Park Square
Luton
LU1 3JU
Tel 0800 389 6633
admissions@beds.ac.uk
www.beds.ac.uk
Open days: October 10, November 21; February 6 and 13, 2010; March 13 and 20; April 17 and 24; July 3

PERFORMANCE

Sunday Times ranking 102 (102=)

Student satisfaction 74.6%
Head teacher ranking 72= (92=)
Peer ranking 107 (109=)
Research quality 52.2%
A-level/Higher points 213
Unemployment 9.7%
Firsts and 2:1s 47.8%
Student/staff ratio 15.6:1
Dropout rate 21.4% (19%)

Multimedia

• The Times University Guide table

VITAL STATISTICS

Undergraduates 8,086 (4,115)
Postgraduates 1,005 (988)
Teaching staff 481
Applications/places 9,728/2,701; 3.6:1 (+31.6%)
Clearing entry 11%
Live in 20% (90%) £80-£100
Bursaries 100%: £319-£842
Scholarships 280 Ucas pts: up to £1,050

SOCIAL MIX

EU/overseas 1.6%/1%
Mature 41.5%
State school 98.5%
Lowest social classes 44.5%
Low-participation areas 12.1%

Applications are up by almost a third this year at the University of Bedfordshire. While top-up fees are charged at the full rate, the bursary scheme means that every student is effectively given a discount ranging from £319 a year to a maximum of £842 if family income is less than £18,838. Academic scholarships of up to £1,050 a year are given in exchange for 280 Ucas points (equivalent to BBC at A-level).

Bedfordshire ranked 92nd in the UK in our analysis of the latest research assessments and few — just 64 full-time equivalent — staff were entered. Much more relevant are the 11 subjects rated excellent in formal teaching ratings, gained in the years since becoming a university in 1994.

Sports students have a new £8m physical education and sports centre, and those embarking on the new course of broadcast journalism will work in a three-floor media arts centre.

Bedfordshire is committed to helping graduates find employment and is working with small businesses to train them in management skills.

STUDENT VIEW

Jules Sadlier, students’ union president:

First impressions During freshers’ week I realised how many opportunities there were for me to develop through volunteering, sports and societies.
Worst feature There’s about 26 miles between the main campuses, making it hard to access site-specific facilities.
Facilities The university is building a student centre in Luton.
Deal clincher Outside London, we’re one of the most diverse universities, which means you get a great experience of different cultures.

Rated excellent (11)
Anatomy and physiology; art and design; building; communication and media studies; drama, dance and cinematics; hospitality, leisure, recreation, sport and tourism; molecular biosciences; nursing and midwifery; organismal biosciences; pharmacology and pharmacy; psychology.

Student satisfaction
Communications and Information studies 85.3; English-based studies 82.6; Nursing 81.6; Finance and Accounting 80.8; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 79.8; Social Work 79.5; Psychology 78.5; Tourism, Transport, Travel and others in Business and Administrative studies 77.4; Education studies 77; Other subjects allied to Medicine 74.7; Computer Science 73.5; Business 73.4; Management 73.3; Law 71.2; Performing Arts 71.1; Media studies 69.7; Initial Teacher Training 65.1; Sports Science 64.1; Art and Design 58.4

Times recommends

• Students face big rise in university fees
• Students to rate lecturers online
• Lord heads team to look at raising tuition fees