Building real-life experience The students who secured roles working on our new campus
Sharing their knowledge Students learn from star guests at our City Talks series
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#BringonBCU
Spring 2015
Frost Fair exhibition by BA (Hons) Theatre, Performance and Event Design students
Undergraduate Magazine
WELCOME
WELCOME Welcome to the latest edition of Go magazine. Whether you have already applied to study with us, or are still making your choices, we hope you will find plenty to interest you. At Birmingham City University, we are dedicated to transforming the prospects of our students with our state-of-the-art facilities, exceptional staff and pioneering student engagement. We provide an inspiring learning environment, with a £260 million investment programme and a practice-based education experience, equipping you for the real world. Join us and you will also benefit from studying in Birmingham – Europe’s youngest city and home to many successful companies where our graduates go on to build their careers. In this issue, you can read about how students have benefited from placements during the construction of our new Curzon Building, the latest exciting speakers at our City Talks public lectures and advice on succeeding at interview. I hope to welcome you as a student this autumn, and if you have any queries in the meantime, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Professor Cliff Allan Vice-Chancellor
Inside 03-05 Latest news
06-11 Student success 12-13 Practice-based learning 14 Staff success 15 Our facilities
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16-17 City Talks 18-19 Birmingham 20-21 Your Students’ Union 22-27 Advice and next steps
NEWS
Students create winter WONDERLAND Part of The Parkside Building was transformed into a winter wonderland as part of a new student exhibition. The Frost Fair exhibition used 700 metres of corrugated card and 4,236 metres of brown paper to produce a recreation of a London Frost Fair from the early 19th century.
river froze over, providing a place for social activity, ice skating and trade of food and souvenirs.
narrative, space, light, sound, audience and collaboration; as well as abilities that are difficult to teach like tenacity and determination.
The display was put together by a team of first year BA (Hons) Theatre, Performance and Event Design students over the space of just 18 days.
Last year, students on the same course designed a scene from the trenches of World War One using paper and card. Their work was widely praised, and was subsequently exhibited at RAF Shawbury.
“The lifelike quality of the figures, their detail and the dynamism between the characters has been picked up on by visitors as a strength this year.”
Frost Fairs were held on the River Thames during a period known as the Little Ice Age (between the 17th and 19th Centuries). The then wider river with restricted flow from the Old London Bridge, coupled with the more severe British winter, meant that the
Module leader Hollie Wright said: “The project is a simple yet extremely effective approach to experiential learning. We want the first year students to engage with fundamental principles associated with performance design including scale,
The project is a simple yet extremely effective approach to experiential learning.
Scene from the Frost Fair exhibition
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NEWS
Those engaged heavily in mooting regularly graduate with First Class Honours. Director of Mooting Sarah Cooper
Trainee lawyers compete at Supreme Court
For trainee lawyers, mooting offers an unbeatable opportunity to test and improve oral debating skills. Here at Birmingham City University, we boast an outstanding Mooting Society, with many national competition wins to its name – including beating prestigious universities like Oxford and Cambridge. Mooting involves taking part in simulated court proceedings and offers an opportunity for students to hone their legal skills in a realistic setting. It develops their skills in analysis, advocacy and teamwork, as well as their organisational, time management and drafting skills. The University is one of only 12 institutions in the country to receive the honour of holding the final of their internal mooting competition at the UK Supreme Court. Students reaching the final tested their legal skills under the watchful eye of one of the country’s foremost judges, Lord Jonathan Sumption OBE, and
also received a private tour of the building. Senior Lecturer in Law and Director of Mooting Sarah Cooper said: “Those engaged heavily in mooting regularly graduate with First Class Honours. “Students and academics work well together as a team and we have student managers who focus on the logistics and organisation of our competitions, and who support our mooters. “This allows mooters to concentrate on the analysis and presentation of legal arguments, and prepare thoroughly to represent the University.” www.bcu.ac.uk/mooting
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NEWS
Celebrating 125 years of jewellery making
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The year 2015 marks 125 years since our School of Jewellery opened its doors as an exclusive school for Birmingham’s jewellerymaking industry. We will be marking the anniversary throughout the year with a number of exhibitions and lectures.
University gets
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Royal visit to the School of Jewellery by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
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Our Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan meeting HRH The Prince of Wales.
the royal seal of approval
Our School of Jewellery played host to two very special guests when The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall paid a visit, to see first hand the quality of our creative talent.
Touring the School as part of a visit to Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, the Royal Highnesses left with a glittering keepsake after alumnus Jack Row presented them with limited edition handcrafted silver fountain pens.
Now one of the largest schools of jewellery in the world, it has undergone extensive development since 1890, enabling our students to experience traditional methods through cuttingedge technology and become highly skilled craftspeople. The School boasts a wealth of achievements, from commissions for the Princess Royal’s wedding in 1922 and King George V’s Silver Jubilee in 1935, to creating a torch for the 1948 Olympic Games and commemorative coin designs for the event in 2012.
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Head of the School of Jewellery Gaynor Andrews said: “It was a true honour to share the work of our students and alumni with The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. They were both clearly impressed with the diversity of courses and the quality produced.”
After viewing a range of student work, including jewellery, clocks and watches, the Duchess toured the School to meet staff and students while the Prince held a private meeting to discuss the Jewellery Quarter’s regeneration, in which his charity has been involved.
