Birmingham

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Looking for a city that’s full of life, friendly faces, and more flavours than your average food festival?

The United Kingdom’s second-largest city has a student population of over 80,000, and it shows! The city’s built around student life, from buzzing music venues and cafés to green spaces and great universities.

Whether you’re after an affordable lifestyle, a diverse community, or somewhere to kickstart your career, Birmingham delivers without the big-city overwhelm.

Study in Birmingham: Find Bachelors and Masters

Living in Birmingham as a student

Living in Birmingham strikes a nice balance: it’s lively and full of things to do, but also way more affordable than cities like London or Edinburgh. Rent for student housing usually falls between £500 and £800 a month, depending on how central you want to be. Areas like Selly Oak and Digbeth are popular with students, and you’ll find loads of options for shared flats or student halls.

And the food scene? From a proper balti in the famous Balti Triangle to street food at Digbeth Dining Club, the city serves up something for every budget and craving. There are indie cafés, vegan bakeries, and even a few Michelin stars if you’re feeling fancy.

And when you need a breather, head to Cannon Hill Park or the Botanical Gardens, perfect for a picnic or study session outdoors.

Study.eu tip: Birmingham has a huge international student population, so don't be shy! It’s easy to meet people and feel at home, no matter where you’re from.

Universities in Birmingham

Birmingham is a proper student city, not just because of the numbers, but because it’s home to some excellent institutions (some even ranking among the best universities in the UK):

• University of Birmingham: One of the country's top institutions and a member of the Russell Group, it’s known for research and teaching in everything from medicine and law to engineering and international relations. The campus is leafy and spacious, with its own train station and tons of student facilities.
• Aston University: Right in the city centre, Aston has a strong reputation for business, science, and engineering degrees; and a big focus on getting students ready for the workplace as it’s one of the UK’s most employable universities.
• Birmingham City University (BCU): BCU is known for creative and professional undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Think media, design, performing arts, education and health. It’s modern, inclusive, and always evolving.
• University College Birmingham (UCB): Specialising in hospitality, tourism, business and food-related degrees, UCB is hands-on and career-focused.
• BIMM Music Institute: If music is your calling, BIMM offers a creative, hands-on environment to study performance, songwriting, music production, and more.  

Work opportunities for students

If you’re hoping to earn a bit on the side or get a head start on your career, Birmingham’s a great place to do it. Big companies like PwC, HSBC, and Jaguar Land Rover all have offices here, and there’s a growing tech and start-up scene too.

Students often find part-time jobs in shops, cafés, or at events. You can also look for internships through your university, especially in business, tech, or creative fields.

International students on a student visa can usually work up to 20 hours a week during term time, and full-time during holidays.

Getting there and around

Birmingham’s central location makes it a great base for exploring the UK. You’re about 90 minutes from London by train, and close to cities like Manchester, Oxford, and Cardiff. The airport has plenty of low-cost flights to Europe (great for weekend trips!).

Around the city, public transport is cheap and easy to use. There’s a good tram network, loads of buses, and student railcards help keep costs down. Walking and cycling are also popular, especially around the university areas.

 

List of universities in Birmingham

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