INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTUS 2018 ADMISSIONS Contents Welcome 4 The city on your doorstep 7 Exploring the UK 8 Why Birmingham? 10 The city of Birmingham 12 A home away from home 14 Life in Birmingham 16 Learn with the best 18 Making important things happen 19 Supporting you 20 Build your future at Birmingham 24 Alumni – a relationship for life 26 Campus developments 28 Campus life 30 Green campus at the heart of a vibrant city 32 Student accommodation 34 Funding your studies 38 Scholarships and funding opportunities 39 Flexible learning at Birmingham 40 Foundation Pathways 42 Postgraduate Pathways 44 A world of opportunities 46 A global outlook 48 Introduction to course listings 49 Course listings 50 Entry requirements 62 How to apply 66 How to find out more 68 The small print – essential information for all students 69 What next? 74 ONLINE CHATS We regularly host live, online chats on a variety of topics. You will have @unibirmingham the opportunity to chat with our staff, students and alumni about /unibirmingham programmes available and what it’s like to live and study in the @unibirmingham city of Birmingham. www.birmingham.ac.uk/livechats www.birmingham.ac.uk 2018 Admissions 3 The global university at the heart of an ambitious city 2018 Admissions 5 Welcome We are proud to have been welcoming international students to our beautiful Edgbaston campus for over 100 years. We are an outward-looking, international institution, which has always and will continue to open its arms to staff and students from all nationalities and buildings were completed in 1900. backgrounds. You are a central part of our As a student here you will benefit from community, bringing global experience, a new library incorporating the latest IT new ideas and an international outlook, learning technology, a new sports centre which contribute to the academic and with 50-metre pool, and exceptional social richness of our global university. new student accommodation. At Birmingham we encourage bold, The University of Birmingham has independent thinking and provide a history of firsts, and in 2018 the exceptional academic programmes University will open a campus in Dubai, that will stretch and challenge you. demonstrating our ambition as an One of our strengths lies in understanding outward looking, world-class institution. that every student is an individual with The University of Birmingham Dubai will a unique learning style. For this reason encompass our heritage, prestige and you will benefit from enhanced personal global renown, giving its pioneering first tutoring alongside the latest learning students the opportunity to benefit from facilities and new technologies, such a British education, that is recognised as our virtual learning environment. and valued by employers and academic Following the University’s recent institutions around the world. Birmingham outstanding performance in the Quality is already recognised in the top one Assurance Association’s (QAA) Higher per cent of the world’s universities. Education Review, our distinctive This landmark development builds on approach to research-led teaching and our international teaching activities in learning has been recognised again with Singapore and China and our extensive a Gold rating in the UK’s new Teaching international research collaborations. Excellence Framework (TEF). By choosing to study at Birmingham, The reputation of a great university you choose to join a forward-thinking, depends not only upon the quality of leading global university in a lively, education, but on the quality of research. multicultural city, set on a beautiful leafy The results of the last Research Excellence estate, widely acknowledged as one of Framework (REF) in 2014 confirmed our the world’s greatest university campuses. position amongst a handful of institutions You will build lifelong friendships, and that can demonstrate world-leading or become part of a powerful global internationally renowned research across network of Birmingham alumni. such a broad range of subjects. We look forward to welcoming you to We are committed to investing in our campus, and to playing our part in your success and the University’s historic future success. campus is undergoing one of the most exciting and transformational Professor Sir David Eastwood redevelopments since its original Vice-Chancellor 6 International Prospectus Please note: journey times are for guidance only and are based on the average time taken for off-peak trains travelling between mainland UK city centre stations. Edinburgh 5–6 hours by train 3–4 hours by train Belfast Leeds 1–2 hours by train Liverpool Dublin 1HR 20 Amsterdam Berlin BIRMINGHAM 1HR 45 Cardiff London Paris 1HR 15 FACT p Birmingham is the youngest city in Europe, with under-25s accounting for nearly 40% of its population p We are the only university in mainland Britain with our own railway station on campus, aptly named ‘University’ p With over 8,000 acres of parks and open space, Birmingham is one of the greenest cities in the UK 2018 Admissions 7 The city on your doorstep STUDYING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM MEANS THAT YOU BENEFIT FROM BOTH AN EXCITING AND BUSY CITY, AS WELL AS A BEAUTIFUL, HISTORIC CAMPUS. IF YOU LIKE THE BUZZ OF A VIBRANT CITY, THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO TRANSPORT YOURSELF INTO THE HEART OF BIRMINGHAM. A FULL TAXI OF FRIENDS CAN COST AS LITTLE AS £3 EACH FROM THE CITY TO CAMPUS, PERFECT CATCH THE TRAIN FROM AFTER A FUN NIGHT OUT TAXI UNIVERSITY STATION STRAIGHT TO BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET IN EIGHT MINUTES WITH BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT ON YOUR DOORSTEP, TRAVELLING TO MAINLAND EUROPE COULDN’T BE EASIER. EXPLORE THE TAKE THE SCENIC ROUTE AND STREETS OF AMSTERDAM WALK ALONG THE CANALS THAT LIKE A LOCAL OR BE IN RUN FROM CAMPUS INTO THE PARIS IN TIME FOR DINNER HEART OF BIRMINGHAM 8 International Prospectus Exploring the UK AT BIRMINGHAM, YOU BENEFIT FROM LIVING IN THE HEART OF THE COUNTRY. THERE IS A MAJOR RAILWAY STATION IN BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE, AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND LINKS TO THE COUNTRY’S BIG MOTORWAYS. YOU WILL FIND IT EASY TO TAKE A TRIP AND EXPLORE ALL CORNERS OF THE UK. HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE FANTASTIC PLACES YOU CAN VISIT. Stonehenge Snowdonia National Park Giant’s Causeway Land’s End 1 2018 Admissions 9 Tourist attractions 1 John O’Groats 2 Giant’s Causeway 3 Lake District 4 Snowdonia National Park 5 Cheddar Gorge 6 Stonehenge 7 Land’s End Edinburgh 5–6 hours by train 2 3 3–4 hours by train Belfast York 1–2 hours by train Liverpool Dublin 4 BIRMINGHAM Cambridge Stratford-upon-Avon Swansea Oxford Cardiff London 5 Bath 6 Canterbury Brighton 7 10 International Prospectus Why Birmingham? WHEN YOU CHOOSE BIRMINGHAM, YOU ARE CHOOSING TO STUDY AT AN OUTSTANDING UNIVERSITY, RENOWNED FOR CHANGING LIVES AND TRANSFORMING SOCIETY. By studying here, you will be emulating some of the most prominent thinkers this country has produced. Birmingham THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM offers the best of both worlds, a stunning green campus just a few minutes from the WAS THE TIMES AND THE SUNDAY TIMES exciting, vibrant city centre. When you choose Birmingham, you will benefit from high-quality teaching in a world-class UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR research institution that nurtures talent and will support you throughout your FOR GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT 2016. life and career. THE UNIVERSITY THE UNIVERSITY Over 6,500 WAS AWARDED OF BIRMINGHAM STUDENTS FROM A GOLD RATING IS ONE OF THE 150 COUNTRIES: IN THE NEW TOP RESEARCH BIRMINGHAM HAS TEACHING EXCELLENCE UNIVERSITIES ONE OF THE LARGEST FRAMEWORK (TEF). IN THE COUNTRY AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENT A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITIES IN THE UK. RUSSELL GROUP. FINALIST HEA Global Teaching 2017 FINALIST FOR THE GLOBAL TEACHING Excellence Award 2017 EXCELLENCE AWARDS (HIGHER EDUCATION ACADEMY). 2018 Admissions 11 RICH IN HERITAGE AND CULTURE, 11 NOBEL PRIZE THE UNIVERSITY WAS ESTABLISHED LAUREATES IN 1900. BIRMINGHAM.AC.UK/NOBEL RANKED IN THE TOP 1% OF UNIVERSITIES GLOBALLY OUR EDGBASTON CAMPUS IS IN THE TOP TEN 15th IN THE COMPLETE UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2017 MOST BEAUTIFUL CAMPUSES 13th IN THE GUARDIAN UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2018 IN BRITAIN. (THE TELEGRAPH) 16th IN THE TIMES AND THE SUNDAY TIMES GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2017 12 International Prospectus The city of Birmingham BIRMINGHAM IS A GLOBAL AND MODERN CITY, FAMOUS FOR ITS HISTORIC, INDUSTRIAL PAST. IT IS NOW A CENTRE OF ARTS AND CULTURE, COMMERCE AND ENTERTAINMENT. BIRMINGHAM IS HOME TO THE LARGEST FINANCIAL SERVICES AND CREATIVE SECTORS OUTSIDE LONDON. IT OFFERS EVERYTHING YOU COULD DESIRE FROM A CAPITAL CITY, WITHIN EASY REACH OF THE BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE. 2018 Admissions 13 LOCATION international airport. We are within GREEN PARKS AND easy reach of famous towns such as OUTDOOR SPACES Birmingham city centre, just three miles Stratford-upon-Avon, the historic city away from our Edgbaston campus, of Oxford and the breathtaking For a breath of fresh of air, there are is a lively and exciting destination. With mountains of Wales. nearly 600 parks and public spaces in our very own railway station on campus, Birmingham – Cannon Hill Park is just a trains take just eight minutes to travel PLACES OF WORSHIP short walk from campus. A little further into the city centre making your journey you can explore the Lickey Hills Woods easy and cheap! All faiths are well represented in or Sutton Park, which is the largest urban Birmingham, with more than 650 park in Europe outside of a capital city. Birmingham is ideally placed for trips churches, mosques, synagogues throughout the UK and Europe via our and temples across the city. 14 International Prospectus A home away from home AS A THRIVING CITY FOR STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, CHOOSE BIRMINGHAM FOR A WARM WELCOME IN ONE OF THE MOST COSMOPOLITAN CITIES IN BRITAIN.