University of Bedfordshire: Courses, Fees & Admissions

University profile

About University of Bedfordshire

The University of Bedfordshire is a public university with its main base in Luton town centre and further campuses in Bedford and Aylesbury. It was established in August 2006 by order of the Privy Council, following the merger of the University of Luton and De Montfort University's Bedford campus. About 15,000 students from around 124 countries study at the University, where courses combine specialist knowledge, practical skills and contact with industry.

The Luton campus in the town centre houses the STEM Building, the Media Arts Centre, a seven-storey library, the Postgraduate and CPD Centre, a Moot Court and Healthcare Simulation Suites. The Bedford campus, a self-contained green site about 20 minutes on foot from Bedford town centre, is the base for sport and physical activity, teacher education, English, performing arts, and nursing and allied health. The Aylesbury campus, opened in February 2020 with Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, delivers healthcare courses. Putteridge Bury, a neo-Elizabethan mansion completed in 1911 near Luton, hosts graduation ceremonies, research symposia and a conference centre.

Teaching is organised in four faculties, and courses are grouped into the following schools:

University of Bedfordshire Business School
School of Computing, Engineering and Creative Industries
School of Education and English
School of Life Sciences
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Education
School of Sport, Psychology and Social Science
School of Society, Community and Health

Research is led by five research institutes covering business and management, applicable computing and engineering, applied social research, health and wellbeing, and humanities, education and arts. Around 130 Master's and professional courses are offered alongside research degrees (MA/MSc by Research, MPhil, PhD) managed by the Research Graduate School.

On-campus housing includes Luton Fitzroy Court, the only on-campus accommodation in Luton, and Polhill Park on the Bedford campus, which houses 517 students; healthcare students have accommodation within Buckinghamshire. Rent covers utility bills and contents insurance, with 24/7 security staff and a Village Life programme of social events. The Students' Union (BedsSU) has offices at both Luton and Bedford, and Aspire gyms operate on both main campuses.

International students can enter through the Bedfordshire International Foundation Year (Business, Computer Science or Engineering pathways), run by the Centre for English as a Foreign Language since 1980, and through pre-sessional English courses. The University holds the Mental Health Charter and the Race Equality Charter (Bronze), has signed the Disabled Student Commitment, and is part of the Oxford to Cambridge Arc universities group.

University information

Tuition fees

For 2026/27, the standard full-time undergraduate fee (including Foundation Year) is £9,790 per year for home students and £16,800 for international students. Taught Master's degrees (up to 15 months) cost £10,000 home and £17,900 international in total; the MBA costs £15,400 home and £18,900 international. Full-time PhD fees for 2027/28 are £5,950 per year (home) and £18,820 (international). For 2027/28 the published undergraduate fee is £10,050 (home) and £18,150 (international). See the schedule of standard tuition fees.

Scholarships for home students

Excellence Scholarship: £6,000 over three years for applicants with, for example, 128 points from three A levels (ABB in one sitting), IB 128 points from three HL subjects (6,6,5), BTEC National Extended Diploma 168 points, Access to HE 144 points, UAL Extended Diploma High Merit or T Level Distinction.
Cost of living support: £500 automatically for students who do not meet the Excellence Scholarship grades.
Care Experienced Bursary and Independent From Family Bursary: £5,700 over three years or £7,600 over four years (including a Foundation Year).
Luton Sixth Form College Scholarship: £2,000 over three years for students progressing from Luton Sixth Form College with over 120 UCAS points.
UK Postgraduate Alumni Scholarship: 20% off Master's fees for graduates of Bedfordshire, DMU's Bedford campus or the University of Luton; also applies to the first year of research degree fees.
NHS Learning Support Fund: at least £5,000 per year for nursing and midwifery students, plus specialist, childcare and exceptional hardship support.
Financial hardship funding, a Qualified Teacher Status bursary and Sport Scholarships for students of regional, county, national or international standard.

Details: Scholarships and bursaries.

Scholarships for international students (2026/27)

International Undergraduate Subject-specific Scholarships: up to £5,000 off fees each year for first-year entry to eligible courses.
A level and IB Scholarship: £5,000 per year for A level grades ABB or higher or an IB Diploma of 33 points or more.
AP Merit Scholarship (AP 3, 3, 3 or more), HKDSE Merit Scholarship (equivalent to 128 UCAS points) and EU, EEA and Switzerland Qualifications Scholarship: £5,000 per year each.
International Foundation Year Scholarship: £5,000 off first-year fees.
High Achievers Undergraduate Scholarships for Turkey, India, Pakistan (75% or more in qualifying exams) and Morocco (16/20 average): £3,000 per year.
Vice Chancellor's Scholarship: £1,000 off first-year fees for undergraduate and Master's students not receiving another award.
Postgraduate Global Subject-Specific Merit Scholarship (up to £4,000) and Postgraduate Global Merit Scholarship (£3,000), both for a minimum 75% GPA or equivalent.
Alumni Scholarship: 20% of first-year postgraduate fees for eligible graduates.
Prompt Payment Discount: £1,000 for paying each year's fees in full before or at registration.

Most awards cannot be combined with other scholarships but can be combined with the prompt payment discount. The University also offers three additional Chevening awards in partnership with Chevening, and supports applications for Commonwealth Scholarships for one-year Master's study. Details: International fees and scholarships.

