It has been another successful and exciting year of delivering our ambition for BU – a top 50 university driven by a fusion of excellent education, professional practice and world-class research.

Our efforts were rewarded when the results of the recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) revealed that 96% of BU’s research is internationally recognised and 18% is ranked as world-leading. Whether it’s helping small businesses access funding, improving quality of life for people with Multiple Sclerosis or using fossil footprint research to catch criminals – BU’s research actually makes a difference to people’s lives.

Our international impact continues to grow as we develop our global reach - in 2015 BU entered the world's top 500 universities for the first time in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Nationally, BU rose in all three major university league tables published by The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Complete University Guide.

We continue to offer every student at BU the opportunity to undertake a work placement and recent figures have revealed that BU graduates continue to have success in the job market, with 93.3% of 2014’s graduates in work or further study six months after graduating.

We’ve been enhancing the learning environment too, with continued investment in buildings and facilities. The Student Centre opened in spring, giving the Students’ Union at BU (SUBU) a new home and students a place to relax and study. The new Bournemouth University International College welcomed the first intake of students in September and is a fantastic combined residential and teaching space for students and staff.

We’ve strengthened our links with the wider community through partnerships and outreach – aiming to be anchored in the region but reaching around the world. During BU’s festival season we welcomed thousands of visitors onto campus to take part in hundreds of hands-on activities, workshops and talks, and our research and coverage of the 2015 General Election won us national acclaim.

We’re #BUProud of what we have accomplished together - as a university and as a community.

We hope you enjoy this Annual Review.