Buckinghamshire New University

Overview

Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) has over 8,000 students currently enrolled, and continues to grow in size since gaining university status in 2007. Originally founded in 1893 as the School of Science and Art, Buckinghamshire New University is known for offering many unique courses such as Policing and the award winning Air Transport with Commercial Pilot Training.

The majority of undergraduate and postgraduate students are based at the main campus in High Wycombe, while a smaller Uxbridge campus hosts the Medicine and Nursing faculty.

Services

The International Lounge provides a place for international students to meet, relax, and find support on a number of issues. English courses are also offered by the University, while staff will provide tutorial support, guidance and counselling, as well as information on finance, health, sport, welfare, accommodation and career opportunities.

Free airport collection takes place for all new international students starting at Buckinghamshire New University, while orientation is organised by each faculty. In addition, a campus tour, visa seminar and tour of the town will take place to help you feel at home. The international friend’s scheme will allow new students to contact current and international alumni.

Rankings

• 127th in the Times University Guide 2024
• 77th in the Guardian University Guide 2022

Buckinghamshire New University was ranked 12th in the UK by the Huffington Post in a list of creative universities and was also included in a list of the top 14 creative universities in the UK by The Daily Telegraph. In addition, BNU has won awards for its training of pilots and music industry management.

Buckinghamshire New University has improved its performance in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.

Reflecting several years of university-wide activity, REF 2021 results reveal that 44% of BNU research was judged to be of world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) quality, based on the six subject-based units of assessment (UOA) the institute submitted.

Of those UOAs, at least half of the university's research in the following areas was of world-leading or internationally excellent quality: Art and Design, History, Practice and Theory (60%); Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism (58%); and Social Work and Social Policy (50%).

Social Work and Social Policy was one of three new promising UOAs the university submitted, in addition to Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences (49%), and Education (17%). Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy (49%) also performed well.

REF judgements are based on three factors: the quality of the research outputs; the impact of the research; and the research environment of the university.

For BNU, the university's research output quality at 3* or 4* was the highest in UOAs in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism (75%) and Social Work and Social Policy (67%). For impact, the university's UOAs in Art and Design, History, Practice and Theory (100%) and Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences (75%) UOAs excelled.

Accommodation

Buckinghamshire New University has four main halls of residence spread across its campuses in Uxbridge and High-Wycombe, and first –year students are guaranteed accommodation provided they apply by the required deadline. The University is also able to offer advice on finding private rented accommodation.