At Buckinghamshire New University we pride ourselves on transforming lives through employment-focused and skills-based education. Our team will work hard to provide you with the best experience, and we’ll listen to your feedback because your opinions really count. You can be sure that our highly interactive, quality teaching, in our caring, inclusive and supportive learning community will help you reach your full potential. We’re ambitious for all our students and your future employability is very important to us. We have a proud history of offering employment-focused and skills-based learning, and work tirelessly to ensure every student is well-prepared and confident to succeed in their chosen careers.  

The University has one of the top employment rates in the UK with 95% of BNU graduates in, or about to start, employment or further study within 15 months of graduation (HESA). Bucks Students’ Union was again ranked as one of the top five in the NSS. BNU’s partnership with the Students’ Union will give you many different opportunities to try new things, develop new skills and make friendships for life. We invest heavily in the SU to ensure that almost all their activities are free of charge because we believe there should be no barriers to embracing all that university life offers. 

Being a responsible corporate citizen is also incredibly important to the University. BNU strive to make a positive impact within its local communities and on the environment. That’s why BNU has pledged to go carbon net zero by 2030, 20 years ahead of the government’s target. You’ll have a breadth of opportunities to volunteer your time to make a difference to the causes that matter to you. I invite you to see for yourself what makes Buckinghamshire New University such a special and vibrant place. 
 

ABOUT BNU 

The ‘new’ in Buckinghamshire New University does not represent our age. In fact, BNU recently celebrated its 130th birthday! Originally founded as the School of Science and Art, with the motto By Art & Industry, Skill and Energy, the University has always had forward-thinking approaches to it’s academic ambitions. The new stands for our approach to teaching: At BNU, the focus is on learning by practice and employability, which is why all courses are constantly being updated to reflect changes in the industry, and to make sure the practical skills you learn and the knowledge you accumulate will help you land your dream career.  
 

LOCATION - HIGH WYCOMBE 

With it’s main campus in the Buckinghamshire town of High Wycombe, the University is ideally located within a small, vibrant English town, whilst being right next to the capital of England, London. With only a 25 minute direct train to the capital cities centre, our location bridges the gap between affordable living and the hustle and bustle of the big city with its plethora of opportunities. 

Next door to the campus is the Eden centre, a shopping centre made up of over 100 stores, from high-end fashion brands to boutique cafes. Not just for shopping, the Eden Centre is also where a lot of BNU students go to for part-time work. And because High Wycombe is a ‘university town’, local employers always respect that your education comes first, meaning your work will never interfere with your study.  

Also found nearby is The Rye, a 53-acre park that’s less than a 2-minute walk from campus. Beyond that, High Wycombe is also home to the Hellfire Caves, a man-made series of caverns extending 260m below sea level. 
 

SPECIALIST AREAS 

Aviation & Pilot Studies – The greatest testament to our practical-based learning is BNU’s offer of degrees for aspiring pilots. Whether your dream is to fly for commercial airlines, or become a private or helicopter pilot, BNU offers all 3 as a full Bachelor’s degree with Honours, and thanks to our connection with UK flight schools that offers affordable flying lessons, graduates don’t just receive a degree, but also a frozen pilot’s licence, thanks to your timetable being specifically designed to allow you to get up in the air and learn what it really means to be a pilot.  

BNU based at Pinewood Studios - Our base at Pinewood Studios is home to some of our creative and digital courses. With our state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, we can deliver a high quality and hands-on learning experience. From hair and make-up studios to costume design workshops, you’ll have access to the latest equipment to kick-start you career. On the digital side our specialist labs have industry-standard equipment, including a VR lab, renderfarm, and state-of-the-art face capture kit plus a range of other software commonly used in the film industry. Being in the heart of the Pinewood community means you will be immersed in the film industry while you study. 
 

FACILITIES 

On campus, BNU has plethora of facilities for all students to understand the minutiae of their career path. These include: 

The Red Shed is home to a number of creative courses, and houses: 

• An in-house fabric and yarn store 

• Screen printing facilities 

• A dye laboratory 

• Knitting machines 

• Sewing and garment production facilities 

• Mac Suit with scanners up to A0 

• A laser cutter 

• Mimaki digital and heat-transfer printing for fabric 

• Heat presses 

• Surface stitch machines including a tufting machine and a Cornelli 

• Traditional etching 

• Mono-print 

• Wood block and letter press printing. 

