University rating
Tell us about your overall university experience so far.
Personally I believe UCB has to be one of the most authentic, real, comfortable places for anyone to come. I came to UCB when it was peak lockdown and I was terrified. However, UCB goes ABOVE & BEYOND to make sure support for students is never missed out! There's always an opportunity for support available, always interactive things going on campus such as drop ins, activities, games, opportunities to get to know people, it has to be one of the most welcoming environments ever, considering I went to other Universities for open days etc and nothing compared. Moreover, UCB ensures that all students have employability opportunities from setting up your own business to finding jobs. I was able to have the opportunity to become a student ambassador which became my first job. With UCB help they helped develop my skills by giving me different job roles, interacting with different people, communities, cultures which really really grew my confidence! As i moved on into my second year the support was still immeasurable, I was able to speak about
my passions and they helped me get a job within University as Further Education Progress Coach, allowing me to work with FE students and gain my mentoring skills and help pass that down to others and inspire them. UCB puts students opinions, thoughts, feelings at the centre and ensure they use that to make everyone feel welcome and provide whatever students want and need in the best possible way. UCB also has the GUILD which is such an interactive open community always hosting events, even something as nice as movie nights, food parties and so on. There's always an opportunity, always something going on so everyone has the chance to participate! I also had the passion for my own personal hobbies such as Mendhi (Henna designs). UCB helped encourage me in this by creating an event where I got to showcase that and do that in University and help build that up. There is a never ending amount of support, encouragement and a welcoming vibe here at University. It has to be one of the best facilitating places to as UCB has a few campuses which is amazing as it helps students use the different facilities rather than being stuck in one place for example, using the library in one building, computer rooms in another, study spaces and so on!
I honestly can’t think of anything that needs improving other than just keeping the cafes open for longer as they close at 3:00pm & for University students/staff/even college students who are here till 5 or 6 it would be ideal to get a drink or snack but with it closing early it doesn’t help as no cafes within any of the buildings are open. Other then that, UCB is an amazing college/university which is also at the centre of Birmingham and has easy access to all the food hubs nearby, the Birmingham library, student life and just open to opportunities within Birmingham!
Course rating
Course rating
As I started my course in peak lockdown this was something I was terrified about. I was always on edge thinking ‘am i going to get my University experience?’ ‘will i get the same support’? and so on. However, UCB has been very understanding of how tough these times can be and so with my course they made it as comfortable and accessible to everyone as much. As i am in my second year now we have been having blended learning since year 1. This consists of face to face lectures as-well as being taught online, having online tutorials, individual support in person and so on. This has been an amazing approach for me as I get to have both aspects and it has helped me in getting both perspectives of teaching which I love! Lecturers are also very understanding that online teaching can be difficult as you don’t get that same face to face contact and are encouraging by making everyone feel comfortable using breakout rooms so we get group work done without it being just talking for hours, using different tools such as padlet walls and making it all interactive! Lecturers always be available within working hours and reply to emails and whatever support required as quick as possible. The course also has placement hours which the hired team are so dedicated in as they helped me find my placement, sorted out all the details/DBS at a time when it was impossible for placements to happen and schools were not taking anyone in. Due to difficulty with the pandemic in the first year they also cut placement hours to 87.5 hours in the first year which really helped personally as I was stressed out with work, the pandemic itself so the opportunity to still go in was fantastic. To ensure we don't miss out they helped gain further placement experience within the second year by coming out to assess us in teaching, provide training, support skills and tools which further aided me.
University location
University location
I think as UCB is in the central of Birmingham the location is perfect as all of Birminghams opportunities are nearby such as food hubs, the library, places to just sit and relax, shopping centres, student night life and so on! Everything is nearby which helps in being accessible and easy to just grab whatever needed or even just some relaxing time away where there is many areas to do that which parks and cafes nearby.