Buckinghamshire New University

Overview

First opened as a School of Science and Art in 1891, Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) has over 130 years of teaching history.

The uni is spread across three campuses, High Wycombe, Uxbridge and Aylesbury. High Wycombe is the main campus and is home to a range of high-end facilities, like art and design workspaces, an aviation simulator, film and TV studios, and a gym. The Uxbridge campus is dedicated to healthcare, while the Aylesbury site is home to students on courses including business, law and computing.

As a student at BNU, you’ll get access to free sport and societies through the Students’ Union Big Deal scheme. This will allow you to join clubs and play sports, as well as enjoy several free bar and club events throughout the year. A counselling service is also available to students on all campuses and mental health awareness events are run regularly by the uni and the Students’ Union.

A free bus service runs between High Wycombe and Uxbridge, meaning students can get between campuses easily. In High Wycombe, you’ll find a good range of bars, pubs, restaurants and shopping opportunities, as well as surrounding countryside and local markets.

At BNU there’s a high number of undergraduate courses that are employment-focused and skills-based, meaning you’ll be learning the kind of things that employers in industry are looking for when they employ graduates. The uni’s teaching staff comes from a wide range of backgrounds and many continue to work in their field, alongside their teaching at BNU.

The courses are spread across seven schools – the School of Art, Design and Performance, the School of Aviation and Security, the School of Business and Law, the School of Creative and Digital Industries, the School of Health and Social Care Professions, the School of Human and Social Sciences, and the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Most students study full-time but some courses can be done on a part-time basis. For example, you can study Counselling Psychology BSc or Sport and Exercise Science BSc part-time, over a longer time period than if you did them full-time.

Typically, full-time undergraduate degrees at BNU take three years to study, but a number of courses include placement years, study abroad options or an integrated master’s year. These courses usually take four or five years to complete.

BNU accepts a range of qualifications and typically asks for UCAS Tariff points ranging from 128–88. That’s roughly the equivalent of AAB–CCD in A-level grades. Other qualifications the uni accepts include BTECs and T-levels, among others.

You’ll be able to find each course’s specific entry requirements online on the uni’s course search pages. This might include having to have studied specific subjects at A-level (or equivalent qualification). We’ve given you an idea of the kind of grades you’ll need to study certain subjects at BNU below.

For instance, to study a degree in accounting, finance or business, or computing & IT, you’ll likely be asked for A-levels ranging from BCC–CCD (or equivalent qualification). For health & medicine degrees, you’ll probably need A-levels ranging from AAB–CCD (or equivalent qualification), and for psychology & counselling degrees you’ll be asked for ABB–BCC.

Should you not achieve the required grades, the university offers many of their courses with foundation years so you can do an extra year of study before joining the main degree programme.

It should be noted that entry requirements can change so you should always confirm these with the university before applying.

New BNU undergraduate students are guaranteed a place in uni accommodation as long as they’re eligible and apply before the accommodation deadline.

You’ll find a choice of three halls in High Wycombe, all of which are situated within an easy walking distance of the uni’s main campus, as well as the town centre and transport links. Students who are studying at Uxbridge can stay in High Wycombe and use the free shuttle bus to get to and from halls and uni.

Hughenden Park Student Village is the largest accommodation site, housing students in flats of six. All flats include a large shared kitchen and en suite bedrooms with a double bed. The halls are a 15-minute walk away from High Wycombe campus. The Brook Street halls of residence are known as the friendliest and lowest-cost accommodation option. Flats house six to eight students and all include shared bathroom facilities.

All uni accommodations have 24/7 laundry facilities, as well as security services and pastoral support. Rent prices include all bills, WiFi and contents insurance.

BNU has a Career Success team that’s dedicated to helping its students improve employability and job prospects. For example, as a current student or graduate, you’ll be able to book a 30 or 60-minute one-to-one careers appointment to discuss anything like planning your next move, perfecting your CV or improving your interview technique.

You’ll also be able to use BNU’s online careers platform, MyBucksCareer, to take advantage of all sorts of careers resources. You’ll find mock interviews, CV help guides, listed job opportunities, and more.

The mentoring scheme is open to students in any year of their course and provides access to mentoring by an industry professional, some of who are former BNU students. If you do this, you’ll be able to improve your job prospects by learning from an established career professional.

It’s also possible to include a placement year or work-based project in your degree, giving you experience and contacts in industry. Careers events throughout the year will also prove valuable in increasing your employability.

BNU offers a varied package of scholarships and bursaries to students who meet certain eligibility criteria. This extra funding is to help pay for the cost of living and studying and doesn’t need to be paid back.

For example, the Care Leaver Bursary is for students who have left a care home environment and is worth £1,000 per year, as well as accommodation all year round, help with your uni application and a mentor while studying. The Estranged Student Bursary offers the same benefits for students who have become estranged from their families.

Other groups that can benefit from financial support at BNU include asylum seekers, refugees and members of the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities. There’s also a BNU Success Bursary which is worth £1,000 per year for students from low-income families, areas with high levels of deprivation or an area where not many students go to uni.

You can find out about all the scholarships and bursaries available, as well as their eligibility criteria, by visiting the uni’s online funding pages.