We are a vibrant, ambitious academic community celebrating diversity and the transformative power of education. We are the University of Bedfordshire.
At a Glance
The University of Bedfordshire is proud to be an internationally recognised and award-winning institution with a heritage of quality education going back more than 100 years. We believe in nurturing our students to become educated, employable and entrepreneurial global citizens.
Our vibrant and cosmopolitan student population is made up of around 20,000 students from around 115 countries. The University appears in the Times Higher Education World Young University rankings as one of the top 300 universities in the world under 50 years old. In our most recent QAA review, we were commended for the high quality and standards of our higher education provision (QAA, 2015).
Why choose Bedfordshire?
We’re a melting pot of vibrant cultures, at the heart of diverse communities
Students from a mix of around 115 countries. Campus towns that bring the world to you through their shops, restaurants and cafes. Centrally placed campuses and accommodation.
96% of our students feel fellow students show respect for others (University of Bedfordshire data analysis, 2023).
We open up opportunities
- 99% of our home students come from state schools (Times Good University Guide, 2024)
- 57% of our students have parents who didn't attend university
- Half our students are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, under-represented in higher education
- We're one of only 22 UK universities to be awarded the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) quality mark
- We support young adults leaving care and living independent from family with financial support through bursaries.
We care about our world and your future
- 3rd in the UK in the People & Planet University Green League (2023/24)
- Holder of Eco Campus Platinum award (2024)
- 5-star rating for environmental sustainability (The Times Higher UK University Rankings, 2024)
- Annual carbon emissions reduced by 700 tonnes (or 52 single-decker buses!)
- Internationally excellent, world-leading research with a focus on real-world problems (REF, 2021)
We prepare you for the world of work
- Dynamic partnerships with thousands of businesses, projects and initiatives - locally, nationally and internationally
- Hands-on vocational training at schools, colleges and hospitals across our region
- Over 1,000 of our Business School students worked on live knowledge-exchange projects 2022/2023 (KEF, 2023).
We invest in you
- £55 million invested in campus development over the past six years
- New STEM building with over 6,000 sq m of teaching space including industry-inspired labs
- Outstanding simulation suites for health and social care, teaching and business
- Industry-standard equipment and technology for engineering, arts and media, psychology and sports
- Up to £2,400 cash with our scholarships and bursaries
At the University of Bedfordshire, we are committed to our students’ success and are passionate about equipping them with the skills they need to prepare for the workplace and a degree that acts as a springboard to the career they have set their sights on.
- Top 300 world-ranking university under 50 years old (THE, 2023)
- Committed to conducting research that shapes policy and practice, with 60% of our research judged world leading or internationally excellent (REF, 2021)
- Small Business Charter holder for start-up and business growth advice
- 1st in the UK for graduate social enterprise start-ups still trading after three years; 3rd in the UK for all graduate start-ups (HESA, 2023)
- In the top 5% of UK universities for CPD and skills for business
- 3rd in the UK in the University Green League (People and Planet, 2023/24)
- Holder of Eco Campus Platinum award (2024)
- Five-star rating for environmental sustainability (The Times Higher UK University rankings, 2024)
- Beds SU awarded Excellent in the NUS Green Impact Awards 2023
Our world-leading research
In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), 60% of the University's research was judged world leading or internationally excellent. Our Research Institutes work to tackle real-world problems and challenges. Examples include:
- our academics’ research into cyberstalking and its impact on victims produced changes in the law and new UK police guidelines
- a collaboration between this University and Changchun University in China led to a new way to diagnose and treat cancer using robotic nano-manipulation of living cells
- our studies into child abuse and extra-familial harm led to safeguarding issues such as child sexual exploitation and peer abuse being formally recognised across the UK
- our research into sedentary behaviour and its impact on health and mental wellbeing influenced UK and international policy and practice around physical activity
- our work into English language learning and assessment resulted in the ‘socio-cognitive’ framework (SCF), now used to improve English assessments for millions of language learners worldwide.
