University of Birmingham

Part of the Russell Group of UK universities, the University of Birmingham has been developing great minds, encouraging challenging debates and pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence for over 100 years.

Over 14,000 students from over 150 countries choose to study at Birmingham, meaning you will be part of a diverse and vibrant community. 40% of this student population are postgraduates.

Birmingham understands that you want to study somewhere with a strong research culture, that delivers on your expectations. The opportunities, facilities and academics at Birmingham will help you to achieve your ambitions, whether they are research-led with a desire for discovery, or to boost your skills to advance your career.

The University is recognised internationally for excellence in teaching and research – 87% of research conducted at the University has a global impact.

The University’s academic schools are organised into five colleges:

• Arts and Law
• Engineering and Physical Sciences
• Life and Environmental Sciences
• Medical and Dental Sciences
• Social Sciences

To find out more about their postgraduate courses, you can visit our university’s online course finder or for research courses, please see their Doctoral Researcher database.

You can get in touch with current postgraduate students and alumni to ask any questions you have about studying and living in Birmingham. Ask us a question on their postgraduate portal.

University of Birmingham students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Fruitful courses, nice teaching staff.”

“Good teachers, materials. Too crowded classrooms.”

“Really enjoying the experiences around the subject and the freedom in research, however the assessment is too continuous (stressed).”

A degree from the University of Birmingham will not only boost your knowledge and understanding of your subject area but also provide you with the skills that are most desired by top employers. 

The advanced knowledge you will gain during your postgraduate studies will make you more employable and more likely to enter professional and managerial occupations.

The University is also in the top 5 for graduate prospects (Complete University Guide), which confirms that your skills and abilities obtained during your postgraduate degree at Birmingham are highly valued in the working world.

University of Birmingham students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Workshops on CVs and interviews skills also job fairs.”

“Good careers department and events.”

At Birmingham, you will be taught and guided by lecturers who are experts within their fields, and work on innovative research that is shaping policy, influencing societal change, and improving lives. 11 Staff and Alumni have been awarded Nobel prizes for their work.

The University offers over 650 taught programmes and a wealth of research opportunities to choose from. It is structured into five colleges:

• Arts and Law
• Engineering and Physical Sciences
• Life and Environmental Sciences
• Medical and Dental Sciences
• Social Sciences

Each college is divided into a number of schools and departments of which postgraduate taught courses can be found through the university’s online course finder and research courses found through the Doctoral Researcher database.

University of Birmingham students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Lecturers are insightful and helpful.”

“Interactive.”

“A lot of group assignments that are useful.”

At the University of Birmingham, the students’ union is called the Guild of Students, and once you’re a student at the university, you’re automatically a member. The Guild is there to represent you, provide events that entertain you, develop your skills and generally make sure you have the best university experience possible.

The Guild also offers a range of support services, including Guild Advice; Jobs, Skills and Volunteering (JSV); Guild Lettings; and the Student Mentor Scheme (SMS), which provides advice to all students living in University accommodation.

To find out more, visit the Guild of Student website.

University of Birmingham students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Fun, lively.”

“Many resources to organize activities.”

“Nice building.”

Dedicated Postgraduate accommodation is located across three student villages: The Vale Village, Selly Oak Village and Pritchatts Park Village; all of which are within walking distance of Edgbaston campus.

Postgraduates are located together to provide an environment suitable for postgraduate study. Prices range from £109 - £261 per week, with a range of rooms including en-suite rooms with shared kitchens, which are ideal to make new friends whilst concentrating on your studies.

Many postgraduate students choose to find housing in the private sector. A variety of housing options, including single flats, shared houses and properties for families, can be found in the local area. Selly Oak is the closest residential area, just a five-minute walk from the university campus. The weekly cost of rent is £155.

Other accommodation options are available, including through selected partners. For more information on accommodation options and private sector housing can be found on the Postgraduate Accommodation page.

The main campus at Edgbaston is set in 250 acres of parkland with spacious lawns, trees, a lake and significant works of sculpture enhancing its landscape. It has all the amenities of a small town, including shops, bars, cafés, banks, medical and dental surgeries, sports facilities, and even our own railway station. An award-winning art gallery, a concert hall and a museum are among the cultural attractions that make it a place to enjoy.