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We are also proud to offer the world’s only clock-making degree – the BA (Hons) Horology – led by top watchmaker Jeremy Hobbins. It has led to a unique partnership with luxury brand Louise Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) that supports students with placements and mentoring.
www.bcu.ac.uk/jewellery
STUDENT SUCCESS
Acting training is a life experience of its own, and BSA has really prepared me for going into the industry.
LEADING ROLE Adam Lawrence
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STUDENT SUCCESS
Adam playing Hamlet at the Riverside Studios
A graduate from Birmingham School of Acting (BSA) has made a successful start to his career – including a role in acclaimed citybased drama series Peaky Blinders.
Amy Sellers
Textile designer’s work graces HARVEY NICHOLS A prestigious department store has chosen work by one of our graduates for their Sloane Street front-of-house display.
Adam Lawrence, who graduated in 2012, appeared in an episode of the second series alongside BAFTA-nominated actors Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy. Adam also starred in Channel 4’s Dates and has appeared on stage at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
The display, by BA (Hons) Textile Design graduate Amy Sellers, went on show at Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge.
He was also selected as one of the most promising students from the UK’s leading drama schools in receiving a ‘Spotlight Prize’ nomination.
The Harvey Nichols team travelled to the New Designers show in London to look at work by some of the UK’s top graduate designers. The team saw Amy’s final degree project at the show and were so impressed with her designs that they commissioned her to create an exclusive display for their Sloane Street windows.
Adam said: “Having grown up in Birmingham, the opportunity to represent not just the school but also my city is something I am extremely proud of.
Amy, 21, from Huddersfield, only graduated in September but has already made a splash with her work. Amy explains: “The colour palette of blue hues appealed to the Harvey Nichols team because they wanted an artwork to accompany their jeans promotion.
“My training at BSA has taught me more than just how to act; it’s really developed my personality. Acting training is a life experience of its own, and BSA has really prepared me for going into the industry.”
“I would love to produce more commissions or window displays in the future; it was an amazing project. The moment I saw my name on the windows was when it finally started to sink in; it feels so surreal that it’s finished!”
www.bcu.ac.uk/bsa
ADAM APPEARED ALONGSIDE BAFTA-NOMINATED ACTORS CILLIAN MURPHY AND TOM HARDY
Amy also earned herself a placement with trend forecasting company The Trend Bible in Newcastle thanks to her degree.
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STUDENT SUCCESS
BEST NEW PLAY OF THE YEAR HONOUR AT THE ALFRED FAGON AWARDS
Image © Richard Hubert Smith
AWARD WINNING A recent graduate has been named as the winner of a national playwriting award.
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STUDENT SUCCESS
I’m not a politician or an activist, but I am a writer.
On track for racing success Charlene James won the Best New Play of the Year honour at the Alfred Fagon Awards for her production Cuttin’ It. Charlene received a £6,000 prize and joins renowned play writers Roy Williams and Rachel De-lahay on the list of previous winners of the award. The play, told through the voices of two teenage Somalian girls, questions the choices that women make in the name of culture and religion. The play also examines the pressures and fears of being a young female in Britain against the background of a ‘typical British Saturday’. Charlene said: “I’m not a politician or an activist, but I am a writer. Cuttin’ It is my way of getting an important subject into the public domain.” The Alfred Fagon Award has been supporting black British playwrights for over 15 years, with this year’s awards celebrated in style at the National Theatre’s newly renovated Dorfman Theatre. www.bcu.ac.uk/bsa
A student on our Motorsports Technology course is combining her studies with a promising career in rally driving.
Christine said: “Coming back every weekend this year for racing wasn’t easy at all. The flight is around four and a half hours, and I normally need to fly on Thursdays to be able to move the tow-truck with the car. But the course is definitely helpful from a mechanical point of view. I have learned a lot.”
Christine Giampaoli Zonca has just completed her first full year of driving, competing in the Canary Islands Championship of Gravel.
Next year Christine plans to continue to compete for her team Gazoline Motorsport in the Championship of Gravel and hopes to race in some tarmac events too.
Christine was very successful in her first year, winning both the Regional and Provincial competitions in the front wheel drive category.
You can follow Christine’s rally career on her official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ christinegiampaolizonca.
First steps to a career in TV Having come to Birmingham City University to pursue his dream of working in TV, James Loffredo has got off to a great start by joining the production team of popular TV comedy series Still Open All Hours.
He said: “I managed to do a variety of tasks but the best part was being a first assistant cinematographer for a couple of days. I had some of the happiest times of my life and met some amazing people who I can now proudly say are my friends.
He secured three days’ work experience on the location shoot in Doncaster for the 2013 Christmas Special and, when a six-part series was subsequently commissioned, James made contact with some of the crew members to ask if he could help out again. They agreed and he made such a good impression that he was then offered a job as a runner for the studio work in London.
Mathew Randall, Programme Leader for Film Technology and Visual Effects, added: “It’s very important for students to gain industrial experience during their studies, as year-long placements are rare in the film industry. I’m really impressed with James; getting a placement like this demonstrates initiative and proactivity.”
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“I was so proud of myself that I had managed to become part of the team. They all made me welcome and by the end of it we all felt like family!”
STUDENT SUCCESS
I’m looking forward to the experience and also sharing what I’ve seen and learned with my fellow students.
PRESTIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIP For the third time in four years, a student from the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work has been named the Cavell Nurses’ Trust’s Outstanding Student Nurse of the Year. BSc (Hons) Nursing student Deborah Cooper will receive a scholarship from the Trust, which she will use to pay for an elective placement, to widen the scope of her learning. The Trust provides financial grants, advice and support to UK nurses, and its scholarship scheme recognises exceptional student nurses and midwives from across the UK. Deborah said: “To have the funding to go
on an elective really opens up doors to me. I’m looking forward to the experience and also sharing what I’ve seen and learned with my fellow students. “I can’t quite believe that I won because the competition was fierce, but obviously the judges saw something in my application that they liked!” Deborah has always been interested in pursuing a healthcare career and, following her Biology degree, worked
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as a Community Carer and Healthcare Assistant. She found this experience inspiring and realised that she would like to train to become a nurse. She added: “The course attracts students from so many different backgrounds and we work well together, learning from each other. There’s always so much to learn and so many differing perspectives to understand.” Read more about Deborah’s experiences in her blog at blogs.bcu.ac.uk.
STUDENT SUCCESS
Placement inspires HOTEL CAREER Originally from Kenya, international student Kennedy Doka aspires to run his own business after gaining a valuable insight into the hotel industry during a placement at the Premier Inn chain.
Katherine Anley
The BA (Hons) Business and Management student spent a year at the New Street branch in Birmingham city centre, taking the opportunity to experience a diverse range of roles right across the hotel. This involved working long hours and night shifts, teaching him how to cope in a challenging environment. Rebecca Stevens, Operations Manager at the hotel, was extremely impressed with the way Kennedy adapted to the roles he undertook. She commented: “Kennedy has had the opportunity to work in everybody’s positions across the whole of the hotel. It’s going to enable him to be more employable; I would take Kennedy on now as a duty manager.”
Wheels in motion for real-life experience
Kennedy believes that his degree has given him an excellent grounding to launch his career and he is grateful that he has achieved 12 months’ work experience in the hotel industry before completing his degree.
BA (Hons) Business Studies student Katherine Anley spent a placement year at Hyundai Motor UK’s High Wycombe office getting to grips with one of the largest vehicle manufacturers in the world. “It has been really exciting to be part of the growth of the company and to see how it has been going,” she said. Hyundai Motor UK’s one-year internships provide students with opportunities to work in a wide range of areas including marketing, sales, product development and finance. Katherine spent her placement year working as an aftersales commercial assistant, playing a key role in the smooth running of the company’s Aftersales department. Jamie Cormack, Aftersales Marketing and Retention Manager, explained: “Katherine’s role in our team was very much one of supporting everyone else. We’ll sell something like 80,000 vehicles to customers this year and all
“I decided to do a placement because it gives you an edge in the job market,” he said. “By doing a placement with the hotel industry I’ve seen opportunities of making money, so it’s pushing me to run my own business – maybe own my own hotel later on.”
of that is done through 170-odd dealers. Those dealers have a lot of customers coming in and our team actually have a lot of the answers those customers need, so it’s a real front-line role and something that we couldn’t do without.” Katherine has seen the benefit of working in industry during her studies. She commented: “It has taught me so much and so many different skills that if I were to write down the skills that I’ve learned I would fill several sheets of paper. Kennedy Doka
“It is such a good experience to get that real-life feel of working in an actual job. I think taking a placement is by far one of the most important things you can do as part of your degree.”
I decided to do a placement because it gives you an edge in the job market.
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PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING
BUILDING PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE This autumn will see the first students making use of our new Curzon Building at the City Centre Campus.
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As well as providing teaching space for our business, law, social science and English courses, it will become the hub of our student support – including a new library and a unique new home for the Students’ Union in a beautifully restored Victorian pub, The Eagle and Ball. The construction of this building is not just good news for those who will be taught there in the coming years - it has also provided invaluable experience for hundreds of students on architecture and constructionrelated courses who have
been able to gain first-hand experience of the day-to-day realities of a construction site. During the construction of The Curzon Building, and previously The Parkside Building on the same site, contractors Willmott Dixon have welcomed students on paid placement for around three months over the summer. The student, one per summer, is selected on merit, after completing a written submission and interview. Others have the option of completing a shorter, unpaid placement instead.
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Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan at the construction site
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An artist’s impression of the new Curzon Building
PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING
CURZON IN NUMBERS THE NEW £62 MILLION BUILDING WILL COVER 24,300m2, USING 300,000 BRICKS AND 10,000² TONS OF CONCRETE. 140 STUDENTS HAVE GAINED WORK EXPERIENCE THANKS TO THE PROJECT.
Since construction started in 2013, 140 of our students have experienced a placement on site at The Curzon Building. Here, three of them describe their experiences of working in placements on site:
Rafal Daszczyszak
Giedre Sulskute
Jessica van Rensburg
Rafal graduated from the BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology course in 2014 and worked on the project as a graduate intern.
A third year Architectural Technology student from Lithuania, Giedre spent a year on placement as a construction management trainee.
Jessica took part in a three-month placement on the construction of our Parkside Building while studying BSc (Hons) Building Surveying.
He said: “I started working at The Curzon Building as a BIM [Building Information Modelling] Information Manager. I was involved in many elements of the construction process, using BIM 360 Field construction management software.
She said: “I really enjoyed spending more time on site to see how everything is in real life. You see all the challenges faced and realise how important your part is. It made me think that in future I would always try to get everything right and not leave problems for others to sort out.
She said: “It was extremely rewarding and I gained loads of experience. I learned about the running of a commercial site, and how to engage with people on a day to day basis.
“I have used Revit design software to update and upgrade models with all relevant data. I have also used my construction knowledge at all meetings with related parties. This allowed me to develop myself and work in a way I couldn’t even imagine before.”
