31,015 discussions, 145 guides
University of Buckingham
31,015 discussions, 145 guides
University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
Buckingham
Buckinghamshire
MK18 1EG
Tel: (0)1280 814 080
1976
None
None regularly, but there is a student handbook published at the beginning of the year.
Everything is as modern as you would want it. Being a private university means that the facilities really are second to none for the relatively small size of the student population.
Marc Gene - Formula 1 Driver
Alex Jovy - Film Director
George's Bar in the Tanlaw Mill Student Union building, is the main student watering hole here and hosts the weekly events. The bar itself is characterised by a sporting theme and is equipped with pool table, video games and when it stops raining, a barbecue!
Being a pretty intensively academic place the Bucks students don't have much leeway to afford those weekday hangovers, but they do make up for this when the weekend begins. On Fridays the Union puts on various theme nights, 60's Discos, Karaoke and Live Music.
The Graduation Ball is one of the more extravagant occasions, of the rather unorthodox academic year (it is held in March). This year the ball, held on campus, hosted ABBA and Ricky Martin tributes with a lightshow, laserquest and fire-eaters among the host of other entertainments. The place also comes alive during their Rag Week in August, when a whole host of wacky, and ingenious money-raising schemes break the air of studiousness that prevails here.
There are 20 clubs and societies here which, for a student population of 700, is remarkably high. The Societies tend to be built around a very cultural line, reflecting the very large proportion of overseas students that come here. From a sports point of view the mainstream clubs exist - with a tint of the international - Rugby, Golf, Martial Arts, Aerobics, Badminton, Basketball and Squash.
The Students Union has recently benefited from a competition created by The Daily Telegraph by collecting more mastheads from their paper than any other Union. Laugh you may, but they won £14,000 which was used to equip a gym in the Union Building with a range of seriously hi-tech fitness equipment. Students are now free to pound away their frustrations in the style of the wealthiest investment bankers in London!
Guaranteed 100
There are 8 Halls of Residence, some of these are subdivided into flatlets amounting to about 450 rooms. Halls are generally of a high standard - all rooms have washbasins, but there is talk of more rooms being made ensuite. Accommodation is self-catering in that meals are not included in the price and kitchens are available, but there is a dining hall in the SU building (Tanlaw Mill). All rooms have a socket for a telephone, and all post goes to the pigeon holes in Tanlaw Mill.
Surprisingly (bearing in mind the very international nature of the student population) many students live out in the second year (there are only two years), in the pleasant market town of Buckingham.
The campus is located on the edge of Buckingham, and is surrounded by green spaces. The town itself has plenty of pubs and restaurants to offer. Pubs: The White Hart, The Tudor Rock, Restaurants: the Cheng-du, the Beijing (Chinese), the Dipalee, the Spice of India (Indian), Da Natino (Italian), and for top nosh - Henry's. In Milton Keynes, 14 miles away there are both 12 and 16 screen multiplex cinemas, a snow dome, theatre and hockey stadium. Oxford is fairly close too, with Parkend, Fifth Avenue being the studenty clubs and the Mongolian Wok being one of the nation's most well known and favourite Oxford restaurants. Those who are particularly wealthy will spend their time (and probably most of Daddy's inheritance) in London. Silverstone race track isn't far either for the Motor racing fans amongst you!
Parking is not a problem. You will need permits (for a small fee of course), but the advantage of coming to a private university where the free market ideals prevail, is that the powers that be don't have a phobia of cars. There is plenty of parking in the town as well.
All major banks are but a few minutes walk away in the centre of town, but there are cash machines on campus.
The Student Support Advisor deals with these issues, and the University is happy to do what it can with regard to disabilities. However do your research, in such a small institution facilities cannot be expected to be marvellously orientated towards people with disabilities, the buildings are all fairly modern so access won't be too bad. The University is however better equipped when it comes to dyslexia.
You can get snacks and stationery in the SU Tanlaw Mill building, but you'll have to go into Buckingham, if not Milton Keynes for anything more complicated.
There is a University bookshop on the Hunter Street Campus that is run by a local contractor, that provides all the necessary course texts. Souvenirs and other university paraphernalia are also sold here.
The University has four tennis courts and a small all-weather hockey pitch on campus. A mile away there are sports pitches, with floodlit training area and pavilion. The Student Union is BUSA afiliated playing in national competitions as well as local "Town and Gown" matches with sportsmen and women in the local area.
Some transport is provided for students after functions to take them back to their doors, but really you don't have much cause to be concerned about walking back at night - Buckingham is hardly downtown LA.
Set in the mild, middle English, Buckinghamshire countryside, there is plenty of green around. The Student Union itself Tanlaw Mill is a converted mill, and sits on the other side of the river from a park. The place might almost be too isolated for those used the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, and students travel far to remind themselves of civilisation. However, enjoy the tranquillity here while it lasts before you are catapulted into the speed, sound and smog of the citysphere!
Hunter Street - Business and Humanities, opening hours are good - between 9am and 10pm or 12pm but with swipe card access after 5pm. Opens weekdays 9am to 5pm in holiday time. Franciscan Library - Law and Sciences, located at Verney Park, in an old Franciscan monastry/boarding school. Opening hours are very good, from 9am to 10pm or 12pm weekdays and the afternoons and evenings at weekends too.
Computer access is by swipe card and 5 out of the 8 computer rooms have 24 hour access.
The University does have a student support unit with one full-time counsellor (the Student Support Advisor), who also deals with disability issues. For medical problems you will have to register with your local doctor in town. The doctor holds weekly surgeries on campus.
