THE University of Bedfordshire has leapt 21 places in a university guide released on Tuesday making it the highest climber in the country.
It is now ranked 82 out of 116 universities in the Complete University Guide 2013 which ranks universities according to nine criteria including student satisfaction, research assessment and graduate employment prospects.
Vice Chancellor Les Ebdon said: “We are delighted that we have jumped up the table from 103 to 82.”
“It is recognition of the high quality teaching our students receive, the fantastic facilities students enjoy as well as their outstanding university experience and excellent graduate employment prospects.
“More students than ever are completing their courses here and the number of students achieving a First or 2:1 has also gone up. Any student receiving a First can now apply for a free postgraduate Jubilee Scholarship from 2012.”
“Over the last two years we have invested £180m in new facilities for University of Bedfordshire students, including, in Luton, a £34m Campus Centre, with a 240-seat lecture theatre, an exhibition area for student exhibitions and informal learning spaces. We have invested £40m in developing state-of-the-art student accommodation at Fitzroy and Wenlock Court with new communal areas ideal for socialising and relaxing. In 2013 we open a new £20m Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development Centre.
“Our Bedford campus has undergone a £34m redevelopment featuring an £8m Physical Education and Sport Science Centre currently being used to train athletes for the 2012 Olympics, £20m on-campus student accommodation offering 500 en-suite study bedrooms and a £6m Bedford Campus Centre boasting a 280-seat theatre, dance studios, a fair trade restaurant and social space for students.”
The league table, full methodology and other information are available at www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
Nova Jayne Robinson, Director of The Complete University Guide, said: “Once again, The Complete University Guide is first to give university applicants reliable and comprehensive information on which to base one of the most important choices of their lives.”
Data for the rankings is derived from official sources and has been checked with the universities themselves to create an independent and authoritative league table designed to match applicants’ needs.