University of Bedfordshire

The University of Bedfordshire is a modern university with a vibrant and cosmopolitan student population that includes around 20,000 students from over 100 countries. It offers a wide variety of research-informed courses, which believes in nurturing students to become educated, employable and entrepreneurial global citizens.

Bedfordshire has campuses located in:

• Luton
• Bedford
• Milton Keynes
• Aylesbury
• Putteridge Bury

The University is constantly investing in its campuses and facilities, having opened a brand new, four-storey STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) building in September 2019. They have also invested in a high-tech, seven-storey library, and nursing simulation laboratories in the last few years.

Postgraduate

You’ll be able to choose from a wide array of postgraduate courses in everything from Midwifery to Linguistics and much, much more. You can study postgraduate degrees full time or part time, with full time courses lasting between one and two years as standard.

Qualifications include MSc, MA and MBA, as well as PGDip, PGCert, PGCE and PhD. You can also study a Continuing Professional Development accreditation (CPD) at the Putteridge Bury campus.

You can choose between a range of either research or taught courses, and for those unable to physically attend university on a regular basis, or simply looking for the flexibility to study at their own convenience, there is a selection of distance learning courses on offer too.

The University of Bedfordshire is a skills-focused institution that values practical, hands-on learning that leaves graduates equipped with real-world skills in their industry. Lecturers are experts in their fields and many hold relevant positions in industry, leaving them ideally placed to ensure students are kept up-to-date with all the latest developments.

Alongside regular lectures, the university often holds masterclasses with many high-profile guest speakers who are well-respected in their fields.

Exact entry requirements vary on a course-by-course basis. For the majority of postgraduate degrees you will need an undergraduate degree, often in a closely-related subject. If you are an international student, you will also have to meet additional English language and financial requirements.

The 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) recognises research from the University’s Institute of Applied Social Research and Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment as world leading.

Not only does the University’s Careers and Employability Service offer advice and guidance to students seeking to pursue work placements and/or improve their CV, but special Employability Advisors give industry-specific advice for every course.

There’s a dedicated team on hand to assist students on a course with a placement year, and all students can work to earn the university’s own skills award, The Edge.

Student union

Social spaces include the Metro Bar and Kitchen on the Luton campus and the Hub on the Bedford campus, which both run regular events ranging from music to comedy, and of course, some cut-price club nights.

Students facing any problems relating to their course, their finances or their personal lives are also able to turn to the SU for free, impartial advice.

Clubs and societies

The University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union (SU) has a huge range of clubs and societies, covering interests as diverse as business, computing, film and tabletop gaming! There are also plenty of faith-based societies and groups where students can meet up with others of the same nationality or ethnic background, so there is something for everyone.

Sports enthusiasts are able to join more than 40 sports clubs, and have the chance to compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) league, and even in national competitions.

City life

You get the best of all worlds with our campus locations in Luton, Bedford, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury. Colourful, culturally diverse towns with a long history and strong sense of community, big enough to offer a tempting choice of shops, sports and entertainments.

Beautiful countryside, framed by the Chiltern Hills, is on your doorstep as well as villages perfect for a pub lunch. Want a bit of the big-city buzz? Well, London is just a short train journey from Luton and Bedford.

Our Luton campus is also conveniently located close to Luton Airport, where you can take advantage of cheap international flights to many destinations in Europe and beyond!

Accommodation

Accommodation at the University of Bedfordshire is high-quality and offers good value for money, with free wifi throughout all buildings and all bills including contents insurance covered in the cost of the rent. Options are split across two of the campuses:

• Luton: Fitzroy and Wenlock Court have 1,800 rooms between them, boasting gym facilities, a roster of regular social events and is part of the vibrant Student Village.
• Bedford: Polhill Park is our modern student accommodation complex with a wide range of rooms to choose from, all with their own bathroom. If you like the thought of sharing the kitchen and living area with flatmates, go for an en-suite room. If not, choose one of the self-contained studios for privacy and independence.

Students based on the Milton Keynes campus can make use of the accommodation options on the Bedford site. There are dedicated options for postgraduate students and for students aged over 25.

Facilities

The University of Bedfordshire boasts a range of high-quality facilities. There’s a specialised Art and Design building, Alexon House and industry-quality equipment such as Business Pods and a mock court room for law students.

Aside from the new STEM Building that opened in 2019, students also have other state-of the art facilities such as the seven-storey library on the Luton campus. Opened in 2016, students can access more than 300,000 books, plus 6,000 ebooks here, and make use of 900 computers. There are spaces for both, silent study and group work, and even a café!

Sporty students will appreciate the Physical Education and Sports Science Centre on the Bedford campus, where world-class athletes trained ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Each campus has its own Student Information Desk (SID), which acts as a first port of call for all student enquiries. Students can also access the same information and support online.

All students are entitled to free counselling and mental health services, and the Health and Wellbeing team has a Disability Support desk to assist with mobility and learning support issues.

Students will also be able to access financial aid and advice, as well as guidance and information on a number of other issues, all confidentially and free of charge.

International

Students from all over the world come to study at the University of Bedfordshire. We have a diverse University population, with over 20,000 students from over 120 countries, so you’ll be rubbing shoulders with a great mix of different people and cultures.

UK and EU students ordinarily resident in England may be eligible for a bursary if studying a postgraduate Social Work degree full time. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis by the NHS Business Services Authority.

Even if you are not eligible for a bursary, there are still many funding options available to you. British citizens are eligible for a government-sponsored loan of £10,000 towards a postgraduate degree, and you may also be able to apply for a Career Development Loan from some banks and building societies.

Finally, lots of different organisations offer funding for research postgraduates; simply search here to explore your options.

Taught

Assessed through coursework and exams, taught courses have the most contact hours out of all postgraduate degrees, including lectures, seminars and lab work. Most follow a similar pattern of a period assessed study, followed by a more research-focused period as you write your dissertation. The University of Bedfordshire has the following taught postgraduate courses:

• MA, Master of Arts
• MBA, Master of Business Administration
• MSc, Master of Science
• PGCert, Postgraduate Certificate
• PGDip, Postgraduate Diploma
• PGCE, Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

Research

The University of Bedfordshire offers the following research degrees at postgraduate level:

• MPhil, Master of Philosophy
• MA, Master of Arts
• MSc, Master of Science
• PhD, Doctor of Philosophy
• Professional Doctorate

You won’t attend any lectures or seminars on a research degree, but you will be guided along the way by a dedicated academic supervisor. There are over 300 postgraduate research students at the university.

Distance learning

Distance courses offer you flexibility to study around other commitments. You’ll agree to a timetable with your lecturers in advance of beginning your studies. Although you won’t be physically attending university, you’ll have plenty of support from university staff, and can keep in regular touch with your lecturers by email and phone.