| Buckinghamshire New University | |
|---|---|
| Motto | Latin: Arte et industria |
| Motto in English | "By Art and Industry" |
| Established | 2007 – gained University Status 1893 – Science and Art School |
| Type | Public |
| Vice-Chancellor | Ruth Farwell |
| Students | 9,045[1] |
| Undergraduates | 8,295[1] |
| Postgraduates | 620[1] |
| Other students | 125 FE[1] |
| Location | High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, UK Campus in Uxbridge, Middlesex England, UK |
| Website | http://www.bucks.ac.uk/ |
Buckinghamshire New University (formerly Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College) is a university in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. The Vice-Chancellor is Prof Ruth Farwell. The Institution was a university college between 1999 and 2007, when it announced that its application for university status had been accepted.
The university is a member of the Million+ university group and GuildHE.
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The institution changed its name from "Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College" to its current name of "Buckinghamshire New University" ("Bucks") when its application for university status was approved in 2007 by the Privy Council. Proposed names such as "University of Wycombe", "University of High Wycombe", "High Wycombe University", "University of Buckinghamshire" and "Buckingham Chilterns University" were rejected. The chosen name was swiftly attacked by the University of Buckingham for using the county name.[2]
Bucks had ambitious plans to consolidate its divided campuses into a purpose-built site near to Hughenden Park in High Wycombe on land previously owned by CompAir. While these plans fell through, the university changed plans to renovate and enlarge the main campus as well as consolidate both the Wellesbourne and Chalfont campuses onto the High Wycombe site. Additionally new halls of residence have been built at the Hughenden Park site.
The University has undertaken a major development of the High Wycombe Campus with a large structure, known as the Gateway, being built onto the front of the existing building. The building itself is based on a study of its contexts and the irregular urban gain of the town centre. It won a RIBA award in 2010.[3] A state-of-the-art complex, it offers a rich mix of commercial-standard facilities, including a sports/events hall, fitness centre and performance lab, dance and drama studios, music recording studios and video production suites, a modern integrated learning resources centre and meeting and conference rooms.
The University currently consists of two campuses: High Wycombe Campus (previously belonging to the High Wycombe College of Art and Technology), and since 2009 a site in Uxbridge, west London, which is the base for its Nursing students. The University in 2008 disposed of two existing campuses; the Chalfont Campus (near Little Chalfont) and the Wellesbourne Campus (near Hazlemere).
The university sponsor Wycombe Wanderers F.C. and London Wasps who play at the Adams Park Stadium; this agreement entitles all players of the teams to education from the university if they so wish.[4]
Off-site student accommodation exists in High Wycombe town centre (Brook Street Halls) and (Hughenden Avenue).
The university has two main halls of residence. The older of the two is Brook Street Halls. It consist of 396 rooms, and is situated 5 minutes' walk from the University, across from the main bus station and Eden shopping centre; the other hall is Hughenden Park Student Village built in 2009, which is 15 minutes' walk from the University and town, and built near Hughenden Manor.
Several courses run at the university are rarities in British universities. Courses like Airline and Airport Management, Music Management and Video Production, as well as the extensive Furniture Design and Restoration, Textiles and Advertising departments are the University's main attractions.
The University is one of very few that has created a BSc(Hons) degree in Policing. The degree includes modules such as Police, Crime and the Media during which the relationship between the police and the media is examined. There are also modules in relation to the Criminal Law and Justice, Investigating Identity, Law, Discrimination and Human Rights amongst other modules in relation to policing.
The University also offers a foundation degree course in bed sales management, in partnership with bed manufacturer Dreams.[5]
Trevor Baylis is a frequent guest lecturer, and was present at a 2004 graduation ceremony and graduate degree show; he received an honorary degree from the University in 2007, and was present at the official opening of the Gateway building in 2010.
Rugby player Matt Dawson was given an honorary degree in 2007 and writer Terry Pratchett was given an honorary degree at a 2008 graduation ceremony.
In the 2010 graduation ceremonies, Olympic gold medalist Adrian Moorhouse, businessman Steve Hayes and Ivor Novello Award winning musician Edwyn Collins were all awarded degrees.[6]
In the 2008/2009 year Bucks was ranked
| 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Times Good University Guide | 112th[7] | 108th[7] | |||||||||
| Guardian University Guide | 113th | 113th[8] | 114th[9] | 107th | – | 94th | 105th | 103rd | 117th | ||
| Sunday Times University Guide | 119th[10] | 113th | 98th | 102nd[11] | 112th[12] | 106th | 103rd | 93rd | |||
| The Complete University Guide | 108th=[13] | 103rd[14] | 86th=[15] |
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