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Strengths & key features

Character

Birmingham City University: a large, diverse, historic provider of higher and further education for the people of Birmingham and beyond.

From our seven faculties and seven campuses, we at the University deliver over 300 courses to more than 23,000 students. Our catchment area extends from inner Birmingham to the Far East and the United States. Local, regional, national and international partners play a key role in much of our work. In pursuing our historic aim of providing an inclusive education for employable graduates, we work with organisations in the private and public sectors to ensure the highest possible standards of delivery.

History

Our roots go back to 1843 with the founding of the Polytechnic Institute and the Birmingham School of Design. Over the next hundred years Schools of Jewellery, Music, Commerce, Art, Education, Architecture, Physical Education and Technology sprang up and were re-established in and around the city. In 1971 those Schools joined to form the new City of Birmingham Polytechnic, which in 1989 was established as an independent corporation with exempt charitable status. University status was conferred in 1992, and as the new University of Central England we continued to develop. In 1995 we acquired a new Faculty of Health and Community Care, and as recently as 2001 moved into state-of-the-art premises at Millennium Point.

Structure

Our faculties are:

The Birmingham Conservatoire, a music college of international stature training musicians to the highest standard in performance and composition. Its concert hall hosts around 375 music events every year.

Birmingham School of Acting is a specialist institution, accredited by the National Council for Drama Training. The School is focused on the training of actors through performance.

The Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD), the largest centre for design and media education outside London and rated as one of the top ten UK Art and Design institutions.

The Birmingham City Business School, a key regional centre which, with 4,000 students, is one of the largest business schools in the UK. Specialisms include organisational development, knowledge management, auditing and Entrepreneurship.

The Faculty of Education, which trains teachers and related professionals at levels from foundation degrees to PhD. Performance indicators published by the Training and Development Agency for Schools demonstrate its outstanding achievements.

The Faculty of Health, one of the country's largest centres for non-medical health education, and including the new Defence School of Health Care Studies, which trains military nurses and professionals.

The Faculty of Law, Humanities, Development and Society, where courses in law, social studies, English (literature, language and cultural studies) and property, construction and planning all equip students for a range of professional careers.  Work experience opportunities include placements with US law firms.

The Technology Innovation Centre (tic), offering a wide range of courses in computer technology, multimedia and engineering. Its Millennium Point facilities are among the best in the country.