Brigham Young University (BYU) bases a lot of its curriculum and teachings in tandem with its affiliation with the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS), therefore the Bible is at the foundation of academia here. 

BYU offers 187 undergraduate majors, 88 master’s programmes, and 32 doctorate programmes. One subject area that the university has a stellar reputation for teaching is languages, with the university ranking 3rd nationally for most graduates with foreign language degrees (Chronicle, 2019). 

As well, BYU is the #1 university in the west of America for student engagement (Wall Street Journal) and #5 universities nationally for graduates who go on to earn PhDs. 

While the main campus is situated in Provo, Utah, there are an additional two campuses in Idaho and in Hawaii. 

The main campus is 557 acres in size and sits at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. The grounds are maintained brilliantly and the campus contains some 295 buildings, with 95 used for academic programmes. The Spencer W. Kimball Tower is also the tallest building in Provo and the Marriott Centre is the hub for college basketball and seats 19,000 adoring fans. 

BYU students and staff have access to the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) system free of charge, which includes buses and a rail network, with the UVX line having stops across the BYU campus that can take students to wider transport networks and towns. 

Entrepreneurial students will have access to the Rollins Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology, BYU’s startup incubator and support centre. The aim of the centre is to create long-lasting enterprises with similar values to that of BYU, and to do this they have created a team of experts that will encourage students to push themselves and develop their entrepreneurial skills. 

The New Venture Challenge is a competition that sees students pitch their ventures and innovations to a panel of judges, with the top 10 teams being awarded $15,000 in prize money and then are admitted to the Rollins Centre Founders Launchpad Accelerator for further development.

There are opportunities for students at BYU to gain some research experience,  namely through the Kennedy Centre where research students can apply for funding with grants of up to £5,000 which often takes students abroad to keep up the university’s reputation as an international languages institution. 

Undergraduates have the chance to be a part of the university’s research output by applying to become a Kennedy Research Fellow. If accepted, the student will receive a $1,000 fellowship and the chance to present their findings in a part of the Kennedy Centre’s lecture series. 

The College of Life Sciences also has over 100 different research labs that students can participate in as part of their Mentored Research  scheme.

87% of students from BYU typically found employment or went to graduate school within 6 months of graduation, and 61% of them had secured their future before graduating. This shows the determination of students from BYU who are conditioned by the university to go out and gain real world experience in their time studying. This can mean internships, but also volunteering or research opportunities that can be found with help from the university. 

BYU uses Handshake, an employment network that universities use across America to browse full-time and part-time jobs, internships and volunteering schemes. Career Services also provide students with 1:1 skills with interview practice, resumé writing, and workshops.

Student life at Brigham Young University is quite different to a lot of universities across the US, as the university’s affiliation with the Church of Latter Day Saints means that there are certain codes of conduct that are expected of students studying here. Students of any faith are welcome to study at BYU, but all students must abide by the university’s rules, for example, men cannot grow a beard without doctor’s permission. 

That being said, for students willing to adhere to the rules of this university, the community is close and the various organisations and clubs on campus provide much of the fun to be had here and students are encouraged to partake in intramural sports wherever possible. 

Provo has points of intrigue for students, such as the BYU Botanical Gardens, the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Museum of Paleontology.

BYU undoubtedly brings good value for money for students on a budget; students who are specifically looking for somewhere quiet to study, geographically speaking, and a university with firm Christian morals. This is reflected in the fact that most US universities charge out-of-state students more than in-state students. At BYU non-LDS students must pay more, showing that the university is primarily for that demographic. 

If a student holds those values or wants to earn a decent education on a budget, then this university could be for you, but students would be wise to consider other universities that are more inclusive for all students from all walks of life, and look for universities with better research and startup prospects.