Birmingham City University is a thriving, urban institution and one of the country s newest universities established in 1992. Despite its new title, the University has played a prominent role in higher education for over a hundred years.
Birmingham City University is diverse in every sphere. Its students come from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, vary greatly in age and cover a number of nationalities, thus making an important contribution to the academic and cultural life of the University.
Birmingham City University s International Office takes a special interest in the needs of overseas students and each year an increasing number come from non-EU countries. At present there are students from more than 70 countries outside the EU with significant numbers from the Far East, Africa and the Indian sub-continent.
There are many reasons why international students choose to study at Birmingham City University: modern teaching facilities; priority accommodation; vocational courses to help maximise employment potential; free English language support; and a range of international student support services.
Academic strengths
Birmingham City University is committed to providing programmes of academic excellence in modern, well-equipped surroundings. Quality course provision is of paramount importance to Birmingham City University and rigorous systems are in place to evaluate and improve the quality of its students experiences.
Birmingham City University offers a wide choice of innovative courses covering a range of subject areas, grouped into eight faculties: Birmingham Institute of Art and Design; Business School (including Computing); Education (including Teacher Training); Technology Innovation Centre, offering courses in engineering, computer technology, mobile and media technology; Health; Law, Humanities, Development and Society; Birmingham Conservatoire and Birmingham School of Acting.
Birmingham City University is proud of it strong links with industry and the professions, which facilitate a highly vocational approach to higher education. Many of Birmingham City University s courses offer the option for students to undertake work experience placements in the UK, further enhancing graduate employability.
Facilities
The University s Library Services department operates a central library and seven satellite libraries with over 400,000 volumes, where students have open access to all computing facilities. The University has halls of residence on three of its sites and all international students are given priority of a place for the whole duration of the course.
Student Services provides a wide range of guidance and support services to ensure students make the most of their time at university. Support includes administrative services, careers advice, a chaplaincy, child care, counselling, disability services, financial advice, a student job shop, health care services and a dedicted International Advice Service
Careers Advisers are available for individual discussion of any aspects of career planning. They can help students on any matter, from deciding on appropriate careers, to helping design an fective CV.
Student life
The Union of Students at Birmingham City University provides everything necessary for fun and fulfilling student days and nights. It offers a wide variety of student-friendly services, including sporting, social and special interest activities; support, advice and information on just about any issue; and represents students interests throughout the University and beyond.
Birmingham City University s location in the lively city of Birmingham guarantees students access to the very best in entertainments.
LOCATION
Birmingham is a world-class city brimming with culture, sports, history, heritage and a range of major attractions. Birmingham City University s central location in the heart of the country ensures a vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere, where students can experience the very best in entertainment, facilities and attractions to suit all tastes and interests.
Although a modern campus, Birmingham City University is steeped in history, having evolved over some 150 years, providing an interesting mix of styles from modern to Venetian Gothic. The University has seven teaching sites, each of which has a different character, facilities and environment. Students on most courses also make use of the more extensive central and social facilities at the Perry Barr and Westbourne campuses.
The University is easily accessible from almost anywhere in the UK, as well as overseas. Local and national public transport systems are excellent, and Birmingham International Airport is nearby.
ACCOMMODATION
Birmingham City University has four student residences. International students are given prioirty allocation for accommodation for the whole duration of their course. The majority of residences are self catered and most are furnished with a single bed, curtains, wardrobe, chest of drawers, desk and easy chair and a mirror. The charges are within the range of ??2400 - ??3700 per 40-week academic year.
Accommodation Services operates a Student Representative Scheme, whereby your resident Student Representative, already a student at BCU, will be on hand to facilitate your introduction to Halls and University life, and assist with any problems you may encounter during your stay.
For students not wishing to live in halls of residence, the University does have a list of properties available in the private sector. We ensure that property owners comply with a Code of Practice bore registering their property with us.
FACILITIES
Birmingham City University s Enquiry System provides course information and encompasses a student guidance centre. We aim to provide students with the information they need in order to make an informed choice about course options at Birmingham City University.
We offer pre-entry guidance to prospective students on a range of issues including entry qualifications and details of how to apply. In addtion we also offer information and guidance for current students who are thinking of changing course or considering postgraduate study options at Birmingham City University. We are the first point of contact with the University for most prospective students.
