Birmingham City University

Birmingham City University is based in the heart of the UK’s second-largest city, with all the social and professional opportunities that this great location offers. Our campuses provide you with the best possible learning environment, and our world-class courses give you the skills you need to progress your career. Over 96% of our students are employed or in further study within six months of graduating (DLHE 2016/17). Study with us and you’ll be part of a confident, proud and diverse community of students, who are striving to achieve their career goals and transform their lives.

Facilities and support arrangements

We have invested £340 million across our buildings and facilities to shape your experience and time with us. Our focus is on practice-led, knowledge-based learning, providing you with access to cutting-edge facilities and real-world experience.

Our City Centre Campus is at the heart of Birmingham’s fast developing Eastside district, and just a short walk from the city centre. This is where most students on courses including Design, Media, Engineering, Computing, Digital Technology, Built Environment, Law, Social Sciences, Business and English are based.

The campus also features library, IT and student support facilities, giving a modern, dynamic space for you to learn in with state-of-the-art resources. An extension to the campus opened in 2018, with more learning space, another IT suite and an innovative group-working lecture theatre. It also provides a base for our Students’ Union, incorporating the Grade II listed Eagle and Ball pub.

Students on Health, Sport and Life Sciences, and Education courses are based at our City South Campus in the leafy suburb of Edgbaston, within easy reach of the city centre. Our trailblazing £41 million facilities replicate the real world of health, education, sport and life sciences, including an operating theatre, hospital wards and a fully equipped midwifery skills/birthing room, as well as sport and life sciences laboratories and replica classrooms for use by our teaching students.

The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire at our City Centre Campus opened in 2017, and provides a conservatoire for the 21st Century. Our music students benefit from a new concert hall, private rehearsal and practice rooms, and teaching spaces for musicians from a variety of disciplines.

Our prestigious, award-winning School of Jewellery has a proud history spanning 130 years and is based right in the heart of Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter, where much of the jewellery made in Britain today is manufactured.

The Birmingham School of Art, founded in 1885 is a Grade I listed building on Margaret Street and was the first ever public art school in the UK. It houses a wonderful complex of traditional-style workshops and teaching and exhibition space.

Future career prospects

We’re committed to giving you the skills you need to progress your career. 96% of our students have progressed into employment or further study (DLHE 2016/17). We received silver status for quality of teaching in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2017.

Our teaching staff comes from and maintains links with industry. Several members of our academic staff are National Teaching Fellows – the most prestigious award for excellence in university teaching and learning.

Our innovative teaching methods, ground-breaking research and collaborations with industry are backed by around 50 of our courses having professional accreditations. By studying here, you will have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and attributes that today’s employers look for, and thanks to our close relationships with businesses and links with industry in Birmingham, you’ll gain extensive experience and skills.

Postgraduate study

Postgraduate study at BCU is a great way to develop your academic focus, further specialise in a discipline, or improve your career prospects. There are lots of options for postgraduate study here, with many students staying on for further study after completing their undergraduate degrees, all the way to mature students joining us part-time.

Birmingham City University offers 120 postgraduate and professional development courses in the following areas:

• Art
• Built Environment
• Business
• Computing
• Design
• Education
• Engineering
• Health
• Law
• Life Sciences
• Media
• Social Sciences

Location and transport

Not only is Birmingham one of the UK’s most exciting and diverse cities, but it is also one of the most accessible. We are at the centre of the UK’s road, rail and coach networks, with trains, buses and trams providing easy access to all University sites and the rest of the country, making us ideally located for commuting students.

We’re not just well located, but the city is also continuously developing with notable projects such as HS2 and the 2022 Commonwealth Games providing exciting opportunities for students and graduates.

Fees and funding and costs

Birmingham is the second most cost-effective city for students in the UK (UNiDAYS 2017). Accommodation and socialising is very affordable in the UK’s second city, with lots of opportunity for part-time employment to earn extra spending money alongside your degree. Public transport and parking is also affordable, with the University campuses being easily accessed for those students commuting or studying alongside working full-time.

Entry requirements

Some courses will require you to have an undergraduate degree in a related subject, whereas in other cases you may be expected to demonstrate your level of experience or attend an interview. All our courses are listed online with their specific entry requirements; however, if you have any queries you can speak with our Course Enquiries Team. This is a dedicated team that can help advise you on the course that may fit best with you. Just complete our online form or call the team on +44 (0) 121 331 5000.

Visit us

We regularly hold Open Events that allow you the opportunity to chat with our staff and our students. This is where you will be able to meet the experts, learn more about university life and see our facilities.

One-to-one conversations with academic staff will help you choose the course that is right for you, as well as learning about flexible study options - many of our Master’s courses can be studied part-time.

Applying

You can apply directly via our website. To do this you will need to create an account and then submit a personal statement, professional and academic references and scanned copies of your prior education certificates. Depending on your course choice you may be required to submit a portfolio; we will request this from you if necessary.