The University of Buckingham

What The University of Buckingham does

The University of Buckingham, founded in 1976 in Buckingham, England, is the United Kingdom's first independent private university. It operates three sites — a main campus on Hunter Street in Buckingham, a Crewe campus for additional student accommodation, and a London facility supporting select postgraduate research programs — and employs 251–500 staff. The institution is structured around six schools: Business, Computing, Medicine, Psychology, Law, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Its product portfolio spans undergraduate degrees (notably two-year accelerated degrees alongside three-year programs), postgraduate taught courses (MSc, MA, MBA, LLM), research degrees (PhD, MPhil, MA/MSc by Research), foundation pathways, degree apprenticeships (Level 4–7), and short non-credit courses. Distinctive offerings include an MSc Applied Data Science Degree Apprenticeship priced at £21,000 and delivered via the CRISP-DM methodology on IBM Power 8 GPU servers, plus AI-integrated programs such as BSc Hons Accounting, Finance and AI for Sustainable Futures and a Computing (AI and Robotics) degree. The underlying technology stack combines Moodle (Virtual Learning Environment), Microsoft Teams for live online teaching, MATLAB, and in-house research infrastructure.

Revenue is generated through tuition fees (UK PhD from £8,267/year; international PhD from £14,500/year), employer-funded degree apprenticeships drawn from the UK Apprenticeship Levy (a 0.5% payroll levy on employers with pay bills above £3 million), short paid courses (£60–£500 per enrollment), and validated program partnerships with providers such as Diploma-MSc and Vogue College. Distribution is primarily direct-to-student via UCAS applications, the university's own application portal, a clearing process for late applicants, and an international agent network. The customer base is predominantly individual students (UK undergraduate, postgraduate, international, mature) supplemented by employer sponsors of apprentices.

Name

The University of Buckingham

Legal name

The University of Buckingham

Website

https://buckingham.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The University of Buckingham, founded in 1976, is the United Kingdom's first independent private university, offering accelerated two-year degrees, postgraduate research, and Apprenticeship Levy-funded degree apprenticeships across Business, Computing, Medicine, Psychology, Law, and Humanities schools from campuses in Buckingham, Crewe, and London.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (611), Educational Services (61), Computer Training (61142), Business and Secretarial Schools (611410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Private university
• Degree programs
• Degree apprenticeships
• Research degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Buckingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees - Undergraduate: Revenue from undergraduate degree programs, including two-year accelerated degrees, three-year degrees, and foundation courses. Students pay tuition fees per year of study.
2. Tuition Fees - Postgraduate: Revenue from postgraduate taught courses, research degrees, and professional programs including MB ChB Medicine, LLB Law, and various MSc/MA programs.
3. Apprenticeship Programs: Degree apprenticeships funded by employer Apprenticeship Levy, including MSc Applied Data Science at £21,000 per program. Revenue received from employers via government funding mechanisms.
4. Occasional/Non-Credit Courses: Non-credit bearing courses such as the 'Woke' ideology course offered at various price points (£100-£500) for public education.
5. Short Courses and Events: Short professional development courses such as Teaching Physical Education and Games online at £60 per participant.
6. Employer Partnership Revenue: Revenue from employer partnerships for degree apprenticeships, where employers fund training through Apprenticeship Levy contributions.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The University of Buckingham is the UK's first private university, selling higher education services including accelerated two-year undergraduate degrees, three-year degrees, postgraduate taught programs, doctoral research degrees, foundation courses, and Level 4-7 degree apprenticeships across Business, Computing, Law, Medicine, Psychology, and Humanities disciplines. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees paid by individual students and employer-funded apprenticeship programs delivered via the UK Apprenticeship Levy, with delivery occurring at Buckingham, Crewe, and London campuses plus online for select programs.

