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Our collection of real, honest student reviews of unis and courses is the largest in the UK, and helps you make well-informed decisions about your future. Student reviews also form the basis of our annual Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), which highlight great work carried out by institutions for their students.
As an international student, I struggled to find a teaching course that would allow me to study online while working a full time job. The University of Buckingham has afforded me the opportunity to study a high quality and in depth course while working full time. Their kindness and support during this process has been outstanding and has made all the difference for me. I cannot recommend them enough.
The online learning platform is a fun and innovative learning app which allows students to turn their learning into a game almost! It is so much fun to visibly see your progress through the modules. The AI interactive questions are really helpful too and a very creative way to integrate modern technology into our learning.
My tutor and course leader are fantastic, both very helpful and experts in their field. They are both passionate about teaching the course. In the past I have studied at other institutions and found my tutors to be mostly passive. But that is not the case with my current tutor and course leader.
The class in taught online, but we meet for study days every so often, these are very useful as we get the oppertunity to communicate with others on our course. During these study days we have outside experts give key note speeches. They range from good or very good to out of this world amazing. I suppose the ones I find most exceptional may differ to other people on my course.
Nope. Great culture and ambience.
NA
The university is disorganised and lacks support.
na
Review of the University of Buckingham One of the standout features of the University of Buckingham is its two-year degree programmes, available for many—if not all—of its courses. This accelerated schedule allows students to graduate faster but comes at the cost of no long summer vacations, making internship and placement opportunities nearly non-existent. The university provides all essential services in adequate amounts. However, the student fees communication system is poorly managed, often sending out incorrect information. Apart from this, most services are fast, efficient, and delivered with sincerity. Small class sizes allow students to engage directly with lecturers, creating ample opportunities to ask questions and receive guidance. In this regard, the University of Buckingham excels. Areas for Improvement Small Campus and Accessibility Issues The University of Buckingham is located in the small town of Buckingham. Like the town itself, the university is tiny, with fewer than 4,000 students and a compact campus. The main campus on Hunter Street houses most societies and facilities, putting students from the other two campus areas at a disadvantage, as they must travel 15–20 minutes to access key services. Poor Transport Links Buckingham is not well-connected. While bus schedules claim a 30-minute frequency to Milton Keynes, in reality, waiting an hour is common. There are no rail services, making commuting even more difficult. High Cost of Living and Lack of Student Life The town’s primary residents are affluent individuals, meaning there are no budget-friendly restaurants or shops catering to students. Most establishments are aimed at wealthy locals, and nightlife is virtually non-existent for students from lower-income backgrounds. Additionally, Buckingham appears devoid of young adults—the town is mostly home to families, children, and elderly residents, making socialising outside the university circle challenging. Due to its small population (around 13,000 residents), accommodation options are limited, and rental costs are significantly higher than in nearby cities like Northampton, Luton, and Bedford. As a result, students from less privileged backgrounds may struggle to afford living here. The university attracts a predominantly well-off student base, making it difficult for lower middle-class students to blend in. Flawed Academic Structure The university appears to prioritise academic integrity over effective teaching, which ironically forces students to compromise academic integrity. Limited lecture time and lab practice lead to a self-study-heavy approach, causing many students to lose interest in studying altogether. Lecturers often struggle to cover course content within tight time slots, resulting in truncated lessons that leave students confused and unprepared. As a result, many students feel compelled to seek external assistance from AI tools, essay mills, or peers to complete their coursework. Conclusion The University of Buckingham offers a valuable two-year degree structure, but it needs major improvements in academic delivery, affordability, transport links, and student life. Its ranking has declined drastically over the past 15 years, and unless significant improvements are made, this trend is likely to continue.
I am studying Computing, which is a 2-year or 3-year course, depending on one's choice. The course is taught in-person, with five days a week contact. Even though five days a week seems enough, the actual teaching hours in lectures in way less, only six hours of lectures a week. This leaves a practice-heavy module like Problem Solving and Programming with only two hours of lecture, a two hour workshop and a two hour practice session, which is inadequate. There is no hand-holding session for programming, where students will learn how to program directly from the lecturer or module leader. The design of the course does not correspond to the individual student needs, hence many students seek help from other students. Four terms a year leaves very little time for individual terms, only two and a half months. So, it is a little hard to be skilled efficiently in many modules. The course lacks practical sessions where students will learn things from the very basic, guided by the teacher. That leaves students having gaps in their knowledge in many subject areas. The course design and module lectures delivery design needs to be changed significantly. There are very little extra-curricular activities in the campus where Computing course is delivered, with only one society doing anything related to computing. That needs to change. More societies should open exploring diverse areas of computer science and technology. To sum up, the course and module design needs to be changed in order to help students not feel helpless. I hope that happens soon.
More imput from lecturers and unit leads.
