Go Magazine Winter 2015

Inspiring the city Students put creative talents on show for all

Steps to success How to make the most of your Personal Statement

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#BringonBCU

Issue 7

Undergraduate Magazine

WELCOME

Inside

02 – 03 Welcome 04 – 05 Shaping the world 06 – 11 Student success 12 – 13 Inspirational teaching 14 – 15 Inspired festival

16 – 17 International 18 – 19 Our facilities 20 – 23 Birmingham 24 – 27 Information and advice

WHY CHOOSE US? Investing in your future We are investing £260 million in our facilities, including a major expansion of our City Centre Campus.

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Learn from the best From the UK’s leading criminologist to a ‘Hot 100’ jeweller, our teaching staff come from and maintain links with industry, ensuring you benefit from their knowledge and insight.

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Earn while you learn Find paid part-time work through our student employment agency, OpportUNIty. 3

Industry partnerships We work with companies and organisations like BBC, Jaguar Land Rover, and Cartier to develop cutting edge curriculums and to collaborate on course projects.

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Excellent research Almost 90 per cent of our research was judged to have delivered ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ external impact (REF 2014).

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Encouraging innovation New Graduate+ scheme to embed employability skills into every one of our degree courses.

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WELCOME

WELCOME Welcome to the latest edition of Go magazine. Whether you have already applied to study with us, or are still deciding what route to take, we hope you will find plenty to interest you in here.

At Birmingham City University, you will gain extensive knowledge, attributes and experience through our cutting-edge facilities, exceptional staff and strong student engagement. We ensure that your time here will leave you highly employable, with the skills needed to progress in your life and career.

We continue to transform our estate, ensuring we offer state-of-the-art facilities and superb teaching. Our latest development, The Curzon Building, has opened its doors, offering an innovative new home for our English, Business, Law and Social Science courses. Work has also commenced on the new Birmingham Conservatoire, which, upon completion, will offer spectacular facilities fit for the 21st century.

In this issue, you can read about our latest staff and student success stories, how our Inspired festival showcased the creativity of our graduates, our plans for the future and advice on succeeding at interviews.

Birmingham is a creative, vibrant city that is home to a number of successful companies. Join us and you will benefit from studying in Europe’s youngest city, where industry contacts and valuable experiences are waiting to be exploited.

I hope to welcome you as a student in the near future, and if you have any queries in the meantime, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Professor Cliff Allan Vice-Chancellor

Professor Cliff Allan in our green screen studio - the largest such facility in the UK

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SHAPING THE WORLD

I have developed some of the world’s best cars Michael Carter, Product Development Graduate – Body Engineering, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd BEng (Hons) Automotive Engineering (sandwich)

Michael Carter

GRADUATES SHAPING THE WORLD At Birmingham City University, we have long believed that our success can be shown by the number of graduates who have gone on to succeed in their chosen fields. Here are some of the stars of our latest advertising campaign, featuring graduates who have ‘shaped the world’.

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After coming to Birmingham City University through Clearing, Michael benefited from the expertise of our staff and the cuttingedge facilities at Millennium Point, as well as building his experience with a placement year at luxury carmaker Bentley. This helped him to secure another prestigious role on graduation, as Product Development Graduate at Aston Martin.

“I had decided at college that I wanted to follow my passion for cars and motorcycles, and nationally there aren’t that many universities that offer Automotive Engineering as a degree. As a group, we were very tight-knit lecturers knew who we were, and accessing them for additional support was very easy.

“The range of content was wide enough to cover most of what you can pursue outside of education in industry – I found what interested me through one of the modules at University and now do this as a job. I hope to continue to develop here at Aston Martin, and contribute as much as possible to the many exciting future prospects for the company.”

SHAPING THE WORLD

I have created dream holidays

I have designed the buildings of the future

Kim Bailey

Harjot Rai

Kim Bailey, USA Specialist, Audley Travel BA (Hons) Marketing

Harjot Rai, Architectural Assistant, Associated Architects BA (Hons) Architecture, MArch Architecture

Kim Bailey gained essential skills while at Birmingham City University – as well as friends for life. She has secured a variety of exciting roles in the travel industry and currently builds bespoke holidays to the USA for prestigious travel firm Audley Travel.

