Applicant Visit Day Programme 2017 bcu.ac.uk/visitdays Welcome Welcome to Birmingham City University, a university at the heart of a city that is at the heart of the country. We are right at the centre of the exhilarating cultural, social, economic and physical changes that are transforming our city for the future. The University is defined by its location in this unique and dynamic city. From its role at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution to its status today as one of the country’s foremost business and leisure destinations, Birmingham’s distinctive economic profile has constantly shaped and informed our courses. By building strong partnerships with both students and industry professionals, and offering an inspirational learning environment, we’ve helped to enrich the lives of leading architects, designers, lawyers, engineers, healthcare professionals, musicians and many more. Our innovative teaching methods, ground-breaking research and industry collaborations are backed by almost 40 professional accreditations. Ours is a university without walls and an environment of real world opportunity where students’ work is indistinguishable from what you will do when you graduate. Following your application to study with us, we would like to give you the opportunity to learn more about us at one of our Applicant Visit Days. These are designed to provide you with a more in-depth picture of your chosen course, what to expect as a student and how to make the most of your time with us. We aim to make these days as informative, interesting and relaxing as possible for you. To find out more information, including the full schedule for your subject of interest, please see the relevant pages in this booklet. Further information will also be posted on our website at www.bcu.ac.uk/visitdays. We hope you have an enjoyable time at your Applicant Visit Day. CONTENTS Welcome 2 – 3 Birmingham City Business School 10 School of Fashion and Textiles 20 School of Visual Communication 28 About Birmingham City University 4 Birmingham School of the 12 – 13 Interactive Entertainment 21 Investing in our campuses 30 – 31 About Applicant Visit Days 7 Built Environment School of Jewellery 23 Directions (City Centre) 32 – 33 Birmingham School of 8 School of Computing and 15 – 16 School of Law 24 Directions (City North) 34 – 35 Digital Technology Architecture and Design Birmingham School of Media 25 Directions (School of Jewellery) 36 – 37 School of Education 17 Birmingham School of Art 9 School of Social Sciences 26 Directions (Birmingham School of Art) 38 – 39 School of English 18 School of Health Sciences 27 2 3 About Birmingham City University Birmingham City University has around 24,000 students from 80 countries, making it one of the largest and liveliest institutions in the West Midlands region. The University enjoys almost 40 professional accreditations and a large number of successful industry partnerships. We have been educating professionals since 1843, and our commitment to developing graduates with the skills and experience employers need means that 94 per cent of our undergraduates were in employment or further study within six months (DLHE survey 2014/15). All of our courses have a strong focus on preparing you for the world of work, with many offering the option of a four-year ‘sandwich’ mode, with a full year in industry providing valuable work experience. The University has a well- established reputation for delivering in-company training and development programmes, working with some of the country’s leading employers. Our teaching staff come from and maintain their links with industry, ensuring you are given an insight into the latest trends and ideas. We are constantly looking for new ways to enhance the learning experience, with inspiring visiting lecturers and learning environments that are designed to replicate the workplaces you aim to enter. We even give you the chance to gain work experience in real roles around the University, through our student employment agency, OpportUNIty – Student Jobs on Campus. We’re dedicated to putting students at the heart of everything we do, giving you the best opportunities for future success. For more information about the University, please visit www.bcu.ac.uk. 4 5 About Applicant Visit Days HOW IT WORKS If you have applied to an undergraduate course in one of the schools listed in this booklet, you should have received an email about how to register for your place at one of our Applicant Visit Days. As part of the day, you may be asked to attend a one-to-one interview as a mandatory part of the application process. Details of which courses require an interview are found within the school pages of this booklet. You will need the username and password, which should be on the email you received, to log in and browse our Applicant Visit Day dates and to register your attendance. You can also find your username and password in the letter accompanying this booklet. Once you register, you will be sent further information via email. To register to attend one of our Applicant Visit Days visit www.bcu.ac.uk/mysrs and sign in using your unique username and password. If you haven’t yet been invited to attend one of our Applicant Visit Days, but you have been offered a place to study at Birmingham City University, please let us know by calling 0121 331 6295. LOCATION Our Applicant Visit Days take place at various locations across the city, depending on your chosen subject of study. Find your school page in this booklet and the location you should attend is noted under the school name at the top of the page. Directions to our campuses can be found towards the back of this booklet. ON THE DAY Registration and check-in will open one hour before your activity starts. Please ensure you arrive no later than 10 minutes before your activity is due to start, to enable you enough time to register and check-in. There will be knowledgeable representatives from different services available to answer any questions you may have about university life including: • Accommodation • International Office • Student Services (advice on childcare, money matters, health and wellbeing, job prospects, and visas and immigration). Our award-winning student support ensures that you are given the help you need to succeed every step of the way. We provide high-quality services that support you, enhance your learning experience and are responsive to your changing needs before, during and after your time at university. Just look out for the stands and displays and come and talk to us for helpful, individual advice. 6 7 BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL OF ART Location: The Parkside Building, City Centre Campus, B4 7BD Location: Birmingham School of Art, Margaret Street, B3 3BX Activity start times: 10am on Saturdays, 12.15pm on Wednesdays Activity start times: Various start times. Interview required for all courses – visit www.bcu.ac.uk/mysrs for more details. Based at our state-of-the-art Parkside Building, part of our City Centre Campus, Birmingham School of Architecture and Design has a range of By studying in our distinctive Venetian Gothic, Grade I listed environment excellent facilities that accurately reflect advanced professional practice. at Margaret Street, you will have access to state-of-the-art studios, fully- These include contemporary design studios, computer-aided design (CAD), resourced workshops, a richly-stocked library and purpose-built spaces to a digilab and a range of impressive workshops (for woodwork, metal, glass present your work. We also engage in teaching, learning and research locally, and ceramics) to support our Architecture, Landscape, Product Design, and nationally and around the world. Interior Architecture and Design students. All of our staff are active practitioners, ensuring you will receive access to the Our teaching staff are active in the latest practice and research, enhancing latest thinking, activities and professional networks. Our courses emphasise your employability and enabling you to gain insight into contemporary issues ideas-driven contemporary art practices, carried out by individuals and groups in architecture and design. This has previously helped 95 per cent of our of students through critical analysis, debate, creative risk, imagination and graduates progress into work and/or study within six months (DLHE) and presentation. We will help you develop your practice and open doors for you contributed to our students reporting 95 per cent satisfaction overall for the to participate in extensive projects and present your work in a wide variety of School in the 2016 National Student Survey. appropriate environments. Our courses work with over 100 practices, construction consultants and We maintain excellent links with major institutions within and beyond the city, experts, including over 60 visiting tutors from industry who support our staff examples including Tate Liverpool, Ikon Gallery, New Art Gallery, Walsall, team. Our Architecture courses provide RIBA accreditation at Parts 1, 2 and Eastside Gallery, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and New Art West 3, while our Landscape courses are similarly validated by the Landscape Midlands. We also have links with corporate partners through organisations Institute. These accreditations and links with industry ensure that our courses such as the Colmore Business District and others. Deutsche Bank sponsors an remain fresh and relevant, in addition to providing valuable industry contacts. annual award of £10,000 to support career development. The excellent relationships extend to offering work placements for our Level 5 students in Architecture, Landscape, and Interior Architecture and Design. Our graduates go on to a multitude of careers following their time with us, ranging from professional artists, designers and illustrators to film-makers, We encourage you to embrace the multi-disciplinary nature of our School curators and teachers.