More help with resources information
We pay the same for the rooms and yet some people have huge rooms with so much space and others have tiny rooms.
I would rate my university experience 3 to 4 stars. There are many positive aspects to my time on the course, especially in terms of the support available. Despite the course being delivered entirely online, I have consistently felt well-supported by tutors and staff. The university has made a real effort to ensure that remote students still feel part of the wider university community, and I’ve appreciated the access to various resources, workshops, and guidance whenever I’ve needed it. The flexibility of studying online has worked well for me, and the materials provided are usually clear and accessible. There is a good balance between independent learning and structured input from tutors, which has allowed me to tailor my study schedule around my existing commitments. The communication from my tutors has been particularly positive, with regular check-ins and constructive feedback that helps me improve my practice. The online forums and collaborative opportunities with peers have also helped create a sense of belonging, despite being a distance learner. However, I didn’t feel able to award a higher rating due to some recurring issues with the course structure and systems. There have been several instances where technical errors within the programme (specifically with platforms such as LASER and Middle) have caused delays. These technical issues have made it challenging to complete work on time and to receive timely feedback, which can be frustrating — particularly when working to tight deadlines or when waiting for feedback that informs future assignments. Although these problems have been addressed when raised, they have caused unnecessary stress at key points in the course. While these technical glitches do not overshadow the overall quality of teaching or the strength of the support available, they have had a notable impact on my experience. I believe improving the reliability and usability of the online systems would enhance the experience for future students and would allow the university to better showcase the quality of its teaching and the effort put into supporting its students.
Best Aspects One of the best aspects of my course is the flexibility of studying fully online while still feeling very much part of the university community. Although I’m studying remotely, I’ve felt supported at every stage, with plenty of access to tutors, online resources, and opportunities to collaborate with fellow students. Tutor contact time has been particularly good — they are approachable, helpful, and always willing to offer guidance when needed. This level of support has made me feel reassured throughout my studies, especially when balancing coursework alongside other commitments. The course content itself is engaging and relevant to my specialism in PE within the Prep education sector. The modules feel well-structured in terms of theory and practical application, and I’ve found the focus on reflective practice particularly useful for developing my teaching skills. There’s also a good balance between independent study and scheduled input, which suits the online format well. Worst Aspects The main downside has been the recurring technical and administrative issues with certain platforms used to manage the course, such as LASER and Middle. These systems are vital for accessing materials, submitting work, and receiving feedback — so when they don’t work smoothly, it has a direct impact on my ability to complete work on time and feel fully up-to-date with my progress. At times, delays in receiving feedback have been frustrating, especially when that feedback is needed to inform the next assignment or placement task. While these issues are usually resolved once reported, they have added unnecessary stress and created some uncertainty during key points in the course. Improving the reliability of these systems would significantly enhance the overall experience and better reflect the high-quality teaching and support provided by the lecturers themselves. Overall, despite these challenges, the combination of supportive teaching staff, interesting course content, and flexible delivery has made this a valuable learning experience for me.
Brilliant teaching staff and staff-student rapport. Lots of small group teaching. Lovely community feel. Poor admin staff such as student fees, registry, and accommodation who frequently made errors and changes at the consequence of the students. We have had changes to our exam format every exam diet (4 so far) against our wishes due to the demands of registry. Student support is a mixed bag. The faculty mentors and counselling services are great for more practical or mild problems. The academic skills team, careers service, support for people with disabilities, and support for more serious mental health problems is really quite limited. The SU is great for team sports and culture-based societies but otherwise doesn't have much.
great teaching staff. lots of small group teaching. predominantly interesting content. Lack of opportunities for going beyond the core content in terms of research or more advanced learning that might help future career prospects
Complete lack of management by the accommodation team for other residents who frequently failed to abide by the accommodation agreement. Expensive. Wifi frequently down.
Best- never been to the campus as all my lessons are online but somehow lecturers make it a comfortable environment where we can share views and opinions. Have had great support from staff and felt more supported by this university than the uni I studied at for 3 years. Only con is I feel I don’t get enough in person training for teaching PE or we could have ideas on lessons etc
Same as what I said before great support from lecturers and tutors
The University of Buckingham is the best place for its small class sizes, ensuring personalized attention from lecturers and a close-knit academic community.
The best aspect of my course is the personalized learning experience with small class sizes that allow for meaningful discussions and direct engagement with lecturers. However, the course could be improved by offering more structured networking opportunities and industry collaborations.
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I love the campus and the atmosphere we have. its a beautiful place to study and i have enjoyed my time here. All the staff are wonderful, I have a brilliant supervisors and enjoy ...
The uni is good with all the facilities and support systems for international students are so welcoming.
Plenty of help and support from all staff. Plenty of learning spaces and self study rooms that cater for everyone’s needs.