Harjot Rai always had a passion for architecture and, after attending an Open Day at Birmingham City University, he went on to explore his interest at degree level and now works with esteemed practice Associated Architects in Birmingham.

“I attended an Open Day and it was an unforgettable experience, getting the chance to construct a suspension bridge from cardboard! The University offered really good student support, as well as boasting a good track record of employability.

“I now travel to America every year for about three weeks, where I check out the hotels, excursions and different areas of the country, looking for new places to stay and exciting things to do. I don’t know where the next chapter of life will take me, but I will certainly stay in the travel industry. You can’t beat the feeling of making someone’s dream holiday a reality.”

“I currently work at Associated Architects in Birmingham city centre. They have designed many buildings around the city, including the University’s Parkside Building. My job relates directly to my degree and is essential experience in order for me to become a qualified architect.”

For more graduate stories, visit www.bcu.ac.uk/stories.

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STUDENT SUCCESS

SERENA WON AN AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO CIVIL LITIGATION CASE IN SAUDI ARABIA

Law graduate lands established

JOB AND TOP PRIZE Before Serena Eddy attended one of our open days, she was unsure if a degree was the right choice.

A few years on and a First Class Honours degree later, Serena now works as a trainee solicitor for Irwin Mitchell, winning a string of awards along the way.

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STUDENT SUCCESS

The University’s staff helped me work that little bit harder, and made me more determined to achieve my goals.

“I was undecided about whether to go to university at all, but after attending Birmingham City University’s Open Day, it seemed like a good choice,” said Serena. “The lecturers all had long and dedicated careers in law, and this was bolstered by the fact Birmingham has a huge legal presence outside of London.”

While studying, Serena worked hard to make good law connections, contacting firms and attending national fairs to broaden her contacts, as well as her knowledge. “The University’s staff helped me work that little bit harder, and made me more determined to achieve my goals,” she said.

Anneka and Sanya Hoque

Identical CAREERS

She recently added to her accolades with the Hero of the Month award from her employers, for her contribution to a civil litigation case in Saudi Arabia.

Two identical twins from our BA (Hons) Primary Education course are keeping it in the family by securing jobs at the same primary school on graduation.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the University,” Serena said. “All the hard work and dedication of the School of Law have seen it grow in strength and stature, which is a great accomplishment.”

Anneka and Sanya Hoque are no strangers to working together, having both decided to pursue a career in teaching, progressing through an Early Years course at college to the degree at Birmingham City University.

www.bcu.ac.uk/law

When they saw that Adderley Primary School in Saltley, Birmingham, was recruiting for a number of newly-qualified teachers (NQTs), they hoped that one of them would land a role but they ended up both securing a post.

Anneka said: “We’ve always been very close, and although we’re in different groups on our course, we still helped each other out a lot and then when we went on placements at different schools, we were able to compare ideas and experiences.”

Sanya added: “We both applied and thought if one of us gets it we’d be pleased. We didn’t expect to get roles at the same school, but it was the right job at the right time so when they offered jobs to both of us, we were happy to stay together.” www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/primary-education-with-qts

University law students study in our realistic mock courtrooms

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STUDENT SUCCESS

The smart cane incorporates facial recognition technology to alert the user when they are approaching a relative or friend.

Student Steve Adigbo with an earlier prototype of the cane

STUDENTS PROVIDE A SMART SOLUTION Blind people could soon be able to identify friends and family instantly using a revolutionary ‘smart’ cane developed by students at Birmingham City University.

The ‘XploR’ mobility cane – developed by Information and Communications Technology students Steve Adigbo, Waheed Rafiq and Richard Howlett – uses smartphone technology to recognise familiar faces from up to 10 metres away, vibrating when it detects a recognisable individual from a bank of images stored on an internal memory card.

The device will guide users towards friends and family members using an earpiece and audio instructions, with the information being relayed through bluetooth technology.

The cane also features GPS functionality to aid navigation.

Steve explained that the device had added importance for him: “My grandfather is blind and I know how useful this device could be for him,” he said. “The smart cane incorporates facial recognition technology to alert the user when they are approaching a relative or friend. There’s nothing else out there like this at the moment.”

