Founded in 1976, The University of Buckingham was created as an antidote to the undermining of independence and academic freedom in universities.
Innovation and entrepreneurship were threaded through the University’s vision from its commencement. Buckingham allow their students to study a degree their way – with a range of study options, including fast-track schedules and September and January starts for almost all their courses. Buckingham offer accelerated study options including a four and a half-year medicine degree, as well as two-year degrees, which Buckingham has championed with great success. Students can also combine their undergraduate degree with either a foundation or postgraduate degree, meaning they can graduate with both in just three years.
Buckingham pride themselves in delivering more than just an education – they provide a launchpad for careers. Their commitment to career-focused courses has seen them ranked second for Graduate Prospects (on track) in the Complete University Guide 2023.
Speaking on joining IHE, Chris Payne, Registrar, said:
“Joining IHE comes at an opportune time for us as an institution. The University has just launched its Strategic Plan 2023-2028, with our foundational values of academic freedom, independence, innovation and entrepreneurship right at its heart. We are aligned with IHE’s commitment to flexibility, innovation, student focus and collaboration and look forward to working with other independent providers in embracing our shared dedication to the student experience”.
IHE Chief Executive, Alex Proudfoot, said:
"At IHE we believe in the transformational power of higher education. We also believe that sustaining this power over time requires higher education itself to embrace transformation, and its leaders to be restless in their pursuit of innovation, excellence, and challenging the status quo.
"The University of Buckingham has been an inspiration to so many in the independent sector, embracing change and pioneering new approaches to learning, while always preserving that which it values most fundamentally: its independence and its academic freedom. The UK is the richer for their continued success, and we are thrilled to welcome them home to Independent Higher Education."
The University of Buckingham has been an inspiration to so many in the independent sector, embracing change and pioneering new approaches to learning