The head of Buckinghamshire New University has issued a heartfelt tribute to "dedicated and hard-working” student Ivan Kulyk whose body was found in woods near Marlow this weekend.

Vice-chancellor Rebecca Bunting said staff and students at the High Wycombe-based campus would “miss him greatly”.

The 21-year-old from Tilehurst, near Reading, was missing for 10 days before police made the tragic discovery in woodland in the village of Medmenham on Saturday.

In a statement to the BFP, Professor Bunting said: “It was with great sadness that Buckinghamshire New University learned of the death of Ivan Kulyk, a third-year BA (Hons) Business and Human Resource Management student.

“We offer our sincere sympathy to Ivan’s family, friends and fellow students at this difficult time and are offering support and counselling to members of the University community who have been affected by the news.

“Ivan was known by his tutors to be a dedicated and hard-working student whose dry sense of humour would often bring smiles to people's faces. Ivan had struck up friendships with people across the University who grew to value his companionship.

“Those who studied alongside Ivan remember him for his great respect and consideration of others. Ivan valued everybody irrespective of their age or background and we shall miss him greatly.”

Tributes have poured in for Ivan – who moved to the UK from Ukraine as a child – with many praising his happy disposition and ability to make people laugh.

Police issued CCTV images on Friday of Ivan getting off a bus in Medmenham on February 17 at 7.35am, after boarding the bus at 6.45am near Reading.

And after an extensive search, police teams discovered a body in woods close to the spot, and are treating the death as unexplained, but not suspicious.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact DS Carl Bradford at Reading Police Station by phoning 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.