The students conducted market research at the Beacon Centre for the Blind in

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Wolverhampton, to determine key features that the visually impaired would find useful in a mobility cane.

“We found that high-spec technology features were essential requirements for users, as well as the cane needing to be fairly lightweight and easy to use,” said Waheed. “We’ll be returning to the Beacon Centre later this year for people to test the product and also to highlight the training and security features.” www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/informationand-communication-technology.

STUDENT SUCCESS

School of Jewellery

GRADUATE WINS AWARD BA (Hons) Jewellery and Silversmithing graduate Isabella Liu has won a number of awards in both England and Italy since graduating, recently collecting two gold medals at the 2015 Milan World Expo China-Italy International Jewellery Design Competition.

Isabella won Fashion Gold Medal of Best Product and Gold Medal of Best Designer for her innovative jewellery. Earlier this year, she secured further accolades at the prestigious Goldsmiths Craftsmanship and Design Competition, collecting two gold awards for her ‘Mending’ collection.

“I’m so pleased to have won the awards, I’m a bit overwhelmed to be honest,” Isabella said. “My ‘Scar Is No More a Scar’ collection features layer upon layer of silver and hand-dyed, laser-cut silk, and the unusual shapes were inspired by the shape of a scar I have on my chest.”

Progressing into jewellery design as a career was a natural decision for Isabella, and she chose Birmingham City University because of its excellent facilities. “Birmingham School of Jewellery is amazing,” she said. “It’s the perfect place for students to learn about jewellery, and I believe it really enables students to embrace their future and create their own career.”

Since graduating, Isabella has exhibited her work in the UK, China, Italy and Spain, and currently works at a gallery in London. “My degree has provided me with great knowledge, which built a good foundation for me to work where I do now,” Isabella said. “I hope through my work people will love and appreciate the jewellery industry more.” www.bcu.ac.uk/jewellery www.isabella-liu.com

My degree has provided me with great knowledge, which built a good foundation for me to work where I do now.

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Isabella Liu

STUDENT SUCCESS

SPARKLING TALENT A Birmingham School of Acting student has been recognised as one of the country’s most promising up-and-coming talents by securing a £2,500 Laurence Olivier bursary.

Rachel Smart joins a list of famous names who have won the bursary in previous years, including Ewan McGregor and Michael Sheen.

Established by the Society of London Theatre in 1987 in honour of the 80th birthday of English actor Lord Olivier, the Laurence Olivier bursaries aim to provide financial support to exceptional students put forward by accredited drama schools around the UK. Rachel said: “To win the award I had to present a modern piece, a classical piece and a song, to a panel of judges on the stage of the Ambassadors Theatre in London. I also had an interview with the panel where we spoke about the financial strains of third year study and I explained how the money would help me.

“At drama school you are constantly scrutinising yourself and the work you do, so it was a real boost to hear the judges enjoyed my work and had selected me. One of the judges said he was impressed with my acting through song, so that was lovely to know that the work we are doing on the BA Acting course is being recognised.” www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/acting-ba

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PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE BURSURY INCLUDE EWAN MCGREGOR AND MICHAEL SHEEN

STUDENT SUCCESS

Nursing students gain international insight Two students from our Adult Nursing degree programme gained an international perspective on their profession by taking part in the International Nursing Summer School in Navarra, Spain.

Emily Johnson and Charlotte Young were selected to take part in the visit, hosted by the University of Navarra.

The event combined academic and cultural activities, with students from the USA and UK joining their Spanish counterparts to discuss the challenges facing the profession.

Issues discussed included listening skills, patient-nurse relationships and strategies to teach patients and families how to manage and live with a long-term condition.

Emily said: “It was a fantastic experience and I got so much out of it. Health promotion in particular is a challenging area for nursing practice and is an important current issue for our healthcare system.

