A small university in a big city! University College Birmingham is located in the heart of the country and the heart of Birmingham, surrounded by booming business, gorgeous green spaces and vibrant life, with World-class facilities following a £160 million investment into new campuses, equipment and resources. Many courses accredited by the University of Warwick.
STUDY AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
Degrees accredited by the University of Warwick, industry-led college courses and innovative apprenticeships that offer you the chance to earn while you learn. An expanding campus with outstanding facilities to develop your industry skills, unrivalled placement opportunities and award-winning teaching staff. Just a few reasons why they are so popular with students looking for exciting, vocational courses designed to get their careers off to a flying start. UCB is known for their Culinary Arts, Business, Sports and Hospitality programmes, they were voted University of the Year by students in the 2022 Whatuni Student Choice Awards. Today, hospitality managers, aviation executives, dazzling hairdressers and makeup artists, educators, chefs, bakers, tourism industry experts, business leaders and creative entrepreneurs learn skills for life at a university hailed for its vocational training, academic achievements and cultural diversity.
HISTORY OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
Everything started in the 19th century with the Birmingham Municipal Technical School. As the institution added new courses and changed its focus, there were numerous further name changes including College of Food and Technology in the 1950s. Just a year later, it was renamed again and became the Birmingham College of Food and Domestic Arts. The College, which operated from nice city and suburban schools, came under one roof in 1968 with a new building on Summer Row. In the late 1980s the institution’s name was changed yet again to the Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies. In 2002, the institution transferred to the higher education sector, providing outstanding higher education courses with a strong vocational focus. University College Birmingham was officially born in November 2007 when the Privy Council granted taught degree awarding powers. Full university status followed in December 2012 as part of moves to diversify the university sector and improve student choice.
SPECIALIST AREAS AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
University College Birmingham is recognised as one of the top catering schools in the UK, flagship programmes as Culinary Arts Management (Undergrad and Postgrad) and Bakery and Patisserie Technology are considered among the best. Unique programmes as Sports, Hospitality and Tourism, and Aviation and Airport Management, have given the institution an important presence in the industry, and their partnership with University of Warwick, one of the best schools in the UK, will boost their students’ curriculum.
LIFE ON CAMPUS
The practical facilities across their campuses – all developed with real industry in mind – are fast-growing, while they have also invested over £6 million into fresh-thinking learning support spaces, giving you the very best environment to expand your mind. Sustainable and easy to navigate, each campus has its own distinct character and has been designed specifically to enhance the student experience. They are also right in the centre of the city’s business and hotel district, opening up no end of placement and work opportunities for the students.
STUDENT SUPPORT AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
They are a small, specialised university, so you are never just a number. Whatever help you need, the support teams are committed to giving you the advice, skills and practical tools to discover your full potential, all while helping to look after your health and wellbeing. Their learning support includes one-to-one academic support, online skills materials, in-class skills and development sessions and much more. They even provide support for getting your English and Maths up to speed. Making you a sought-after graduate is of paramount important to then and their careers, placements and employability support is there to ensure you stand out in your field when you complete your studies.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM FACILITIES
Supported by a £160 million investment in new campuses, equipment and resources, University College Birmingham's facilities are nothing short of world class. From training restaurants and aesthetics clinic, to a state-of-the-art mock plane cabin, cutting-edge sports facilities and financial trading suite – one of the largest among all UK universities - University College Birmingham provides real-life, industry gold standard working environments, giving you a significant advantage for when you finish your studies. Special facilities include:
- Aviation and Tourism Suite
- Human Performance Centre and Gym (Sports)
- Prosthetics Suite
- Esports Suite
- Digital Creative Studio
- Financial Trading Suite
- Aspire Aesthetics and The Spa
- Engineering and Construction Suites
- Food Science and Innovation Suite
- “Restaurant at Birmingham College of Food”, Kitchens and “Cakes and Bakes”
- Health Simulation Suites
- Early Years Simulation Suite
SPORTS AND SOCIETIES AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
As soon as you enrol at University College Birmingham, you automatically become a member of the Guild. Run by students, for students, the Guild is your students’ union and the home of student life at University College Birmingham. You can make use of your Guild membership to enhance your time at University College Birmingham and make the most of everything they have to offer. There are a range of course-based societies available. These groups cover social activities, interests, sports and campaigning so no matter what you’re interested in, there is something for you to get involved with. If you feel we're missing something you'd love to be part of, we can even support you to set up your own society.
University College Birmingham is happy to have several sport teams. These teams compete in the BUCS (British University & Colleges Sports) leagues against other universities. Being a member of a sport team can enhance your time at university by keeping you physically active and helping you meet new friends. The outdoor sports (football and rugby) are based at Avery Field, home of Bournville RFC and UCB partners. The indoor sports are based in the sports hall based at the Maltings halls of residence.
