PROUD TO BE BNU

Our University has been transforming lives for more than 130 years, from developing our students’ full potential to making a positive impact on the environment and our communities. We support the local economy through the activity of our students, staff and alumni, with our beneficial impact estimated to be in the region of £0.95bn annually. BNU students work in and support many key local industries, including the vitally important health and social care sector, and are active contributors to local and regional charities and voluntary groups. In the past year, our students volunteered 16,058 hours of their time and raised £12,770 for charitable causes, including DrugFam and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity as part of the Students’ Union’s Raise and Give programme. We provide an education that works for all, regardless of background or circumstance, which equips our students with skills for life, helping them rise to the global challenges of the 21 st century. We aim to give our students the best possible experience at BNU. In the most recent National Student Survey, BNU students ranked us in the top five for student satisfaction among all UK universities, and we were ranked number one in the UK by our postgraduate research students.

Our students are the heartbeat of our thriving campuses, and we do everything we can to help them to succeed in their studies, life after University and in their chosen careers. In the past year, we have supported students in the cost-of-living crisis with a package worth more than £1m, including accommodation rates frozen at pre-pandemic levels, 30% cheaper food in our cafés, free evening meals three times a week, and increased bursaries and scholarships. We also increased the Jay Blades Thrive Bursary fund by £170k to £500k, so more students from low-income families, from areas with high levels of deprivation, or areas where very few students go to university, can access support for their studies and living costs.