“I have had a great opportunity to interact with international nursing students and experience teaching from lecturers of the University of Navarra. The summer school has allowed me to broaden my knowledge of very important issues in nursing and healthcare systems which I will be able to apply in my future nursing practice.” www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/ nursing-adult

Lifesaving idea - Giovanni, Shamul, Suhayb and Athos with lecturer Laura Leyland (second right) who worked with the students on the project

Idea to combat drought scoops national award A group of BSc (Hons) Mechanical Engineering students were crowned winners of a national engineering competition for their work on finding potential ways to combat drought in Nepal.

Suhayb Manzoor, Giovanni Forioni Bragaia, Shamul Hoque and Athos Graton Roman fought off competition from over 3,000 students at 23 UK universities to win the Engineering Without Borders (EWB) Challenge.

The students wowed judges with their water harvesting system, designed to collect moisture from fog and dew in the atmosphere, which could contribute towards the provision

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of safe drinking water during dry seasons.

As a result, they got to attend EWB’s International Educational Course in Mexico City to further their understanding of the role of engineering in international development.

Suhayb said: “We designed a bamboo structure with a hydrophobic mesh net that the fog would travel through and the dew would collect on.

Condensed water would then gather and collect in a tank.

“We built apparatus and tested our ideas at labs here at the University, replicating weather conditions in Nepal as closely as possible.” www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/mechanicalengineering

INSPIRATIONAL TEACHING

A NEW PRINCIPAL FOR A NEW ERA World-renowned musician Julian Lloyd Webber has started work as the new Principal of Birmingham Conservatoire, just as work gets under way for its new £46 million home.

The appointment of Julian Lloyd Webber coincides with the development of the new Conservatoire, which will move to the University’s state-of-the-art City Centre Campus. Set to open in 2017, the new building will boast new practice and performance areas, a recital hall, a specialised jazz venue and cutting-edge resources.

Professor Lloyd Webber takes over from David Saint, whose tenure with the institution nurtured a host of talent, including singer-songwriter Laura Mvula and the award-winning Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.

“The opportunities that lie ahead for Birmingham Conservatoire are limitless,” said Professor Lloyd Webber. “We will have an exceptional new home for making music, as well as access to the wider University’s facilities and multi-genre expertise.

This will ensure our students leave with the skills they need for today’s music industry.”

Julian Lloyd Webber

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INSPIRATIONAL TEACHING

Industry trailblazer in the

JEWELLERY HOT 100 The Head of the University’s School of Jewellery has been named as an industry trailblazer in the who’s who of the industry’s most talented jewellers.

Gaynor Andrews was named in the annual Professional Jeweller Hot 100 list, alongside talented alumni Fei Liu, Shona Marsh, Naomi Newton-Sherlock and Rosie-May Hofman.

Each year, the Professional Jewellery Hot 100 list is kept secret until the reveal party, with each chosen person photographed and interviewed for a luxury commemorative book released on the night. The jewellers listed are split into six categories – trendsetters, retail stars, business big shots, brand champions, trailblazers and the next generation.

Kevin Singh

“Congratulations to Fei, Shona, Naomi and Rosie on this fantastic achievement,” said Gaynor. “It was a lovely surprise to also be named on the list. I think this really goes to show the standard of work that goes on at the School of Jewellery, and the quality of the graduates we produce.”

Professor’s award for INNOVATIVE TEACHING

www.bcu.ac.uk/jewellery

One of Birmingham City University’s professors has been recognised for his innovative teaching and positive student feedback.

Professor Kevin Singh, Head of Birmingham School of Architecture, has been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy (HEA). Over 180 lecturers were nominated for the fellowships, which celebrate outstanding achievement in learning and teaching in higher education. He received the award at a ceremony at Liverpool Cathedral.

“I am delighted to receive such an accolade,” said Kevin. “The award comes with a £10,000 prize fund, which will be spent on further research or initiatives, and it’ll also bring access to an amazing community of other Fellows, all of whom are innovative in their field.”

Professor Singh has been in his current position since 2011, having previously worked within the School as Postgraduate Programme Director. www.bcu.ac.uk/architecture-and-design

Gaynor Andrews

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INSPIRED FESTIVAL

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GRADUATES INSPIRE THE CITY This summer saw the return of the University’s Inspired festival, which showcased the innovative and groundbreaking work of our students on creative and cultural courses.

