been invested into the Business School, which is the first in the UK to pioneer innovative new teaching methods with its work-based 'business pods' where students get the opportunity to work on 'real' projects for companies.
• The reception area of Park Square was recently refurbished to introduce an open plan, fully-networked, social area complete with a Costa Coffee and plasma screens where staff and students can meet.
• A new social learning space in the Learning Resources Centre was opened last year at the Luton campus.  It is designed to aid group working amongst students and provides a relaxed atmosphere with high-end learning support equipment including smart boards, booths for group work and Wifi access. 

Availability of part-time work

• Both the Luton and Bedford campuses are located close to their respective town centres so that part-time work is easily accessible.
• The Job Shop helps students to find a job whilst studying. 
• The university’s award winning volunteer team helps to find placements, enabling students to gain valuable work experience.

For further information

• www.bedfordshire.ac.uk
• admission@beds.ac.uk
• University of Bedfordshire, Park Square, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 3JU
• +44 (0)1234 400 400
• Travel and maps