University College Birmingham has a range of gym facilities which are open to students offering a wide variety of equipment to help them keep fit on campus and in the halls of residence. UCB has two state-of-the-art gyms located at Moss House and The Maltings, as well as a sports hall which is available for students to book
ACCOMMODATION AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
More than 800 students can be accommodated in the halls of residence and to help you adjust, in your first year, you are guaranteed a place in The Maltings. Living in the halls of residence puts the best of both worlds on your doorstep. You’ll be part of a friendly campus surrounded by supermarkets, banks, cafés, student budget restaurants and rail and coach stations, and living in one of Britain’s most exciting and diverse cities. The Maltings halls of residence are located just 15 minutes’ walk away from our main Summer Row campus. These are single en-suite and shared bathroom rooms, fully furnished with all bills included. A commercial laundry service with washing and drying machines, landscaped gardens, sports hall, fitness suites and a convenience store can be found at The Maltings.
INTERNATIONAL FOCUS
Welcoming everyone from overseas as well as those from within the UK and European Union, applications from international students are welcome. If you accept a place at University College Birmingham, you will join our global student community of more than 1,400 students from over 60 countries. International students choose University College Birmingham because of their unique range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, which combine theory with a strong emphasis on practical experience and work placements.
The support they offer starts before you arrive in the UK, and they strive to ensure that the process of applying and arriving goes as smoothly as possible.
INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS
Benefit from University College Birmingham global connections. In short, they are renowned for their industry links on a global scale. Whether they are working with businesses to provide students with great placements and work experience, coordinating internships abroad or liaising with sector-specific organisations and societies to bolster their courses and offer extra qualifications, they work with over 1,000 employers to benefit students’ career prospects.
Ultimately, these excellent relationships with local, national and international businesses and practitioners ensure students have the professional skills and attributes for the best progression, enabling them to build successful careers in the wide range of sectors UCB represent.
STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERNSHIPS
University College Birmingham courses include national and international placement opportunities with extensive opportunities for enrichment. UCB hold an Erasmus University Charter so students can receive a grant to study at one of our partner universities in the EU and International study-abroad programmes include partner universities in Australia, China, Malaysia, Thailand and the United States.
EMPLOYABILITY AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Your time at University College Birmingham is not just about study. It is also about getting the experience, life skills and personal qualities to help you fly when you finish. HIRED is their impartial careers, employability and placements service for students and alumni at University College Birmingham. Whether it’s guiding you towards your ideal placement, preparing you to stand out in the job market or backing you in setting up your own business, the dedicated team have the specialist knowledge and experience to help craft you into a confident, career-ready graduate.
STUDY IN BIRMINGHAM
Birmingham is located less than an hour-and-a-half from London by train with major rail and bus stations just minutes from our campuses, Birmingham is a buzzing city where nearly 40% of the population is under the age of 25 and was voted 7th best place in UK to study.
You’ll feel right at home in England’s second city. Birmingham boasts hundreds of restaurants, a host of clubs and bars, famous festivals, waterside attractions, and major entertainment venues welcoming some of the biggest shows and stars on the planet. But if you want to get away from it all, you can always escape into Birmingham’s 8,000 acres of parks and open spaces, or explore over 100 miles of canals around the city – reputedly even more than Venice. And with excellent transport links in all directions, you’re never far away from breaking out into the countryside and beyond.
If you’re a shopaholic, Birmingham’s got you covered. All the big brands you know and love are here, set in spectacular centres like the Bullring, Grand Central and The Mailbox, all offering a fantastic shopping experience. But there’s also plenty to make the city unique, with a thriving independent scene and countless hidden gems to discover in amazing locations like The Custard Factory and Great Western Arcade. Celebrate the city’s stunning street food culture – you can’t beat Digbeth Dining Club – wrap yourself in independent fashion or surround your student pad with unique homeware. And if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, it’s the perfect place to start up your own independent business.
Birmingham is home to celebrated sports teams like Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Warwickshire Country Cricket Club, as well as scores of sporting events, ranging from WTA tennis to England cricket matches and the All England Open Badminton Championships.
WHY STUDY AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
- Many of UCB degrees are accredited by the University of Warwick (top 10 in the UK, top 60 in the World)
- Won University of the Year in 2022 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (voted for by students)
- UCB has invested over £150 million in cutting edge facilities and student resources
- They are a small, specialised university, so you are never just a number (Whatuni Student Support award winner 2022)
- Located in the heart of Birmingham’s buzzing city centre
- Industry global connections
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DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?
The information on this page has been submitted by the higher education institution itself, and it varies how frequently they update it. If you want to know more, get in touch and one of our student advisors will answer all your questions!
Across the Pond is the official representative for this teaching institution for selected countries around the world which means we can help you apply to their courses and help with all the documents needed to submit an application. We can help answer questions about their courses and the institution itself as they do not necessarily have the capacity to deal with student enquiries from all around the world on a daily basis. This also means that they can ask us questions about your application and we can help explain if they are not familiar with your grades, academic background or the educational system in your home country. They also appreciate that students who apply through Across the Pond get the help they need, not only in terms of submitting the application and supporting documents, but also with everything needed before arrival in the UK, such as student accommodation, visa information, funding information and well as preparing for departure to the UK.