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Following on from last year’s successful debut, Inspired offered a wide range of concerts, performances, exhibitions and much more, demonstrating the high-level skills and talents that define our graduates to the public. It provided valuable preparation for our students, getting them ready for careers in the creative and cultural industries.

The festival was launched with a specially commissioned catwalk event, with models wearing the designs of a number of finalyear fashion students.

Birmingham Conservatoire also staged a number of performances, including opera, jazz, chamber and baroque shows.

INSPIRED FESTIVAL

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Charlotte Hancock a Textiles graduate

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Chloe Meehan exhibition piece

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Chloe Lovewell - Inspired catwalk show

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THE FESTIVAL WAS LAUNCHED WITH A SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED CATWALK EVENT, WITH MODELS WEARING THE DESIGNS OF A NUMBER OF FINAL-YEAR FASHION STUDENTS.

Visitors had the opportunity to see the world’s future actors and theatre professionals, with Birmingham School of Acting producing a number of eclectic shows in theatres across the city. Art and Design students showcased their work through exhibitions at our state-of-theart locations in Millennium Point, The Parkside Building and the Birmingham School of Art and the School of Jewellery.

English students put on their Creative Writing Summer Show, covering a variety of forms, while Exhibit This 2015 celebrated the ingenuity of our Birmingham School of Media graduates. www.bcu.ac.uk/inspired

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INTERNATIONAL

WE’RE A MULTICULTURAL CITY, THE SECOND MOST DIVERSE CITY IN THE UK AFTER LONDON.

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United States 26 OVER 900 GLOBAL FIRMS ARE BASED WITHIN THE CITY

AN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY WE WELCOME OVER 22,500 STUDENTS FROM OVER 80 COUNTRIES TO STUDY WITH US.

Birmingham City University is a truly international university attracting students from over 80 countries around the globe. Here we show you the top 20. Plus some of the reasons why these students choose our wonderful city to study in. Find out more at www.bcu.ac.uk/international.

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INTERNATIONAL

WE WELCOME 2,400 STUDENTS FROM OVERSEAS OR THE EU

OUR AIRPORT CONNECTS TO OVER 120 CITIES WORLDWIDE

Ireland 49

Lithuania 42 Germany 16 Romania 94 Bulgaria 45

Greece 25

China 603

Cyprus 127 Pakistan 26 India 119

Nigeria 178

Taiwan 66 Hong Kong 44 Thailand 51 Vietnam 49

Malaysia 85 Indonesia 22

BIRMINGHAM’S ONLY ONE HOUR 20 MINUTES FROM LONDON BY TRAIN

108 LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN WITHIN THE CITY WITH PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD CALLING IT HOME

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YOU CAN FLY DIRECT TO CHINA FROM BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT

OUR FACILITIES

DEVELOPING THE CITY Our continuing investment into our campuses ensures our students have access to a fantastic learning environment, with £260 million being invested into improving our facilities.

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Birmingham Conservatoire

Work has begun on building the new home for Birmingham Conservatoire, with the £40 million development providing state-of-the-art performance spaces, over 70 practice rooms and a 450-seater concert hall.

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Incorporating twice the amount of performance spaces as the current building, the Conservatoire will comprise five performance venues, a full orchestra, a recital hall with 150 seats and a smaller experimental music space. It will also host a specialised jazz venue.

The new development will see a new Conservatoire for the 21st Century built alongside Millennium Point on our fast-developing City Centre Campus.

Conservatoire Principal Julian Lloyd Webber said: We will have an exceptional new home for making music as well as access to the University’s facilities and expertise, ensuring our students leave with all the skills they need for today’s music industry.”

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Artist’s impression of our new Conservatoire

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The Curzon Building

City Centre Campus

Our latest state-of-the-art facility, The Curzon Building, saw its first intakes of students arrive in September.

The £63 million development has been praised by students. BA (Hons) English student Isaac Paul joined the University because he was excited to spend his second and third years in the new building.

“There are going to be so many benefits,” he said. “Being right next door to the Parkside Building and Millennium Point will create a real community feel. All in all, it’s going to be an exciting time and an important moment in the University’s history.”

