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The overall ranking is decided by students from this institution rating them in a 2026 Whatuni review. This forms the basis of the Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs for short).
4.04.14.11107 Student reviews
Sort:Latest reviewsThe campus at UoB is really lovely, lots of green space and amazing buildings. As it is a campus university, you get to know the university quickly, and this is nice as it can feel like a separate student bubble. As for the course I was doing: Digital Media and Communications (BA Hons), I found the teaching was sub-par and unprofessional in some instances. For example, during my first term, I had a module that was supposed to equip us with necessary skills for becoming a university student (seemingly helpful for integration into university academics), this was not the case though. The module lead would spend the whole workshop taking about extremely irrelevant subjects such as him not knowing there were showers on campus until recently (about half the workshop was wasted on him talking about this). Furthermore, in another module, the tutor opened the first session with us by stating that when she is reading us the powerpoint presentations, this is the first time she is reading them herself and that she doesn't make the slides. She would spend time in the lectures trying to understand what the presentation was saying as she herself was unfamiliar with the content - I found this extremely unprofessional and it really angered me that what was supposed to be an expert in her field was struggling with a powerpoint she was presenting, also the fact she openly told us she had not prepared for the lectures by reading the slides beforehand is honestly shocking and I deeply questioned what am I paying for?? I also found that some lecturers lacked passion for teaching and lacked in making these sessions engaging. I also think that the communication between different module tutors can be poor sometimes (specifically in terms of briefing for assignments). Despite this, the pastoral care and support at UOB is amazing; it's very easy to contact staff and arrange appointments with faculty members, etc. I found that Birmingham, as a city, is an extremely uninspiring place with no real heart to it. The accommodation at UoB isn't actually 'on campus' as it's about a 15-minute walk away to get to the top of campus - this is fine if you don't mind it, but it is something to consider if you'd rather have your campus be right on your doorstep. The nightlife scene in Birmingham is really not that great and far to get to as it's about a 45-minute walk from the Vale (first year) accommodation to Broad Street. Birmingham is also not that safe and doesn't feel welcoming as a city; in my opinion, it's a very cold atmosphere and not very pretty. All this eventually led to me leaving UoB mid-way through year 1, and I am extremely glad I did.
Campus is really one of the most beautiful in the country. I love everything about it, the uni and the course I can’t fault it
I love the campus and feel right at home, there is such a wide variety of modules and opportunities to volunteer and further my studies. Theres is such a mix of societies you can join to make the most of UoB
Love the campus.
I enjoy studying liberal arts at UoB because it allows me explores different subject modules each year. I’ve learnt to realise what I do enjoy and what I don’t enjoy in different subjects. This means that during my time at university, I’ve been able to pick up a range of skills - both analytical and creative - therefore I can adapt myself for my future career. You gain an interdisciplinary set of skills that you can apply in the workplace. It sometimes may feel a bit weird trying to explain to others what liberal arts is in the beginning but you get used to it. The library on campus is 24/7 during term time and even has group study spaces, silent spaces, rooms that you can book as well. This is quite the lifesaver for exam season or if you’ve left your assignment a bit late again! I went for an en-suite accommodation which was walking distance from campus. Most students move in student housing in Selly Oak in second year onwards where you have the retail park. Groceries are never a problem as you have Morrisons near Vale Village - Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Tesco near Selly Oak. Maintenance services in accommodation were very quick to repair anything - never had any major issues. The department guides you and provides support in helping you choose majors (if you choose to do so) and choosing modules if you have any questions. Most professors know what a liberal arts degree is so they are always open to helping you as well if you’ve never studied their subject before. Office hours are definitely underrated as they help you with any questions you have academically for individual assignments, group work or even presentations. The department have Wellbeing Officers and free events which you can attend. The University and Student Union have multiple wellbeing support pathways available to access as well. There is also welfare team for accommodation (ResLife Team) There are cost of living schemes in place at the student union including a community breakfast which offers free weekly breakfast for students, a free shuttle bus from campus to Selly express for safety and a community pantry which provides a free one off food parcel. There are scholarships and funding that you can apply for regardless whether you’re a home, international or a postgrad student. Accommodation costs are fixed - I recommend that the self catered options is cheaper and better to save money. Some accommodation sites can be expensive but there are some affordable ones. Day time events are great as there are ones from student societies, the student union, the department and the main university. This includes Welcome Week, UoB Xtra which takes place after exams and the artisan markets where there are monthly stalls from local markets on campus to explore. Christmas on campus is really fun as well as there is a ride. The city is quite big and there is lots to explore from gardens, to museums and art galleries and the infamous BullRing. You can also easily travel in and out to other cities such as attending Warwick races. Campus and city nightlight is quite active and there is absolutely no pressure to drink either at uni! There are also sober social events that take place in the evening. The student union takes a bit time to understand how to get around the different staircases but apart from them is very accessible for all students. They have over 350+ student societies to choose from and you can meet all of the societies during Welcome Week and they host free events during term. They host free accommodation social events as well to meet new people living in the same place as you. They offer part time flexible student roles across multiple departments which is great to apply for future career.
