University of Bedfordshire

In 2012-13 Bedfordshire is providing almost £3 million in scholarships and bursaries:

National Scholarship Programme: students from families with income below £25,000 and assessed with particular needs will receive a £3,000 support package. Access to Learning Fund: every student from families with an income below £25,000 will receive £1,000 in their first year. VC Scholarship: awarded annually to one student in each of our four faculties faculty and worth £9,000 per year of their degree. Centenary Scholarships: worth £3,000 per year to students arriving with AAB (340 UCAS points) based on maintaining 2:1 average. Academic Scholarships: worth £1,100 on entry with 280 UCAS points. Partnership scholarships: every student coming to complete their degree at Bedfordshire from one of our Partner colleges will receive £338. Sports scholarships – students with a record of high performance in sport. Funding will normally be across all three years of their undergraduate programme for amounts up to £1,500 in year. Please visit the website for full details of Bedfordshire's funding package

The University of Bedfordshire places a strong focus on entrepreneurship and not just employability so that we can create the kind of graduates that organisations compete to employ. This is seen in the number of professional accreditations that many of our courses carry, and through the success of our graduates; with 92% in work and/or further study within six months of graduating(DLHE 2014). But don’t just take our word for it. Our students think so too. And that’s why we’ve been rated as a number one university for improving the student experience, a leading university for improving career prospects, and a top 25 university for personal development(National Students Survey 2014).

Our research informs our teaching and the development of our curriculum. Our research-active academics provide an enhanced learning experienceAs champions of practice-based education, we believe it is imperative that we share our own evolving practice. Within the University of Bedfordshire Business School, students can benefit from ‘Practice Weeks’. Through these practice weeks students get the opportunity to work alongside businesses on real projects, learning key skills in confidence, negotiation, time management, team work, and planning to name a few – all key attributes and behaviours that employers wish to see in their graduate recruits. Another example can be seen in our Performing Arts and English courses. All staff who teach theory are also practitioners, which is a real strength of the department. Other universities can sometimes have a big divide between academic and practical dance staff – but here at Bedfordshire the theory comes out of the experience of the practitioners, offering a different and very unique perspective to students’ learning.

Bangor University

In October 1884 the University College of North Wales opened with 58 students and 12 members of academic staff. The institution’s new title, University of Wales, Bangor, was formally approved by the Privy Council in 1997, and changed to Bangor University in 2007. The University is currently organised into 23 Academic Schools grouped into five Colleges: Arts and Humanities; Business, Law, Education and Social Sciences; Natural Sciences; Health and Behavioural Sciences; Physical and Applied Sciences. In 2009, Bangor University celebrated its 125th anniversary with an honorary degree ceremony where Archbishop Desmond Tutu was amongst those receiving honorary doctorates. Honorary Fellows include David Brailsford CBE, performance director of British Cycling and the general manager of Team Sky; Lord Richard Attenborough and Bryn Terfel. Notable alumni include Nobel prize-winner, Professor Robert Edwards FRS; Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire Director, Danny Boyle; poet R.S.Thomas.  In north Wales, situated between Snowdonia and the sea – Bangor is considered one of the most attractive study locations in the UK.

Bangor is exceptionally well-situated and well-equipped for students interested in sport – especially those involving the great outdoors. Surveys show that many students choose Bangor because of the small and friendly nature of the university and city. Bangor is consistently ranked as one of the most economic places to study. Bangor has good road and rail links – direct trains from London, Manchester, Crewe and Cardiff. Ferry connections from nearby Holyhead to Ireland are fast and frequent.

Typical points range 240–360.

Visit the website for details of entry requirements at Bangor University.

Student Mix

57% female: male 43%.

80% home: overseas 20%.

95% state schools: 5% private (non-state) schools.

Course Flexibility

Flexible course structures combine compulsory and optional modules.

Many programmes have common first years providing flexibility over the final choice of route.

Courses suitable for both full-time and part-time students, including distance learning options in some subjects. Bangor has developed a new scheme called the International Experience Programme where students will study for one extra year during their degree. There is a wide variety of destinations to choose from, there is no charge for tuition fees for the year abroad and 'with International Experience' is added to the degree title.  A recent QAA institutional review resulted in the highest possible endorsement – a 'confidence' judgement in the University’s academic standards.

Bangor prides itself on the quality of teaching offered. Over half of the academic schools at Bangor have received an 'excellent' rating for the quality of teaching. In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, world-leading research was identified in all of the 19 assessed subject areas at Bangor University. Also based on the Research Assessment Exercise, Bangor University is ranked first in the UK for Finance and Accounting Research; Electronic Engineering is ranked second in the UK; Sports Science is ranked in the top ten; Psychology ranked as eleventh.

Aston University

Founded in 1895. Received Royal Charter from The Queen as Aston University in 1966.

Aston gained University status ast the same time as the universities of Bath, Loughborough and Surrey in the UK. A green campus in the centre of Birmingham, with all academic, accommodation and social facilities on one site. Five minutes walk from the main shopping and social areas of the city and fifteen minutes walk from Birmingham New Street station (a national rail hub). A 20-minute journey by rail to Birmingham International Airport.  Most programmes require BBB–AAB at A level or triple distinction at BTEC. Average entry grades in 2011, around 395 UCAS points overall and ABB from best three A levels. 