The Selly Oak campus, two miles from Edgbaston, is a green 80-acre site with a village atmosphere. There’s also a satellite campus in the historic town of Stratford-upon-Avon, home to the Shakespeare Institute.

The University is undergoing a £600 million transformation with a brand-new library, new accommodation, a state-of-the-art sport and fitness centre with provision for elite athletes and a dedicated student hub already completed. Other new additions to the campus include the Alan Walters Building, a £10 million Postgraduate Teaching Centre for the Birmingham Business School, and the new Collaborative Teaching Laboratory, which combines practical teaching in science and engineering.

The Muirhead Tower on Edgbaston campus has research study facilities including dedicated study areas for postgraduate research students. The University has also recently opened a research hub for PhD students at Westmere House, providing a dedicated postgraduate research space that offers state-of-the-art facilities and a bright and airy social space.

The second phase of developments has recently been announced, with a raft of new projects outlined for the next 10 years to keep the university at the forefront of education and research.

University of Birmingham students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Very good, lots to do.”

“Love the library.”

Birmingham is Europe’s youngest city, with 40% of the population under 25. Birmingham is also the top regional city for quality of life in the UK. In fact, the University of Birmingham’s students love Birmingham so much, 48% decide to stay in the region after they graduate.

Birmingham is more than somewhere to study; it’s somewhere to build a successful future. With a beautiful historic, green campus that’s just a few minutes away from the heart of an exciting, modern city, Birmingham provides the best of both worlds. From world leading museums and art galleries to the historic industrial district of Digbeth, there is so much to explore at the heart of the city. 

To see what else Birmingham has to offer, head to Visit Birmingham’s website.

University of Birmingham students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Fun, lots to do.”

“Nice city, friendly and modern.”

Every student at Birmingham is automatically a member of the Guild of Students. The Guild is there to help you to develop skills outside of study, have fun, meet new people, represent you to the University and make sure you get the best from your time there.

Membership offers a wealth of benefits including support, entertainment, training and a wide range of opportunities to get involved in student life. The Guild also offers a range of support services, including Guild Advice; Jobs, Skills and Volunteering (JSV); Guild Lettings; and the Student Mentor Scheme (SMS), which provides advice to all students living in University accommodation.

The PGMSA (Postgraduate and Mature Students Association) is the representative body for postgraduates and mature students who work with the Guild and the University to champion your needs. They organise a programme of social and orientation events that runs during Welcome Week and throughout the academic year, including weekly socials in Bratby Bar – the on-campus bar exclusively for University staff and postgraduate students. There is also ample opportunity to set up your own club or society should you wish to.

In addition, each school runs its own social activities, seminars and groups for postgraduates. The activities of these tight-knit communities are in addition to those of over 200 active student groups and societies hosted by the Guild of Students, covering a wide range of interests. To see a full list of student societies, you can visit the Guild of Student website.

University of Birmingham students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Lots of choice.”

“Rugby is fun.”

“Interesting.”

The University has a wide range of student services to meet the needs of their diverse student community. The student hub provides resources such as information, guidance, emotional support or specific student services. You can also find the hub online providing a range of advice resources which you can interact with away from the campus if you prefer. 

For more information, you can visit the university’s Student Support page. You can also see what the University offers in terms of academic support on the Postgraduate Study Support page.

University of Birmingham students on Postgraduate Search say:

“Lecturers are quick at replying to emails.”

“The staff actively respond and are willing to help.”

Tuition fees vary depending on the course you choose and whether you are a home (UK/EU) or international student. For more accurate and up to date fees visit the individual course pages on the university’s website.

There is also more information on fees and funding for postgraduate taught and for Doctoral researchers on the university's Postgraduate Tuition Fees page.

The University of Birmingham understands that continuing your studies in a considerable financial commitment. The University’s postgraduate funding database contains listings of all the scholarships, bursaries and grants available to support your studies.

For Master’s students, there is the Birmingham Alumni Scholarship offering up to £2,000 to outstanding applicants. There are 50 awards available.

The University’s postgraduate funding database contains listings of scholarships, bursaries and grants available to support your studies at the University of Birmingham. For more information visit their Postgraduate funding database.