The Curzon Building is home to Business, English, Law and Social Science students, and is also a hub for our students, offering a new library, student support facilities and Students’ Union.

THE CURZON BUILDING HOME TO BUSINESS, ENGLISH, LAW AND SOCIAL SCIENCE STUDENTS AND STUDENTS’ UNION.

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OUR FACILITIES

Artist’s impression, No1 City Locks

CITY CENTRE Living

The University has partnered with specialist student housing company Alumno Developments to construct new student accommodation, provisionally titled No1 City Locks.

It will provide accommodationfor over 650 students and is located right opposite The Curzon Building, incorporating retail space and dedicated business enterprise units.

The development forms part of a major regeneration of Birmingham’s Eastside district, located close to the Bullring shopping centre and Birmingham’s key transport hubs.

Commenting on the development, Birmingham City University Vice Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan said: “This project with Alumno Developments is the next stage in the continuing transformation of both our campus and the Eastside of the UK’s second city.

“The experience our students have while at the University is of paramount importance and this No1 City Locks development will offer them city centre living and great amenities right next door to where they study.”

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BIRMINGHAM

Birmingham:

WHY WE LOVE IT

Birmingham has plenty to offer for visitors and residents, with a wide range of entertainment, shopping and eating options to suit all tastes and budgets. Add to that some of the best parks in Europe and a range of historical attractions on your doorstep, and you will never be bored!

Birmingham City University students Algirdas Sakickas, and Sheena Ramchurn share some of their favourite parts of the city and surrounding area with us.

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BIRMINGHAM

Algirdas Sakickas

Sheena Ramchurn

SHOP

SHOP

EAT

EAT

Primark, or as I call it, Primani. Nothing beats Primani style and price – highly recommended. And Birmingham Markets – 1 kilo of fresh strawberries for £1? I will take two!

Cafe Soya is busy, but always welcoming place with delicious dim soup and noodles.

I believe I’m not the only one who loves Nando’s. It is like another definition of chicken! Wagamama was the first restaurant I visited in Birmingham and one of the best!

Brings me great memories, mmm, a crispy chicken steak.

SEE

The Black Country Museum is an authentic place where you can go to relive and experience the historic heritage of English culture. If I have a chance I always go through the Jewellery Quarter; it is like an undiscovered place for me, right next to the city centre. Then there’s Brindleyplace for the food, the people and the canals! The best place in town for a meal with friends.

GO OUT

O2 Academy is possibly the best nightclub, especially on Propaganda or Fresher’s nights! So many people, so much space and so much fun. Turtle Bay has some of the best non-alcoholic cocktails in town and is highly recommend! Broadway Plaza just has too many options to choose from. Bowling or cinema? Why not both!

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It has to be the Bullring. It has everything.

Clothes, shoes, tech, food, books and everything in between. And when I’m looking to splash out, I choose the Mailbox for the trendiest, chicest items.

After a hard day’s shopping, the restaurants at Spiceal Street are the perfect place to rest and eat. One of my favourites is Mount Fuji, a tiny Japanese restaurant that does amazing bento boxes. There are restaurants, cafés and eateries everywhere but only one place does quality street food and that’s the weekly Digbeth Dining Club.

My recommendation: a greasy beef burger from Meat Shack.

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Even though I live in Birmingham, I still get blown away by the sights sometimes.

My favourite place is Cannon Hill Park for beautiful floral views. When I want to get cultural, I head to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery for history, geography, art and science – I can usually lose a whole day in there!

GO OUT

On a night out, there are heaps of pubs, bars and clubs to choose from. I usually hit up Broad Street for the best dance and r’n’b. Down in Digbeth, the Gay Village and Rainbow venues have some of the best action-packed clubs and alternative music as well!

BIRMINGHAM

BEST OF THE CITY 1

Cathedral Square

Overlooking the stunning Birmingham Cathedral, Cathedral Square is a churchyard steeped in history.

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City Centre Campus

We’ve invested £260 million into our campuses, with The Curzon Building our latest addition.

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Digbeth

The city’s creative quarter home to cutting-edge music venues, the Digbeth Dining Club street food festival and the Custard Factory - an independent shopping destination and creative business hub.

