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At a Glance

The ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ 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 ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ 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).

We have two main campuses in Luton and Bedford, with a large health-teaching provision in Aylesbury at the world-renowned Stoke Mandeville Hospital. We are also active globally, with a growing portfolio of international partnerships as far afield as Trinidad, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Guyana.

We lead the way in expanding educational opportunity.

• 99% of our home students come from state schools (Times Good University Guide, 2024).
• 57% have parents who didn’t attend university.
• Around 70% are mature returners to education.
• Around 50% are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, under-represented in higher education.

(ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ data, 2023)

Through financial support, we encourage those leaving care or living independently from family to consider higher education and we are one of only 22 UK universities to be awarded the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) quality mark.

In 2020, we launched our Target Zero campaign with the aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Since then, our commitment to sustainability has earned us the Eco Campus Platinum award, which we have held for four years in a row. The ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ also holds a first-class award in the People and Planet University Green League, ranking 3rd in the UK, and a five-star rating for environmental sustainability in The Times Higher UK University Rankings 2024.

Studying at the ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ

At the ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ, 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.

We support our students in all aspects of their life and build their confidence through the excellent support and student experience services we provide:

• Superb, modern facilities across all our subject areas with continued investment, most significantly a £40m STEM building at our Luton campus in 2019
• Personal academic tutors
• Study skills development
• Career and job-seeking guidance
• Volunteer and work experience
• Health and wellbeing services
• Modern, cost-effective accommodation
• Funding and financial support initiatives

In a recent survey of our students’ perceptions of ‘belonging’ at Beds:

• 93% said they feel the ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ is welcoming
• 92% are happy with their decision to study at Beds
• 96% feel fellow students show respect for others
• 95% agree that the University will equip them with the skills and confidence to be successful in their studies.

(Student perceptions of ‘belonging’ to their academic community, ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ Education Research Award Report, 2023).

Our students graduate as confident, innovative entrepreneurs. The ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ is one of the top universities in the UK for fostering graduate start-ups (HESA, 2023). We are first in the UK for graduate social enterprise start-ups (still trading after three years) and third for all graduate start-ups.

Why Bedfordshire?

• 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
• 1^st in the UK for graduate social enterprise start-ups still trading after three years; 3^rd 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 ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ 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.

Our research informs our teaching and learning, creating innovation and impact within our communities as well as nationally. In recent years, we have worked with over 1,500 organisations - including other universities, charities, government organisations and local businesses - in areas of research and knowledge exchange, generating a 49% increase in research and knowledge exchange income since 2013.

Working in partnership with our Community

At the ÑÇÉ«ÊÓƵ we recognise our potential to make a real impact within our communities and wider region.

We contribute significantly to the financial and social regional economic growth, both locally and nationally (around £370m Gross Value Added from our core economic footprint).

In addition to our role as a large employer and educator, we are committed to working in partnership with our local area, boosting skills and productivity through knowledge exchange, skills provision, expertise in research and consultancy and also by associating ourselves with many community organisations, projects and initiatives. Our partnerships also provide our students and graduates with opportunities to put their knowledge and skills into practice via live projects, field trips, work experience and degrees that include a placement year.

In partnership with Luton Borough Council, we have a shared ambition for Luton set out in our Civic Agreement. Both our institutions are integrally linked to the area of Luton, and the people who live and work there. Our colleagues, students and residents are part of its vibrant community and support our vision that Luton will be a healthy, fair and sustainable town, where everyone can thrive and no one lives in poverty.

Further details of our social and economic contribution to the region can be found in the Social and Economic Impact Report 2020 [PDF]