MRes Interdisciplinary Study

University of Birmingham

My time studying for an MSc in Microbiology and Infection at the University of Birmingham has been nothing short of exceptional. The university offers a perfect combination of academic rigour, a supportive community, and a vibrant lifestyle that I think is hard to beat anywhere else in the UK. The Campus & Location The campus is undoubtedly one of the university's best assets. It is absolutely beautiful, featuring a mix of historic redbrick architecture and modern glass buildings. The 'Green Heart' in the centre provides a massive, lush green space that really lifts the atmosphere and creates a sense of calm, even during busy term times. Logistically, the location is perfect. Having the University Station right on campus is a huge game-changer. You can be in the city centre (New Street) in just seven minutes, giving you immediate access to the Bullring for shopping or Digbeth for nightlife. You truly get the best of both worlds: a safe, campus-bubble feel during the day and big-city excitement whenever you want it. Academic Excellence & Facilities As a postgraduate science student, the facilities have blown me away. The Collaborative Teaching Laboratory (CTL) is state-of-the-art; working with such modern equipment makes the lab sessions engaging and prepares you well for a career in research. The teaching quality is equally impressive, lecturers are passionate experts in their fields (especially in areas like antimicrobial resistance), and they are always approachable and willing to offer guidance. Student Life & Support The Guild of Students does a fantastic job of bringing everyone together. With over 250 societies, there is something for everyone, and it makes finding friends incredibly easy. I’ve also been impressed by the practical support available. Worklink, the university’s internal recruitment agency, makes finding flexible part-time work on campus seamless, which is a massive help financially. Overall, Birmingham has provided me with a challenging degree, a great social life, and a supportive environment. I couldn't ask for more.

The academic facilities are incredible for my course, neuroscience. There are many research centres and institutes that are linked to the university, enabling close ties with research. The campus is lovely and green, and everything is within walking distance. It is also so close to the city centre, allowing for great nightlife. There are so many societies, and the university always has some free activities to take part in. Unfortunately, due to Birmingham City Council bankruptcy and the waste(bin) collector strikes, the local area where students live in private rentals is often overflowing with rubbish, and almost no recycling is taken over the year. This is not the university's fault, but it contributes to a not-so-great part of student life. Additionally, the crime rate in the area is rather high, and some students do feel uncomfortable. Depending on where they used to live before uni, this can be quite a shock for some. A criticism I have of the university itself is the appalling response to the student call to divest from weapons manufacturing and Israel. The University stated that its primary focus when investing was ensuring world-leading teaching and research quality, as if that excused a £4.5 million investment in companies that were breaking international law (as of 2020). While I deplore these decisions by the university and their continued platforming of BAE systems, the overall teaching, facilities and student life have been good during my time at the University of Birmingham.

I love the campus and the course. However, some modules have been irrelevant to my course and there have been issues with being told limited information about assignments and limited feedback on assignments occasionally.

Best = easy to talk to people and get support. Worst= most socials are either drinking-focused or not commuter-friendly, so it's harder to build friendships outside the course for commuters

The beautiful campus and huge range of buildings makes studying here an amazing time. There are a huge selection of study spaces as well as food vendors and amenities on campus. Being so close to the main city is also a plus being able to get there in 5 minutes from the university train station. There is also a lot of green and parks around campus and free gardens to walk through allowing for a great break on stressful days.