Why Birmingham?
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Grade 1 Ofsted 93 per cent of our 29th of 123 ‘Outstanding’ 1st for ‘Outstanding accountancy and universities for the awarded for our Support for media studies 1 in 3 of our most students in primary and Students’ at the students say they are students study graduate level jobs secondary teacher 2010 Times Higher satisfied with their part-time in the Sunday Times training – one of Education Awards student experience University Guide AROUND 25,000 STUDENTS very few universities (NSS 2011) 2012 AND MORE THAN 150 YEARS in the UK 1st for ‘Outstanding 100 per cent of Our students have International One of the top 10 Planning students won the CIPR universities in the 25,000 students Strategy’ at the OF EXPERIENCE said our staff were Midlands Student UK for our spending from over 80 2011 Times enthusiastic about of the Year award on facilities in the countries Higher Education what they were every year since Leadership and Complete University teaching 2006 Management Awards Guide 2012 Research Councils Students have 100 per cent of Our contribution to the education of the citizens of Birmingham and beyond UK listed three ranked Birmingham students graduating Faculty of Health’s Skills and Simulation Birmingham City Conservatoire in Mechanical stretches back through a succession of predecessor institutions for over Department won the 2011 Higher Education University research as the joint top Engineering were 160 years. We achieved university status in 1992 as the University of Academy Learning and Teaching Team projects in its top music college in in employment or Award due to their “excellence in enhancing Central England, changing our name to Birmingham City University in 2007, 100 most innovative the country, in the further study after students learning experience” reflecting our commitment to, and pride in, our home city. ‘Big Ideas for the National Student graduation, DHLE Future’, 2011 Survey 2011 2009/10 Birmingham City University Undergraduate Prospectus WELCOME TO CONTENTS 6 Inspirational teaching 76 Built environment courses 254 Music courses BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY 12 Enhancing your employability 92 Business courses 264 Nursing courses 16 Outstanding student support 130 Computing and technology courses 272 Social sciences courses We’re proud of the accolades we receive from independent > Our world-leading research – judged as ‘world class’ and 22 Student successes 148 Education and teacher training 286 Visual communication courses observers. We’ve taken home a prestigious Times Higher in some areas ‘world leading’ in the most recent Research courses Education Award three years running, our latest inspection Assessment Exercise audit – ensures the latest insights 26 Our award winners 290 How to apply 158 Engineering courses by the independent Quality Assurance Agency for Higher are incorporated into our teaching. 30 Why Birmingham? 294 UCAS tariff tables 34 Investing in our campuses 168 English courses 296 Making the most of your application Education (QAA) praised the “close and sustained partnership” > Students are at the heart of everything we do – our award- 176 Fashion / textiles / interior / 300 Direct application to the University between staff and students, and the 2011 National Student winning Student Academic Partners scheme teams up staff 40 Accommodation three-dimensional design courses 304 Find out more / Open days Survey (NSS) saw an increase in our overall satisfaction rating and students to find ways to make our teaching even better. 41 Halls of residence 44 Tuition fees 190 Film / TV / sound / multimedia 306 How to find us to 80 per cent. > We’re constantly investing – new student accommodation, courses 308 Disclaimers The word is spreading fast – from our satisfied students, an £8.5 million sports centre at our City North Campus and 48 Further study 50 Courses by subject area 200 Health courses 312 Undergraduate course index successful graduates and the businesses that benefit from construction currently under way on our new £61 million 216 Jewellery / silversmithing courses them, through to the industry partners that welcome our 54 Acting / theatre courses 323 How to contact us extension to our City Centre Campus, all of which places 234 Law courses expertise on a wide range of projects. us in the top 10 universities for spending on facilities 62 Architecture / landscape courses 244 Media and communication courses (Complete University Guide 2012). 