University of Birmingham

History

• Founded in 1900, Birmingham has been challenging and developing great minds for more than a century.
• Birmingham was the first independent civic university built on a campus model, the first with a Medical School, a Business School, a purpose built students' union, and a women's halls of residence.

Location and transport

• Birmingham is at the heart of the country's road and rail networks, with an international airport with flights to many worldwide destinations.
• Located just far enough from the city centre to enjoy the benefits of campus life, but close enough to access all the amenities of one of the UK's largest cities.
• Our Edgbaston campus is green and spacious, with all the amenities of a small town on its 101-hectare (250-acre site), including the university's own train station.

Entry standards

• We welcome undergraduate applications from all candidates offering A level or equivalent qualifications.
• Entry standards for A level vary, with mean points score for entrants being 402. 
• International students need to demonstrate a good level of written and spoken English.
• Find out more about entry requirements at Birmingham on the website.

Student mix

• 27,406 total registered students.
• 17,706 undergraduates (64.6%).
• 8,535 postgraduates (31.1%).
• 1,165 sub-degree students (4.3%).
• Female students 54.7%; male students 45.3%.
• Mature students 29.8%.
• International students 18.3%, from 131 countries.
• Students from state schools 81%; students from independent schools 19%.

Course flexibility

• Single honours programmes for students wishing to concentrate on one subject, and joint honours for those who like a range of options.
• The Major/Minor degrees allow students to concentrate on one subject most of the time (70%), but give a taste of a second subject (30%).
• Some programmes allow study of modules outside the main discipline (MOMD) – there are over 130 MOMDs.

Teaching standards

• Through enquiry-led learning, students are encouraged to take an active role in managing their learning, developing creativity and independence, leadership and problem-solving skills – all highly valued by employers.
• Also offered is a Personal Skills Award, which enables students to gain accreditation in a range of leadership, management and life skills that are essential for the modern work place.
• The standard of programmes and awards has been given the highest commendation by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Research standards

• Birmingham was ranked fifth in the UK for the quality of research in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.
• Birmingham was ranked in the top five for its research in Primary Care, Cancer Studies, Psychology, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Music, European Studies and Physics.
• Research informs the teaching. Many academics are global experts in their fields.

Academic strengths

• Researchers have established several new drug combinations to boost cancer survival rates and are currently developing innovative new TB therapies
• New technology has been used to explore a lost prehistoric world deep beneath the North Sea and Archaeologists recently discovered a new henge near to the Stonehenge site. University scientists working at CERN have been directly involved with work on the Large Hadron Collider and investigations into the Big Bang
• Researchers have developed treatments to slow the progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis and combat the symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome.

Student facilities, including library and computing

• A world leader in developing new learning technologies designed to help individuals learn in the way that suits them best.
• Nine open-access computer suites across campus, two e-learning suites, data points in 90% of university study bedrooms, wireless network, online learning resources.
• One of the UK's largest academic libraries, containing over 2.7 million volumes and 3 million archives and manuscripts, plus a further ten libraries and resource centres.

Disability services

Students' union

• A long and successful history of lobbying and campaigning to improve student life.
  Runs more than 190 student groups and societies, reflecting every taste and interest.
• Intervol (International Volunteering) send around 100 students each year to projects across the globe, including Aids Awareness in Cambodia and Kenya, conservation work and other sustainable long-term initiatives.
• Find out more about the students' union at the University of Birmingham visit the website.

Sport

• Consistently achieved a top three ranking in performance sport from British Universities' Competition (BUCS) over the last 15 years.
• Extensive facilities include fitness suite, swimming pool, three sports halls, floodlit athletics track, floodlit grass and synthetic pitches, tennis courts.
• A comprehensive sports programme with activities to suit all levels of fitness, from absolute beginner to world-class athlete.

Recent/prospective new builds

• The university spends over £1 million each week on developing the campus and improving the learning experience for students.
• Current projects include a new £5-million, 450-seat music auditorium for the world-leading music department.

Availability of part-time work

• Many opportunities to find part-time work in Birmingham. Nine out of ten students find paid work during their time at university.
• Job Zone is an on-campus service run by our Student Guild to help students find part-time jobs. Vacancies advertised are rarely more than 16 hours per week during term-time.

Notable alumni

• Baroness Valerie Amos – Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Nations.
• Dr Simon Campbell CBE FRS FMedSci – 1st Class BSc in Chemistry 1962, PhD in Chemistry 1965, honorary DSc 2004 – has led innovative research, discovering some of the world's best-selling prescription drugs.
• Tim Curry, BA Drama & Theatre Studies, 1968 – actor and singer.
• Sir Liam Donaldson, MSc Anatomy, 1976 – former Chief Medical Office, knighted in 2002 in recognition of his achievements in health care, Chairman of the World Health Organisation's patient safety initiative.
• Professor Sir Charles George KT, Intercalated BSc in Anatomy 1962, MBChB in Medicine 1965, MD 1974 (University of Southampton), Honorary DSc (2003) – previous Chairman of the General Medical Council’s Education Committee, BMA President and Chair of the BMA's Board of Science & Education; knighted for service to medicine and medical education in 1998.
• David Gill, BCom Industrial, Economic and Business Studies, 1978 – Chief Executive of Manchester United F.C.
• Jonathan Goldstein, BMus Arts and Law 1989 – award-winning commercial composer.
• Tamsin Greig, BA in Drama and Theatre Arts 1988 – award-winning actress.

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