Grand designs MA in Interior Design leads to full-time role with city architects
Research excellence International impact of University’s work is recognised
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Spring 2015
Postgraduate Magazine
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY How Media Production graduate Andrew Smith triumphed over misfortune to build a successful career
WELCOME
90
12
%
%
Almost 90 per cent of Birmingham City University research was judged to have delivered ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ external impact.
A student with a postgraduate degree is 12 per cent more likely to be in employment or further study than someone with just a degree and 26 per cent more likely to be in a professional or managerial role.
(REF 2014)
1 in 7
(HECSU 2013)
By 2022 it is estimated that one in seven jobs will require postgraduate qualifications.
(UK Commission for Employment and Skills 2014)
£9,000
92%
(Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 2014)
Someone with a Master’s degree or PhD earns £9,000 more per year, or over £360,000 over a 40-year working life, than someone with just a degree.
of Birmingham City University postgraduate students were in employment or further study within six months of graduating.
(DLHE survey 2012/13)
Inside 03 Welcome 04-09 Student success
10-11 Staff success 12-15 Research excellence 16-17 What our students say 18-19 Why Birmingham?
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20-21 City Talks 22-23 Our facilities 24-25 Funding and finance 26-27 Advice and contact
WELCOME
WELCOME Welcome to the latest edition of ProGress 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.
We aim to be the leading university for creative and professional practice-based learning, ensuring your time here will leave you highly employable with the knowledge, attributes and practice skills to successfully progress in your life and career. Through our close relationships with businesses and organisations in the city of Birmingham and the surrounding area, you will be gaining extensive knowledge, skills and experience. Our ambition to be placed in the top 10 per cent of research-
engaged universities for research quality has been enhanced following the recent Government assessment process. The Research Excellence Framework revealed that we have doubled the number of staff producing internationally recognised research and significantly increased the impact our work is having on society and the economy. The development of our estate continues to prosper, with our latest state-of-the-art facility, The Curzon Building, opening
in September. It will be home to our English, Business, Law and Social Science studies, as well as providing a hub for our student support services. Work has commenced on the new home for Birmingham Conservatoire which, once completed, will offer spectacular facilities that no UK conservatoire can rival. All of this continues to emphasise both our impact as a practice-based university and our determination to transform the experience of every student that enrols here. We continue
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to transform the way we teach, learn and undertake research, meaning our graduates will continue to shape the world with their achievements. I hope to welcome you as a student soon, and if you have any queries in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Professor Cliff Allan Vice-Chancellor
STUDENT SUCCESS
DEFENDING Meriam A Birmingham City University graduate played a key role in the defence of Meriam Ibrahim – the Sudanese woman who was sentenced to death because of her Christian faith in May 2014, sparking a global outcry.
Elshareef Ali Mohammed
Elshareef Ali Mohammed is a lawyer and human rights practitioner, who represents, advises and defends in court victims of human rights violations including women, children and political prisoners. After training as a lawyer in his native Sudan, he came to Birmingham City University
He hit the headlines in 2014 when he was part of the fiveman defence team representing Meriam Ibrahim. Meriam was charged with renouncing Islam, a crime under Sudanese law, and sentenced to death by hanging. She became the centre of an international uproar, further fuelled when she was made to give birth to her second child in prison.
to study LLM International Human Rights, graduating in 2013. Elshareef spent a year working at the People’s Legal Aid Center in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. He then moved to head up the organisation’s field office in the town of Zalingei, in the troubled state of Darfur.
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Following extensive negotiations, she was allowed to leave the country for Italy – from where she went on to join her husband in the USA – in July 2014. Elshareef said his interest in human rights stemmed from his upbringing in Sudan, where he saw first-hand the impact that a lack of respect for
STUDENT SUCCESS
international standards could have: “I grew up in Sudan during a dictatorship and was always thinking about justice – I saw many people who were arrested, tortured or killed and wanted to be able to do something about that. I decided to become a lawyer, and continued to develop my knowledge during my studies.” Having received a prestigious Chevening Scholarship from the British Government, allowing him to study a postgraduate course in the UK, he was attracted to Birmingham City University by its expertise in human rights. “Birmingham City University is one of the best universities for human rights, and that was the
Student speaks at HOUSE OF LORDS A postgraduate student from Birmingham School of Media has spoken at the House of Lords on the importance of ‘digital society’. Ella Robson, an MA Creative Industries and Cultural Policy student, spoke at the ‘Parliament 2.0’ event last November in front of an audience of over 190 people from across the UK. The event challenged participants
area I wanted to focus on and develop my skills. It has a great perspective on human rights and studying this course helped me a lot to understand these issues. “Since I came back to Sudan, I wanted to support people here by becoming a human rights lawyer, and I have represented, advised and defended in the Sudanese courts various victims including women, children and political prisoners, death row inmates. “I heard about Meriam’s case but at that point, it was not very well-known and she had a lawyer, but not one who was experienced in human rights issues, so I joined the team. There were two sides to my involvement – the legal side, representing her before the
court, but just as importantly, campaigning and raising awareness. “When we started to get more interest in the USA, the UK and Europe, that helped to put pressure on the Sudanese government. It also helped Meriam to stay strong because she knew people around the world were supporting her.” Elshareef is also co-founder of Sudanese Human Rights Initiative, a small organisation established in 2013 to promote and protect human rights in the country, through a network of human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and human rights activists. “My aim is to see Sudan’s legal system brought in line with
international human rights standards. It is very hard for us, because many lawyers are blacklisted by the government, but I will not give up and will continue to raise these issues, and bring about change in the proper way.” www.bcu.ac.uk/ int-human-rights
I have represented, advised and defended in the Sudanese courts various victims including women, children and political prisoners, death row inmates.
