Bedford Open Day guide 2018-2019

Choosing where and what to study is a life-changing desicion - that’s why the more information you have, the better.

To make sure you get the most out of your day with us we’ve put together this booklet. Inside, you’ll find details of the University’s Open Day, including campus information, how to find us, campus maps, and information about what to expect on the day.

When you arrive on the day we’ll provide you with a programme of the days activities; which shows the times and locations of general talks, tours and subject specific sessions.

We have organised a wide range of talks and opportunities for you to meet with academics, support staff and students. We hope you get all your questions answered to help you make an informed decision about your future.

Enjoy your day!

Our campus: Bedford On the day Why Bedfordshire?

Getting here: Bedford Bedford campus map Take yourself on a tour Plan your Open Day Student satisfaction Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

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Bedford is an idyllic, riverside town with a lively mix of traditional town pubs, bars and restaurants, shops, first-class sports facilities, and heritage.

Bedford is located approxiamtely 35 miles from London, and lies along the picturesque banks of the River Great Ouse. It boasts a wealth of parks and green open space, as well as leisure and entertainment facilities.

Our Bedford campus is close to Bedford town centre, and can be reached by bus in around five minutes. It is also just a few minutes walk from the Aspects Leisure Park, which is home to a cinema, gym and many restaurants.

Gateway In 2015 we opened Gateway; a three-storey building that offers a number of high-quality teaching spaces, as well as informal learning spaces, lecture theatres, a student services centre, boardroom facilities, and a cafe.

Dedicated subject facilities You’ll find a vast array of fantastic modern facilities to support each of the courses on offer at the Bedford campus, including a 280-seat professional theatre to support our Dance, Theatre and Performing Arts students. Our students also benefit from regular workshops and conferences held at the theatre, as well as four industry-standard dance studios. Our Physical Education and Sport Science Centre, which was used to train athletes in the 2012 Olympics, provides students with access to the latest sport and exercise science technology. We have also recently refurbished our sports hall, and have upgraded our changing rooms, allowing our Bedford campus to offer facilities that meet national championship standards.

Students’ Union Beds SU is here to help every student get the most out of their university experience. The Hub offers a range of food and drink alongside a diverse seven-day events programme including pub quizzes, club nights, karaoke, and society events, and is a great place for group meetings, to chill out between lectures, or to socialise with friends.

Sport labs

The Hub, Students’ Union

Gateway

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General talks and presentations Meet and greet When you arrive on campus you will be greeted by our Student Ambassadors, who will show you where to go to register for the day. There a member of staff will be able to give you information about the different talks happening throughout the day, and answer any questions you may have.

General talks Our talks provide you with detailed information on how to make your application through UCAS, important advice on writing an impressive personal statement, the student finance process, an insight into the University of Bedfordshire, and provide you with the chance to speak to some of our current students.

Academic hubs We also have academic hubs which provide an opportunity to have an informal chat with academic staff from your chosen subject areas.

They will be on hand to provide detailed course information and answer your questions.

Tours Campus tours Campus tours offer a great way to get a real feel for the University and experience the environments that you will be studying and socialising in. You will visit the likes of our Campus Centre, the library and our Students’ Union space. Tours will run throughout the day, so you can view our campus at your leisure.

Accommodation tours Accommodation tours will run throughout the day and will give you an opportunity to see our halls of residence. The tours offer you the chance to see examples of rooms you can expect to live in whilst studying with us. Our accommodation representatives will also be able to provide you with information on living costs and how to apply for your place in halls.

General information Catering Complimentary refreshments of tea and coffee will be available for all attendees and guests throughout the day. You can also purchase lunch from our food outlets in the Campus Centre.

Support services Representatives from our support services will be available to speak to throughout the day to provide advice and information on various topics Parking including; admissions, welfare and disability, There is plenty of on-site parking at our finance, faith and community, and Go Global.

Bedford campus, which you can use for free whilst visiting us at our Open Day. Subject sessions* Subject sessions provide you with an insight of what it will be like to study at Bedfordshire. The sessions typically consist of a subject overview, followed by an interactive session where you will be able to see and use some of the facilities and equipment relevant to your course. *Subject specific programmes will be handed out upon arrival to the Open Day. Check out your reminder email for a sneak peak – you’ll receive this the week of the event.

