Why choose us?


  • Trips and visits to complement your studies

    As a public services student, you will be able to take exchange trips every year. Recent visits include a trip to the Peak District and to San Benedetto del Tronto, an Adriatic coastal town in Italy where the team undertook the challenge of mountain trekking with the Italian Navy. Our sports students also take a variety of trips to visit sporting venues, including Lilleshall National Sports Centre, York College and the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

  • Compete and test your skills

    Due to our excellent reputation, the College was chosen to hold the 2007 Skills Challenge UK. During the competition, our Public Services students were put through their paces by the fire, police and the ambulance services.

  • An investment in your future

    If you are considering a career in the army, you might qualify for assistance under the new Army Further Education Bursary scheme, which will help fund your studies and support you before you apply to join the armed forces.

  • Expert and experienced tutors

    All of our lecturers have worked in the public services, as police officers, soldiers, an ambulance paramedic, and prison officers, which gives an extra dimension to lessons and will enable you to draw on their vocational experience.

  • An amazing Sport Academy

    Bedford College Sport Academy provides fantastic opportunities for progression into professional clubs and national teams for students from all sporting backgrounds. The Academy offers top training and coaching in sports from football, rugby and cricket through to basketball, netball and rowing, and works in partnership with Kempston Rovers FC, Bedford Athletic Rugby Club, Kolven Golf, Bedford Bulls Basketball Club, Bedfordshire Cricket Association and Bedford Rowing Club.

  • Professional accreditation and national awards

    The Football Academy retained FA Charter Standard Academy Status for the fourth year and we won a national award for innovation with a Futsal programme in partnership with Bedfordshire FA, Bedfordshire SScos and AFC Kempston Rovers.

  • We celebrate success

    We have a departmental Oscars awards evening, where course tutors present awards for academic excellence – so you know your efforts and achievements will be recognised and celebrated.