BNU performs strongly during 130th year
We are proud to present the finalised financial statements for Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) and its subsidiary companies here on the University's website which document our achievements – both financial and non-financial – during our 130th year.
The University’s financial highlights in 2020-21 include:
- Boosted our income by 29.2% to £151.5m
- Delivered an operating surplus of £3.4m
- Increased our cash in the bank to £37.2m, up by £14.2m from 2019-20
- Invested £3.6m in our important access and participation work
Our academic performance has also been strong:
- BNU continued to experience rapid growth in student numbers, making us one of the top 20 fastest growing higher education providers in 2020-21;
- Our student retention rates exceed our benchmark by 1.4%; and
- BNU’s league table performance has also been excellent, with our aggregate ranking rising by 10 places to 99th in the UK, and to 77th in the Guardian University Guide, the University’s highest ever ranking.
And we’re just as proud of the positive impact we make to the lives of our students; the environment; and our local communities:
- In The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide we:
- rose 8 places to rank 26th for social inclusion out of all universities in England; and
- had the 21st lowest dropout rate in the UK for students from deprived areas.
- BNU supports tens of thousands of regional jobs with its beneficial impact estimated to be in the region of £0.95bn annually, reflecting the economic activity of the University’s students, staff, and alumni. Our students work in and support many key local industries, including the vitally important health and social care sector, and are active contributors to local and regional charities and voluntary groups.
- BNU’s student recruitment team succeeded in engaging with 3000 school pupils across 61 BNU events by adapting activities in response to the changing COVID-19 restrictions by delivering virtual, in-person and blended activities throughout the year, including taster days, Futures Days, careers advice and guidance sessions across groups from Years 8 to 13.
Our University community has worked together to make a positive difference locally and globally which is outlined in the Public Benefit section of our Financial Statements. We take great collective pride in the impact and benefit we have created across several key areas:
- Research, enterprise and regeneration activities
- Teaching impact
- Environment
- Community engagement
- Outreach and widening participation activities
- External engagement