Birmingham City University (BCU) is a large and diverse institution, which places a firm focus on providing the best possible teaching and resources for its student community while delivering a memorable and fulfilling student experience.
BCU is home to around 30,000 students, representing more than 100 countries worldwide. The university fosters a supportive and welcoming atmosphere, ensuring that students can study in comfort and confidence, reaching their academic potential while having plenty of opportunities for personal development.
BCU offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses, available with several different modes of study and distributed across four academic faculties. The university has two main campuses in Birmingham, with additional learning centres located across the city which house specialist teaching facilities. BCU is a well-funded and fast-growing institution with big plans for developing its campuses and facilities, who has invested £340 million in infrastructure, including a major expansion of the City Centre Campus.
There are on campus accommodation facilities for first year students, as well as a portfolio of bursary and scholarship options. The university also has superb sporting facilities and a lively programme of extra-curricular enrichment.
Birmingham City University students on Whatuni say:
“Great facilities, lots of student support and good student life.”
“Birmingham City University is all in all a great uni to study at.”
“I am yet to complain about Birmingham City University, it’s been a great first year for me.”
There are well over a hundred undergraduate degree courses to choose from at BCU, spanning a comprehensive range of subject areas and distributed across the university’s four academic faculties:
Each faculty has a distinct academic profile, while each also carrying the university’s ethos of hard work and intellectual curiosity. The university has cultivated a reputation for teaching excellence, and its highly experienced academic faculty are a huge part of their overall success. Staff are encouraging and enthusiastic about their subject area, and many have worked and taught overseas, enabling them to communicate effectively with student from all backgrounds. Additionally, their first-hand industry insights give an invaluable context to their delivery of BCU’s excellent academic curriculum.
Birmingham City University students on Whatuni say:
“Teachers always available to support.”
“Really enjoy my time at university and like the online classes.”
“Amazing tutors to shed their experience on us and they have been extremely supportive throughout the entire process.”
Undergraduate degree courses at BCU vary considerably in terms of individual entry requirements. The university typically uses the UCAS Tarif assessment metric for making formal offers, however there are many alternative routes to enrolment. Applications are considered on an individual basis, and the university accepts equivalent international qualifications and will also consider relevant work or professional experience while making a decision. Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit their course-specific pages on the university website to be sure of the admission requirements for their chosen programme.
Overall, the university encourages anyone with the desire and motivation to study at BCU to make an application. Their admissions team are available to contact all year round for any queries or questions.
UCAS TARIFF CALCULATORAccommodation can have a huge impact on the university experience, and BCU has a wide variety of living options for new and returning students, with ten university-owned halls of residence located around the city. Each offers a different combination of services and amenities to ensure that students have everything they need to study with convenience and comfort.
Whichever campus students are attending, there is safe, clean and comfortable housing options available within a short distance, and most halls of residence offer a variety of bedroom types, to suit all budgets and preferences.
Every location has on-site laundry and out-of-hours security, as well as fast WiFi throughout the building. Most locations also have study and social areas, providing a safe and convenient place for students to socialise with new flatmates, and some even have their own gym!
Birmingham City University students on Whatuni say:
“Short walk to accommodation.”
“Easy commute.”
“Campus is in a great location with train station, parking and Morrisons nearby for anything you need.”
BCU is a well-funded university which has invested 340 million into their campus and facilities and has an ongoing scheme to invest a further 125 million. The university’s academic infrastructure is second-to-none, with purpose designed facilities for most subject areas furnished with the latest industry-grade equipment and teaching technologies.
This ensures that BCU students learn with the very best and most industry-relevant facilities, making them well-prepared to enter competitive job roles with confidence. The university also has a highly developed virtual learning environment, through which course content is distributed and assessed. There is a variety of general and specialist libraries, situated in a range of buildings from Grade 1 listed historic architecture to modern purpose-built facilities with hundreds of thousands of books, journals and digital resources. BCU has recently announced that the Alexander Stadium, key venue of the Commonwealth Games 2022, will be the new home for their Sport and Exercise Science courses. The university will be investing £5 million in developing bespoke learning spaces, laboratories and specialist facilities in the stadium.