66 Art courses So what is it that makes us so overwhelmingly popular? > Our students move into great jobs – the Sunday Times Come and see us for yourself – our vibrant city, our successful University Guide 2012 ranked us 29th out of 123 universities students, our enthusiastic staff and our clear, firm focus on in the UK for the most students in graduate level roles. making your time here exactly what you want it to be – just > Our teaching excellence – especially in creative and some of the reasons we should be your first choice. professional practice – and our ground-breaking industry Until then, let me offer a very warm welcome to a lifelong collaborations are renowned, with over 50 professional relationship with one of the UK’s most innovative, creative and accreditations for our courses at the last count. exciting universities. > Our strong industry and professional partnerships with firms including Apple, Cartier, Cisco, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Rolls-Royce ensure that you will Professor David Tidmarsh leave with the skills and knowledge employers value most. Vice-Chancellor Birmingham City University Birmingham City University Undergraduate Prospectus Many of our staff are at the forefront of the latest developments in their respective industries, helping to enhance the University’s reputation through pioneering teaching and research. Many of them are practising professionals – including exhibiting artists, celebrated legal experts and professional musicians – ensuring the University stays up-to-date with the latest thinking in their sectors. Our academics’ expertise also benefits business and industry through knowledge and skills transfer, working with outside partners to solve real-life problems. HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF OUR INSPIRATIONAL ACADEMICS... Professor Chris Edger, a former director at Professor David Roberts specialises in Mitchells & Butlers, is a leading expert in the seventeenth and eighteenth century literature and retail, leisure and hospitality industry. He is the drama, and has published a number of books on UK’s only professor specialising in improving the the subject. As a recognised expert in his subject, performance of hospitality managers, and enjoys he featured in a BBC Radio 4 documentary and INSPIRATIONAL close links with many leading figures in the sector. lectured at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Professor Julian Killingley is widely respected as Dr Lynsey Melville is leading in the development TEACHING an expert on social justice and international human of bioenergy as an alternative fuel source. rights, providing legal support to prisoners in the She is involved with the All Parties Renewable USA who would otherwise be denied it. He also Transport Fuels Group which liaises with MPs on developed the School of Law’s unique internship the opportunities and challenges presented by programme which allows our students to spend time working renewable fuels. in an American attorney’s office. 83 per cent of 87 per cent of our Our pioneering Senior lecturer in Radiography Julie Hall is students agreed students agreed virtual learning Professor David Wilson is a former prison passionate about raising the profile of radiography, that the library that staff were environments which governor and head of training for the Prison both as an effective cancer treatment and as resources and good at explaining recreate schools, Service. Hailed as the most popular media expert a profession. She arranges regular Open Days in his field, he has written many books and articles around the West Midlands and writes blogs on the services met their things to them – solicitor’s offices on the criminal justice system, as well as being a subject. Her research interests lie in patient information and needs (NSS 2011). National Student and hospitals are regular contributor to TV and radio. He featured in the Channel the training opportunities provided by hi-tech simulation. This is above the Survey 2011 award-winning 5 series Banged Up, where he worked to turn 12 prolific young sector average offenders away from a life of crime. 06 www.bcu.ac.uk Birmingham City University Undergraduate Prospectus 07 LEARNING FROM THE EXPERTS ACCREDITATIONS AND INDUSTRY We regularly welcome a range of visiting speakers and Dr Lubo Jankovic is a leading expert on making PARTNERSHIPS professors from the academic and professional worlds. Our buildings more energy-efficient and led a team We pride ourselves on the range of professional eminent guests have included acclaimed author Nick Hornby, of researchers on monitoring and evaluating the accreditations – over 50 at the last count – and the number ground-breaking investigative journalist and TV presenter groundbreaking Birmingham Zero Carbon House of successful industry partnerships we have. Donal MacIntyre and advertising legend Trevor Beattie. – a carbon neutral building based on a 170-year- Take a look overleaf at the kind of prestigious companies old Victorian home, which won a Royal Institute of British High-profile industry leaders share their expertise with us – and organisations that choose to work with