The University has a brilliant reputation for ambition, attainment and research. In fact, the most recent UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) rated 81.4% of their research activity as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, confirming Birmingham’s position amongst the world’s top universities for research.

Their University Graduate School (UGS) based at Westmere also provide a quality research and education environment with dedicated study spaces for postgraduates, training programmes and generally support your development.

Entry to their postgraduate programmes usually requires a good (normally a 2:1 or above) Honours degree, or an equivalent qualification if you were educated outside the UK.

If you are applying for a PhD then you may also need to hold a good Master’s qualification. Specific entry requirements for individual courses can be found in the programme pages of the university’s prospectus and online via their Course finder.

If you are an international student, you can also view their country-specific pages for grade equivalent and English Language requirements.

A combined research-and-taught Master’s, such as the MRes, will provide you with both taught modules to increase your knowledge of a subject, and the opportunity to complete a research thesis with the appropriate training and supervision. They are often taken as a stepping stone to doctoral study.

Doctoral degrees, also known as PhD, are the highest level of academic qualification. They allow you to prove yourself to be capable of conducting original research and making a contribution to a field of knowledge. Doctoral researchers often teach undergraduate classes during their degree programme.

As a postgraduate researcher, you will usually contribute to the research life of your department by presenting papers at seminars and conferences. All of the university’s research programmes include research skills training to give you the tools that you need to carry out the investigation of your topic.

The University Graduate School (UGS) brings together all postgraduate researchers at Birmingham. It acts as your central resource point, giving you access to a wealth of services to support you in your research, develop your skills and prepare you for success in a competitive global market.

UGS runs a number of networking sessions and annual events that will provide you with valuable opportunities to meet and learn from colleagues across the University. The welcome programme, which includes lunches and coffee mornings, enables you to get to know other new postgraduate researchers in a friendly, informal setting and build networks that can last a lifetime.

For more information, visit the UGS webpage.

If you wish to further your knowledge of a subject, to prepare for a research degree, to gain a vocational qualification or to make a fresh start in a subject that is new to you; then you may like to consider one of their taught Master’s courses, such as the MA or MSc.

A combined research-and-taught Master’s, such as the MRes, will provide you with both taught modules to increase your knowledge of a subject, and the opportunity to complete a research thesis with the appropriate training and supervision. They are often taken as a stepping stone to doctoral study.

A research Master’s, such as the MSc by Research, is a good way to investigate a topic in greater depth, to prove your capacity for undertaking research and/or to demonstrate your suitability to progress to a doctoral degree.

As you progress through your Master’s degree programme, the University’s enquiry-based approach to learning will help you develop the key skills that employers are looking for, such as creativity, independent enquiry, the ability to work in a team and to set your own goals, and advanced problem solving. You will also benefit from the institutional Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), which comprises a range of applications adopted by the University to facilitate learning, teaching and assessment that grant online access to course content, programme materials, assessment, discussion boards, webinars and recorded lectures.

For more information, visit the university's Postgraduate Study Support page.

If you have commitments that do not allow you to study via the standard on-campus mode, then you may like to consider applying for a distance learning programme (a mode of study that is sometimes also referred to as distance education).

The main advantage of studying by distance learning is its flexibility. You can study at home, in your own time and at your own pace, so you can combine achieving a qualification with work or family commitments.

Search for “Distance Learning” on the university’s Course Finder to see the full list of Distance Learning courses.

For more than a century, Birmingham postgraduate students have been at the heart of University life. Whether you join them on one of their taught programmes or to embark on doctoral research, you will be an integral part of their vibrant academic community.

The value of the postgraduate study is both inherent and transferable, helping you to develop as a person, boost your professional prospects or even change direction in your career. Beyond the transferable skills that you will take with you into the workplace, a postgraduate qualification from Birmingham will give you the chance to engage in critical enquiry, to grow as a scholar, and become internationally recognised as an expert in your field.

Birmingham’s global community of more than 300,000 alumni includes people living in more than 190 countries around the world. From the moment you come to Birmingham, you automatically become part of this community and can access a host of benefits before and after graduation, from careers support to regular networking events. They have alumni groups around the world – from the USA to Hong Kong – which provides the chance to keep in touch with fellow alumni locally, share memories and build valuable professional connections.

Look for a postgraduate programme today by visiting the university’s Course Finder.