City North Campus
Perry Barr
Birmingham
B42 2SU
choices@bcu.ac.uk
www.bcu.ac.uk
Open days: October 9 and 10

PERFORMANCE Sunday Times ranking 82 (89=)

Student satisfaction 73.1%
Head teacher ranking 71 (92=)
Peer ranking 81 (84)
Research quality 57.7%
A-level/Higher points 254
Unemployment 10.3%
Firsts and 2:1s 57.3%
Student/staff ratio 16.5:1
Dropout rate 16.7% (17%)

VITAL STATISTICS

Multimedia

• The Times University Guide table

Undergraduates 13,696 (6,063)
Postgraduates 1,320 (2,167)
Teaching staff 995
Applications/places 17,247/4,799; 3.6:1 (+36.9%)
Clearing entry 9%
Live in 10% (100%) £66-£102
Bursaries 51%: £300-£525
Scholarships None

SOCIAL MIX

EU/overseas 2.7%/1.8%
Mature 32.7%
State school 97.1%
Lowest social classes 43%
Low-participation areas 14.4%

With eight campuses already sprinkled throughout Birmingham, BCU’s affinity with the city from which it takes its name was never in doubt. The proposed £150m city centre campus, part of the Eastside development of a new technology and learning quarter, cements the relationship further.

The university’s 20,000 full- and part-time undergraduates are mainly recruited from the West Midlands and BCU has recorded a 37% rise in applications this year, one of the biggest in the UK. A network of progression agreements with nearby further education colleges maintains the supply of local candidates. Although fewer than 90 full-time equivalent staff were assessed in last year’s research ratings, BCU secured good outcomes with art and design to the fore, where 30% of the work submitted considered world-leading, a top 10 result nationally.

As home to the famous Birmingham Conservatoire, 40% of music research was considered world-leading or internationally excellent, making it the leading conservatoire outside London.

More than half the students gained a BCU bursary last year.

STUDENT VIEW

Tom Thompson, students’ union president:

First impressions Being on the main campus, which is outside the city centre, I thought I wouldn’t get a real taste of Birmingham. However, it was actually very easy, a 10-minute bus ride and you’re there — no worries at all.
Worst feature The City North campus isn’t exactly aesthetically pleasing, but our others make up for it.
Facilities Our sports clubs and societies are very active and engaging.
Deal clincher We are in the second biggest city in the country and the university is at the heart of its social, business and cultural events.

Rated excellent (6)
Allied health professions (health visiting, radiography, speech and language therapy); art and design; education; music; nursing and midwifery; teacher training.

Student satisfaction
Media studies 80.3; Performing Arts 77.6; Sociology, Social Policy and Anthropology 77.1; Nursing 77; Initial Teacher Training 75.6; Management 75.4; Other subjects allied to Medicine 73.8; Business 72.9; Mechanically-based Engineering 72.6; Politics 71.4; Finance and Accounting 70.9; Art and Design 68.2; Electronic and Electrical Engineering 67.7; Computer Science 65.9; English-based studies 65.9; Law 65.8; Social Work 65.7; Other Creative Arts 64; Architecture, Building and Planning 58.7

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