The University of Buckingham was first opened as the University College Buckingham in 1976, by then Secretary of State for Education Margaret Thatcher, in response to calls for a modern independent style of uni. It's one of the smallest in the UK, with less than 4,000 students, but over 100 nationalities are represented in the student body.
Mainly based in Buckingham, a market town in north Buckinghamshire, there are three campuses – Hunter Street, Moreton Road and Verney Park, that sit a ten-minute walk away from each other. On campus, you'll find study spaces, prayer rooms, on-site food and drink establishments, as well as sports facilities. A busy Students' Union organises several clubs and societies you can join and counselling and wellness services are available for students.
The town of Buckingham is situated between Oxford and Cambridge and is a short drive from Milton Keynes and Bicester, giving easy access to London. Markets and boutique shops fill Buckingham and a selection of pubs and bars provide a nightlife scene.
Living in Buckingham you'll be able to go to various annual events, including Buckingham's Charter Fair, the MK Pride Festival, and various music and food festivals. You'll also be down the road from Silverstone, where the British Grand Prix is held every year.
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3.8New undergraduate students are guaranteed accommodation during their first year of study, as long as they apply by the deadline and meet the eligibility criteria. There's accommodation on all three of the campuses. The Hunter Street site is ideal for new students, as it's home to the Students' Union, student bar and gym, and is only 10 minutes away from town. At Hunter Street, you'll find both en suite and standard rooms, as well as accommodation especially for couples.
Verney Park is a ten-minute walk from both Hunter Street Campus and the town centre. You'll find parking space and bicycle storage, as well as other facilities. Again, there's a choice between standard and en suite rooms on this site. The Moreton Road campus is the newest site and is well-suited to mature students and postgraduates.
Rent prices range from around £120 to £205 per week and include most costs, including heating, electricity, water, contents insurance and WiFi. The communal areas within halls are cleaned on a daily basis and all halls have 24-hour security, as well as maintenance services.
The University of Buckingham has scholarships and bursaries available for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, which are awarded based on location, merit or financial need. Scholarships and bursaries can go towards the cost of studying and living while at uni and don't need to be repaid.
Some of the funding is awarded automatically, meaning if you meet the eligibility criteria the funding will be applied without you needing to do anything. These scholarships include the High Achiever Scholarship, which is worth £2,000 for any student who makes Buckingham their firm choice and achieves AAB or above in their A-levels.
You can find out about all the scholarships and bursaries available, as well as their eligibility criteria, by visiting the university's online funding pages.
The University of Buckingham does things a little differently to most universities, as it offers full bachelor's degrees over the space of two years, rather than the traditional three-year period. It does this by taking out the long vacation periods that are offered by other unis and continuing the academic term instead.
So, if you're someone who likes the idea of graduating quickly and saving some money, a two-year degree at Buckingham might be for you. But, if you'd prefer a three-year degree programme, with longer holiday periods, you may want to look elsewhere. If you do decide to do a two-year degree, you often have the chance to extend it to three years by doing a built-in master's or foundation year.
All courses are designed with career pathways in mind, meaning students are taught skills and knowledge that will be relevant in their working lives. Most degrees are taught using a small-group academic tutorial system, allowing each student to get a good amount of individual attention.
January start dates are offered, as well as traditional September starts, which is unusual for undergraduate study. This means if you start a degree in September that isn't right for you, it's possible to start a new one at Buckingham in January.
The choices of what to study are varied. Originally, the uni offered courses in law, languages, politics and life sciences, but more have been added in recent years, including history, English, accounting, computing, psychology and education.
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4.0As a student at the University of Buckingham, you can use the Careers and Employability Service to help increase your job prospects. Activities and resources are offered that can give you important information and advice, as well as help develop employability skills.
For instance, you'll be able to book one-to-one sessions with careers advisers who'll be able to give guidance on anything career-related, such as writing your CV, finding jobs and preparing for interviews and assessments. These can be done online or in person.
Careers events are also held throughout the year, which can prove to be great for increasing job prospects. Guest speaker events will introduce you to different industries and employers, while careers fairs will allow you to explore job options and start to build a professional network. Careers workshops are also held, covering topics like CV writing and application forms.
Additionally, as a student, you'll be able to connect with former Buckingham students through the alumni networks, leading to the possibility of finding a mentor.
Many students are also able to do placements as part of their degree, providing a great opportunity to get work experience and make connections in industry.
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