Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Bedfordshire is a practical, diverse university with its main campus in Luton town centre and a second, greener campus in Bedford. Nursing and midwifery are also taught at Aylesbury, and there's a centre in Milton Keynes. Many students are mature, local or commuting, and courses focus on health, education, business, computing and the creative industries.
Its big plus is cost: university-linked halls in Luton start at £87.50 a week for a twin room or £157 for a single en-suite, and central London is about 30 minutes by train. The trade-off is a quieter, more commuter-style student scene than at a big campus university.
Known for
The University of Bedfordshire is 118th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 35.5, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 116 | Middlesex University | 36.2 |
| 117 | University of Wolverhampton | 35.6 |
| 118 | University of Bedfordshire | 35.5 |
| 119 | University of East London | 34.7 |
| 120 | London South Bank University | 34.4 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
23rd of 124 · Sustainability Score 63.8
70th of 124 · Affordability Score 53
91st of 124 · Inclusion Score 48.7
96th of 124 · Safety Score 29.1
104th of 124 · Nightlife Score 35.7
104th of 123 · Happiness Score 35.5
109th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 27.7
112th of 124 · Innovation Score 39.4
115th of 124 · Balance Score 28.5
116th of 124 · Social Score 34.6
117th of 124 · Societies Score 34.1
118th of 124 · Value Score 23.2
118th of 122 · Careers Score 15.6
121st of 124 · Employability Score 15.3
121st of 124 · Freshers Score 30.2
Luton as a student city
Ranked 66th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 39.9.
The University of Bedfordshire appears in 35 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminology | 23rd | of 94 | 168 |
| Nursing | 22nd | of 85 | 156 |
| Computer Science | 27th | of 102 | 170 |
| Social Work | 18th | of 67 | 154 |
| Economics | 23rd | of 85 | 148 |
| Sports Science | 22nd | of 78 | 142 |
| Information Technology | 6th | of 21 | 63 |
| Film Production | 25th | of 87 | 165 |
| Primary Education | 17th | of 59 | 131 |
| Animation (2D/3D) | 15th | of 52 | 116 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology | 25th | of 86 | 155 |
| Teaching | 23rd | of 79 | 149 |
| Human Resource Management | 20th | of 58 | 119 |
| Drama, Theatre and Performance | 21st | of 60 | 116 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 28th | of 77 | 140 |
| Robotics | 12th | of 32 | 88 |
| Business and Management | 44th | of 114 | 164 |
| Marketing | 34th | of 88 | 144 |
| Biomedical Science | 36th | of 93 | 137 |
| Psychology | 43rd | of 108 | 147 |
| Biochemistry | 25th | of 60 | 109 |
| Media and Communication | 33rd | of 79 | 138 |
| Law | 42nd | of 97 | 131 |
| Journalism | 26th | of 59 | 103 |
| Software Engineering | 26th | of 58 | 111 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 37th | of 66 | 79 |
| Occupational Therapy | 24th | of 40 | 79 |
| Physiotherapy | 30th | of 49 | 80 |
| Architecture | 36th | of 55 | 78 |
| Graphic Design | 46th | of 68 | 96 |
| Midwifery | 37th | of 54 | 61 |
| Fashion Design | 34th | of 49 | 70 |
| Pharmacology | 26th | of 37 | 49 |
| Public Health | 10th | of 14 | 36 |
| Art and Design | 12th | of 13 | 36 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Beds SU runs events, advice, societies and sport across the campuses, with a regular programme at venues like The Metro on the Luton campus. Halls run resident events, BBQs, movie nights and day trips, and Luton Fitzroy Court and Polhill Park both have free gyms. Bedford has riverside pubs and Bedford Park nearby. Luton's big advantage is London: a direct train gets you into the city in about half an hour.
University halls cost £87.50–£245 per week (Luton Fitzroy Court, 2026/27; Bedford Polhill Park's published prices are 2025/26) (2026/27 (Luton); 2025/26 (Bedford) prices).
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luton Fitzroy Court (twin en-suite) | Luton town centre, 10 minutes' walk from Luton station | twin en-suite (price per person) | £87.50/wk | The cheapest option: £87.50 a week on 42 weeks or £84 on 51 weeks (September 2026). All-inclusive rent, 24/7 staff and a free gym. |
| Bedford Polhill Park | Bedford campus (20 minutes' walk to the town centre) | en-suite (classic, premium, premium plus) | £125/wk | Run by Homes for Students, housing 517 students moments from lectures. 2025/26 prices were £125–£139 a week on 42 weeks (£110–£129 on 51). There's a free on-site gym. |
| Luton Fitzroy Court (single and deluxe en-suite) | Luton town centre | en-suite | £157/wk | Standard en-suites cost £157 a week on 42 weeks (£150.50 on 51), and deluxe en-suites £164. |
| Luton Fitzroy Court (studio) | Luton town centre | studio | £245/wk | Studios cost £245 a week on a 50-week contract from September 2026. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Close to campus and the station. Flats and house shares near the High Town area.
Quieter and greener, with riverside pubs and Bedford Park.
No halls, but the university lists NHS and private options. Shared rooms are listed at £650–£700 a month with bills included (2026/27).
Top tip
Apply as early as you can: all accommodation is allocated first come, first served by room availability. At Luton Fitzroy Court you choose your own room when you book and pay a £200 refundable deposit plus two weeks' rent. Polhill Park's deposit is £99. Contracts are a minimum of 42 weeks.
Bedfordshire is good value for the South East. Luton Fitzroy Court's rooms run from £87.50 a week for a twin room to £245 for a studio, with bills, internet and contents insurance included. Bedford Polhill Park was £125–£139 a week in 2025/26. With London 30 minutes away, you get big-city access without London rents.
Getting around
Luton campus is in the town centre, and Luton Fitzroy Court is a 10-minute walk from Luton station, with trains to central London in about 30 minutes. Bedford's Polhill Park is next to the Bedford campus and about 20 minutes' walk from the town centre. Check which campus your course is on before choosing a hall.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Bedfordshire is 118th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 35.5. Its strongest results are for sustainability (23rd).
There's no stated guarantee. Applications are dealt with on a first come, first served basis by building and room availability, so apply early.
In Luton, Fitzroy Court costs £87.50 a week for a twin room, £157 for a standard en-suite and £245 for a studio (September 2026 prices). In Bedford, Polhill Park was £125–£139 a week on 42-week contracts in 2025/26. Bills are included.
It depends on your course. Most courses are at Luton or Bedford. Nursing and midwifery are taught at the Mary Seacole campus in Aylesbury, and there's also a Milton Keynes site. Choose your accommodation to match.
Luton Fitzroy Court is about 10 minutes' walk from Luton station, and the university says trains can get you to central London in as little as 30 minutes.
Not university halls, but the university lists options including NHS accommodation at Harrington House (£407 a month including bills) and private shared houses at £650–£700 a month (2026/27 prices).
Yes. Luton Fitzroy Court takes a £200 refundable deposit plus two weeks' rent when you book. Polhill Park's deposit is £99. Deposits are held in a tenancy deposit scheme.
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.
