The University of Bedfordshire
The University of Bedfordshire is the largest higher education institution in the county, providing excellent opportunities for more people to access top quality higher education. We work closely with employers on our curriculum, while forging close links with UK companies to provide a broad range of training and accredited industry courses.
With large campuses in Luton and Bedford, the University is the single, major provider of undergraduate, postgraduate and professional education in Bedfordshire.
Our Vision
The University of Bedfordshire’s vision is of a world where all are able to benefit from transformational educational experiences.
Our Mission
We create a vibrant multi-cultural learning community enabling people to transform their lives by participating in excellent, innovative education, scholarship and research.
Outstanding reputation for teaching
- Applications to study with us have more than doubled in the last three years (UCAS)
- We have been awarded top marks – a ‘confidence’ rating – in our most recent Quality Assurance Agency audit
- Our Graduate Teacher Programme was rated ‘outstanding’ in our 2010 Ofsted report
- Our staff have received a number of National Teaching Fellowship Awards for outstanding contributions to teaching and learning
- We have won the Queen's Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2011, the most prestigious corporate award
Exciting new facilities
We are investing £180m in new teaching and learning facilities, including:
- Major new developments at our Luton campus, with a newly opened £34m state-of-the-art Campus Centre and £40m brand-new en-suite accommodation, and a new Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development Centre opening in 2013
- A total of £1.4m invested in our business facilities including a new Law Moot Court and unique Business Pods
- £700,000 investment in laboratories for Psychology, Sport and Exercise Science, and Biomedical and Forensic Sciences
- £2m spent on an award-winning site for healthcare students at Butterfield Park and at Oxford House, Aylesbury
- A further £12m is being invested in new facilities in the Computing and Media departments
- Bedford campus boasts a £6m Campus Centre, £20m en-suite halls of residence and an £8m PE and Sport Science Centre
Employment and business focused
- Our graduates enjoy excellent employment rates, with 90% either in work and/or further study (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education 2010)
- We have industry links with some 4,000 organisations including the BBC, TUI and Channel 4
- Many of our courses are accredited by professional bodies such as the Chartered Management Institute, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Qualified Teacher Status, the General Social Care Council and the Institute of Biomedical Science
- We have an award-winning careers service
- Our brand-new ‘JobSavviGrad’ online job search tool helps students find jobs matched to their skills
- The new Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) demonstrates students’ employability, lifelong and lifewide learning
- We give students the chance to impress employers through the Flux National competition, The Basics of Building a Business free lecture series and the i-Factor business concept competition
Development beyond the curriculum
- Our Volunteering Service enables students to get hands-on experience and make a difference to their local community
- Students can get involved in running the Students’ Union through elections or the course representative system
- We offer school-based mentoring opportunities for students to advise future students about student life
- We also have a new ‘Bedfordshire Award’ which encourages employability-related learning from students’ extra-curricular activities and internships
Applied Research
- We were commended in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008 for our 'world-leading' research in Earth Systems and Environmental Science; Social Work, Social Policy and Administration; Sport, Tourism and Leisure; English Language and Literature; and Communications, Cultural and Media Studies
- The RAE also rated our research as 'internationally excellent' in the areas of Computer Science and Informatics and Business and Management Studies
Figures
- 23,000 students
- 100+ countries represented
- 2,000 study bedrooms for 2011
- 46 per cent of students aged over 25 years
- 9 Research Institutes
- £180m invested in facilities
- £300m annual contribution to the local economy (Universities UK)
