REASONS to CHOOSE BU

Wouldn't life be boring if everyone was the same? At BU, we celebrate the things that make us different because they help us to approach challenges from an alternative viewpoint. Here are just some of the many reasons a BU education will be like no other –because great minds never, ever think alike.

1: We're a global university, home to a world of opportunity

We're proud to be based in Dorset, and our influence extends around the world. Times Higher Education (2022) ranks us as one of the world's top 70 young universities and one of the top 15 UK universities for employability, thanks in part to our commitment to providing superb work placement opportunities for all our students. Through initiatives like our Skills Development Programme, we make sure you have the chance to develop into the kind of internationally-aware professional that the world is in need of. You can also undertake an international exchange, spending a semester studying abroad, or find long and short work placements in other countries. To find out more about the ways we prepare you for the global workplace, see page 46.

2: Our research makes a real difference

We pride ourselves on research that makes a real difference to the world around us. We believe that research, education and professional practice belong together, with each shaping and informing the other. We don't believe in barriers to research, which is why we encourage inter-disciplinary work wherever possible.

As an undergraduate student, you can also get involved with the work we are doing. You could find yourself working alongside academic staff on live research projects, getting involved with work that has the potential to change lives.

3: We help people live better, for longer

From helping those with hip pain to tackling malnutrition in older people, we use all the tools and skills we have at our disposal to help improve the quality and the duration of people’s lives.

4: We help to protect and preserve a sustainable environment

We are helping to save endangered species, protect coastal and freshwater regions, and understand ecosystems, learning from the past to change the future. We use our location to embed good practice that helps to protect and preserve a sustainable environment for generations to come.

also practise what we preach. In the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2022, we were ranked fourth in the responsible consumption and production category. What's more, we've been a Fairtrade university for 16 years and hold annual events for Fairtrade Fortnight. We were awarded an EcoCampus Platinum award in 2016, in recognition of the hard work we have done to minimise our carbon footprint.

6: We help to prepare for and recover from crisis

5:

We're ethically and environmentally responsible

Ethical business practices and environmental sustainability are embedded in our courses, but we

We are leading governments and organisations across the world in preparedness for, and recovery from, crises – with people at the heart. From the work of our Disaster Management Centre to research focused on building resilience and cyber security, BU manages situations, makes systems and operations safe and secure, and works for the protection of the world we live in.

7: We’re helping creative and cultural industries to thrive

We have the expertise to help cultural and creative industries grow sustainably and responsibly. From our Oscar-winning graduates to our exploration of cultural heritage and our international tourism reputation, our work helps to add enjoyment to life, from the holidays we go on, to the movies we watch and the history we preserve.

8: We are proud of our diversity

As a BU student, you can be proud to be part of a community that celebrates diversity. We have an Athena Swan Bronze award in recognition of our commitment to gender equality, and the Students' Union at BU (SUBU) has Investors in Diversity accreditation.

We host an annual Pride event and many more events throughout the year for students across the university to celebrate diversity in all its forms.

Discover how you can celebrate your own difference with SUBU on page 34 and all the support we offer on page 38. If you're joining us from overseas, see page 56 for more information.

9: We challenge marginalisation, misinformation and under-representation

We challenge marginalisation, embody ethical reporting and digital responsibility, protect the vulnerable, and empower communities. We do this by listening to those who are often excluded from decision-making, and helping them to be heard.

10: We offer incredible learning opportunities

The learning environment is more than the furniture around us – it's the technology, support and course design that help you prosper.

11: We are a catalyst for growth, using our expertise to boost skills and advance the region

We want to help make Bournemouth the best it can be, so we use everything we learn on the global stage to help grow and develop the region. Our international links, our real world experience, our cutting-edge research and our alumni network help us to take the best of Bournemouth around the world – and bring the best of the world back to Bournemouth.

12: Our graduates recommend us 95% of our graduates would recommend BU to someone considering us as their choice for university, according to the most recent BU Alumni Survey (2020).

With so many success stories already behind us, isn't it time you joined us to start your own success story? See page 62 for details of Open Day dates.