The Gateway Building contains the 5 storey library that is open 24/7, and is also home to rooms designed specifically for Film, Audio and, Performance students: 

• 4 state-of-the-art music studios 

• 3 drama studios 

• 2 project suites 

• 3 video studios 

• Editing suites 

• Outside Broadcasting Unit 

The Human Performance Lab is for BNU’s Sport & Exercise students: 

Equipped for assessing the function and performance of a wide range of human physiological, biomechanical and psychological parameters. All equipment and assessment techniques are carried out with due regard for calibration, validity and reliability. 
 

SPORTS & SOCIETIES 

Bucks’ Students Union is Top 5 in the UK (NSS 2021) and is the only university in the UK to offer The Big Deal – a special offer open to all students that provides a wide array of activities and opportunities completely free of charge. From evening activities that include acoustic music nights, live stand-up comedy acts, and society-led events, to offering Skills Workshops and charity fundraising events. And it of course offers an extensive list of societies that are ran by students, for students. From football (of which the SU has 5 teams), to climbing; hockey; golf; and a whole lot more, the SU provides a host of sporting events that are available to enjoy either competitively or for fun. It has also been home to societies that include a Board Game Society, a Pizza Society, and culture-specific societies. Best of all, if you have a hobby you want to share with your peers, you can even start your own society that is supported by Bucks’ Students Union. 
 

ACCOMMODATION 

BNU has 3 different accommodation options available to students, the furthest of which is only a 10-minute walk from the High Wycombe Campus.  All accommodation options are single-occupancy, meaning you will never share your room and always have your own personal space. 
 

BROOK STREET HALLS OF RESIDENCE  

A range of standard and studio rooms in our Brook Street Accommodation, just a short walk away from our High Wycombe Campus. These halls comprise of flats of between six and ten bedrooms; each flat shares a kitchen-diner, two shower rooms and two toilets. Each room has its own washbasin. 
 

HUGHENDEN PARK STUDENT VILLAGE 

Hughenden Park Student Village is located approximately a fifteen-minute walk away from the High Wycombe Campus. Rooms are either en suite with a shared kitchen-diner in flats of six, or studio rooms with a built-in kitchenette. 
 

WINDSOR HOUSE 

Windsor House is located right in the centre of High Wycombe and just a five-minute walk from the University. Rooms are either en suite with a shared kitchen-diner in flats of six, or studio rooms with a built-in kitchenette.  

Whichever option you choose, all come with utilities included in the price, which means no hidden costs, and free Wi-Fi and contents insurance is also provided.  All accommodation sites are gated communities, with 24hr on-site security or pastoral care available. 
 

WHY INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS LOVE BNU 

In 2022, BNU is proud to have been shortlisted for International in the WhatUni? Student Choice Awards, voted for by its students. 

BNU’s industry connections and flexibility to its teaching and placements, as well as the strong emphasis on community and affordable fees and living costs, are just some of the things International students love about BNU. 
 

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS 

All of our courses encourage students to get involved with work experience and placements that are related to their chosen specialty area.  For most students, this will happen outside of term-time, but some courses offer industry-based modules . 
 

PLACEMENT PLUS

BNU is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there’ll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field. We’ll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time. 

Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student, to increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want. Companies that have visited BNU and provided our students with work include NHS Trusts, Amazon, Sennheiser, Warner Bros. Studios & Microsoft. 
 

INTERNATIONAL FOCUS 

We are here to support you every step of the way from application to tuition funding to settling in to your new surroundings. 

BNU regularly employs Freshers Helpers at the beginning of each intake, who are students that are here to offer advice on the local area, be it general directions or hidden gems you should visit, or even just to help you find your feet.  

BNU courses include modules that have a global focus, and with its approach to flexible learning, the work carried out by students is specific to them, with support and guidance offered by academics. 
 

EMPLOYABILITY AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES 

The University has a broad range of business partnerships locally and regionally, across a range of sectors and industries. We have a particular strength in higher and degree level apprenticeships with the numbers of learners choosing to study with us in this way growing year on year. 

95% of BNU graduates are in work or further study within 6 months of completing their course (HESA 2021)