“The building is looking great now and I’m kind of sad because it’s my last year and I won’t be able to spend more time there but I’m definitely going to come back and visit it.”
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“It gave me a great deal of knowledge of how buildings were constructed from the ground up and I felt when going into interviews for potential jobs that they were really interested to see that I had a range of experience.” www.bcu.ac.uk/placements
STAFF SUCCESS
Business School professor wins national research prize An academic from Birmingham City Business School has won a national award for his research on viral advertising. Professor of Marketing Hatem El-Gohary was one of the winners at the Institute for Small Business Enterprise (ISBE) Awards 2014, taking home the gold award in the Creative Industries Entrepreneurship category.
Professor David Wilson
The ISBE is one of the world’s leading organisations for small businesses and entrepreneurship, and the 2014 event welcomed over 400 attendees from more than 40 countries.
Bringing criminology expertise to TV AUDIENCES
Hatem has over 20 years of experience in academia, and has worked as a marketing director of a multinational company and a marketing consultant for a number of other multinationals.
Leading criminologist and lecturer Professor David Wilson has starred in two separate television series, examining the penal system and the reasons psychopaths go on to commit heinous crimes.
His winning paper was co-authored with PhD student Antonius Raghubansie and Director of Student Academic Engagement Dr Chris Lewis. “To be recognised by the ISBE for our research is a fantastic achievement and the first time, to my knowledge, that the University has won an award from the organisation,” he commented.
As part of a month-long experiment that saw a group of young offenders put through a recreation of the borstal detention centre regime of the 1930s, Professor Wilson took up the role of a prison governor in ITV’s Bring Back Borstal.
Professor Hatem El-Gohary
The four-part series featured 14 young trouble-makers – half of whom had criminal convictions spending four weeks in a Northumberland castle to bring the experience back to life.
HATEM WON A GOLD AWARD AT THE ISBE AWARDS 2014
The feared institutions were designed to reform offenders by enforcing compulsory work, education, discipline and intense physical activity. “Borstal was an incredibly successful penal sentence 70 per cent of young men in
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the 1930s who went through Borstal never went back to prison again,” explained Professor Wilson. Professor Wilson also presented Channel 5’s Killer Psychopaths, which focused on the cases of seven notorious psychopathic killers. The six-part series followed the criminologist as he travelled to the areas where seven dangerous murderers grew up, spoke to those closest to them and visited the scenes of their gruesome crimes as he tried to get inside their minds. He also explored some of the early signs that the murderers would go on to kill. www.bcu.ac.uk/ socialsciences
OUR FACILITIES
INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE
350,000 LOCALLY SOURCED BRICKS WILL BE USED IN CONSTRUCTION
Birmingham Conservatoire, South Courtyard perspective
We are continuing to transform our campuses for the benefit of our students, with a further two developments being announced recently.
A new £40 million home for Birmingham Conservatoire, home to our prestigious portfolio of music courses, will be built alongside our facilities at Millennium Point, providing state-of-the-art performance space and acoustic quality. Building work will begin in the summer of 2015 and is scheduled for completion in summer 2017. The new facility will continue to provide worldclass music education facilities for current and future students.
It will comprise five performance venues, including a public concert hall with the capacity for over 450 seats and a full orchestra, plus a recital hall with 150 seats and smaller experimental music space, organ and jazz rooms. There are also plans for more than 70 music practice rooms of various sizes. We are also investing £20 million in new facilities at our City South Campus in Edgbaston, which will feature
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specialist laboratories for a newly created School of Life Sciences, allowing us to offer a new range of courses in health, nutrition and biomedicine. The 10,000 sq m building will reinforce our status as the region’s largest provider of qualified health and social care professionals to the NHS and will also provide a new home for the School of Education, supporting the next generation of teachers.
CITY TALKS
TALKING WITH THE EXPERTS
Our commitment to providing a wide range of learning opportunities to our students and the wider community led to the launch of the popular ‘City Talks’ series of public lectures, featuring a programme of high-profile speakers sharing their views and insights on a wide range of topics with students, staff and guests. From fashion guru Gok Wan to bestselling author R J Ellory and film director Ian Emes to acclaimed headteacher Stephen Drew, we have offered something for everyone over the past two years. With such an exciting variety of guest speakers, you are sure to find something of interest to you – whether it directly relates to your course or just gives you an interesting insight into a different area.
The University’s Mark Williams-Thomas (left) interviewed Gok Wan
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CITY TALKS
Experts fear for REALITY TV FUTURE Reality TV is a ‘collusion’ between newspapers and TV PR professionals, and is on a conveyor belt where death will feature ‘ever more prominently’. This was the dramatic claim made at a City Talks debate featuring singer Sinitta and X-Factor winner Steve Brookstein. Also on the panel was TV presenter Matthew Wright - a former I’m a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here! contestant - who said reality TV had saved the tabloid press from oblivion. “By 2002 it was very bleak - buying newspapers was not something young people did anymore.
Fashion guru Gok bares all Over 200 people came to see TV fashion expert Gok Wan discuss some of his most personal life experiences – including his childhood struggles with obesity and anorexia, and how he overcame schoolyard bullies – at the first City Talk of 2015. After receiving an honorary doctorate in 2014, Gok returned to the University to share tips on fashion and styling, as well as reflecting on his meteoric climb to TV fame. Born and bred in Leicester, Gok has worked in the fashion industry for the best part of two decades, written for various fashion magazines and presented Channel 4 television shows How to Look Good Naked and Gok’s Fashion Fix. Talking about his early life, Gok said: “I struggle with anorexia every day – it’s like a parasite that won’t go away. Realising
it doesn’t go away is the biggest weapon. “In order to get through the dark times you need to remember that life is short and therefore you really need to focus on the good stuff. The little things that worry you are those that will ultimately fuel your success.”
