Britain’s first private university, founded in 1976 and opened by Margaret Thatcher, the University of Buckingham offers two-year degrees, fast-track programmes that focus the mind, Buckingham believes, and allow graduates to hit the world of work with a head start on their peers. This translates into two 40-week academic years (compared with three years of 26-30 weeks) starting in either September or January. The course offering, delivered by six academic schools, matches the range at other UK universities despite Buckingham’s bijou size: it has only about 1,600 undergraduates on campus, set in calm and picturesque grounds. Buckingham’s Centre of Heterodox Social Science has dived into the culture wars with a 15-week online course studying progressive illiberalism — better known as “wokeism”.
What is the University of Buckingham’s reputation?
Three years ago Buckingham was the highest riser in our league table and it was shortlisted for University of the Year 2024. However, falls in student satisfaction contributed to a 58-place decline last year. Our analysis of the latest National Student Survey shows satisfaction with teaching quality down to 125th from 109th and feedback on the wider undergraduate experience ranked at 130th from 128th.
As a private institution, the University of Buckingham cannot avoid being an outlier. It does not take part in the national Research Excellence Framework exercise so we cannot give it a research quality score in our league table. However it does put a high priority on research and students can expect to be taught by academics who are active in their field.
Indeed, Buckingham was rated silver overall in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023) (down from gold in the previous assessment), and gained silver for both underpinning factors: student experience and student outcomes.
Small class tutorials are a feature of its face-to-face teaching, which is supported by a virtual learning environment. The expense of private tuition fees — £27,750 in total for the two-year degree for UK students living on campus — is higher than mainstream institutions but offset by saving a year’s living costs. Buckingham calculates that a typical home student is about 20 per cent better off on one of its condensed two-year degrees compared with a traditional three-year programme.
The university has been plagued by infighting and rumours during the past couple of years. The financial judgment of Anthony Seldon, who led the university from 2015 to 2020, was criticised by one of his predecessors, the scientist Professor Terence Kealey, who claimed that Seldon put the university on the “route to catastrophe”. Meanwhile the vice-chancellor Professor James Tooley was suspended in October 2024 pending an investigation, after his estranged wife made a string of “serious allegations” about his conduct. He was reinstated three months later and the university said the claims were “not substantiated”.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
A new BA in secondary education (maths and Send) was added to the curriculum for September 2025.
What are the University of Buckingham’s entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
Some foundation programmes ask for DD, or 48 Ucas tariff points, while at the upper end you’ll need ABB (128 points) to get into medicine. More than a third of its 305 enrolments in 2024 were from overseas.
What are the graduate prospects?
Buckingham has fallen out of the top 50 with 76.4 per cent of graduates in highly skilled work or further study within 15 months, according to our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey (placing 57=).
A micro-internship scheme connects students with industry partners to complete short, paid, flexible projects. Law students shadow professionals in law firms, barristers’ chambers and court, and can apply for a sandwich year placement with the Home Office.
The university’s two degree apprenticeships — in senior leadership and applied data science — are well supported, with about 700 apprentices in 2024.
What is the University of Buckingham’s campus like?
The original riverside campus is set across three sites in leafy Buckingham, tucked into a bend of the Great Ouse. A former friary and army barracks are among the facilities repurposed for academia, and the military accommodation is now a library.
Recent upgrades include simulated GP surgeries and home visit settings, along with VR headsets. The Vinson Centre for the Public Understanding of Economics and Entrepreneurship has an award-winning building and the School of Computing has futureproofing in hand at its Centre for Artificial Intelligence and innovation hub.
All courses will soon be taught in Buckingham, following the decision to close the medicine and health sciences campus in Crewe by 2026, six years after it opened.
When can I visit?
buckingham.ac.uk
Everything you need to know about the University of Buckingham’s student life and wellbeing support
The main campus has a bar, fitness facilities and a refurbished refectory with social learning spaces. Student-led clubs and societies cover academic, sport, cultural, medical and religious interests. The brighter lights of Milton Keynes are a 20-minute drive away.
Undergraduates have regular meetings with their personal tutor for academic support and guidance, and can access counselling and mentoring advice through the wellbeing department.
What do the students say?
"The small classes and passionate lecturers have created an environment where I've always felt enthused to learn, improve, and ask questions."
Gabriel Wingrove, BSc computing
What about student accommodation at the University of Buckingham?
First-years who apply by the deadline are guaranteed a room in halls of residence, which include the new Mount Pleasant site. Formerly a Best Western hotel, it has twin en-suite rooms, study spaces, a gym, swimming pool, bar and free laundry facilities.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of Buckingham?
Buckingham is in the top 30 for its proportion of black and ethnic minority students (59.7 per cent). The university has risen from 114th to 88th in our social inclusion index for England and Wales overall.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Buckingham
The High Achiever scholarship of £2,000 is given as a tuition fee discount to those who achieve AAB (or equivalent) in their A-levels. Students who qualify for a £7,500 maintenance loan may also receive the University of Buckingham Bursary, which is worth up to £9,500 and paid as a termly fee reduction.
