Birmingham University (Detailed Info)

Founded: 1828, as Birmingham School of Medicine and Surgery, and 1875 Mason College; granted charter in 1900.

Location: At Edgbaston, 2% miles from city centre.

Getting there: Birmingham is at the centre of England's rail, coach and road networks: mainline stations (New Street and Birmingham International): coaches connect directly from 500 destinations; many motorway links; Birmingham International Airport close by. University is just off A38; buses between university and city centre; trains between University Station (on campus) and New Street Station in city centre.

Special features: Barber Institute of Fine Arts and Music.

Awarding body: Birmingham University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BCom, BDS, BEng, MEng, BMedSc, BMus, BNurs, MNatSc, MSci, BSc, LLB, MBChB.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years (language courses, MEng, MSci, MNatSc, BCom, BNurs); 5 years (MBChB and BDS).

Library & IT facilities: 13 libraries and resource centres. 2.6 million volumes (books and periodicals). 3 million manuscripts. Annual expenditure on information provision, £117 per (FTE) student. Library, IT and learning support services converged. Ratio workstations to students 1:8. IT support from large academic information service; computer officers in university schools. Comprehensive induction programme for all new students, introducing library, computing resources and facilities.

Other learning facilities: Learning development unit. Botanic Garden at Winterbourne House.

Study abroad: 4% of students spend time abroad. Formal exchange links with over 120 european universities and 30+ rest of the world. Careers: Information centre, individual advice and guidance: employer presentations, careers fairs, on-campus interviews; skills development.

Student advice & services: Student support and counselling service (www.sscs.bham.ac.uk) offers support with practical welfare, learning or emotional/psychological difficulties and disability/dyslexia; international office gives specialist welfare and immigration advice; financial support office. Guild of Students welfare service.

Amenities: Union building with hall, bars, places to eat etc; bookshop, banks, supermarket, travel agent, opticians and hairdressers on site.

Sporting facilities: Excellent facilities include 2 olympic-standard astroturf pitches, floodlit athletics track, 3 sports halls, gym and weights room, 7 squash courts, swimming pool, numerous grass pitches, a dedicated unit for sports medicine. human performance and fitness services: own outdoor activities centre on the shores of Coniston Water in the Lake District. More info at www.sport.bham.ac.uk.

Accommodation: All first years guaranteed accommodation (subject to certain conditions), 40% of all students. 5500 places available: self-catering places at £2900-£4380 pa, catered places £3030-£4370 pa. 90% of accommodation has unlimited access to the internet and university network. (Accommodation office on www.housing.bham.ac.uk.) Many students live in privately owned accommodation for 2 years: rents £42-£52 per week plus bills for self-catering. 3% of first degree students live at home.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £5500 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.

Term-time work: Students recommended to keep term-time work below 12 hours per week. Guild-run Job Zone helps find part-time work.

Financial help: £804,000 government hardship funds, average award £1000. 140 opportunity bursaries for low-income students, £200,500 government hardship loans, £30,000 own funds (average bursaries £1000 pa, discretionary payments £300). Special categories: hardship payments to single parents, those with dependants and mature students with families; other funds available for academically able students without sufficient funding; some scholarships for international students. Apply for help to Student Funding Office on Tel: 0121 414 7391, email: www.studserv.bham.ac.uk/fsoffice/.