Buckinghamshire New University

Buckinghamshire New University (Buckinghamshire New University)

Overall ranking: Came 113th out of 126 in the Complete University Guide for 2016.

History: Traces origins to 1893, when School of Science and Art was set up in High Wycombe to support furniture design and manufacture. Has been an art and technology college and a further education college. Granted the right by Privy Council to award own taught degrees in 1994, and granted university status in 2007. Formerly Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College.

Address: Two campuses, one in High Wycombe, and another in Uxbridge, West London.

Ambience: High Wycombe is a market town 35 minutes from London and set in pretty, prosperous countryside. The newly-refurbished Uxbridge site is five minutes walk from the tube station, close to shopping centres and the Grand Union Canal.

Who's the boss? Professor Ruth Farwell, a mathematician, is vice-chancellor until early 2015.

Prospectus: 0800 056 5660 or order one here.

UCAS code: B94

What you need to know

Easy to get into? Art and design courses normally require 200-240 UCAS points. Foundation degrees ask for 100-140 UCAS points, but the university looks at every application on an individual basis. All arts and design courses require a portfolio and/or interview.

Vital statistics: Over 7,000 full and part-time undergraduates plus over 2,500 on postgraduate, professional and short courses. Business, health, sport and design are the main subject areas. Lots of mature students. Bucks has made a significant investment in campus redevelopment with the construction of state-of-the-art facilities in the centre of High Wycombe, including a learning resource and technology centre, events hall, gym, sports science laboratory, dance, drama, music and video production studios, library and meeting rooms, as well as new student accommodation ten minutes walk from the High Wycombe campus. Bucks is also now offering four new discounted courses in Slough, taught intensively over two days a week. These are BSc (Hons) accounting & finance; BA (Hons) business Management; and Foundation Degrees in health & social Care and IT services management.

Added value: Big on furniture design and manufacture. Runs courses from HND to PhD. Offers one of UK's only courses in music management. Bucks has made a significant investment in campus redevelopment with the construction of state-of-the-art facilities in the centre of High Wycombe, including a learning resource and technology centre, events hall, gym, sports science laboratory, dance, drama, music and video production studios, library and meeting rooms, as well as new student accommodation ten minutes’ walk from the High Wycombe campus. It has two Nursing intakes each year, in September and February, and is one of the largest student nursing providers in London. Bucks New University also won the Education Provider of the Year (post-registration) award at the 2015 Student Nursing Times Awards.

Offers industry-leading travel and aviation courses, some of the UK's only courses in music management, and has partnerships with leading industry names including Sennheiser and Mike Clare. The Faculty of Society & Health engages in applied research and enterprise activities regionally, nationally and internationally.

Teaching: 122nd out 126 for student satisfaction with teaching quality in the Complete University Guide.

Graduate prospects: 114th out of 126 with 52.8 per cent finding graduate level employment.

Any accommodation? Accommodation in the Bucks Student Village is priced between £103 and £170 each week, including facilities. Private rooms in shared student houses near the High Wycombe campus range between £57 and £131 per week, plus bills.

Cheap to live there? Not particularly, but depends where you live. Prices average between £75 and £90, excluding bills.

Transport links: Local buses to main campus. London within reach by train or car.

Fees: Full-time undergrad courses are £9,000 for EU/UK students.

Bursaries: The University offers three bursary/scholarships to students enrolling in September 2015. These are the Bucks Scholarship Programme, worth up to £1,000 per year (up to a total of £3,000 across three years; the Academic Achievement Scholarship will provide a fee discount of £2,000 per year (a total of £6,000 across three years); and Sporting Excellence Scholarship awards are worth up to £3,500 in fee discounts. The major award here is named after Bucks New University graduate and Paralympic rowing gold medalist, Naomi Riches.

The fun stuff

Nightlife: Centres mainly on the Students’ Union Venue. Regular weekly events include club nights; live and acoustic music; a pub quiz; comedy; and a glamorous May Ball.

Price of a pint: Varies between the sites, but drinks from the venue will be your best bet for a good value lager.

Sporting reputation: So, so - ranked 80th out of 145 universities and colleges in the BUCS league.

Notable societies: The Roteract Society raises money and awareness of different charities, while the Boxing Society is a previous Society of the year winner. Students also come together to volunteer their time for a range of good causes and last year completed 4,601 hours volunteering.

Glittering alumni: Noel Fielding, comedian; London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic medallists Chloe Rogers and Naomi Riches; Robin Day and Fred Scott, furniture designers; and artist Boo Ritson.

Alternative prospectus: Check into The Student Room to chat with former, current and prospective students about the Bucks New University experience.