To sharpen the vocational focus of this modern university, real-life simulated settings are designed to give students immersive, hands-on skills training. Annie Brewster Square is the new simulation suite at the Luton campus, featuring a mock street with flats and houses, a police custody suite, hospital ward and community clinic. In 2025-26 Bedfordshire will open a new immersive security operations centre which will enable students to get into the head of a cyberattacker, gaining insights into their mindset, tactics and tools.
The institution, formed by the 2006 merger of the University of Luton and De Montfort University's Bedford campus, has teaching campuses in Luton, Bedford, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes. Removing barriers to higher education is a key aim and all students can benefit from some form of financial assistance from subsidised lunches and free gym membership to merit-based scholarships of £2,500 a year.
What is the University of Bedfordshire’s reputation?
In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), creative writing and English were among the top-scoring subjects. Sixty per cent of the university’s research overall was assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent, putting Bedfordshire in the top 100 in our research quality index (84=).
It is one of only seven universities in The Sunday Times guide awarded bronze overall in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), although its student experience was rated silver.
Our latest analysis of the National Student Survey shows a much brighter picture for satisfaction, with teaching quality up 32 places to 28= and the wider experience up 18 places to 60=.
Overall the university has climbed 11 places in our main academic table (118=).
In 2025 the university announced plans to make redundancies and merge faculties and schools to cut spending and ensure its long-term sustainability, but said students would not be affected. Bedfordshire remains under “enhanced monitoring” by the Office for Students, England’s higher education regulator, after a quality assessment of the university’s business and management courses. A 2024 report raised concerns around flexibility for working students, monitoring student engagement and low continuation rates.
More positively, Bedfordshire’s achievements on environmental and ethical performance have earned it the No 1 spot in the 2024-25 People & Planet league. Buildings built in the 1990s have been refurbished to improve insulation and the university also scored well on sustainable food and a reduction in water use.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
New BA honours degree courses have been introduced in social media content creation, and applied professional practice in contemporary policing and criminal investigation. A BSc honours degree course has been added in marketing data analytics.
Degrees in professional policing, photography, and education studies and English have been withdrawn.
What are the University of Bedfordshire’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
Applications have fallen significantly. Degree courses demand between 96 to 120 Ucas tariff points. Anyone who applies is considered according to their individual skills and background rather than entry tariff alone, though contextual data is not part of the admissions process.
What are the graduate prospects?
Bedfordshire aims to boost careers for graduates through professional accreditations, paid internships and live experience projects. One of the UK’s leading providers of training for physical education teachers, it is the higher education partner of Luton Town football club and Bedford Blues rugby union club, enabling students to gain behind-the-scenes experience.
In our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which compares the numbers in highly skilled work or further study 15 months after finishing a degree, Bedfordshire remains in the bottom 20 at 112th.
What is the University of Bedfordshire’s campus like?
Bedfordshire’s Luton site is the largest campus. Its 6,000 sq m building for Stem subjects is part of a six-year £180 million investment. The Bedford campus, in a leafy setting a 20-minute walk from the town centre, houses the Faculty of Education, English and Sport as well as courses in performing arts, law and business management.
The Aylesbury campus at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital (home of the National Spinal Injuries Centre) is Bedfordshire’s newest, opened in 2020. At the Milton Keynes campus, courses range from human resource management to professional social work practice, while the Putteridge Bury campus in Luton doubles as a management centre and conference venue.
The university markets its proximity to London as a big draw, although the social scene is lively enough closer to home.
When can I visit?
beds.ac.uk
Everything you need to know about the University of Bedfordshire’s student life and wellbeing support
The university-owned Aspire gyms in Luton and Bedford have high-quality equipment. Bedford’s Arena has show courts for basketball, netball and futsal. Shuttle buses take students to the playing fields and a multipurpose sports hall.
Cultural life on campus benefits from fine facilities at the School of Arts and Creative Industries’, including fashion and interior design studios, two theatres, a television studio and four dance studios.
Bedfordshire has been a member of the University Mental Health Charter since 2021 and offers one-to-one counselling and workshops. Information is available on campus, online and by phone.
What do the students say?
“The students’ union events and cultural celebrations bring everyone together. From the lecturers, who genuinely have our best interests at heart, to the non-teaching staff, who are always there, everyone plays a part in building this special environment.”
Seyi Lowo, law with criminology graduate and University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union president
What about student accommodation at the University of Bedfordshire?
Many students live at home and commute. First-years who apply in the main cycle are guaranteed a room.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of Bedfordshire?
An improving picture in our social inclusion index shows gains across the board in its efforts to increase diversity and widen participation, climbing 31 places to enter the top 50. Bedfordshire is in the top ten for first-generation students (7th) and state-school recruitment (10=).
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Bedfordshire
Excellence Scholarships are worth £2,500 a year to students with ABB entry grades or equivalent qualifications. The number of awards, including the High Achievement Scholarship, is uncapped. Bursaries for care-leavers or estranged students total £5,700 over a three-year degree. Sports scholarships of up to £1,000 come with specialist performance support.
