Recent insight into Buckingham University

[FancyFran]

Hello all.
Please could I ask for recent insight into Buckingham University please.
Family member has accepted an offer for next year.
They choose the university due to the small size and ability to deal with SEMH/SEN.

I presume you're aware they'll only be able to get tuition fee loans of £7,400 pa for accelerated (8-term) degrees or £6,165 for the first 2 years of a 9-term degree then £3,080 for the last term for 9-term degrees. The actual tuition fees will be £12,672 pa for an 8-term degree or £11,424 pa for the first 2 years then (I think) £5,712 for the last term of a 9-term degree. So you would have £10,544-£15,930 in tuition fees to pay up-front yourselves.

www.buckingham.ac.uk/admissions/external/grants/uk

@NoNotHimTheOtherOne thank you. Does it effect their maintance loan too?

I don't think so, as maintenance loans are based on household income rather than specific costs.

Or did you mean Bucks New Uni?

Both are very average. Buckinghsm is a private university and has long terms and 2 year degrees. Not sure if this is really suitable for SEN. Yes Buckingham is small and there’s really nothing to do in Buckingham. No cinema, no theatre and frankly, not much else. Lots of overseas students. Has a Waitrose!

Buckinghamshire New University is in High Wycombe. It’s the old college of HE and is not very academic. Lowly position in league tables. More vocational courses for local people. There is a cinema in central
HW and even a theatre. There’s pubs but I wouldn’t want to be a student there. Student halls are modern but it’s not a great town for a student in my view. Nor is Buckingham. However it depends what you want in terms of being a student I guess.

I went to school in Buckingham. I was born nearby. I now live quite near HW. I never go there!

Agree with @TizerorFizz re. High Wycombe as a town. It's pretty grotty and occasionally unsafe. We live about 20 minutes from it and DCs never go there (DH and I sometimes go to its theatre). They'd be much more likely to go into London (about 40 minutes away) or if staying local Amersham, Beaconsfield or Gerrards Cross for pubs/bars/restaurants.

DD2's boyfriend went to Bucks New University and describes it as 'not great but served a purpose for me'.

I did my professional qualifications with them. No issue with that but it was part time. Again - served a purpose.

Thank you both. It is the University of Buckingham. Small was important. @TizerorFizz SEN is not really the issue as super intelligent. Past MH issues mean huge busy places don't suit. I have been told pastrol care is good. Family member drives and is use to trains so will be off out and about. They are not looking for a full on student experience. Not a drinker, clubber or such like. It is only just over an hour from home.

I have a recent ex student there who suffers from a range of OCD/anxiety related things. She commutes.

She is very bright (2 A stars and a B) and is being sufficiently challenged. She was surprised by the tininess of her course (only two other students - both older and one is overseas and it's s standard traditional subject with large cohorts in other unis) and therefore has not made friends, although is joining a few societies.

I think it's an unusual university experience and not typical or similar in any way to other UK universities. I can see why a more mature student would want uni done in two years. For an 18 year old it is a very niche choice.

@Piggywaspushed thank you. Family member is very good at making friends and keeping them (ex boarding school). She made contacts at the open day. Hers is a regular academic subject. They teach 'in tutor' which I believe will suit her. She is very clever but didn't want to attend a RG. Too pushy and competitive.
The fact she can continue in halls is also beneficial.

This is a 'regular academic subject too' and the girl in question is popular and friendly. I think it still worth noting whilst she seems academically content she is having a more isolated experience than peers at other universities. The fact that her classmates are in their 30s and 40s contributes. I don't think she realised how many BU students are mature and overseas students.

They teach in tutorial fashion because you can't lecture 3 people. Tbh, looking at other unis, I'd be very wary that BU is about to withdraw courses.

An ex-student of mine who has complex MH issues did her MA there during lockdown and I think she was well cared for. I can ask her.

A friend did her MA there and said the teaching on that course was minimal, but it served a purpose and she got her degree.

@FancyFran
Buckingham is a niche choice. I too would worry an 18 year old would be lonely. The university offers scholarships locally but most students at the local grammar don’t consider it. There might be a group of 18 year olds, but they will need to be found! Lots from overseas.

Out and about? Only by bus. There is no train station in Buckingham. As I said, it’s got virtually no good points for a student. Even getting there is a slog.

Family member drives. Also 20 next year.
She speaks Japanese and European languages. Multicultural was a must as BAME. She is looking for a small environment. I am trying to protect identity due to the former health issues. I will tell her that she needs to check how many people are mature students. I believe her intake is 15. They have said 50% mature is usual.
@WinterFoxes i would be grateful for some insight.

FWIW my ex-student is BAME and never mentioned any issues. I think she found Buckingham a very gentle and safe space. It was very tough for her as she was there during lockdown but nevertheless, she enjoyed it.

Isn’t nearly every university multicultural? Buckingham is pretty white though.

@TizerorFizz i believe it has 30+ % BAME.
That is a good fit.

I am particularly interested in the accommodation facts if anyone has them.

Well yes as it has a high number of overseas rich students. I wouldn’t choose a university based on that though because the town is pretty white. It’s not got a multicultural vibe at all. However if the student likes it, nothing else matters much. Have they actually visited? Have they looked at accommodation?

@TizerorFizz they have visited.
They live in a predominantly white home town. However went to a very international boarding school. It seems very sleepy but she liked it.

Well it’s definitely a continuation of a boarding school. My DDs boarded and wanted brighter lights! Presumably she visited halls. I think few people on MN will have DC at Buckingham. In fact few of us will know Buckingham. I would just assume all accommodation is ok. Just look at where they are in the town. Near enough to supermarkets and teaching areas would seem sensible. However if you want details on bame occupation that might be difficult.

The university says Hunter Street is the best place for year 1. It’s more “happening”.

I dunno, you'd think me having an ex student there who I have literally only just seen three weeks ago would be helpful. But I am not sure what you want OP as I feel my really recent feedback was useful information for you. If you want to go to Buckingham as a young student it is very much a rarefied choice, based on some very specific criteria. It would actually surprise me if accommodation or location was one of the main ones.

FWIW, the accommodation is well located for the uni and their newly acquired stuff has washing machines (but that is further away and marketed as suitable for mature and PG students) and they also clean communal areas. Perhaps because of the proportion of overseas students, this is more than you would expect in many universities.

@Piggywaspushed thank you. Your feedback is useful.

Buckingham is very small. No location is far away from the university buildings. I would say what is on their web site is good advice. At Buckingham there’s not a huge amount of choice so nowhere will be awful. Students live there for more weeks of the year as they complete degrees in 2 years and therefore it’s more like a home. I don’t think you can drill down and find out every detail at Buckingham as so few go there because it’s private and therefore niche. There are always risks with any university and location but the risk with Buckingham is lack of anything to do outside mixing with other students in the university buildings. The sports centre adjacent to the Buckingham School is decent. There are a few places to socialise with a coffee. Otherwise it’s a case of getting along with other undergrads. So choose accommodation where they are likely to be. Quite a few will be powering through their degrees though. It’s what a 2 year degree is all about.