Birmingham City University students on Whatuni say:
“The best aspects would definitely be the recourses such as the library it has a homey feel which encourages you to work as well as socialise. ”
“Great campus shop, multiple coffee shops and selection of food available during the day and great library with loads of study areas.”
“The on campus facilities are pretty good and really make the course more enjoyable.”
Find out more about the accommodations and facilities in person at the uni.
BOOK OPEN DAYWhat's it like to study at this institution? Current students and alumni share their opinion...
VIEW 1940 REVIEWS WRITE A REVIEWS Shakil Reviewed 28 Jan 24 Computing and Information Technology BSc (Hons) Very Nice... READ FULL REVIEW
E Emmanuel Reviewed 25 Jan 24 User Experience Design - MSc BCU is a great place to study because it focuses on employability and diverse course offerings. The location is also great because it's situated in Birmingham, vibrant and culturally diverse city. The university has invested in modern facilities and resources, including libraries, labs and a... READ FULL REVIEW
BCU understands that undertaking a degree-level course of study can be a challenging experience for many different reasons, and is committed to providing the best possible programme of student support services to its learning community.
Services include academic support for those who need a bit of extra encouragement, financial advice for those who need help with funding or budgeting while they are at university, accommodation assistance, health and wellbeing support, free and confidential counselling, careers guidance, faith and spiritual support, and disability advice and support ranging from DSA applications to personal assistance around campus. Whatever the need, students can feel confident that the university has them covered.
The student’s union is often the first point of contact for access to these services, where the friendly and approachable team are on hand all year round to listen and assist.
Birmingham City University students on Whatuni say:
“BCU is amazing to study at as there's lots of support from lectures and personal tutors plus additional support services across uni.”
“Great university really supported us during pandemic.”
“Most people are extremely supportive, especially in the theatre environment, and promote a healthy working space to learn and grow”
Find out more about the student support offered on the university’s website.
VISIT WEBSITEBCU is an employment-oriented institution whose graduates are highly desirable across a broad spectrum of professional sectors. With such significant recent investment in its campus and facilities, once of the main strengths of studying at BCU is access to its world-class facilities and teaching technologies. Being able to train on such a high standard of equipment and facilities makes BCU graduates well-prepared for employment roles beyond university and, combined with the quality of their teaching staff, it is no surprise that the university has such a high graduate employment rate.
A degree from BCU is an asset in the search for competitive graduate job roles, and opens many doors to further study, or international employment.
Birmingham City University Students’ Union (BCUSU) is an independent student-run organisation, whose priority is to ensure a fair, supportive and enjoyable student and university experience for the whole learning community.
Incoming students are automatically enrolled as members and have free and full access to everything which the union provides. This includes a raft of services and a lively timetable of events and activities to encourage social and cultural experiences, and to develop a united feeling of BCU identity.
There are student support options through the students’ union such as counselling, financial advice and academic support, and the democratically elected Student Officer Team organise and represent the voice of the union’s student membership, as well as co-ordinating the many clubs and societies which form the basis of the university’s extra-curricular activity programming.
Students can get involved directly, taking on positions of responsibility and contributing to the overall student culture and experience.
Birmingham City University students on Whatuni say:
“BCU has a great atmosphere, with plenty of students that use the area to socialise it has loads of extra-curricular activities to get involved in and a big study open area.”
“I like that they always put on events and try to make the students try new things.”
“The campus has its own student union shops that sell sketchbooks and art supplies aswell as stationary and food”
Some of the most memorable moments at university are found outside of the classroom, and BCU provides a huge range of opportunities for new and returning students to try something new and make new friends, many of which will last a lifetime.
The university has more than 100 clubs, sports teams, and special interest societies available to join through the students’ union, covering a diverse range of topics from chess club to campaigning, languages and cultural groups, to socio-political societies, film, music and literature and many subject-specific groups. There is a whole world of options, and many of them are free to join.
Students are also encouraged to set up new societies where they are not already offered and may sometimes receive funding and organisational support from the university.
Birmingham City University students on Whatuni say:
“There are also many many many societies which you can join and therefore it is a very easy way to make friends.”
“Student life is amazing.”
“They also hold many fun activities for students such as Laser Tag, Holi events, celebrate Chinese new year - in other words they embrace and enjoy every culture.”
