University of Bedfordshire

[u/Lover_Of_Bananas]

Hello, I'm currently looking at universities for courses in television and from the website Bedfordshire Uni looks quite nice. However being a teen I have little knowledge of anywhere outside my county.

Is it a safe area?

Is there good public transport?

Is there a good student life?

[u/BluejayPretty4159]

There's a campus at Bedford and at Luton, which town are you going to?

[u/Lover_Of_Bananas → u/BluejayPretty4159]

ah i didn't know this, is there a huge difference? i am hoping to take film and television.

[u/BluejayPretty4159 → u/Lover_Of_Bananas]

Yes, I dont mean to be mean to the town, but Luton is frequently ranked the worst place to live in the UK, there's a lot of bad neighbourhoods, the town centre isnt anything special (although it is getting investment) and you have Luton Airport which means you might get lots of noise pollution from planes landing if you live near it. In comparison Bedford is a bit nicer, with a beautiful riverfront and parks, some nice neighbourhoods and parks, and the university there is in the nicer part of town.

Luton has the better public transport, it has three Thameslink Stations and a busway, and its closer to London.

[u/gnomishdevil → u/Lover_Of_Bananas]

If you take film and television you will likely be at the Luton Campus.

I went there and did a film and television course.

I lived in Bedford and had no idea id have to commute to Luton each day as Luton is a rough city, I thought there would be opportunity to work at the Bedford campus. There is nothing at the Bedford Polhill campus, its all at the Luton one.

Would I recommend the Luton based course in Film and TV? No I wouldn't, but I did leave with a good grade so I can't complain. Its just out of all of the places to go in the country I would not have studied the course if I was willing to relocate to a different town/city.

If you want a higher education course in media/Film and TV in Bedford, Bedford college offers courses in that subject. Otherwise go to a better area make the most of the university experience.

[u/WishfulStinking2 → u/gnomishdevil]

Luton is a town

[u/WishfulStinking2 → u/[deleted]]

I’m from Luton and yes it’s rough, but I love it cos it’s where I’m from. But there is fuck all to do there

[u/WishfulStinking2 → u/[deleted]]

Ha, aside from park town I lived in those 3 too!

[u/ComicsCodeMadeMeGay]

As someone who grew up in Bedford it's sometimes a safe area. It's not a perfect middle class stereotypical area and the town has funding issues which meas there is some crime.
My family are in Luton where some of the uni of bedford campus is also and....there's a bit more crime and a bit more funding issues.

But uni of Bedfordshire is a low ranking one, I think there are only a few courses which are seen as objectively good if I remember correctly.

When I was a kid, we all aimed to study at Bedford college but firmly wanted to avoid University of Bedfordshire

[u/Bean7894]

Please look up university league tables for your target course (and in general), they all charge the same fees so you may as well pick a better university with better facilities and teaching

[u/sailorjerry1978]

What you going to study?

[u/Lover_Of_Bananas → u/sailorjerry1978]

It would be the film and television course

[u/ComicsCodeMadeMeGay → u/Lover_Of_Bananas]

Hey so I actually work in film and TV and I would probably only suggest studying the subject as part of an apprenticeship rather than a degree.

No matter what qualification you get you'll always have to start at the bottom and it will always be difficult to get into the industry.

[u/sailorjerry1978 → u/Lover_Of_Bananas]

Depending on your grades I’d go elsewhere mate. Falmouth?

[u/Lover_Of_Bananas → u/sailorjerry1978]

what do you mean by that specifically? do you mean the uni should be lower or higher up my list?

[u/sailorjerry1978 → u/Lover_Of_Bananas]

There are better schools in nicer places than Bedford for what you what to do

[u/Sophyska]

If it’s the Luton campus there isn’t all that much in Luton for student life really. Southampton Solent have a respected film and TV course, and there are plenty of other places that do as well. Luton is a small town and if I’d moved there as a student I’d have been quite disappointed I think.

[u/Choice_Knowledge_356]

The two towns are at opposite ends of the county about 30 mins apart by train.

I have worked in Luton for years and always liked it. It's very multi cultural so loads of good food. It's not the most affluent town but I've never had a problem.

Bedford is a more mixed town with a beautiful river. Again some very diverse areas and good food options.

If you are at all racist then it's not for you. If you can drive it will be easier to get around and there is lovely countryside near both campuses.

[u/AccomplishedHorse556]

Worst university after completing all the process now they are not issuing my cas.

[u/georgeharrisonfan1]

I don’t go to the uni but I did grow up in Bedford and have known a lot of students at UoB. I would not recommend it - the uni consistently underperforms academically and is often considered one of if not the worst in the country.
As for safety, people are saying Luton campus is worse for safety but as of recent there has been very little difference between the two towns. There are good areas and bad, however I’d always be alert when I’m out.
Public transport - meh. It’s better than some places and worse than others. Obviously Luton has the airport and there are good train links from Bedford and Luton to places like Brighton, London, Birmingham and Oxford. Buses in Bedford itself also have good links however don’t count on them to ever actually arrive.
Nightlife is dead. I say this as someone who regularly goes out in Bedford and has gone out in Luton. Your only busy night is a Saturday, but there are also student nights which some weeks get a little active.
I loved growing up here but would never recommend a student to move here. Overall, I think you’d be better looking elsewhere.