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Bullring

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One of the UK’s most popular retail destinations, the Bullring houses over 160 stores, including the iconic Selfridges building, while the indoor and outdoor markets are home to fresh food and fashion bargains 5

Electric Cinema

The Electric Cinema first opened its doors in 1909, and is now the UK’s oldest working cinema.

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New Street Station

From Birmingham New Street Station you can get to London in 1 hour and 12 mins, Manchester in 1 hour 40 mins and Leeds in just over 2 hours.

Recently subject to a £600 million transformation including the Grand Central shopping centre.

Cannon Hill Park

The most popular of Birmingham’s many parks, with 250 acres of green space, including boating lakes, tennis courts and the mac arts centre.

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Mailbox

Shop, dine and pamper yourself at the recently renovated Mailbox with upmarket outlets including Harvey Nichols.

The Cube

This outstanding 25-storey structure houses a boutique hotel, lots of shops and a selection of restaurants, including Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse Bar & Grill.

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BIRMINGHAM

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Birmingham Conservative

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Our internationally-renowned Conservatoire.

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Ikon Gallery

View acclaimed art from around the world in this fantastic neo-gothic gallery building.

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Broad Street

Birmingham’s main entertainment district with a wide range of restaurants, clubs and bars.

Symphony Hall

Enjoy performances from some of the world’s leading and emerging artists in the impressive Symphony Hall.

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Barclaycard Arena

Birmingham’s 15,800-capacity venue hosts everything from the latest music sensations to record-breaking sports and side-splitting comedians.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

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The Library of Birmingham

There’s over one million books to choose from in Birmingham’s flagship library, so take a visit and relax in their lush garden terraces.

Famous for its pre-Raphaelite paintings, with over 40 galleries to explore.

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INFORMATION AND ADVICE

Union President aims to make a difference Jenny Watkins

Jenny Watkins has made the most of the opportunities available to her at Birmingham City University, moving from a course rep for Law to Vice-President Student Voice and finally President of our Students’ Union for the 2015/16 academic year.

She is now encouraging others to do the same and get involved with the wide range of opportunities the Union offers – from its formal role representing the interests of students at the highest level to the variety of sporting and social activities available.

Jenny said: “I came to the University through Clearing, and it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me – I’ve grown in confidence as a person and made life-long friends. I stood up in front of 2,000 people in Symphony Hall and gave a speech and I would never have done that before – I was scared of talking to one person let alone thousands!

It’s a great job, you can’t do it anywhere else and the skills it gives you in terms of future employability are really good.”

Your Students’ Union Birmingham City Students’ Union (BCUSU) is here to help you make the most of your time with us. As soon as you enrol at the University, you automatically become a member of BCUSU, meaning you are entitled to use all of our amazing services for free: • Get the help and support you need from our advice centre.

• Join one of the many sports teams and societies.

• Give something back through volunteering projects.

• Stand to represent your fellow students as a student officer.

• Or enjoy a great night out!

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Our Welcome Fair gets bigger and better every year, attended by hundreds of representatives from the University, local and national companies, and your Students’ Union.

We run our own pub at the City Centre Campus, along with several cafés and shops. We also sell NUS student cards, giving you access to a wide range of exclusive discounts.

‘Give it a Go’ week allows you to try out any of our sports teams or societies for free. If you can’t find one that suits your own interests, we can help you to set up your own! www.bcusu.com

INFORMATION AND ADVICE

STARTING OUT...

Starting university is a big change to make in your life with lots to think about in the first few weeks.

But, as BSc (Hons) Film Production Technology student Stacey Bird explains, with plenty to do and supportive staff on hand to ease the transition, there is plenty to look forward to.

Stacey Bird

Why did you choose to study at Birmingham City University?

The biggest factor for my applying to the course was the fact it not only taught me about film, but also how to make it.

The University stood out because of its amazing facilities – the new studios and use of computer rooms when I needed them. Meeting the teachers on the Open Day and Applicant Visit Day, and hearing how informed they were, definitely pushed my decision.

What were your feelings before starting your course?

The most exciting thing for me was the idea of starting the course – I just wanted to get stuck in after spending the whole summer waiting for it. I am not much of a clubber or drinker, so I thought there would be a lot of pressure to join in these activities, but there were other events put on, such as a Giant Screen film session.