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Although a new university, Bedfordshire is an institution with a rich heritage and academic roots across the county dating back to 1882.

We have over 20,000 students from more than 120 countries giving our students a truly global experience. We nurture talent, encourage creativity, and provide a stimulating learning environment where you can flourish and reach your full potential.

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Bedford campus

46 miles north of London on the main A6 route, our Bedford campus offers easy access from both the north and the south.

• From the north, leave the M1 at junction 14 and take the A422 • From the south, leave the M1 at junction 13 and follow the A422 • Frequent train links to and from London • Direct rail services from Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield • Close to London Luton Airport

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Alexander Sports Hall Bedford Park

Bedford campus

Northampton/ Milton Keynes M1 Jn 13/14

Bus Station Harpur Shopping Centre Bedford Station River Great Ouse

= Student Accommodation

Luton & M1 Jn 13/14 London 46 miles/74km

Car parking

At our Bedford campus we offer plenty of on-site parking, which you can use for free whilst visiting us at our Open Day. For further travel information and directions please visit: www.beds.ac.uk/directions

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On arrival On arrival please go to our Campus Centre to register. Once registered you will receive a coloured wristband which signifies the subject area you are interested in: Business School Education Studies English Language English Literature Nursing Performing Arts Sport Science & Physical Activity Teacher Education

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Gateway • Meet and greet • Registration • Campus tours • Accommodation tours • Support services

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Business School academic hub • Business • Law

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Creative Arts, Technologies & Science academic hub • English Literature • Performing Arts > Campus Access Points

Education & Sport academic hub • Education & English Language • Sport Science & Physical Activity • Teacher Education

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Health & Social Sciences • Nursing

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Changing Rooms Smoking Shelter

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Campus Centre and Theatre

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Teaching Education Centre

Floor level guidance The room letter relates to the block which said room is based in. The first number that follows signifies the level of the building the room sits on, e.g. G1.11 will be on the first floor in G block.

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Our Open Days are designed so that you can tailor the day to suit you.

We have student-led campus tours available throughout the day, but if you’d rather go solo you can use this section to go on a self-guided tour, and navigate your way around campus based on what you would like to see. Each of the facilities listed are numbered in accordance to the map, so it’s easy for you to find your way around.

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Library The Library offers a vast array of facilities which our students use extensively to support their studies. It is open 24/7 during term-time and features dedicated areas for both silent and group study, offers 110,000 printed books, 30,000 e-journals and 4,000 e-books.

Learning Hub The Learning Hub is based in P block at our Bedford campus, and features informal creative spaces and PCs for individual or group working.

SeedBeds Our Community and Faith team, based in SeedBeds at Bedford, welcomes students of all faiths and beliefs. The team offers confidential personal support and a range of social activities and events. The team can give you information and link you with local faith communities and places of worship. Prayer and Quiet Rooms are also available at our Luton and Putteridge Bury campuses.

Student Village: Campus Living Take a look around our student accommodation, Student Information Desk (SiD)/Careers meet the team and find out more about what SiD is the gateway to student services in one campus living is really like. The accommodation convenient location. SiD is also available online team assists you in many ways: from greeting as a 24/7 support tool, which enables you to you and making you feel welcome, to planning view, update and log enquiries, and search a social events and activities throughout the year. database of over 500 Frequently Asked Questions.

Liberty Park Liberty Park offers 400 single and 113 double Located close by is our award-winning Careers en-suite study bedrooms grouped in flats with team, made up of qualified and experienced fantastic communal areas, including a gym and advisers, and industry experts who offer a drop- on-site laundry facilities. This accommodation is in service and bookable guidance our newest student accommodation based over appointments. The team also helps students at Bedford, and includes free internet access – secure internships, placements, part-time work, go check it out! and volunteer opportunities.

Gateway Student Support Gateway is a three-storey building situated at Student Support is available to offer practical our Bedford campus, opened in 2015. It boasts a and confidential advice and support for all number of high-quality teaching spaces, as well students at the University; such as disability as informal learning spaces, lecture theatres support, welfare and community and faith. and a new student services centre (SiD) – everything you could need, all under one roof.

Students’Union You can check out the Hub, which offers Shuttle bus stop reasonably priced food and drink, and runs a The University runs a shuttle bus service, variety of events including quizzes, open-mic connecting the Bedford campus with the town nights, and society events. The SU also offers centre, and everything in between. The service support if you have any questions or concerns runs Monday-Friday during term time, and is a about your studies or general welfare during great way to get out and about around Bedford your time as a student. town. And, best of all, it’s free!