by asking the question: ‘in a digital society, is politics for politicians or is everyone a decision maker?’ Participants were drawn from a number of organisations including UK Youth and the Tinder Foundation, as well as students from universities and schools from England and Northern Ireland. Ella said: “There’s vast evidence of political discussion existing on social media. In 2009 only seven per cent of online discussions were about UK politics. In the last week alone, three of the UK’s top trending topics were about UK politics.”
Ella at the House of Lords
Ella went back to parliament in January, when the Speaker of the House of Commons invited her to the launch of the Open Up’ Report of the Speaker’s
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Commission on Digital Democracy. www.bcu.ac.uk/cicp
STUDENT SUCCESS
Graduate has
GRAND DESIGNS Maria Paula Jurado studied and worked in Colombia, but chose Birmingham to pursue her MA in Interior Design. After gaining her BA in Architecture at Pontificia Universidad Javernia in Bogota, Colombia, Maria worked on a number of projects in her chosen field, before moving to the Midlands to do her MA. “The course is a platform for people who want to challenge themselves, while honing their creative and design skills,” said Maria. “The course structure is meant to prepare students to address different scale projects, producing high-quality work.” Since graduating, Maria has secured full-time work in Birmingham. “I developed my online portfolio and CV, and connections I had made at the University led to a meeting
with Glenn Howells Architects (GHA), who offered me a job.” At GHA, she is currently working on the conversion of St George’s House, a listed building in Cheltenham, into an assisted living development. “My aim is to deliver both strategic and creative solutions that enrich the value of companies,” she said. “Without a doubt, by completing this course, I have enhanced my portfolio and certainly my employment potential.” www.bcu.ac.uk/interiordesign-ma www.mariapaulajurado.com
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I developed my online portfolio and CV, and connections I had made at the University led to a meeting with Glenn Howells Architects who offered me a job.
STUDENT SUCCESS
MA student
WINS SHORT STORY PRIZE One of MA Writing student Tim Bancroft’s favourite subjects to write in is science fiction, so he was thrilled when his short story won the inaugural Orwell Society Dystopian Short Story competition. Tim’s short story, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, beat applicants from across the country, earning him the George Orwell Trophy and a £500 prize. “I was absolutely delighted to win, especially as it was the first time this particular prize had been given,” said Tim. “It confirmed to me that I have something to offer in the writing field.” It was a particularly pleasing victory for Tim, who suffers from a neural disability in his hands meaning a lot of activities, particularly writing and typing, can be very painful. “I usually dictate my work due to my disability,” he said. “Science
fiction and dystopian styles are two of my favourites, but I enjoy writing for many different styles and genres.” Tim credits the MA course for offering him a wide range of writing to partake in, as well as improving his confidence and self-belief as a writer.
JENNA MOVES ON UP with postgraduate study
Jenna Wallis was already working in the planning field when she decided to come to Birmingham City University.
“The course has really helped me get comfortable with my style of writing,” said Tim. “It has taught me a range of useful things, from writing and submitting radio plays and screenplays, to preparing and presenting to agencies.”
By studying MA Environmental and Spatial Planning on a part-time basis, a mixture of a great study environment, supportive staff and the chance to study overseas saw Jenna finish her course with a Distinction.
www.bcu.ac.uk/mawriting
Tim won the George Orwell Trophy
Now working as a Planning Officer for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Jenna credits the course with helping her progress from her previous position as a Project Officer. She also found the course boosted her confidence in research and analysis, as well as learning new skills and meeting new people.
