Making your experience the best it can be
Your experience matters while you’re studying with us and goes beyond your studies. If you’re happy and healthy, you’ll get the most out of uni life.
We are so proud to have been named the top university in the South West of England - and top 20 in the UK - at the WhatUni? Student Choice Awards 2026. The awards are based entirely on reviews from students, who rated their universities across a wide range of different aspects of student life.
Your Students’ Union, SUBU, were also voted Best Students’ Union in the South West of England for the third consecutive year.
Regional performance doesn't stop there; we were awarded first place for Mental Health and Wellbeing Support in the Whatuni? Student Choice Awards 2025 and ranked as a top ten university in the South West by the Complete University Guide 2025, performing strongly in student satisfaction and graduate prospects.
Your success is our success – we’re #BUProud that 89% of our graduates are in work or further study (HESA Graduate outcomes 2022/23). Our TEF (Teaching Excellence Framework) Silver rating recognises the student experience and student outcomes are typically of very high quality.
We recognise the importance of work placements to put your skills into practice in the real world, build your network and grow your confidence. As part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8, ‘Decent Work and Economic Growth’, we’re ranked second in the UK and 18th internationally (1,350 participating institutions), with our work placement commitment contributing to this.
We know every penny counts when you’re studying, so it’s a win that Bournemouth ranks in the top 10 most affordable places to study in the NatWest Student Living Index 2025, helping your budget stretch further so you can make the most of your student life.
League table rankings
In the game
Sport is a big part of the BU experience and there’s something for everyone, whatever your fitness level and goals.
When it comes to high-level sport, TeamBU is our community of performance sport athletes, and they compete against other UK universities in a range of competitive sports, from cricket and tennis to golf, football, hockey and more.
TeamBU are shining bright, ranked 37th out of 142 universities in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) league – an example of where exceptional skill, dedication and teamwork combine for success.
For our planet
We all have a responsibility to protect the world we live in, both for the present day and for future generations. Sustainability is at the heart of BU life and we’re committed to making an impact.
We’re in the top 10 universities in the UK in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025 and joint 59th globally. These rankings measure global universities’ success in delivering the United Nations’ SDGs.
As part of this, we’re 11th in the UK and 15th globally for ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’ (SDG12), achieving zero waste to landfill (75% of our waste is recycled and the remaining 25% of general waste is incinerated).
For all of us
At BU, we strive to create a community where equality, diversity and inclusivity are at the heart of everything we do. Our work in this area has been recognised in a number of ways, including our Athena Swan Silver Award for advancing gender equality, our Race Equality Charter Bronze Award for promoting race equality and inclusion, and our strong ethical and environmental performance, ranking 6th in the UK in the People & Planet University League for 2025/26. This includes areas such as workers’ rights, ethical careers, our environmental policy and our carbon management.
