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University of Bedfordshire

University of Bedfordshire

University of Bedfordshire

Introduction

At the University of Bedfordshire, our goal is for you to graduate with a degree that will propel you towards a better future. Our focus is on providing you with an education that works hard to prepare you for the career you set your sights on. We call it career-powered education. We pride ourselves on offering courses that are practice-led – that is, they allow you to put your new knowledge and skills into practice. This approach builds our students’ expertise and confidence so, that when you graduate, you can hit the ground running in your chosen career.

How do we know this? Because we’re one of the top UK universities for successful graduate start-ups. We don’t want anything limiting your progress so we make sure support is there if you need it: Expert career guidance, free study-skills training, well-being and mental health services, disability support, money and budgeting advice, cost-of-living assistance. We believe your University experience shouldn’t only power up your prospects. It should also supercharge your confidence in yourself and your future.

At a Glance

We are proud to be an internationally recognized and award-winning institution with a heritage of quality education going back more than 100 years.

We appear in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, ranked as one of the top 300 universities in the world under 50 years old in the Young University rankings.

In 2021 we were extremely proud to have received a first class award in the People and Planet University Green League, obtaining 2nd place out of 154 UK institutions. In 2020 we launched our Target Zero campaign to become carbon neutral by 2050 and our commitment to sustainability has been recognised with an Eco Campus Platinum award for two years running.

At Bedfordshire, we have a vibrant and cosmopolitan student population that includes around 20,000 students from over 70 countries. We are a modern university that believes in nurturing our students to become educated, employable, and entrepreneurial global citizens.

We lead the way in expanding educational opportunity; with more than 40% of our students coming from families with no history of participation in higher education. Around 70% are mature returners to education and over half are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, under-represented in higher education.

In 2021, we were named in a report by the Sutton Trust as one of England’s Top 25 universities to have successfully contributed to an increase in social mobility amongst disadvantaged young people in England. We have also been rated highest in the East of England for ‘access to education’ and are in the Top 10 of this category for the whole country – one of only two universities situated outside of London.

Campus Features

We have two main campuses in Luton and Bedford, with a large health teaching provision in Aylesbury at the world renowned Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

We are also active in Milton Keynes, London and Birmingham, as well as globally, with a growing portfolio of international partnerships as far afield as Jordan, Egypt, Vietnam, Oman and Trindad.

We support our students in all aspects of their life and encourage through the excellent services we provide:

  • Superb, modern facilities across all our subject areas
  • Study skills development
  • Career and job-seeking guidance
  • Volunteer and work experience
  • Health and wellbeing services
  • Modern accommodation
  • Personal tutors
  • International education partners with opportunities to study overseas

    Admissions

    The Application Process

    Our dedicated admissions teams work to ensure your application process is as smooth as possible. The following steps outline the steps you will go through once you have chosen your course and are ready to make an application.

    1. Make your application
    2. Wait for your application to be processed
    3. Receive a decision
    4. Fulfil your offer letter conditions
    5. Wait for us to complete financial checks
    6. Receive your CAS letter
    7. Submit your visa application
    8. Book your flights and accommodation
    9. Arrive in the UK

    How to Apply

    Please read this section carefully before submitting an application

    The list below constitutes the ‘essential elements’ of an application and the minimum requirements for the University of Bedfordshire to consider and process applications. Any application that doesn’t contain documents 1 - 4 will be automatically rejected and applicants will be required to start the process again.

    1. A fully completed application form
    2. Personal statement outlining the chosen course of study and the University of Bedfordshire (for direct applications)
    3. One letter of reference or name and contact details of at least one referee
    4. Copy of current passport

    Supporting or additional requirements which the University of Bedfordshire will require at a later stage of the application process.

    1. Copies of English Language examination results (if NOT available at the point of initial application being submitted)
    2. Copies of academic certificates/transcripts or information relating to a current course of study or qualification being used to apply (if NOT available at the point of initial application being submitted)
    3. Copy of previous UK visas and any visa refusal documentation from any country
    4. Any other requirements of your chosen course e.g. portfolio, work experience, or ATAS information

    International entry requirements

    We apply standard admissions criteria but, more than this, we are looking for students who will contribute to and benefit from a programme of study with us. We will consider you as an individual and take into account all aspects of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.

    This information is provided as a general guide only. Entry requirements will vary for particular courses, and some have additional requirements - such as portfolios for art courses - so please check the specific course descriptions before applying.

    English language requirements

    The University accepts the following qualifications as satisfying the English Language requirements for entry to a Bachelor's or Master's degree:

    • UKVI Academic IELTS overall score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each element

    Please note: some courses may require higher levels of English – the exact criteria will be specified in the course descriptions

    If you do not meet our standard entry requirements for English, we offer a variety of Pre-sessional English courses, as well as an International and EU Foundation Year to help you attain stronger qualifications for entry.

    Scholarships and Funding

    We’re investing in your future – with scholarships of up to £4,500, we offer a wide range of financial support packages.

    For students starting in September 2024

    If there’s one thing that concerns most students, it’s the idea of debt and how to cover the cost of university, particularly with the cost of living rising. However, for you, it need not be a worry. Here at the University of Bedfordshire, we offer a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, and other funding to support your studies - and that’s cash that you don’t need to pay back.

    Undergraduate EU qualifications bursary

    The EU qualifications bursary provides students entering an Undergraduate programme solely on the basis of an eligible EU qualification with a tuition fee reduction in the form of a bursary of £4500 per academic year for each year of study.

    A level and IB Scholarship for International Students

    The University of Bedfordshire's A level and IB scholarship is worth £3000 off international tuition fees for each year of study for students who achieve an IB Diploma score of 33 points or more, or A level grades of ABB or higher.

    International Undergraduate Merit Award

    The University of Bedfordshire consistently endeavours to attract high-calibre students. In line with this commitment, we have a scholarship for high-performing students not eligible for other University of Bedfordshire schemes. The International Undergraduate Merit Award entitles recipients to a £1000 reduction in international tuition fees for each year of study.

    Vice Chancellor's Scholarship for Postgraduate Students

    On all Master’s degree programmes, international students will be awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship, which is a deduction of £1000 from their first year’s tuition fees.

    Prompt Payment Discount

    A £500 discount is accessible for promptly settling each year's fees in full, prior to or upon registration, for both undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes.

    Rankings

    • Commended by the QAA for the high quality and standards of our higher education provision (QAA 2015)
    • Commended by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) with 60% of our research and 50% of its impact being judged as world-leading or internationally excellent (2021)
    • Top 300 University under 50 years old (THE 2021)
    • One of 21 Business Schools awarded the Bronze Award for start-up and business growth advice (Small Business Charter)
    • Ranked 1st in England and 2nd in the country in the University Green League (People and Planet 2022/23)
    • Eco Campus Platinum award (2021)
    • Gold-tier rated in the USwitch University Green League (2022)
    • Top 10 UK university for social inclusion (Good University Guide, 2022)
    • Best university in the East of England for access to education (Sutton Trust, 2021)
    • Continued investment in facilities for our students. Most significantly we opened a £40m STEM building at our Luton campus in 2019.

    Locations

    • Luton

      University of Bedfordshire University Square Luton, United Kingdom, LU1 3JU, Luton

      Questions