“Editors were guided by the TV PR people to collude with each other on coverage that ended up making front page news on a number of tabloid
Gok also gave tips on body confidence, arguing that age should never dictate how you look, dress and feel. “Have a relationship with the mirror and understand your reflection. Ultimately it’s all about the confidence. Fix that and you can fix everything.” To see Gok’s talk in full, visit our YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/ birminghamcityuni
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newspapers. But after a very successful initial collusion I can imagine a scenario where everyone sat down together to say ‘where do we go from here. How do we maintain the success?’” Birmingham City University Professor David Wilson, who resigned as a consultant on Big Brother in protest at the way participants were being goaded to fight each other, told the event: “Death is becoming part of the context of where reality TV will go. That’s ultimately the conveyor belt we are on.”
BIRMINGHAM
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Birmingham:
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Bird’s eye view of Birmingham
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Inside the Bullring Shopping Centre
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Cannon Hill Park
AN INSIDER’S GUIDE Ella Robson – now in her fourth year as a media student at Birmingham City University – gives her own personal guide to all that the area has to offer.
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BIRMINGHAM
Birmingham is fantastic, vibrant and – quite frankly – big. Moving to a city can be slightly overwhelming; however one thing’s for sure: the likelihood of being bored here is very low. Birmingham was named as one of the world’s Top 10 Places to Visit in 2015 by travel publisher Rough Guides, and has been revealed as the top choice for people moving out of London in search of a lower cost of living and better quality of life.
Top tourist activities
When I first moved to Birmingham, I wasn’t really aware of the city’s main tourist attractions, but three years on I keep discovering more! Cadbury World is a fantastic place for chocolate fans – visitors can tour the factory and there’s free chocolate! For animal lovers there are attractions such as the National Sea Life Centre, home to an array of sea life, including penguins! If it’s animals with a bit more fur that you prefer, the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park in Edgbaston has a fantastic selection of animals including a two toed sloth, a red necked wallaby,
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an African crested porcupine and many more!
and events that showcase Birmingham’s diverse culture.
The Bullring Shopping Centre is a top attraction for visitors, boasting over 160 shops, not to mention the superb restaurants and cafes!
The Town Hall and Symphony Hall host several concerts and free events, and Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market – the largest outdoor Christmas market in Britain – comes here each year in mid-November.
Parks and scenes of beauty
You may think that living in a city means traffic, busy people and a hectic lifestyle when in fact Birmingham has a lot to offer in terms of beauty and nature.
The city comes alive during the Chinese New Year with free entertainment including fireworks, Chinese inspired activities and other celebrations. The fun doesn’t stop there - the International Dance Festival Birmingham takes over the city’s streets of each year for four weeks and Birmingham Pride, a weekend-long festival, is the largest LGBT festival of its kind in the UK.
In the final year of my undergraduate degree I lived near Edgbaston Reservoir, a place that can take your breath away no matter what the weather. In the summer months there are plenty of free or cheap activities available for the public such as rowing, canoeing, cycling and much more!
Sport and entertainment
The city has hosted more international and European sports events than any other city in Europe and there are several ways to participate yourself! Birmingham is home to Aston Villa and Birmingham City football clubs, with great discounts for students, while this year will see the city host two Rugby World Cup matches.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens, situated next to our City South Campus, are a fantastic day out with almost 15 acres of vibrant gardens, wildlife trails, a lively birdhouse and a butterfly house.
Seasonal events
Throughout the year there are a variety of festivals, parades
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Culture and heritage
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is a great place to learn more about Birmingham’s history, heritage and culture. The museum also exhibits collections that span seven centuries of European and world history, including Greek, Romans and Ancient Egypt. Visit the nearby Black Country to discover beauty, heritage and talent of the core of the industrial revolution including the Dudley Museum and Art Gallery, the New Art Gallery Walsall and the Black Country Living Museum. The Library of Birmingham opened in 2013 and houses over one million books, archives and photography. J R R Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, is one of Birmingham’s most famous authors and fans can take part in the Tolkien Trail to discover iconic landmarks that inspired his novels, such as Perrott’s Folly and Edgbaston Waterworks Tower.
A people’s city
Birmingham residents are very active and welcoming, and there are opportunities to get involved with leading cultural venues, sporting organisations and activities through voluntary work and memberships. Birmingham is a diverse and youthful city, with a unique character that is often described as a “cultural melting pot” - Birmingham is a global city with a local heart. www.bcu.ac.uk/birmingham
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STUDENTS’ UNION
#BRINGONBCU
WHAT WE DO by Birmingham City Students’ Union
We are ‘Eco’
Eco is a fantastic, student led sustainability project, which promises to make a real change to how we all think about, connect with and preserve our natural surroundings. We have lots of ways to get involved, from donating unwanted items or planting produce to simply buying a coffee from CafEco.
Student voice
It’s all about how we represent you! We want to ensure that all of our students are able to have a say about their experiences at the University. Make a difference by becoming a Student Academic Leader, attending Student Council or voting in our annual Leadership Elections.
A learning community
As soon as you enrol at the University, you automatically become a member of BCUSU, meaning you can use all of our amazing services for free. We are all here to create and promote a great student experience for you and all of our student members to ensure that you get the most out of your time with us!