Birmingham is the second most populous city in the United Kingdom, with five major universities and more than 80,000 students who call the city home. It is a diverse and multicultural metropolis with a rich history and a cosmopolitan atmosphere entirely of its own.
With over a million residents, there is no shortage of things to do and places to discover. The city has a huge industrial heritage with more than 30 miles of canals, and many museums and heritage sites to visit. There is a bustling market scene, and some of the best high-street shopping in the UK. The city is a cultural melting pot and there is a fantastic range of cuisines to try at every corner, as well as a busy nightlife offering some of the best live music, theatre, pubs, bars and clubs, all at a student-friendly budget.
Sports fans need look no further, since Birmingham is home to some of the biggest teams in British sports, with local top-flight football, rugby, cricket and athletics teams performing weekly. Conveniently located in the centre of the UK, Birmingham is an excellent place from which to explore, with many different public transport services in the region, and a major international airport.
Birmingham City University students on Whatuni say:
“Lots of students and good night life.”
“Plenty of places to go in Birmingham or for nights out.”
“Being just East of the city centre, it offers easy access to amenities without being so close that it’s distracting.”
See the campus and city for yourself in person by booking an open day place.
BOOK OPEN DAYBCU is an employment-oriented university, which focuses ample resources and attention on the professional development and career opportunities of its large student population. The university has a well-resourced career and employment department which delivers a raft of services such as CV writing, interview training, and provides access to networking events and career workshops organised throughout the academic year. Students are able to find and secure internship and work-experience opportunities while they are still studying, helping them to build their professional profile before leaving university.
Graduates can access the full range of careers and employment support for up to three years after course completion.
Birmingham City University students on Whatuni say:
“Workplace internships are great, they are uploaded onto a group on Microsoft teams with at least three a week.”
“You are able to work with a range of people and develop these communication skills however which does prepare you for a challenging, fast paced environment in the future.”
“Good opportunities to get some work experience.”
BCU is fortunate to receive generous funding from its professional sponsors, alumni and individual donors, and is conscious to re-invest this income back into the most important and valuable aspect of the university - its students.
There are many different financial aid packages available, offered on both merit-based and means-tested criteria. These scholarships and bursaries give opportunities for hard working students to subsidise their studies through their university work and also provide a financial safety net for the more economically vulnerable students, ensuring that everyone has the ability to study in confidence and security.
There are other support schemes available such as Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA) and grants for those with specific learning requirements. Prospective students are encouraged to check online for eligibility, and familiarise themselves with any upcoming dates and deadlines.
BCU understands that investing in degree-level study, especially while moving cities or countries can be a daunting prospect financially, and is committed to offering fair access to its high-quality curriculum. As such, the university aims to keep course fees competitive, and offers a variety of payment options and financial aid schemes.
UK students studying a full-time undergraduate degree course are charged £9,250 per year, in line with government guidelines. Students are able to have these fees covered by an interest-free loan from Student Finance England which is repayable after graduation, and once a certain earning threshold has been reached.
International students pay a higher rate of tuition fee, which varies depending on specific course type and duration of study. More details can be found on the BCU website.
You'll be shocked by the number of clubs and societies on offer at Birmingham City University. There's something for everyone! As well as being able to pick different clubs and societies, most courses let you choose modules at different points through your degree.
As well as personalising your course through optional modules, you may have the chance to do a work placement during your studies. Developing your professional skills through work placements is a great way to add to your CV and boost your employability.
If you want a job you love (and who doesn't?), getting a job in a field you're passionate about is a great place to start. By studying a subject you really enjoy, you'll be qualified for a range of jobs relating to that subject, which you'll hopefully love.
For those who aren't ready to give up on education after an undergraduate degree, you'll have the opportunity to progress to postgraduate study such as a master's or even a PhD.
Birmingham City University's accommodation is designed to be as straightforward and stress-free as possible. All your bills are included in your rent, you'll have free WiFi and your rent also includes security and maintenance.
You'll have access to communal areas like kitchen and dining facilities, where you can socialise with other students you're living with. Disabled students will find several rooms adapted in accessible halls to suit a range of access requirements.
