Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Buckingham is a small, independent university in the market town of Buckingham. It's best known for its two-year degrees, which pack a three-year course into two calendar years with shorter holidays. Classes are small, and the university's own line is that you're a name, not a number.
It's a very different experience from a big university. There are only a few thousand students, the town is quiet, and nightlife is limited. As a private university, its fees work differently from most UK universities, so check the costs carefully. If you want an intensive, personal degree and to finish quickly, it's worth a look.
Known for
The University of Buckingham is 57th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 49.5, above 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | Liverpool Hope University | 49.7 |
| 56 | University of Birmingham | 49.7 |
| 57 | University of Buckingham | 49.5 |
| 58 | Bangor University | 49.1 |
| 59 | University of Essex | 48.8 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
5th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 79.5
6th of 124 · Affordability Score 71.6
7th of 124 · Value Score 73.2
8th of 124 · Freshers Score 70.8
11th of 122 · Careers Score 43
12th of 124 · Employability Score 42.9
29th of 124 · Balance Score 49.7
61st of 124 · Societies Score 50
72nd of 124 · Inclusion Score 54.7
107th of 124 · Nightlife Score 33.6
114th of 124 · Social Score 35.9
Not enough published data to rank fairly
Not enough published data to rank fairly
Not enough published data to rank fairly
Not enough published data to rank fairly
Buckingham as a student city
Ranked 17th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 57.7.
The University of Buckingham appears in 1 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence | 1st | of 66 | 141 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Student life centres on Hunter Street, where the Old Tanlaw Mill (OTM) houses the Students' Union, bar, gym and a café serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The SU supports students to set up clubs and societies and runs parties and events. Buckingham itself is a small, historic market town, so it's quiet. For bigger nights out and shopping, most students head to Milton Keynes.
University halls cost £130–£310 per week (2026 calendar-year rates for single students, on 48- or 50-week licences) (2026 (rates apply 1 January to 31 December 2026) prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
The university says: "We can guarantee you on-campus accommodation for your first year, provided that you apply by the relevant accommodation application deadline (where stated)." The room may not be one of your three choices but will be on one of its four campuses. For September 2026 entry, room offers started in the week of 17 August 2026; for January 2027 entry, from the week of 9 November 2026.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moreton Road (small rooms) | Moreton Road | small room in a house or flat | £130/wk | The cheapest option, in a quiet residential estate, suited to mature students, postgraduates and anyone wanting a calmer place. About £6,240 for 48 weeks. |
| Hailsham House | Hunter Street | standard room or premium en-suite | £145/wk | On the main Hunter Street campus. Premium en-suites are £195 a week. |
| Bateman House | Hunter Street | standard room | £145/wk | 42 standard rooms on the main campus, about £6,960 for 48 weeks. |
| Bishops Court | Hunter Street | flat (quiet), some en-suite | £145/wk | Designated quiet flats; en-suite or private-bathroom rooms are £165 a week. |
| Harris House | Hunter Street | en-suite | £165/wk | 42 en-suite rooms on the main campus. |
| Sunley House | Hunter Street | premium en-suite | £195/wk | 39 premium en-suite rooms. |
| Mount Pleasant Catered | Mount Pleasant | catered twin (per bed) or double for single use | £225/wk | Over 60 en-suite catered rooms, with catering Monday to Friday in term time. A double room for one person is £310 a week. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Small and walkable, close to Hunter Street, but the private rental market is limited.
A much bigger town with more housing and nightlife, but you'll need a bus or car to get in.
Quieter and sometimes cheaper, but you'll really need your own transport.
Top tip
Apply by the accommodation deadline for your intake to keep the first-year guarantee, and list your three preferred options. Within 10 days of your room offer, you'll need to pay either the £700 security bond or your first term's rent to confirm it. Rates are set by calendar year and licences run 48 or 50 weeks, so compare the yearly totals, not just the weekly rates.
Buckingham's rooms aren't cheap for a small town, and contracts are long. 2026 rates run from £130 a week (small rooms at Moreton Road) to £310 a week (a catered double at Mount Pleasant), on 48- or 50-week licences. Most standard rooms on Hunter Street are £145 a week, about £6,960 for 48 weeks. Everyone also pays a refundable £700 security bond. Two-year degrees mean one less year of living costs.
Getting around
Buckingham is a small town, so most students walk between the Hunter Street campus, the other university sites and the town centre. Verney Park has free car parking and bike storage. There's no railway station in Buckingham: Milton Keynes, the nearest big town, is reached by bus or car.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
The University of Buckingham is 57th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 49.5. Its strongest results are for student wellbeing (5th), affordability (6th), value for money (7th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, the University of Buckingham places highest for Artificial Intelligence (1st of 66). Across our awards, it also stands out for student wellbeing.
Yes. Buckingham describes itself as the only independent university in the UK with a Royal Charter. Its fees and funding work differently from most UK universities, so check the current fee and student finance details for your course.
Buckingham pioneered two-year degrees, which cover the content of a standard three-year honours degree in two calendar years. You get shorter holidays, but you graduate a year earlier and save a year's living costs.
Yes. You're guaranteed on-campus accommodation for your first year if you apply by the deadline for your intake. It might not be one of your three choices, but it'll be on one of the university's four campuses.
For 2026, rooms cost £130–£310 a week on 48- or 50-week licences. Most standard rooms are £145 a week, en-suites are £165–£195, and catered rooms at Mount Pleasant start at £225 (per bed in a twin). You also pay a £700 security bond.
Yes, many courses have January starts. For January 2027 entry, accommodation room offers start from the week of 9 November 2026.
It's a small market town, so it's quiet. Social life centres on the Students' Union in the Old Tanlaw Mill, with its bar, gym and events. Milton Keynes is nearby for shopping and bigger nights out.
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.