The University s Library Services department operates a central library and seven satellite libraries with over 400,000 volumes. English language classes are available free of charge and students have access to all computing facilities.
Student Services provide a wide range of guidance and support services designed to make sure students get the most out of their time at university. These include a dedicated International Advice Service with specialist staff, careers, chaplaincy, child care, counselling, a disability service, financial advice, student job shop and health care services.
The Careers Service exists to help students develop the full potential of their skills and to work on some of those not covered within their course. Our team of advisers are available to see individual students to discuss any aspect of career planning. We can help on any matter from deciding what careers may be appropriate through to helping you design your CV. Careers Advisers also try to visit as many courses as possible to address issues of career planning as they affect your discipline.
Other services include the Design Print Services, the Education Liaison Service, which develops links between schools, colleges and the University, and the Corporate Development Centre, which serves to establish benicial partnerships between the University and all sectors of industry, commerce and society.
STUDENT LIFE
Birmingham City University has an active Union of Students with clubs that cater for sports and general interests. There are also five bars and an entertainment package at the union club. Throughout the year there is a calendar of events including bands, cabarets, comedy and quizzes. The university has invested ??3m in new sports facilities. This 43 acre site has 12 pitches for football and rugby, gym facilities and a bowling green. Birmingham itself is home to three professional football clubs and is a venue for international cricket.
The Counselling Service aims to support the academic objectives of the University by providing help to students who have emotional and psychological difficulties which may be disrupting their ability to study fectively, offering individual counselling to students.
The chaplaincy service is available to all students, of any faith or no faith. The Chaplaincy Team represents Roman Catholic, Anglican and Free Church denominations, and is augmented by two Jewish chaplains. There is a Chaplaincy Lounge and a Catholic Chaplaincy House (Cedd House) on the Perry Barr campus.
A separate prayer room is available for Muslim students. There are also Sikh and Hindu societies within the University.
Birmingham City Univeristy s International Advice Service offer a programme of social and cultural events including visits to places of interest, the setting up of societies in conjunction with the Union of Students and a newsletter called Xplore News . This is produced once a month and includes things like: future developments, up and coming trips, student reviews of trips, competitions and details of relevant events going on at BCU.
The programme is run on a membership basis and is open to ALL international students (both non-EU and EU).
Support and funding for international students wishing to set up societies with the Union of Students is also available.
FEES ENTRY REQUIREMENTSTuition Fees
Tuition fees for the year 2008/09 are set at ??8,800, with the exception of a few courses at ??10,600. The tuition fee includes all teaching and examination costs, and membership of the Union of Students. BT
EC Foundation and National Diploma course fees are set at ??6,200. Payment of tuition fees is made on a semester basis with equal instalments payable at the beginning of each semester. Fees must be paid in Sterling.
A student can be exempted from the higher rate International Fee by showing a relevant connection with the United Kingdom (UK) or the European Union (EU) such as having settled status in the UK/EU.
Entry Requirements
The University accepts various overseas qualifications. To find out if your current qualifications are comparable to British standards, please contact the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) or the International Office.
All course tuition, examinations and course materials will be in English. Students must be able to understand, speak, read and write English well, and must possess a recognised English language qualification.
Undergraduate courses
You should be educated to a standard comparable to British GCE A Level standard, such as the Malaysian STPM, Hong Kong Advanced Level Certificate, Norwegian Examen Artium, Botswana Bachelor Degree (Part 1) or Pakistan BA/BSc/BCom (Honours) - second division or above.
Some qualifications may enable you to enter a later stage of the course, for example directly into Year 2.
Postgraduate courses
You should hold a qualification which is comparable to a British Bachelor Honours degree. Please contact NARIC or the International Admissions Office to obtain an equivalence.
Some postgraduate courses also require you to be above a specific age or have relevant work experience. Please rer to the course entry within the Faculty s web pages.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Students who pay their tuition fees in full, on/bore enrolment, will receive a 5% discount.
Faculty Scholarships are available ranging from ??1000 to ??2500 or a 20% reduction in fees, depending on the faculty. Faculties awarding scholarships are BIAD; Law, Humanities, Development and Society; Technology Innovation Centre, Business School and the Conservatoire.
Larger scholarships (up to full fees) to be awarded at the discretion of the Conservatoire.
Faculty Scholarships are only for certain courses with differing awarding criteria. Please see our website for further details on the faculties and their scholarships.
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