Not-for-profit, just for students
We are an entirely not-for-profit registered charity, which means that every pound you spend in your Union shops, lounges and activities goes back to your Students’
Union so that we can continue to provide great services and facilities to improve your experience.
Advice and support
University life is fun but every now and then you may need a helping hand and that’s where your Students’ Union Advice Centre can help.
Get involved
If you want to play sport, join a society or go on one of our exciting trips, then look no further than BCUSU. The Union also provides opportunities to develop your employability skills.
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The BCUSU learning community believes in building our community through engagement. You could become a Student Academic Partner, where you have the chance to collaborate with staff on a variety of projects to make the University’s teaching even better. There is also the chance to help other students succeed through the Students as Mentors scheme.
Accommodation
Looking for your next student home can be stressful but Birmingham City Student Homes helps make house hunting easy. Student Homes is led by our friendly and experienced staff who can help you to search for your next place to live. www.bcusu.com
STUDENTS’ UNION
Top tips for STARTING UNIVERSITY BCUSU President Niall Magennis shares his top tips on how to make the most of the first few weeks at university... 1 Dive in – It is highly likely that you will not know any other students before you come to University, but don’t worry as everyone is in the same position. 2 Get to know your Students’ Union – We are here for you, and all the activities we run during Welcome Week are designed to introduce you to the Students’ Union as well as getting you involved with various exciting activities! Speak to your Student Executives – students or recent graduates elected by the student body – form your full-time Exec Team at BCUSU, with a President and four VicePresidents who all love to hear your views.
3 Go online - Our social media groups are an open space to find out more about the University, as well as introducing to you to your Students’ Union. You can meet your fellow students, discover who’s on your course and see who is living in which accommodation – you might even meet your flat-mates before you move in!
Welcome Week – what to expect! The first time you are likely to encounter us is through the Welcome Week events offered to new arrivals just before the start of term.
4 Check out the Welcome Week events - Designed to help you to overcome any fears you may have about moving out of home (possibly for the first time) and starting a new life with new people in a new location.
Events
During Welcome Week we work in partnership with the University to bring you a variety of fantastic events! With a welcome fair, daytime and night time events, and campus specific activities, there are plenty of ways for you to get involved and meet new people.
Welcome Fair
Our Welcome Fair gets bigger and better every year, attended by hundreds of representatives from the University, local and national companies, your Students’ Union, and our sports teams and societies.
Niall Magennis
New for you!
In 2015/16, Welcome Week moves to the University’s new Curzon Building – an exciting new location for the Students’ Union, based at our City Centre Campus. We will of course continue to be represented at the other campuses as well. www.bcu.ac.uk/welcome
OUR STUDENTS’ UNION WILL HAVE A NEW BASE AT THE £62 MILLION CURZON BUILDING
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ADVICE AND NEXT STEPS
How to cope WITH EXAM STRESS
FACEBOOK SURVEY
Top tips from our students
Run! Run! Exams are coming! If those are the kind of thoughts nibbling away at your confidence right now, you’re not alone. The thought of sitting exams is enough to bring most people out in a cold sweat, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are our top five tips to help you boss your exam stress:
We know exams can be stressful, but at Birmingham City University there is plenty of help available throughout your studies to ensure you are well-prepared.
Don’t stress about your stress
First things first: feeling anxious about exams is perfectly natural. It’s a sign that you care about your results and want to do your best. Don’t ignore your stress or let it panic you further. Instead, focus on how you can deal with it. That way, you can make it manageable.
Focus on your breathing
We asked some of our own students for their tips on avoiding stress, and here’s what they had to say…
Whenever you start worrying about your exams, think about your breathing. Breathe in deeply and evenly, then follow this with a longer breath out. Keep doing this and your body and mind will naturally relax. Practise this technique regularly before your exams so that, if anxiety strikes in the exam hall, you can be confident of dealing with it.
Hit the gym! LAURA BOND
Promote positive thinking…
Have something to look forward to.
Going into your exams with positivity is key to your confidence. Visualise the whole experience of exam day, from getting ready at home through to sitting down at the desk. Picture yourself completing the papers with ease. By the time you come to take the exam itself, the whole thing will feel familiar and less daunting.
MELISSA BUNTING
…and stop negative thoughts
Chocolate... loads of them. Having a meeting with the lecturer/personal tutor really helps!
Anxiety causes negative thoughts (‘I don’t know anything’, ‘I haven’t revised enough’ and so on). In turn, those negative thoughts lead to more anxiety. What you need to do is break the cycle. Train yourself to notice these negative thoughts as they pop up. When they do: challenge them. Picture a mental ‘stop’ image – perhaps a road sign or a red traffic light. Use that to stop the negative thought, then move your thoughts back to your planning, or practice a relaxation technique.
FLÁVIA BRISOLA PAIVA
KATE FOAD
Be prepared
Taking an exam is a step into the unknown and, as with any new experience, you’ll feel much more confident if you feel prepared. Create a study planner to ensure you have plenty of time to revise. This will ensure you focus your time well – both on study time and time away from the books. Good luck with your exams!
Good night’s sleep and a good breakfast. JEN CARR-MCGRAW
Nik Taylor, thestudentroom.co.uk
I de-stress myself through outside activities related to my course. Structure your routine.