Any questions?

Feel free to join our main campus tours, which are held throughout the day. If you have any questions please ask any member of staff, or our student ambassadors, who are all on hand to help.

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Time: General talks and presentations:

Subject sessions:

Tours:

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Location:

At the University of Bedfordshire we’re committed to enhancing the student experience through events and activities, volunteering and internship opportunites, and investing in industry-standard facilities, ensuring that you graduate from the University ready to enter the world of work.

Our students continue to have a positive and satisfying experience at the University, and this is reflected in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2018 results, where 83% of our students said that they were satisfied with their Bedfordshire experience.

We’ve also been ranked in the top ten the most improved teaching, and the most improved academic support, highlighting our staff’s passion and dedication in ensuring your success.

Many of our courses also receieved a rating of 100% overall satisfaction including: BA (Hons) Creative Writing, BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics, BSc Forensic Science, BA (Hons) Performing Arts, BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminal Behaviour and BA (Hons) Special Needs and Inclusive Education.

“Our results show that we are bucking the trend in the sector with overall student satisfaction falling by one per cent while we have climbed. Our students are able to see the investment we are making in our facilities, in our library resources, in our IT facilities and in the support we provide to our students.”

Bill Rammell Vice Chancellor University of Bedfordshire

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Where should I park?

At our Bedford campus we offer plenty of on-site parking, which you can use for free whilst visiting us at our Open Day. There are also many public car parks close to the University campus, which operate by pay and display. See pages 6-7 for more information.

Do I need to come for the whole day?

We recommend that you come for as much of the day as you can to get the best experience of the University of Bedfordshire. We have a range of talks and tours available to suit your needs, which are held throughout the day.

Can I attend more than one subject talk?

Yes. Many of our visitors will be interested in studying more than one subject with us, and it is up to you which sessions and talks you attend. You can customise your day, and select the talks that you are most interested in. If it is not possible to attend talks for all of the subjects that you are interested in, you can pop along to the academic hubs to speak to our academics directly to find out more about your subject and particular course of interest.

Can I view the student accommodation at an Open Day? Yes. You are able to see our show flats during our accommodation tours, which are run throughout the day.

Can I go on a campus tour?

Yes. Guided walking tours around campus take place throughout the day and last approximately 45 minutes-1 hour.

Where can I stay overnight?

There is a wide selection of hotels in the town centre, some of which are a short drive or walk from the Bedford campus.

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Can I bring family members and friends along to the Open Day? Yes. When you pre-register online to attend the Open Day we ask you how many people you will be bringing with you, and any special requirements that you and your guest(s) may have for the day. If the number of people who are attending the event with you changes, simply contact our Recruitment team to notify them: opendays@beds.ac.uk Do you have disabled access?

All our campuses have disabled access. If you need any help on the day please do ask a member of staff or one of our student ambassadors who will be pleased to assist. If you would like to contact us before the Open Day to discuss your requirements or for further advice, please email: opendays@beds.ac.uk What happens if I can’t attend an Open Day? If you can’t make it to our Open Day don’t worry. We run a number of events throughout the year so there are plenty of opportunities to visit us on campus. Visit: www.beds.ac.uk/ opendays to take a look at the next available dates. If you can’t wait until the next event to take a look around, then have a look online for our list of campus tours. These offer a more informal tour around campus and our facilities, often led by one of our own students. If you have particular questions that you would like answering don’t forget you can ask via our online Live Chat, accessible via our website: www.beds.ac.uk

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University of Bedfordshire Bedford campus Polhill Avenus Bedford MK41 9EA To find out more, contact the Recruitment team: T: +44 (0)300 3300 073 E: opendays@beds.ac.uk W: www.beds.ac.uk/opendays Chat to us live, Monday-Friday between 8.30am-5pm via: www.beds.ac.uk

facebook.com/unibeds twitter.com/uniofbeds youtube.com/uobvideos snapchat: uniofbeds

“I attended a couple of Open Days at Bedfordshire and my experience was really positive. I wanted to be sure about my course, the campus, and the transport links, and I found everything to be really good and accessible.”

Saoirse Moore BA (Hons) English Studies