Product overview

The University of Buckingham is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programmes across multiple schools and departments. The university operates a distinctive two-year degree model as its primary differentiator, complemented by traditional three-year programmes, postgraduate taught degrees, research programmes, and degree apprenticeships. The product portfolio spans Business School, School of Computing (including AI and Data Science specializations), Medical School, School of Psychology, School of Law, and School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Additional offerings include Foundation courses, short professional development courses, and the Report and Support system for student welfare. The university serves students at its Buckingham and London campuses, with online and hybrid delivery options for certain programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programmes Two-year accelerated and three-year undergraduate degree programmes across disciplines including Business, Computing, Law, Psychology, Humanities, and Medicine, offered at Buckingham and London campuses. Designed for UK and international students seeking faster graduation and career entry.
• Postgraduate Taught Programmes One-year and part-time postgraduate master's degrees including MSc, MA, MBA, and LLM programmes across business, computing, law, education, and specializations such as Content Creation, Fashion Communication, and medical specialty validated programs.
• Research Degrees (PhD/MPhil) Doctoral research programmes including PhD, MA by Research, and MSc by Research across humanities, sciences, law, and professional fields, available full-time (3 years) and part-time (5-6 years). UK PhD fees from £8,267 per year; international from £14,500 per year.
• Degree Apprenticeships Level 4-7 apprenticeship programmes fully funded by employers via the Apprenticeship Levy, including Intelligence Analyst Apprenticeship, Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship with QTS, and MSc Applied Data Science Degree Apprenticeship. Designed for employees seeking degree-level qualifications while remaining in work.
• Foundation Courses Foundation pathway programmes including Access to Computing, Foundation Pathway, and Foundation Pathway Programme (Online) for students requiring preliminary academic preparation before entering undergraduate study.
• Short Courses Occasional and professional development non-credit bearing courses including Teaching Physical Education and Games online (£60), Woke ideology analysis (£100 self-study, £500 seminar), and other continuing education short courses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1st in South East England for Graduate Prospects (On-Track), Complete University Guide 2027
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Diploma-MScminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner courses validated and quality assured by University of Buckingham. Includes medical specialty programs such as Cardiology, Clinical Nutrition, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Critical Care, Dermatology, Family Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Haematology, Infectious Disease, Medical Oncology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Occupational Medicine, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Stroke Medicine, Urology, and Women's Health.
• Vogue CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner courses validated and quality assured by University of Buckingham. Includes Content Creation and Production (MA), Fashion and Beauty Communication (MA), and Fashion Communication and Industry Practice (BA).
• VitalographcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner for MSc Applied Data Science Degree Apprenticeship. Vitalograph employees undertake the apprenticeship for data science upskilling. Chief People Officer Ambrose Downey stated apprenticeships play pivotal role in employee development strategy, fostering continuous learning and innovation.
• Employers via Apprenticeship LevycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployers with annual pay bill over £3 million pay 0.5% Apprenticeship Levy. These funds used to fully fund degree apprenticeships up to £21,000 maximum cost for Level 7 Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist apprenticeship.
• UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration)coreOthersUniversity is a licensed Student (General Student) visa sponsor. Issues Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for international student visa applications.
• Humanities Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity's research institute offering over 100 seminars annually by visiting scholars. PhD students expected to attend graduate Research Days and relevant seminars. Houses research centers including Centre for Education and Employment Research.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BPP University: BPP is one of the UK's largest private for-profit universities offering professional-focused undergraduate, postgraduate, and apprenticeship programs across law, business, and healthcare. Like Buckingham, it serves students seeking alternatives to traditional public universities and has grown apprenticeship and online delivery.
• University of Law: The University of Law is a UK private specialist university with multiple campuses offering law, business, criminology, and education programs. It is one of the closest direct competitors to Buckingham in the UK private higher education space, with similar emphasis on professional pathways and postgraduate conversion degrees.
• BIMM University: BIMM is a UK private specialist university focused on creative industries (music, performing arts, film). It is comparable to Buckingham as another independent private higher education provider operating outside the public university system with a multi-campus model and degree apprenticeship offerings.
• Arden University: Arden University is a UK private university focused on online and blended delivery of undergraduate, postgraduate, and apprenticeship programs. It competes with Buckingham's flexible delivery model and apprenticeship portfolio, particularly for working learners and employer-funded cohorts.
• London Metropolitan University: London Met is a UK public university with a strong international student base and a London-focused delivery model. It is comparable to Buckingham in competing for international and postgraduate applicants in the London/South East market, though operating as a public institution.
• Regent's University London: Regent's is a London-based private UK university offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs across business, humanities, and creative arts. It shares Buckingham's positioning as a small, independent private university competing for fee-paying domestic and international students outside the Russell Group.

Emerging players

• Cranfield University: Cranfield is a UK postgraduate-only specialist university with strong STEM and management programs and significant industry-sponsored and apprenticeship-style provision. It is comparable to Buckingham's postgraduate and apprenticeship-heavy mix, though focused exclusively on advanced/postgraduate study.
• Northeastern University London: Northeastern's London campus is a private, fee-paying US-affiliated UK university offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs with a strong focus on experiential learning and international students. It is comparable to Buckingham's London campus positioning and international student pipeline.
• Hult International Business School: Hult is a global private business school with a London campus competing for fee-paying international postgraduate business students. It is comparable to Buckingham's Business School and international student recruitment model.
• Pearson College London (via Pearson): Pearson College London offers UK degree programs validated through partnerships and an apprenticeship pathway. It overlaps with Buckingham's pathway-program approach and apprenticeship-led growth strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uniofbuckingham
• YouTubeyoutube.com/uniofbuckingham
• Facebookfacebook.com/unibuckingham
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-buckingham

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The University of Buckingham