We create forward-thinking graduates by providing excellent teaching, great support and world-renowned research, all coming together in a rewarding and supportive environment. BU is also the first British university to be commended for the quality of its student learning opportunities by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).
Each course is different, but in general terms they are all taught with a mixture of lectures and seminars, with self-study and group work usually part of the programme as well. We strongly encourage collaboration, not just between other students on your course and your lecturers, but with students and staff across the university, allowing you to really innovate and challenge yourself.
Employability
Regardless of which undergraduate course you are studying, whether full or part-time, our philosophy when it comes to teaching remains the same - to prepare you for the world of work. Our courses offer a blend of theory and practical experience, which is enhanced by our excellent placement opportunities: every undergraduate student has the option of going on a work placement when they study with us.
Undertaking a work placement is a fantastic opportunity to put your skills into practice and to make valuable connections within your field. You'll also be one step ahead of the crowd when you graduate, as the transferable skills you pick up during a placement will make you highly employable. Having relevant workplace experience is one of the reasons why 90% of our graduates are employed or in further study within six months of graduating, according to the 2017/18 Graduate Outcomes Survey.
What’s more, our courses are accredited by major professional bodies, which demonstrates that the course content and delivery are applicable to industry. Accreditation allows graduates to qualify for certain types of employment, or even gain exemption from the body's own examinations.
World-class learning environment
We have teaching staff from a variety of backgrounds, many of whom have years of experience in the industry or field they specialise in. They are always ready to share their knowledge and experience with you.
We have an excellent international reputation for the quality of our research, much of which has a positive impact on society, both at home and abroad. In the most recent assessement of our research output as part of REF, 96% of our research was rated as internationally recognised.
Continued investment in our facilities - such as our new Student Centre and Academic Building - ensures that we always provide the best possible learning environment for our students and staff.
Collaboration
Our close ties to a wide range of companies and organisations all over the world also means we offer you the chance to attend exciting guest lectures delivered by well-known figures. You also may be encouraged to work with students on other courses and staff from other disciplines to help you truly innovate within your field.
This idea of sharing experiences and enhancing your knowledge continues outside of the lecture theatre too, with university-wide events such as our Talk BU Live series giving you yet another opportunity to listen to fascinating speakers and get involved in topical debates.