Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) is a career-focused university based in High Wycombe, a Chilterns town within easy reach of London. Its biggest strengths are practical, job-linked courses: nursing and health, policing, sport, aviation and creative subjects. It also teaches at a campus in Uxbridge, west London, and in Nottingham.
The High Wycombe campus is compact, and the three halls are all within walking or cycling distance. Rooms start at £99 a week with bills included and no deposit, which is rare this close to London. Don't expect a big student city, though: High Wycombe is a busy town rather than a nightlife destination.
Known for
Buckinghamshire New University is 122nd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 33.5, below the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | London South Bank University | 34.4 |
| 121 | University of Roehampton | 34.3 |
| 122 | Buckinghamshire New University | 33.5 |
| 123 | Goldsmiths, University of London | 27.8 |
| 124 | London Metropolitan University | 27.3 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
82nd of 124 · Employability Score 26.2
84th of 122 · Careers Score 27
89th of 124 · Safety Score 33.4
101st of 124 · Affordability Score 43.3
105th of 124 · Inclusion Score 38.7
106th of 123 · Happiness Score 33.2
107th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 31.8
113th of 124 · Value Score 28.6
114th of 124 · Freshers Score 38.4
114th of 124 · Balance Score 28.5
116th of 124 · Innovation Score 33.4
119th of 124 · Nightlife Score 24.9
122nd of 124 · Societies Score 30.9
123rd of 124 · Social Score 26.6
Not enough published data to rank fairly
High Wycombe as a student city
Ranked 71st of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 32.9.
Buckinghamshire New University appears in 35 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality and Hotel Management | 1st | of 4 | – |
| Midwifery | 19th | of 54 | 99 |
| Business and Management | 45th | of 114 | 162 |
| Public Health | 6th | of 14 | 47 |
| Psychology | 48th | of 108 | 136 |
| Law | 46th | of 97 | 123 |
| Photography | 21st | of 44 | 81 |
| Marketing | 49th | of 88 | 112 |
| Fine Art | 33rd | of 58 | 103 |
| Nursing | 49th | of 85 | 110 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Science | 45th | of 78 | 105 |
| Data Science | 29th | of 50 | 69 |
| Computer Science | 60th | of 102 | 123 |
| Social Work | 40th | of 67 | 117 |
| Software Engineering | 35th | of 58 | 85 |
| Criminology | 57th | of 94 | 93 |
| Media and Communication | 48th | of 79 | 105 |
| Primary Education | 36th | of 59 | 102 |
| Animation (2D/3D) | 32nd | of 52 | 83 |
| Civil Engineering | 37th | of 58 | 77 |
| Graphic Design | 45th | of 68 | 98 |
| Drama, Theatre and Performance | 40th | of 60 | 66 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 44th | of 66 | 68 |
| Cyber Security | 39th | of 58 | 78 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 53rd | of 77 | 95 |
| Film Production | 60th | of 87 | 102 |
| Engineering (General) | 21st | of 30 | 39 |
| Occupational Therapy | 28th | of 40 | 72 |
| Electrical Engineering | 47th | of 67 | 68 |
| Physiotherapy | 35th | of 49 | 61 |
| Interior Design | 26th | of 36 | 53 |
| Fashion Design | 36th | of 49 | 64 |
| Product Design | 32nd | of 43 | 54 |
| Radiography | 23rd | of 29 | 47 |
| Costume Design | 8th | of 10 | 30 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Bucks Students' Union runs most of the social side. On the High Wycombe campus you'll find Rusty's Roadhouse, The Lounge and The Kitchen, plus the Brunel Engine Shed, and Pulse at Uxbridge. The Gateway Gym is free for all Bucks students, and the SU runs Sport for Fun sessions, clubs and societies, free food schemes and an advice centre with renters' rights support. High Wycombe itself has a big shopping centre and the Chilterns countryside on its doorstep, and London is a short train ride away.
University halls cost £99–£218 per week (2026/27, 39–42-week contracts, all bills, insurance and wifi included) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
BNU says it can guarantee a place in one of its High Wycombe halls for all new students joining in September 2026 who submit their accommodation application before 31 August 2026. You'll be emailed application details once you've accepted BNU as your first choice and hold a conditional or unconditional offer. Rooms are allocated first come, first served.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brook Street | High Wycombe | standard room (shared bathroom); studios £188.50 | £99/wk | The cheapest option: £4,186.29 for a 42-week contract (25 September 2026 to 18 July 2027). Bike storage on site. |
| Hughenden Student Village | High Wycombe | en-suite; studios £207 | £162/wk | 39-week contract (25 September 2026 to 27 June 2027), £6,364.29 for an en-suite. Bike storage on site. |
| Windsor House | High Wycombe | en-suite; studios £218 | £198/wk | The priciest hall: £7,778.57 for a 39-week en-suite contract. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Close to campus, the station and the Eden shopping centre; handy for second years who want to walk to lectures.
West London suburb with tube links, the obvious choice if your course is at the Uxbridge campus. Expect London-level rents.
Residential areas with cheaper shared houses, but you'll probably need a bus or bike.
Top tip
Firm BNU as your first choice, then fill in the application as soon as the email arrives, well before 31 August, because rooms go first come, first served. There's no deposit. Move-in weekend for September 2026 starters was 25–27 September.
BNU's halls are good value for the South East: £99 to £218 a week for 2026/27, with all bills, contents insurance and wifi included and no deposit. The university doesn't publish a full cost-of-living estimate, so budget for food, travel and course costs on top. The free Gateway Gym and the SU's free food schemes help the budget stretch further.
Getting around
The High Wycombe campus is on Queen Alexandra Road, within walking distance of the town centre and station, and all three halls are within walking or cycling distance. Chiltern Railways trains run from High Wycombe to London Marylebone. Single bus fares in England are capped at £3 until at least March 2027.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
Buckinghamshire New University is 122nd out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 33.5.
In our 2027 subject rankings, Buckinghamshire New University places highest for Hospitality and Hotel Management (1st of 4).
Yes. BNU guarantees a place in one of its High Wycombe halls for new students starting in September who apply before 31 August. You'll get the application by email once you've firmed BNU and hold an offer. Rooms are allocated first come, first served.
For 2026/27, rooms cost £99 to £218 a week. Brook Street standard rooms are £99, Hughenden en-suites £162 and Windsor House en-suites £198, with studios from £188.50. All bills, insurance and wifi are included, and there's no deposit.
BNU's own halls are all in High Wycombe. If you're studying at Uxbridge, you'll need to look at private housing nearby or commute from High Wycombe; ask the accommodation team (accommodation@bnu.ac.uk) for advice.
All three halls are within walking or cycling distance of the High Wycombe campus, and Brook Street and Hughenden have bike storage. Halls have 24/7 security and Senior Residents who help with welfare.
Chiltern Railways runs trains from High Wycombe station to London Marylebone, so day trips and part-time work in London are realistic. Local bus fares in England are capped at £3 a journey until at least March 2027.
Yes. The Gateway Gym on the High Wycombe campus is free for all Bucks students, and the Students' Union runs Sport for Fun sessions and sports clubs too.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