I love Selly Oak, and the community students feel it has. The campus is located only a short walk away. The campus itself is beautiful and a great environment to work in. If anything could be improved, reduced food and drink prices.
The University of Birmingham is a great place to study, especially for my course, Music. The institution as a whole is helpful, student life is fun and varied and there are lots of opportunities ranging from sports, music, other hobbies, work or volunteering. The campus is safe and looks very nice, especially in Spring and Summer. It also has a good location as it has its own trainstation and is close to the city.
Pros: - Good location, not too far from the city centre, - Good transport links; buses on each side of the campus and the university station are convenient - Department is very helpful and supportive - Good amount of study spaces across campus (you just have to explore to find them) - Great pathways and scholarships to help you throughout your uni journey. - Opportunites to help with your employability throughout the year. -Campus is very pretty Improvements - Would maybe like to see more food places on campus - not too expensive -
The university provides a welcoming and diverse community to students, there are a multitude of support systems in place to ensure that every student feels supported throughout their university journey. The university has a range of high-quality facilities, gyms and study spaces. The campus is unique and the Guild of Students allows for students to contribute at a decision-making level to various aspects of the university. There are continually new and exciting events and societies to become a part of, meaning that regardless of your interests, you are highly likely to find a society that complements you. There are also a wide range of funding options available that increase the accessibility of the university, as well as many programmes to ensure that your university transition is as smooth as possible.
The university has a beautiful campus with it's own train station to access the city centre easily. From my experience, all of the academics really care about our experience and love it when I ask questions in lectures or ask for guidance with assessments. There are so many social events too, so it's easy to make friends here. There are multiple methods of student support - my first port of call is my personal tutor. The university provide lots of opportunities for professional development too - such as networking events, guest speakers, student jobs and abroad opportunities to volunteer or study.
I’ve really loved my time here at UOB I’ve made friends for life and have always felt really supported by both the university and my course specifically. There a lot of different support available for academic and personal issues and these different support services have always been advertised so it’s clear what’s available. The disability services are really supportive and have put in all adjustments I’ve needed in a really professional and polite manner with very few questions asked. The city has pretty much everything you could wish for and it’s really easy to get into the centre as there’s frequent trains straight from campus this helps provide an amazing social life while still feeling separate from the busy centre. The campus is stunning and there’s an amazing sense of community on both the main campus and the student accommodation village. One negative is the student union, they do put on a large range of events and there so many society’s which is amazing however the food and drinks options on campus are really expensive so remain really unused with students going off campus for drinks and events as these are often much more affordable.
I have really enjoyed my time at the University of Birmingham. I gained so much independence when moving away from home in my first year and felt supported by the university in doing so. My course has interesting and well organised content, with experienced lecturers who can provide insight into the profession and guidance. I have been adequately supported in finding clinical placements to further my learning. I have also been encouraged to participate in a variety of social events and societies, which are some of my favourite memories from my time here. There are small aspects of my course that could improve, but overall I have thoroughly enjoyed my almost 4 years studying here!
Good locations with lots of spots to study and plenty of societies and extracurricular activities to be involved in.
