MEng postgraduate degrees in Birmingham

I am a mature distance learning student, completing my MA in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics. The online platform is easy to use and the digital library is expansive. All staff have been easy to contact when I need any support, including IT, Finance, Admin, my personal tutor and teaching staff. I have been assigned a mentor to help me stay connected with university life and the Philosophy department. The modules are contemporary, as are the course materials. The student cohort is diverse and we all connect to the course flexibly, from different time zones. I receive a weekly events newsletter which has plenty of options for attending online webinars and socials.

Studying at Birmingham City University in the Curzon building is great because of the modern facilities, comfortable study spaces, and central location, which makes everything convenient. It could be improved by adding more quiet study areas during busy times and better communication about timetable updates.

The facilities in Aston university makes it convenient for students to study. The facilities are modern and well maintained and there are multiple areas for group work and quiet study. The location is good as well as everything’s in walking distance like restaurants, shops and job opportunities. This makes it really convenient for students. One area where it could be improved is the parking. During peak times it can be quite difficult to find parking. Improving this for students who commute would make a big difference.

Best aspect: One positive aspect of university is the financial resources available to support students, such as scholarships, bursaries, grants, and access to part-time work on or near campus. These resources can reduce financial pressure and allow students to focus more on their studies. Universities also often provide access to subsidised facilities, learning resources, and student discounts, which can make higher education more affordable compared to managing these costs independently. Worst aspect / areas for improvement: Despite these resources, financial support is often limited, competitive, or not well advertised, leaving many students unaware of the help available to them. Living costs, accommodation fees, and international tuition fees continue to rise, which can cause significant financial stress. Universities could improve by expanding financial aid, offering clearer guidance on available funding, and providing more consistent support for students facing unexpected financial difficulties.

Best experiences are working within the kitchens amongst other culinary driven peers. The student support is good too. Things that could be better are the resources provided for culinary students as it seems to be a reoccurring issue where the isn’t enough produce to make a dish and this can be understandable at times however in order to work to the best possible ability we need the best resources and quantity too.