AMY HUGGETT
HAMZAH MOHAMMED
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ADVICE AND NEXT STEPS
Preparation, survival and success THE UNIVERSITY INTERVIEW Alex Blower, Education Liaison Officer at Birmingham City University, gives you his expert advice on how to make the most of your opportunity. There are a number of subjects where you may be required to attend an interview. While they may seem a nerve-wracking prospect, everyone is in the same boat, and a little preparation beforehand can make the whole process much easier.
Planning ahead
It may sound obvious but you need to confirm your attendance; the university will not automatically assume you are coming. If the date you are offered is inconvenient, get in touch with the university straight away to arrange an alternative. Try to anticipate questions and prepare appropriate answers. Referring back to the Personal Statement on the UCAS application form is a good starting point – the interviewer(s) may well ask questions based on this. It’s also important to have a couple
• Why should we select you over another applicant? • Have you had any relevant work experience? • Where would you like to be in five years’ time?
of good questions of your own. So, what are the popular generic questions that you might be asked? What are your main strengths? These might include being hard-working, having good communication skills, being a team player, or balancing study, work and family life. Wherever possible, support such claims with examples.
Preparing succinct responses to questions like these can help to alleviate the pressure on the day - and increase the likelihood of a successful interview.
Before the interview
Ensure you have collected together any requested documents and researched the location of the interview. A good night’s sleep beforehand is obviously beneficial and you should dress smartly.
Why did you choose to apply for this course at this University? Consider the appeal of the course content and structure, the reputation of the university and its facilities. If your decision was reinforced by an open day visit, you might want to talk a little about this.
During the interview
Naturally, you may be nervous but here are a few tips for performing well: • Try to make eye contact with the interviewer from
Other questions to prepare for might include: • Would you like to tell us about yourself?
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the outset and maintain it during the interview. Avoid talking too much; it’s good to ask relevant questions but do not interrupt. Listen carefully and, if in doubt, ask the interviewer to repeat or rephrase the question. Try to be friendly and relaxed – and remember to smile! However, inappropriate jokes should obviously be avoided. Be enthusiastic about the course and demonstrate that you are fully committed to studying that subject. Finally, be yourself and keep positive – an interview is no place for negativity.
It’s important to remember that you have been called to interview because the university was impressed by your application, and the interviewer(s) will want you to perform well to meet your potential.
ADVICE AND NEXT STEPS
YOUR APPLICATION What happens now? The official on-time deadline for most courses is 15 January each year, but there is no need to panic if you missed this – Birmingham City University will continue to accept applications for most of our courses until the UCAS main cycle closes on 30 June. However, some popular courses may fill up earlier, so it’s best to get your application in as soon as you can. Once you have completed your application, the next stage will be to reply to the offers you receive.
Accepting or declining offers
After submitting your application, we will either make a decision based on your application form and predicted grades, or invite you to an interview or audition before deciding. We will then make a conditional offer (a guaranteed place provided you meet certain conditions, usually exam results), an unconditional offer (if you have already met all the conditions), or inform you that your application has been unsuccessful.
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You reply to your offers through Track on the UCAS website once you have received decisions from all of your universities or colleges. Once the universities or colleges have all informed UCAS of their decision, UCAS will contact you, asking you to select your firm and insurance choices. If you are waiting for decisions but you are no longer interested in these choices, you can withdraw them in Track and then reply to the offers you have already received.
ADVICE AND NEXT STEPS
CLEARING STARTS ON 1 JULY BUT MOST STUDENTS USE IT WHEN THEY RECEIVE THEIR EXAM RESULTS IN MID-AUGUST
You will need to reply to each offer in one of the following ways: • Your firm acceptance is your first choice for where you want to study which may be unconditional or conditional (if it is conditional, you may also select one insurance choice). All other offers should be declined. • Your insurance choice may be conditional or unconditional, and it is the university or college you are agreeing to attend if you do not meet the conditions of your firm choice. Therefore, it is usual to select a course with lower entry requirements than your firm choice. • You can only accept a maximum of one firm and one insurance offer and must decline the others – although if you wish, you may decline all of your offers and seek an alternative place. www.bcu.ac.uk/enquiries
Other options UCAS Extra
If you do not receive any offers, or if you decline all the offers you receive, you can make an additional choice between February and July through UCAS Extra. You can use the UCAS website to check which courses still have places and apply for one course at a time. If you do not receive an offer, you may make another application (time permitting).
Clearing
Clearing starts on 1 July for those who apply to UCAS after the main cycle closes on 30 June, but most students will use it when they receive their exam results in mid-August. It is designed for anyone not holding the offer of a place (either because they did not meet their conditions, did not receive any offers, declined them all or applied late) to be matched with remaining vacancies.
Adjustment
Adjustment is a process for applicants who have exceeded the conditions of their original offer and wish to hold onto their unconditional firm place while investigating other course options available. If you are offered an alternative place and accept it, you will be giving up your original confirmed place and any additional terms associated with it (eg guaranteed accommodation), but if you do not find one you will retain the offer from your first choice.
Delaying entry
If you accept our offer but then decide you would like to join us the following year instead, for example because you want to take time out to travel, you must contact us to seek a deferral until the following year. If you want to apply to a different course or institution, you will need to start a new application, as UCAS cannot re-use applications in subsequent years.