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Jenna’s course enabled her to study overseas, spending time in Germany, which she says was “a positive experience I will never forget”. Jenna has big plans for the future. “I am trying to get as much varied experience as I can,” she said. “I hope one day to become a senior manager. I am also a Royal Town Planning Institute Future Planners Ambassador, where I visit schools and introduce pupils to the planning profession.” www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/ spatial-planning
STUDENT SUCCESS
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY to build a successful career
Media Production graduate Andrew Smith has shown great triumph over misfortune. Born with kidney failure, Andrew spent a lot of time throughout school, college and university in hospital, having three kidney transplants in the process. Now Andrew plans to use his skills as a photographer to contribute to charity Kidney Research UK’s various fundraising events. Andrew also intends to donate 10 per cent of the profit from his personal photographic prints to Kidney Research UK.
adversity allowed me to focus and work extremely hard to achieve my ambition.” Andrew was attracted to the subject from an early age, and the MA course was particularly appealing as it combined his passion for working across all media platforms, especially television. He also relished the work experience opportunities available.
In a career spanning over 10 years, photography is just one of Andrew’s skills; he has worked as an assistant producer, producer/director and camera operator for many different television shows, including To Buy Or Not to Buy, The Gadget Show and Top Gear.
“While studying, I carried out work experience at Maverick Television and the BBC in Birmingham. It was an invaluable experience as it gave me an insight to the working practices of a production company in a professional environment. Work experience is a great opportunity to make contacts within the industry.”
“I have always been determined and having renal failure has spurred me on even more,” said Andrew. “Experiencing
After graduating, he gained full-time work with the BBC, working as a Trainee Assistant Producer on To Buy Or Not To
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Buy and Assistant Producer on daytime shows such as Gardeners’ World Live and Countryfile: The Summer Diaries. “There is a good media hub in the Midlands,” he said. “There are many other production companies based in Birmingham, and after the BBC I secured work with North One TV, who produce The Gadget Show, which gave me the chance to set up location shoots and film overseas.” Andrew currently works on a freelance basis, as a SelfShooting Assistant Producer. In recent years, his work has taken him to locations including Abu Dhabi, where he worked on a factual programme for Abu Dhabi Media. Closer to home, he has contributed to sports show Late Kick-Off and as an Assistant Producer on Top Gear, which Andrew credits as his biggest achievement to date.
“Over the past 10 years I have been given the opportunity to work on many great programmes,” said Andrew. “I hope there will be many more chances to work in television, but I would also now like the new challenge of doing more photography work. Prepping photo shoots has a lot of similarities to filming – you just need to have a clear understanding of what your client wants. “I recently took some stills for a fashion company, and I was able to use my experience in media production to my advantage. That is what’s great about the MA course – you have the opportunity to learn about different formats of production, not just television, and you can take this into the working world.” www.andrewjsmith13.com www.photographybysmith.com www.bcu.ac.uk/media
STUDENT SUCCESS
Graduate producer
LANDS DREAM JOB Adrian Padmore has embarked on an exciting and varied career in TV production since graduating from the University, and has now landed a key commissioning role at the BBC. Adrian, who is a graduate of the PgDip Broadcast Journalism programme, accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council, has worked as a Series Producer for more than 10 years on programmes including Escape to the Country, Holiday Hit Squad, Can’t Pay We’ll Take It Away, and Channel 5’s At Christmas.
The Gadget Show gave me the chance to set up location shoots and film overseas.
Now Adrian has landed himself his dream job after being appointed as an Assistant Commissioner for the BBC, selected from a shortlist of 300 applications.
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He will provide feedback on pitches for new shows, as well as assisting in managing the BBC’s £2.1 million BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) fund. On his new role, Adrian said: “It’s a huge privilege to be able to commission shows for such a highly respected broadcaster. I’m really looking forward to the challenge of creating ground-breaking programmes that will capture people’s imagination.” www.bcu.ac.uk/ broadcast-journalism-pgdip
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
Bringing criminology expertise to TV AUDIENCES
The ISBE is one of the world’s leading organisations for small businesses and entrepreneurship. Over its 37 years, the ISBE conference has become known as the place to go for the highestquality new entrepreneurial and small businesses, and the 2014 event welcomed over 400 attendees from more than 40 countries.
Leading criminologist and lecturer Professor David Wilson has starred in two separate television series, examining the penal system and the reasons psychopaths commit heinous crimes.
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. He is also editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Online Marketing and an associate editor of The International Journal of Customer Relationship Marketing and Management. “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. www.bcu.ac.uk/business-school
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. 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 Borstal experience back to life. 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,” explained Professor Wilson.
“Seventy per cent of young men in the 1930s who went through Borstal never went back to prison again.”