International Undergraduate Subject-specific Scholarship →

Chevening-Bedfordshire Partnership Scholarships →

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Undergraduate entry (UK applicants)

Full-time undergraduate applications are made through UCAS (institution code B22, code name BED; campus codes D Luton, H Bedford, X Aylesbury). The UCAS fee is £28.95 for up to five choices for 2026 entry and £34.50 for 2027 entry, waived for applicants who received free school meals during secondary education. Most UCAS applications arrive between early/mid September and mid/late January; applications after the January deadline are treated as late but may still be considered where places remain. Clearing runs from the beginning of July to the end of September. Part-time undergraduate applications go directly through the online admissions portal, ideally at least 30 days before the course starts. Applicants may be invited to interview.

Each application is considered individually. Standard tariff guides for bachelor's degrees include:

96 UCAS points: A levels CCC or ACE; BTEC Extended Diploma MMM; T level Pass (C or above on the core); Access to HE Diploma D9+M27+P9 or M45
112 UCAS points: A levels BCC or ACD; BTEC Extended Diploma DMM; Access to HE Diploma D18+M21+P6 or D9+M36
120 UCAS points: A levels BBB or A*CC

Foundation degrees (FdA/FdSc) typically require at least 32 UCAS points with at least one A2 level or a BTEC Extended Certificate, and applicants with relevant work experience are welcomed. Prior learning can be recognised through RPEL and RPCL.

International undergraduate entry

Applicants need 12 years of school education and qualifications equivalent to at least two UK A levels. Typical accepted qualifications include 2 A level passes (C and D minimum), International Baccalaureate (24 points minimum), SAT (550 in each band minimum), Advanced Placement (3, 3, 3 minimum), or a recognised foundation programme including the University's International Foundation Year. Country pages set out local equivalents. Some courses require a portfolio (up to 15 samples of work with a statement of up to 300 words). International applicants can apply directly through the online portal or via UCAS for undergraduate courses. The International Foundation Year (Business, Computer Science or Engineering pathways) requires IELTS 4.5 in all skills and leads to over 25 bachelor's programmes.

English language requirements

The standard requirement for bachelor's and master's entry is UKVI Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each element; some courses require more. Accepted alternatives include Pearson PTE Academic 59 in each skill (online version not accepted), TOEFL iBT Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 17 (Home Edition not accepted), LanguageCert Academic or General SELT 60 in each skill, Oxford ELLT 6 overall with 5 in each skill, Cambridge Advanced or Proficiency 169 overall with 162 in all areas, Duolingo 110 overall with no sub-score below 100 (for IELTS 6.0 courses) or 120 with no sub-score below 105 (for IELTS 6.5 courses), WAEC SSCE English grade C6, and Indian Class XII English at 70% from listed boards. Pre-sessional English courses are available for applicants below the requirement.

Postgraduate taught entry

Master's degrees (MA/MSc/MBA/LLM) normally require a UK honours degree at 2:2 or above, or equivalent (normally 50% or above), in an appropriate subject; relevant qualifications and work experience are also considered. Applications are made through the online portal from the course page, ideally at least 30 days before the start. PGCE applications are made through the Department for Education teacher training portal, with up to four choices from late October.

Research degrees

Research degrees usually require a 2:2 for taught and research degrees and a 2:1 for other research-degree awards. Applications are handled by the Research Graduate School ([email protected]) and considered by the relevant research institute.

International application deadlines and visa steps

Intakes run in September, November, January, March, June and July. For January 2027 the deadlines are 2 October (Nursing, and UG and PG non-block) and 9 October (PG block); for March 2027, 27 November (PG block); June 2027, 12 February (PG block); July 2027, 9 April (PG block). An application must include a completed form, a personal statement (direct applications), a reference and a copy of the passport. After meeting offer conditions, applicants pass financial checks before receiving a CAS letter and applying for a Student visa.

Luton campus (University Square, Luton LU1 3JU): the main campus in the town centre, with the STEM Building and STEM laboratories and workshops, the Media Arts Centre and TV studio, Art and Design studios, Business pods, a Moot Court, Healthcare Simulation Suites, a seven-storey library, the Postgraduate and CPD Centre, the Campus Centre, BedsSU's Metro Bar and Kitchen and the Aspire Gym. London Luton Airport is 2.5km away and London is about 30 minutes by train. UCAS campus code D.
Bedford campus (Polhill Avenue, Bedford MK41 9EA): home to around 2,900 students, with courses in sport and physical activity, education and teacher training, English, performing arts, and nursing and allied health. Facilities include the Gateway building and Campus Centre with a 280-seat theatre, two theatres and four sprung dance studios, sports science laboratories, two gymnasiums, a sports hall and fields, the Teacher Education Centre, a clinical training ambulance for Paramedic Science, a Forest School, BedsSU's The Hub, the Aspire Gym, a campus library and Polhill Park accommodation. UCAS campus code H.
Aylesbury campus (Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Mandeville Road, Aylesbury HP21 8AL): opened in February 2020 with Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust for healthcare courses; a three-storey building with a specialist skills lab set out as a hospital ward, six classrooms, a library, social learning spaces and computer study facilities, a short walk from student accommodation. UCAS campus code X.
Putteridge Bury (near Luton): a neo-Elizabethan mansion completed in 1911 in thirty acres of gardens designed by Edwin Lutyens and planted by Gertrude Jekyll; used for graduation ceremonies, academic symposia, seminars and as a conference centre.

Accommodation: Luton Fitzroy Court (en-suite rooms and studios, 24/7 staff, free gym, cinema room, study spaces) and Bedford Polhill Park (517 residents, en-suite rooms and studios, common room, courtyard, free gym; classic en-suite room from £110 per week on a 51-week contract or £125 per week on a 42-week contract in 2025/26), plus healthcare accommodation within Buckinghamshire.

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