I've had an amazing time studying at the University of Birmingham. I'm now in my final year, having undertaken a placement year last year. The extracurricular and career opportunities have shaped my experience the most and helped me land my dream graduate role. The staff are incredibly supportive, the student societies are vast and welcoming and the uni have invested a lot into new facilities and student experiences. The campus is always been improved with the opening of our new train station and molecular sciences building most recently. There's plenty of study spaces with charging points all across campus. The library is great because it's open 24/7 during term time, which helps during assessment season. The library has an Academic Skills Centre too, who helped me in first year when I was struggling with referencing and structuring my essays. I felt that my accommodation in first year was reasonably priced for what I got (en-suite, double bed, shared with 3 other people, cinema room, study floor, great location). There's lots of grants, prizes and bursaries available at the university and I've always had a part-time casual job on campus, organised through Worklink, which has helped with costs. The campus is vibrant, lively and there's always something going on, whether it's the local business market on the first Tuesday of every month, to craft fairs, concerts and fairs. The train station on campus is only a 6 minute journey to Birmingham New Street, making it well-connected. The city has lots to offer - shops, clubs, bars, activities and music. My favourite places are Digbeth, Broad Street, Centenary Way, Harborne and Moseley. The student societies are great! So much on offer and a society for everyone. Most of them are really affordable, only a few pounds to become a member and they offer regular activities and socials.
- I have really enjoyed my first semester because the content was just so so much fun!! - The transition from school to uni was hard to cope with, but there was so much support available (personal academic tutor, SGTs, discussion boards) that made it so much easier
Make sure to join as many societies as possible in your first year to get a feel of everything and make the most out of every opportunity you get.
The university’s campus is very nice. Even though it is not in the city centre, we have our own campus where the facilities are very complete, allowing us to do various activities easily and comfortably. We are very proud of it.
I am a second-year Psychology student at the University of Birmingham and have had a very positive experience overall. One of the best aspects of the university is that it combines city life with the safety and community feel of a campus. The campus is clean, secure, and well maintained, with green spaces and historic buildings that make it a pleasant place to study and spend time. The location is a major advantage, with the city centre just a six-minute train journey away and excellent transport links from the university’s own station. Socially, there is a wide range of options, from nightlife to societies and activities for those who prefer quieter, non-drinking events. Academically, the university offers strong support through resources such as the Careers Network and Academic Skills Centre. Overall, the University of Birmingham provides a supportive, well-rounded experience both academically and socially, and I am very happy to be studying here. Birmingham has a preconception that it is dangerous and that crime rates are high however, this is just average for any big city so don't let it put you off as I deferent. One thing that could improve is while there is a good range of places to eat on campus, some options can be expensive for students. Increasing affordable meal choices or student discounts would help reduce daily costs. Something else that could be really helpful is First-year accommodation is well supported, but guidance on finding affordable and safe housing after first year could be improved, particularly for students moving into areas like Selly Oak.
4.3
The university campus is beautiful, but parking nearby can be difficult. The campus has its own train station, which is unique in England, and the train to the city is cheap. The University of Birmingham often schedules teaching sessions in different locations and at varying times each week. This can be great if you like exploring the whole campus, but it’s harder if you prefer consistency and familiarity. There are lots of food outlets on campus, but they tend to be overpriced, not very good, and surprisingly not very sustainable (they mostly use disposable dishes). There are, however, microwaves and hot water machines that students can use. The library and its services are excellent. The central Aston Webb building is also stunning and really makes you proud to be a student here.
The university is better than others at listening to students. It also have a very diverse student body although the graduate courses are mostly Canadian students. The campus is beautiful and there are opportunities to get legal experience in Birmingham, which is the largest city in the UK after London. The main downside is the extremely large cohort (700+ student in one year), which reduces opportunities to interact with staff and to take part in various activities (mooting, pro bono) as places are limited. It also makes it more difficult to make connections with other students, and some people don’t seem very committed to studying law. The public law and criminal law faculty is very strong. There are also lots of socio-legal and international researchers from different countries, though I’m less familiar with those areas. The legal theory department is weaker.