University of Bedfordshire guide: Rankings, open days, fees and accommodation
Overview
One of the champions of widening participation, Bedfordshire has experienced a sharp downturn in applications in recent times, with the near 8,000 who applied in the 2023 admissions cycle being around half the number that sought a place here a decade ago (and 18% down on 2022). It has invested heavily in student facilities, however, with a medical simulation suite one of the latest projects to come to fruition. The Luton-headquartered university is popular with students, scoring well consistently for teaching quality in the annual National Student Survey, but it was awarded the lowest bronze award overall and for student outcomes in the latest regulatory Teaching Excellence Framework. It did earn a silver for student experience, however. An extensive network of student support structures is in place due to the fact that its intake is made up largely of those from non-traditional backgrounds, although this is not enough to prevent around one in five students dropping out during their first year. The vast majority of students are drawn from the immediate area or from the South East, East Anglia and London.
Paying the bills
Bedfordshire effectively operates a cashback system for everyone who enrols. Students who achieve BBB at A-level or 120 Ucas points qualify for a Merit scholarship worth £2,400 in total spread over three academic years. Those who don't achieve these grades earn a Bedfordshire bursary, worth a minimum of £1,000 across three years, or £1,300 for those on four-year programmes. There are further awards for care leavers and students who are independent of their family (worth £5,700 for those on three-year courses and £7,600 for those taking four-year degrees), and banded sports scholarships worth between £600 and £1,500 in cash and in-kind benefits. In total, the university pays out £3.9m a year in financial aid. The university has nearly 1,100 keenly priced rooms in modern, self-catered accommodation, costing from £4,788 for 42 weeks at Bedford's Polhill Park residences to £11,727 for 51 weeks for a studio in the Luton student village, where the cheapest rooms are priced from £6,152 for 42 weeks.
What's new?
The university expanded its partnership with Luton Town Football Club following its promotion to the Premier League in 2023. Its subsequent relegation should not dampen the relationship, which sees students studying sport and exercise science; sports therapy and rehabilitation; football coaching; sports journalism and some business degrees benefit from work experience and career-development opportunities. There has also been significant investment in simulation facilities, such as hospital wards; GP surgeries and even fully furnished flats where nursing, paramedic, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and policing students can practice scenarios. Among those making use of these facilities from this month will be the university's first paramedic, occupational therapist and physiotherapist degree apprentices. This winter will also see the launch of a new Security Operations Centre within the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) building, which will specialise in simulating real-world crises for students looking to work in the cyber-security industry. New degree offerings from September 2025 include a BA in social media content creation, and three BScs in social policy combined with health and social care, criminal justice and social research.
Admissions, teaching and student support
The university remains committed to teaching students in-person, and lecture capture is not available on all courses as Bedfordshire does not consider recorded lectures to be 'a substitute for attending in-person teaching'. However, up to a quarter of the on-campus delivery of courses does take place digitally. All students receive a free gym membership to benefit their mental health, and a Get Active programme offers free yoga, spin, circuit and mindfulness classes. All students have a personal academic tutor and each faculty has a dedicated wellbeing lead, while a Wellbeing Fair in induction week signposts the counselling service and mental health and disability support. The university uses foundation programmes - adding a year at the start of a degree - as an alternative to contextual offers. These provide a route into university for disadvantaged students or those who have faced disruption to their education. All offers are based on an individual's circumstances and can be for the course applied for or for an alternative programme that includes a foundation year. Bedfordshire has a compulsory micro-learning course on harassment and sexual misconduct for all new students. While it only takes up to 10 minutes to complete, it contains key, easy-to-remember messaging and outlines the relevant reporting processes at the university.