Total undergraduates (approximate) 8,000.

Overseas students 17%.

Male/female ratio 51:49.

Applications to places ratio 6.5:1 (13,000 applications for 2,300 places in 2013).

From state-sector schools 89%.

1,500 postgraduate students.

The vast majority of programmes have an optional or compulsory sandwich placement year in Business/Industry, in the UK or abroad. Seventy per cent of Aston students take the opportunity for this experience. This was the highest percentage in the UK according to HESA data in 2010 and 2011. Many courses have a common first year (e.g. Business, Biological Sciences, some Engineering courses). Integrated and Joint Honours options are available, as well as single honours programmes and major/minor programmes.

In the 2011 National Student Survey, Aston's overall satisfaction score was 86%, well above the UK average of 83%. Aston also has had an 'overall satisfaction' rate above the UK average for each of the seven years of the National Student Survey so far.

More than 70% of students are on degree programmes with Teaching Quality Assessment scores of 22/24 and higher.

Professional accreditation and exemptions are available on many degree programmes. Degrees at Aston are also reviewed and updated in consultation with industry and professional bodies.

Free modern language tuition is offered to all Aston first year undergraduates to support global awareness, networks and language skills. Options include French, German, Portugese, Spanish, Mandarin and Arabic.

Research Standards

In the latest 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, 86% of research undertaken was described as 'internationally significant'. 88% of Aston academic staff were submitted for research assessment, one of the highest proportions in the UK.

Grade 5 subjects include Business and Management, General Engineering, Subjects Allied to Medicine (Optometry, Biology, Pharmacy and Psychology), Languages and European Studies.

Strengths include Business and Management, Engineering and Applied Sciences, Life and Health Sciences, Languages and Social Sciences. Aston pioneered the sandwich course and was one of the first UK Universities to offer undergraduate degrees in subjects such as Business Management, Human Psychology, Translation, Pharmacy, Adutiology and Optometry. Aston Buiness School is over 60 years old and the School of Pharmacy is over 90 years old. Aston has also been offering science and engineering programmes since 1895. Aston has a consistently excellent graduate employment record – around 80% of our graduates enter graduate-level jobs (89% in 2011–12, the fifth highest percentage of all UK universities according to the 2012 and 2011 DLHE survey).

There is a low drop-out rate of 3.9% (HEFCE performance indicators 2011–12) .

All accommodation and most common rooms, cafes and lecture theatres are equipped with wireless or fixed internet access with 10MB download speeds . There are 1,500 computer workstations on campus, some of which are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The library is open 24 hours a day during term time. The Aston University library contains over 300,000 volumes and the Learning Development Centre. The library was totally refurbished and extended in summer 2010 as part of a £6-million project. Further developments to the library took place in Summer 2013, including a refurbishment of the top two floors.

Anglia Ruskin University

1858 John Ruskin opened a School of Art in Cambridge, laying the foundation for the institution which grew to become Anglia Ruskin University. 1989 The Essex Institute of Higher Education and Cambridgeshire College of Arts & Technology came together to form a polytechnic. 1992 Became a university and changed its name from Anglia Polytechnic University (APU) to Anglia Ruskin in 2005.  The university is based on two main campuses – one in the centre of Cambridge and one in Chelmsford. There are also regional college partners – University Centre Peterborough, University Centre Harlow and University Centre West Anglia at King's Lynn. Cambridge is arond an hour from London by train, and can be reached via the M11. Chelmsford offers quick access to London, from only 30 minutes by train, and good road connections to the whole of the UK. Applicants are admitted to the university based on an assessment that they: have the capacity to complete the pathway on which they are to be registered; can achieve the prescribed standard for the award; can satisfy the specific entry requirements for the pathway; places are available on the pathway. Professional courses such as Midwifery and Initial Teacher Training have capped numbers and fill up quickly. Applicants who are unsuccessful when applying for a place on an honours degree may be offered a place on a foundation degree, if one is available in a similar subject. 

Men:women 35:65.

Home:overseas 85:15.

State:public school 97:3.

The course structure is modular, allowing students a choice of modules around a compulsory core.

Joint honours courses are also offered (at the Cambridge campus), allowing students to study two subjects. Full-time courses may also offered as part-time; distance-learning options are being increased.  The Government’s 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) results for higher education institutions showed that research at Anglia Ruskin is increasing in strength and scope. Eight submissions had a proportion of their work rated as world-leading: Allied Health Professions & Studies; Art & Design; English Language & Literature; Geography & Environmental Studies; History; Music; Psychology; Social Work, Social Policy & Administration The largest ever analysis of worldwide vision impairment and blindness data has been published in the Lancet Global Health journal, led by Professor Rupert Bourne of the Anglia Ruskin Vision and Eye Research Unit. Anglia Ruskin's five research institutes are: Childhood and Youth Research Institute; Cultures of the Digital Economy; Global Sustainability Institute; Institute for International Management Practice and the Postgraduate Medical Institute.

The National Student Survey (NSS) 2013 showed that that many students are delighted with their experience at Anglia Ruskin. 100% of students were satisfied in Psychosocial Studies, Sports Science, History and English Literature, Fashion Design, Early years Professional Practice, Early Years Playwork and Education, Registered Nursing (Mental Health).