Education and apprenticeships
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are home to three world class universities; Bournemouth University (BU), Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) and Health Sciences University (HSU), along with Bournemouth & Poole college which is the largest provider of Further Education & Apprenticeships in Dorset. All of these offer a rich environment for education, innovation and research.
Bournemouth University inspires learning, advances knowledge and enriches society worldwide, through research, education, and the impact of its staff, students and graduates in the region. BU is home to around 17,000 students from over 100 countries.
BU actively works to provide work-ready graduates with the skills needed to help local sectors thrive, including healthcare, business and finance, engineering and technology, and creative industries. The university is working on innovative new programmes to deliver skills that the region needs, such as fintech, digital technologies, and data and AI. BU’s degree apprenticeship programmes have been awarded Outstanding by Ofsted. The university is ranked among the best in the world for its sustainability initiatives (THE Impact Rankings 2024).
As the largest FE College in BCP, we educate 3,000 16-18-year-olds annually with work-ready skills. We are the largest apprenticeship provider in the region and support 4,000+ adults in their career development. Our programmes range from introductory basics to degree-level courses, covering skills education across nearly every economic sector.
Since 1883 Arts University Bournemouth has been a leading specialist art institution, providing students from around the world with the spaces and knowledge needed to take their place in the creative industries and succeed in today’s changing economy. AUB actively encourages entrepreneurial behaviours and industry engagement via its Innovation Studio, which operates as a lab for creative technologies with a focus on collaboration, research and prototyping open to students, graduates, and the wider innovating community. AUB is also home to PlastIC, the research centre for plastics innovation and curation.
Health Sciences University’s Bournemouth campus hosts a Care Quality Commission-registered clinic, positioning HSU as a leader in applied health research and innovation. With over 50,000 patient visits annually, the clinic provides access to real patients, clinical data, and advanced diagnostic tools—including one of seven upright MRI scanners in the UK, plus ultrasound and X-ray facilities.
This unique clinical environment enables HSU to deliver education and research alongside contemporary healthcare services, through contracts with the NHS, charities, and private providers. It brings academics, students, and external partners together to collaborate on projects that make a tangible difference to patients and communities.
Through initiatives such as our Innovation Vouchers scheme, we work with SMEs to address complex healthcare challenges, enhance their innovation capability, and foster long-term partnerships that support regional growth.
The Bournemouth campus features the £2.7 million Integrated Rehabilitation Centre, part-funded by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership. Designed with specialist rehabilitation zones and consulting rooms, it addresses regional priorities such as ageing, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, and long-term care. Its Assisted Daily Living Suite—a realistic, fully equipped home environment—supports research into independent living and supported care innovations.
As an established anchor institution within the Dorset Integrated Care System, HSU plays an pro-active and influential in strategic networks including Wessex Health Partners and the Dorset Innovation Hub, aligning our work with system-wide priorities and contributing to the region’s innovation ecosystem.
HSU exemplifies how university-based clinical infrastructure is delivering meaningful impact and innovation—supporting business growth, strengthening NHS pathways, and translating research into real-world solutions.
