University of Bedfordshire

History

• The University of Luton merged with De Montfort University's Bedford campus on August 1 2006 and became the University of Bedfordshire.
• The Bedford campus has a long history of sporting excellence dating back to 1882, when it was the Bedford Training College for Teachers.
• The Luton campus became a university in 1993 and has academic roots that date back to 1904.
• The University comprises five campuses – Luton, Bedford, Butterfield Park and Putteridge Bury (just outside Luton) and Buckinghamshire (Aylesbury).

Location and transport

• The university's Luton campus is located only 30 minutes north of London by train. It is in the heart of the town centre and near to the M1, junctions 10 and 11.
• London Luton International Airport is 5 km (3 miles) from the main campus and is now one of the UK's largest airports.
• The Bedford campus is only 40 minutes by train from London and has easy access to Cambridge and Oxford.
• The Aylesbury (Buckinghamshire) campus lies 33 miles north-west of London and can be reached via road links from the M40 or direct rail links from London Marylebone Station.

Entry standards

• Dependent on the course. Many of the teaching courses, including physical education, are very competitive.
• Standard entry for undergraduate degrees requires 200 or more UCAS tariff points which should include either two A level passes or aapproved equivalent.
• The University welcomes students with a range of qualifications and considers experience as well.

Student mix

• The university welcomes people from all walks of life within a vibrant and multicultural society.
• 48% of students are mature (aged 25 and over).
• 70% of students are from the UK.
• 7% are from other EU countries.
• 23% are from countries outside the EU.

Course flexibility

• Option to study on a full-time or part-time basis, with long-distance learning available.
• The University takes on an innovative approach to teaching that combines traditional lectures with the use of new media and industry-standard facilities.
• Some students also get the opportunity to undertake projects for companies as part of their course as well as pitching business, marketing and PR ideas company bosses.
• Interactive study materials are used to offer flexibility and individuality of the student learning experience.

Teaching standards

• Our staff have received a number of National Teaching Fellowship Awards for outstanding contributions to teaching and learning.
• We have been awarded top marks – a 'confidence' rating – in our most recent Quality Assurance Agency audit.
• Our Graduate Teacher Programme was rated 'outstanding' in our 2010 Ofsted report.
• We have won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2011, the most prestigious corporate award.

Research standards

• We were commended in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) for our 'world-leading' research in Earth Systems and Environmental Science; Social Work, Social Policy and Administration; Sport, Tourism and Leisure; English Language and Literature; and Communications, Cultural and Media Studies
• The RAE also rated our research as 'internationally excellent' in the areas of Computer Science and Information, and Business and Management Studies
• Nine specialist research institutes – Applicable Computing (IRAC), Research in the Applied Natural Sciences (LIRANS), Institute of Applied Social Research (IASR), Business and Management Research Institute (BMRI) which includes research on English language learning and assessment, Institute for Health Research (IHR), Research Institute for Media, Art and Design (RIMAD), Institute for Research in Education (IRED), Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR), and Institute for Tourism Research (INTOUR).
• The vital work of Professors Ivor Gaber, Luke Hockley, Jon Silverman, Garry Whannel and Alexis Weedon and their teams has been influencing Government policy in communications policy, media analysis, and criminal justice and reporting.
• Highly praised is the work of Professors David Barrett and John Pitts, Jenny Pearce and Margaret Melrose and their teams, which is also influencing Government policy and practice in areas such as youth crime and gang culture, and child trafficking and child protection.
• The prolific and highly successful Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment (CRELLA) is led by Professor Cyril Weir, a world-famous expert in language testing and programme evaluation
• In 2012, we launched the National Centre for Cyberstalking Research (NCCR), which is one of the first formal initiatives in this area

Academic strengths

• Our award-winning careers and employment service provides a number of opportunities and services to help you succeed in the workplace.
• Our brand-new JobSavviGrad online job search tool helps students find jobs matched to their skills.
• The new Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) demonstrates students’ employability, lifelong and lifewide learning.
• We have industry links with some 4,000 organisations including the BBC, TUI and Channel 4.
• The latest Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey from the University showed that 90% of students are either in work and/or further study.
• Many of our courses are accredited by professional bodies such as the Chartered Management Institute, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Qualified Teacher Status, the General Social Care Council and the Institute of Biomedical Science.

Student facilities, including library and computing

• The £8-million Learning Resources Centre at Park Square offers a modern learning environment and has over 300 networked PCs.
• There are more than 300,000 books and 2,300 print journals and 35,00 ejournals which you can access digitally.
• The £6-million, four-storey Library on the Bedford campus features 385 study spaces, 120,000 loan items and 120 internet-enabled PCs, and the Learning Hub provides students with an information-rich and socially interactive environment.
• There are multi-faith chaplaincies at the Luton and Bedford campuses. In Luton, the Tree House Chaplaincy is open during term time. Both have several multi-faith prayer rooms and the teams offer a warm welcome to students of all faiths, as well as those with none.
• All students will have 24/7 access to BREO (Bedfordshire Resources for Education Online) – the University’s online learning environment. All students use BREO to access lecture notes, discussion boards, podcasts, blogs and announcements. Because it is web-based, you can access it from anywhere with an internet connection, at any time.

Disability services

• Based at the Luton campus, with facilities in Bedford.
• A great way to meet new people. The union team is also on hand to offer help and advice.
• The union is home to a bar, cafe and social space.
• Wide and varied range of societies and clubs as well as regular outings/trips.

Sport

• The £8-million Physical Education and Sport Science Centre at Bedford, contains state-of-the art sport science labs, two gyms and two dance studios, and is set to be used by the 2012 Olympic athletes.
• The Alexander Sports Centre has extensive playing fields, an indoor multi-purpose sports hall with badminton courts, tennis courts and a climbing wall.
• The Vauxhall Recreation Club is home to the Luton campus' sports facilities. It includes a fitness studio, tennis and squash courts, and five-a-side football pitches.
• Physiology labs also have full accreditation by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES).

Recent/prospective new builds

• £180 million is being invested in developing the university's learning and teaching facilities including £8 million on a Physical Education and Sport Science Centre and £20 million on student accommodation at the Bedford campus.
• Major new developments worth £89 million at our Luton campus, with a newly opened, funky and functional Campus Centre, brand new en-suite accommodation and a new Postgraduate and  Continuing Professional Development Centre due to open in 2013.
• £1.4 million, invested in our business facilities including an industry-standard Law Moot Court and the revolutionary Business Pods, which are unique in the UK.
• £700,000 investment in laboratories for Psychology, Biomedical and Forensic Science, and Sport Exercise Science.
• £12 million in new facilities in the Computing and Media departments.
• £2 million on an award-winning new site for healthcare students at Butterfield Park, Luton, home to specilaist simulation labs complete with fully functional theatre, ward, and clinic environment.
• Bedford campus boasts a £6-million Campus Centre, £20-million halls of residence and an £8-million Olympic standard PE and Sport Science Centre.

Availability of part-time work

• Both the Luton and Bedford campuses are located close to their respective town centres so that part-time work is easily accessible.
• The Job Shop helps students to find a job whilst studying.
• The university's award winning volunteer team helps to find placements, enabling students to gain valuable work experience.

Notable alumni

• Maggie Alphonsi – Sport and Exercise Science graduate, English women's rugby international.
• Ruth Corden – Social work graduate.
• Gemma Hunt – Media performance graduate, TV presenter for CBBC.
• Melvon Odoom – Media Performance graduate, Radio presenter for KISS 100 Breakfast.