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Stay up TO DATE UCAS has detailed information about the application process on its website at www.ucas.com. For updates on UCAS Extra, if you are on Twitter you can use the hashtag #ucasextra to find out the latest news from UCAS and fellow students. During Clearing, the hashtag #ucasclearing performs the same role. Alternatively, Clearing information is posted on the Birmingham City University website at www.bcu.ac.uk and through our own social media channels. www.bcu.ac.uk www.ucas.com #ucasextra #ucasclearing
ADVICE AND NEXT STEPS
Finance and money matters 1
Val Robinson
TOP TIPS We know that starting university is a big change for you. Our dedicated Student Services team is the first point of contact for any queries you may have, offering expert advice on a wide range of academic and personal issues. Val Robinson from Student Services presents her top tips for a successful transition to higher education...
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Pre arrival
Check out the funding you may be entitled to by visiting www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator and make sure you apply in plenty of time to ensure funding is in place when you arrive. You should also talk to your parents or guardian regarding how much help they are able to offer you, and you may want to consider working through the summer holidays to build up savings.
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On arrival
Attend all induction and orientation talks, as vital information on student life and budgeting will be made available. Explore additional funding resources administered both by the University and external agencies. 3
Day-to-day
Try to shop at supermarkets near closing time to get marked-down products and buy winter clothes in the summer when they are cheaper! Where possible, bring your own lunches and drinks to campus to save cash. Choose to walk or cycle to keep travelling costs down. 4
Childcare
Explore your childcare options early as providers do become full. Apply for all sources of funding including the childcare grant to help you with your childcare costs. Visit Jackie Brophy, Childcare and Finance Adviser in Student Services, regarding your childcare and finance needs.
Careers and job prospects 5
Update your CV and register for jobs online
Birmingham is a great city for students seeking part-time work, and many employers advertise their vacancies directly with our Careers and Job Prospects service, using our Online Jobs Board. We advertise jobs on campus through OpportUNIty. Make sure your CV is up to date and focused towards the role you are applying for, as this will increase your chances of getting the best job for you.
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Gain work experience
Work experience is crucial for getting a good job when you graduate; many graduate employers won’t consider your job application if you don’t have any. Work experience, placements and summer jobs are a great way of developing the skills that employers are looking for and can lead to a job with that company. Book an appointment with a Career Consultant to explore how you can gain experience relevant for you.
Attend careers events
Our Careers and Job Prospects service organises a range of events throughout the year to help you plan and manage your future career. These include jobs fairs, employer visits, mock assessment centres, psychometric testing sessions, leadership courses, and lunchtime sessions covering CV writing, interview success and effective networking.
Health and wellbeing 8
Register with a doctor
If you are new to Birmingham, you will either need to register with the University’s healthcare providers or with a local doctor or dentist in your area. We can help you with this process, but please don’t wait until you feel ill! 9
Feeling stressed or low?
Ask us about our confidential one-to-one counselling service (accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) or general mental health support, giving you the opportunity to talk to us about any personal or emotional difficulties that may be concerning you. 10
Find out about disability support
If you have a disability, long-term condition, mental health difficulty or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, contact the Disability Support Team to find out what help you may be entitled to. If you think you may have dyslexia, but have never been diagnosed, we can screen you for free. www.bcu.ac.uk/studentservices
ADVICE AND NEXT STEPS
Finding the right HOME FOR YOU If you’re leaving home for the first time, we know how important it is for you to know where you will be living. All first years are guaranteed a room in one of our halls of residence, provided Birmingham City University is your first choice, you live outside Birmingham (over 10 miles from your permanent address to your place of study), and you apply for accommodation by 31 July 2015.
account of your preferences regarding single sex or mixed accommodation. If you hold an Unconditional Firm offer, we started making offers from 1 April 2015; if you hold a Conditional Firm offer and you meet the terms of that offer, we will begin allocating rooms on 13 August.
Once you apply you will receive your unique eight-digit Application Number, which should be used in any future communication with us. You will receive an email informing you of the room you have been offered and must follow the instructions in that email to accept the room before the deadline given.
Our guarantee of a place does not apply if we are your insurance choice or if you come to us via Clearing, but if we are unable to provide a room in our accommodation, we will find you a place elsewhere with a University-approved provider. Clearing and insurance students should apply by 21 August 2015 if accommodation is required.
Where possible, we will allocate you a room that is close to your place of study, place you with other students on similar courses, and take
www.bcu.ac.uk/accommodation
KEEP IN TOUCH Social media birminghamcityuniversity MyBCU birminghamcityuni Prospectus www.bcu.ac.uk/prospectus T - +44 (0)121 331 5595 Ask us T - +44 (0)121 331 5595 www.bcu.ac.uk/enquiries Visit us To really get a feel for our University, why not visit us in person? Our 2015 Open Days • 20 June 2015 • 3 October 2015 • 14 November 2015 Register www.bcu.ac.uk/opendays Applicant Visit Day If you have applied to study with us, you will be invited to an Applicant Visit Day. This will give a more in-depth picture of the course and how to make the most of it. www.bcu.ac.uk/visitdays BCYou @ Register for our tailored news service, providing crucial updates straight to your inbox. www.bcu.ac.uk/bcyou
New accommodation builds on Eastside revival
The £34 million No1 City Locks development developed by specialist student housing company Alumno Developments, is scheduled to conclude by August 2016.
Events Many of our shows, exhibitions, talks and lecture series are open to the public. Find out more at www.bcu.ac.uk/events.
Our students are set to benefit from over 650 new rooms adjacent to our expanding City Centre Campus as the regeneration of the surrounding Eastside area of Birmingham gathers pace.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan said: “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.”
Find us All our campus maps and virtual tours are at www.bcu.ac.uk/maps.
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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
www.bcu.ac.uk