For students looking for support and guidance on wellbeing, cost of living issues and careers, Buckinghamshire New University’s (BNU) £20 million Dove development has everything in one place. There’s also an airy atrium space with a café and roof gardens at the building, named after the local women’s rights campaigner, Dame Frances Dove, and located at the High Wycombe campus. It opened in November 2023, introducing more social and study areas in response to student feedback. New degrees showcase the university’s practical mood with engineering design, building and construction engineering, aerospace engineering and civil engineering joining the curriculum. BNU does well on rates of student satisfaction with teaching quality (10th), and despite losing ground in feedback about the wider undergraduate experience, it remains comfortably in the upper half of UK universities (down 25 places to 46th) in our latest National Student Survey analysis.

What is Buckinghamshire New University’s reputation?

Originally founded as a School of Science and Art in 1891, BNU gained university status in 2007. The institution moved up five places in our research quality rankings to 118th after its results in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) improved upon its performance in the previous national assessment, REF 2014. Art and design; history of art; geology, and sports sciences produced some of the best results. Overall, 44 per cent of BNU research was judged to be world-leading or internationally excellent.

BNU achieved triple silver in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), for student experience, outcomes and its overall assessment. The panel commended BNU for its “effective practice-based teaching approach using industry-standard resources and environments to support learning”.

For example, on film and television degree courses, students are taught on location by industry professionals at nearby Pinewood Studios. Those taking travel and aviation courses have the chance to study for a pilot’s licence while working towards their degree. 

BNU has worked with Thames Valley Police for more than 15 years to deliver policing programmes, which include a bachelor’s degree in police studies with criminal investigation, a police constable degree apprenticeship and a new pre-join professional policing programme.

However, in early 2024 the Office for Students (OfS) published a report raising concerns about business and management courses at BNU, following an investigation during 2022-23. The OfS highlighted five areas of concern, including that the university was not consistently providing a high-quality academic experience — partly because of “a lack of adequate educational leadership and academic governance”. However, these findings were at odds with outcomes of the TEF and the National Student Survey 2023. At the time of writing, the OfS had not announced the next steps in the investigation, which could include regulatory action.

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?

BNU has announced the end of nine courses in September 2024. Two were degree courses resulting in a specialist practitioner qualification in community children’s nursing; four were in sports business management; three in business law. Twelve new courses will have come on stream by 2025, including hospitality entrepreneurship, intelligent automation and robotics, and international gastronomy and food business management.

What are Buckinghamshire New University’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?

Entry requirements start at 40-64 Ucas tariff points for some courses, rising to 120-144. With a strong commitment to widen participation, BNU makes contextual offers to students whose personal circumstances meet the criteria, adjusting the standard tariff for conditional offers, or, in exceptional circumstances, making unconditional offers. 

Demand for BNU courses hit record heights in 2023, with more than 12,600 applications and 3,700 enrolments — 18 per cent via clearing. There is a large population of mature students aged over 31, with about a third of students under 21 years.

What are the graduate prospects?

Despite its proactive industry links, BNU remains in the bottom 30 in our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey (105=) with 69.3 per cent of leavers finding highly skilled work or returning to study within 15 months. 

What is Buckinghamshire New University's campus like?

The main campus at High Wycombe has benefited from £100 million of spending over the past decade and its Gateway Building is a focal point in the town. Simulation facilities — including a flat with disability adaptations, x-ray room and A&E set-up — are being added in a £3.6 million investment to give health and social care students hands-on experience. The historic Brunel Engine Shed opposite High Wycombe station is being converted into a community space and public art gallery for students’ work. The university has a second base in Uxbridge, northwest London, for most of BNU’s healthcare students, and a third — the newest — in Aylesbury, hosting nursing, business, law and apprenticeship courses.

Everything you need to know about Buckinghamshire New University's student life and wellbeing support

BNU funds free sports and recreational activities through the students’ union’s Big Deal programme. There are more than 30 sports clubs and links with professional clubs in the region, and BNU has one of only five swimming performance centres approved by Swim England. The university gym features app-based cardio machines and interactive exercise equipment. The Human Performance, Exercise and Wellbeing Centre has a three-lane running track with 3D motion-capture technology, as well as sports injury and physiotherapy clinics. 

In recognition of the national rise in student mental health problems, BNU has expanded its support services. As well as seeking advice from professionals, students can turn to mentors specialising in conditions such as ADHD and specific learning difficulties.

What do the students say?

“As a mature nursing student, I was worried about affording the full student experience, but found a friendly, diverse community where I could really enjoy myself. The Big Deal opportunities, cost of living support, and advice mean our campuses are more than just buildings, they’re places where students can learn and connect, campaign and have a great time.”
Amy Pile, adult nursing graduate and BNU students’ union president for 2024-25 

What about student accommodation at Buckinghamshire New University?

BNU owns or endorses 881 student bedrooms, 45 per cent at the minimum rate of £86 a week. Most BNU students live at home, allowing the university to guarantee a space to all first-years who want to live in halls. 

How diverse and inclusive is Buckinghamshire New University?

BNU performs well in our social inclusion table but it has seen a dip in the past year, down six places to 21st. The university has the third-highest proportion of mature students at 85 per cent.

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at Buckinghamshire New University

Nearly one in five new entrants qualify for one of BNU’s wide range of scholarships or bursaries. Awards include the £1,100-a-year bursary for gypsy, traveller, Roma, showmen and boaters — a rarity in higher education and offered with the guarantee of accommodation and support from a mentor.