University of Birmingham: What it's really like

Want to go to a Russell Group university with one of the biggest student bodies in the UK? Birmingham could be the one for you!

Birmingham at a glance:

First year Economics student Vandan explains what it’s like to study at the University of Birmingham.

What is the University of Birmingham?

The University of Birmingham is located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, close to the centre of the city. With 35,000 students, it’s the seventh largest university in the UK.

There are over 300 courses to choose from, with one of the oldest Business, Law and Medical schools in England.

The university has over 10,000 international students, with over 150 different nationalities represented.

Why apply to Birmingham?

The University of Birmingham has a really picturesque, peaceful campus. But it isn’t far from the buzz of city life, so students can enjoy a secluded, green environment to study in, whilst being able to access a busy, exciting city at the same time.

The city itself also has an airport, so international students can travel easily to and from their homes. It’s at the centre of the UK, so it provides the perfect base for exploring the rest of the country.

Who isn’t the right fit for Birmingham?

As the university is one of the largest in the UK, it probably isn’t best suited to those who would prefer a smaller campus, with a small student body.

Any application tips? 

The University of Birmingham only accepts applications through UCAS. To maximise your chances of getting an offer, take a closer look at the requirements for the course you’re interested in - such as the A Level (or equivalent) grades, and any subjects you’ll need to have studied.

You can use the offer calculator on the university’s website to see how likely it is you’ll get a place.

In your Personal Statement, talk about why you’re interested in your chosen subject. Skills and grades aren’t the only things necessary to succeed in getting an offer.

What’s the location like?

The University of Birmingham is campus based, so everything the students need is local to them. There’s even a train station especially for the university, which provides a 10-minute journey into the city centre.

Selly Oak, a town close to the campus, has plenty of shops where students can pick up their weekly groceries.

What facilities does Birmingham have to offer?

The university’s library, built in 2016, has over 2.1 million books and academic journals. It’s open 24/7 during term time. Then there’s the sport and fitness centre, which has the city’s only 50-metre swimming pool. It also has a dojo, a 200-station gym, a spin studio and squash courts.

There’s a supermarket, hair salon, optician and post office on campus, so everything is local to the students.

What is the accommodation like?

Birmingham has three university-owned accommodation villages. The first one is the Vale, located in Edgbaston, north of the campus. Pritchetts Park is located near the medical school, and a village in Selly Oak near the town.

Each village has a range of room types, including en suite, self-catered, shared bathroom and meal plan options.


How does the university meet the needs of students with additional requirements?

The university has a range of support networks, such as the student disability service, welfare tutors, and student health and wellbeing services. The university also offers tailored plans to support students with any additional needs throughout their academic life.

Want to explore more UK universities? Remember, Unifrog’s Shortlisting tool can help you put together a list of great potential courses.