Vice-Chancellor's welcome
Choosing a university is one of the most important decisions you will make. I hope the mix of information on our website will prove helpful and give you a feel for what it would be like to study at BU.
We can trace our roots back to the early 1900s and we gained university status in 1992. BU is a youthful, dynamic and innovative institution and over 17,000 students choose to study with us each year. Of these, more than 1,500 are international students from nearly 130 countries. Academic excellence drives everything we do at BU. Our courses are geared to the requirements of the professions and our graduate employment rate is among the highest in the UK. We are at the forefront of technological innovation in Higher Education. For example, we have a very effective virtual learning environment, use podcasting and have one of the most extensive wireless computing networks of any UK university. We work hard to make sure that all of our graduates acquire the knowledge and skills that are essential in today's highly competitive global workplace. Our recent achievements have been recognised externally and BU has been rated the Number One New University by The Guardian Good University Guide in 2009 and 2010.
If all this is not enough, our cultural, artistic, sporting and social opportunities areconsiderable( The Old Firestation is one of the country's greatest student nightclubs) and we enjoy an excellent coastal location. We are in two student-friendly towns at the heart of the largest non-industrial conurbation in Europe, sandwiched between the New Forest (the UK's newest National Park), some of Britain's best beaches and Poole Harbour (Europe's largest natural harbour) with its unmatched sailing and water sports facilities.
We pride ourselves on being an inclusive university and provide a wide range of scholarships and bursaries to ensure that if you qualify for a place you will not be deterred by financial concerns.
Take time to browse the website and make a date to visit one of our Open Days, or meet us at an international exhibition.
Looking forward to seeing you in 2010.
Professor Paul Curran
Vice-Chancellor