What were you most surprised about when you started your course?

What are you most excited about as you progress through your course?

How did you find the first few weeks at University?

What three things surprised you about Birmingham as a city that you didn’t know before?

On the first day we were introduced to our first lab, given instructions and allowed to just get started. It was a bit daunting, but the teacher was always willing to help, and I left knowing something already about what was to come.

The first few weeks flew by and I walked around with the biggest smile on my face.

No lesson is the same, and I learned that very quickly.

How have the staff helped support you in your first year?

The staff at the university have been brilliant – if I’ve ever had a problem with understanding some of the lessons I have felt comfortable asking them, and knowing that I won’t be patronised or feel dumb.

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I feel like each time I go to a lecture I leave knowing something new, and that’s pretty exciting. If I look at what my work was like at the start of the course compared to now I can already see a complete difference.

• I didn’t know ‘The Gadget Show’ was filmed here.

• The independent food scene here is amazing.

• We have a lot of hidden gems in terms of architecture. www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/filmproduction-and-technology

INFORMATION AND ADVICE

Making the most of

YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT 26

INFORMATION AND ADVICE

KEEP IN TOUCH Your Personal Statement is the key opportunity to demonstrate your enthusiasm, commitment, and suitability for the course(s) you’re applying for.

Sammy Dedicoat

Many courses have no formal interview requirements, so most decisions on whether to offer you a place are based entirely on the strength of your UCAS application form, particularly your Personal Statement.

Here, Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer Sammy Dedicoat gives you his expert advice on how to make the most of this key opportunity.

Your course choice

Admissions tutors want to see that you are enthusiastic and passionate about your chosen subject, and that you have the right skills and experience to succeed. Discuss why you have chosen to apply for the course concerned, how your interest developed, or how you’ve drawn inspiration from your current studies.

School and college life

Include details of what you studied at school or college, as well as any extra-curricular activities, or positions of responsibility (for example prefect, student ambassador). It’s vital that you provide examples to support your claims and relate everything back to your course or university life in general.

Experience

It could be work experience, volunteering, or a university masterclass/taster session; relevant experience is an essential requirement for many courses and will help to demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment. Reflect on your experiences, explaining what you’ve learned from them or how they’ve helped develop your interest in the subject.

Your future plans

Think about what you want to do in the future – whether you have a specific job in mind or just a general idea of the type of field you want to work in. If you’re not sure yet, just talk about what you’re looking forward to at university and what you want to gain from your course or from university life.

Things to remember

• Don’t panic! It can be difficult to get going with your statement so start off by creating a ‘mind map’ with all of your ideas. Remember that you want to stand out from the crowd so ensure you play on your key strengths and achievements.

• The UCAS system doesn’t have any spelling or grammar checks. Ask as many people as possible (teacher, careers adviser, family member or friend) to look over it and give you some feedback.

• The clue is in the title – make sure your statement is personal to you. Don’t be tempted to copy parts of someone else’s statement or lift ideas from the web – UCAS operates a Plagiarism Detection Service, which checks forms against a statement library and web sources.

• Make sure you keep a copy of what you’ve written as it may be referred to at your interview (if you have one) – or the information may be useful when applying for jobs in the future. www.bcu.ac.uk/choices

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Register: www.bcu.ac.uk/opendays Applicant Visit Day Applied to study with us?

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How to contact us Birmingham City University University House 15 Bartholomew Road Birmingham B5 5JU T: +44 (0)121 331 5000 E: mainreception@bcu.ac.uk F: +44 (0)121 331 7994 For UK course enquiries T: +44 (0)121 331 5595 W: www.bcu.ac.uk/enquiries For international/EU course enquiries T: +44 (0)121 331 5389 E: international.enquiries@bcu.ac.uk F: +44 (0)121 331 6314 www.bcu.ac.uk/international For UK applicant enquiries T: +44 (0)121 331 6295 E: admissions@bcu.ac.uk For international/EU applicant enquiries T: +44 (0)121 331 5389 E: international.admissions@bcu.ac.uk

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