Welcome to the Shrivenham Campus
Living
Shrivenham campus is set in and around the beautifully landscaped gardens of Beckett House, a manor house on the edge of Shrivenham village. The secure campus is home to the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom which is a military and academic community providing postgraduate education in strategy, leadership, management and the application of technology to defence.
Our rural location is home to over 1500 students, with nearly three times that number using us as the hub for their flexible distance learning. The atmosphere is mature, relaxed and informal.
At our Shrivenham campus, you will find a convivial mix of cultures (military and civilian), backgrounds and nations with an established and supportive infrastructure for everyday living and a wide range of social and sporting opportunities.
Where to stay?
We help civilian and overseas military students to find self-catering rooms, shared housing or houses to rent in the local area. British military students normally live in military accommodation on site.
Where to eat and drink?
All students, including those in self-catering accommodation, are eligible to full use of the facilities in the Officer’s Messes. Each Mess has its own self-service dining room offering a varied menu, bar, TV rooms, snooker room, gym, laundry, private function facilities and associated quiet areas. Nearby Shrivenham and Watchfield have pubs and restaurants within walking distance.
Where to shop?
Shrivenham is a well served village with a range of local shops including a bank, garage, newsagents, post office and there is a thriving farmers’ market for fresh local produce. The nearest country market towns, Faringdon and Highworth are both 4 miles away. There is a large supermarket, also about 4 miles away, on the outskirts of Swindon with shopping centres in the town centre.
How to get around?
The M4 gives easy access to London (about 70 miles or 115 km away) and Bristol (40 miles or 64 km), and frequent mainline trains from Swindon to London Paddington take about an hour. A regular bus service to Swindon and Oxford is available.
Where to worship?
A college Chaplaincy team is assisted by clergy from the local communities. An interdenominational Chaplaincy Centre is centrally located and used for worship and meetings during the week. A separate prayer room is available for the use of those from non-Christian faiths.