Hatem won a gold Award at the ISBE Awards 2014
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
Professor Hatem El-Gohary
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STAFF SUCCESS
Harriet Devlin OBE
STAFF HONOURED
for services to heritage and music An expert in historic conservation and one of the country’s foremost choral conductors have both been recognised by the Queen for their work. MA Conservation of the Historic Environment course leader Harriet Devlin received an MBE for the services she has provided to heritage and the historic environment. Jeffrey Skidmore, Artistic Director of Birmingham Conservatoire’s Early Music programme, was recognised with an OBE for services to music. Harriet has helped preserve a number of historic buildings in and around Shrewsbury and her MBE also recognised her work in her local community. Speaking about receiving the accolade, she said: “I am still in a state of shock at the honour as I feel that my efforts to understand, protect, conserve and use Britain’s wonderful historic environment and buildings are puny compared to many other professionals!”
Jeffrey has appeared in concert series and festivals across the country and made more than a dozen highly acclaimed recordings. He is Artistic Director of leading UK choir Ex Cathedra. “It is a great personal honour for me to receive this award for services to choral music,” he explained. “It is also a tribute to the many groups and institutions I have worked with over a long period of time.” www.bcu.ac.uk/ conservation-ma-pgdip
Jeffrey Skidmore OBE
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RESEARCH
Recognition FOR RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
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RESEARCH
As a university, we are continuing our aim to be in the top 10 per cent of research-engaged institutions.
At a glance:
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The results of the Research Excellence Framework 2014 (REF), which measured research quality in UK higher education establishments, demonstrated the progress we have made, and revealed we have doubled the number of staff producing internationally recognised research. The report also showed that we have significantly increased the impact our work is having on society and the economy, with 90 per cent of the University’s submission judged to have delivered ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ impact in areas such as business developments and public policy.
11 subjects in which the quality of research has been assessed as ‘world leading’, ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘recognised internationally.’
60 64 2.
%
Our submission was bigger than ever before, with 11 subjects assessed as ‘world-leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ for the quality of research. Examples of the University’s work include enabling the migration of music on obsolete platforms to modern devices, and research that has influenced death penalty policy and practice around the world. With such good foundations laid, University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr Paul Hartley said it was now time to turn attentions to the next REF in 2020. “We have made some real progress in research”, he said. “The number of staff submitted, the number of early career researchers included, our high impact ratings and the amount of our research ranked ‘world class’ all attest to the direction in which we are headed.
90
%
“Our new research and enterprise strategies will enable us to make further progress in ensuring new knowledge aligns increasingly with the needs of society and the economy. The outlook for REF 2020 is looking extremely bright.”
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Our submission was bigger than ever before, with 11 subjects assessed as ‘world-leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ for the quality of research.
%
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60% of research at 4* and 3* quality, up from 40% in the Research Assessment Exercise 2008
Overall research quality rating (grade point average) increased to 2.64, from 2.31 in 2008
Almost 90% of research with either ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ impact
50% more staff are producing internationally recognised research than in 2008.
RESEARCH
PhD researcher PLANS FOR A GREENER FUTURE Research student Tochukwu Ben Onyido has focused his career on sustainable options for companies, researching how businesses can have an environmentally-friendly approach. Ben’s PhD investigated how companies can operate as an environmental business, providing products and services that have socio-environmental value in a way that addresses existing environmental problems, while avoiding the creation of new ones. He chose to study at the University due to the quality of support on offer.
Ben now works for Climate Knowledge Innovation Community as Education Co-Ordinator for the West Midlands region. He has also recently developed a learning programme, The Innovator Catalyst, to help address the challenges faced in reducing the carbon impact of buildings.
“The support from academic staff was wonderful,” Ben said. “I also enjoyed a lovely social network among the PhD researchers.
“Studying at the University really helped develop my critical thinking skills,” Ben said. “The doctorate qualification helped to enhance my portfolio when collaborating with industry and academic practitioners from across Europe.”
“The University offered a beautiful combination of quality education and affordable tuition costs, which I couldn’t find in many other UK universities.”
Research fellow HAS PHD, WILL TRAVEL PhD graduate Dr Carolyn Blackburn works with Birmingham City University as a research fellow in the Centre for Research in Education, and recently won a fellowship to travel overseas.
www.bcu.ac.uk/research
Carolyn decided to study for a PhD after her work on a government funded research project finished. Her research looked into the delays and difficulties in speech and language in young children’s development, and involved interviews with parents and early years practitioners, as well as observations of children with different communicative abilities. “The supervisory team at the University were excellent,” Carolyn said. “They helped me identify a focus that was realistic but worthy of study, and they seemed to welcome people who had a range of prior research experience.” Now working as a research fellow in the Centre for Research in Education, Carolyn was recently awarded a 2015 Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (WCMT) Fellowship to travel overseas, collating new knowledge about early years intervention. “I am travelling to New Zealand later this year to work with the worldleading Champion Centre,” she said. “There were over 1,000 applications for the WCMT fellowship this year, with only 150 being awarded, so the competition was fierce. The PhD was an essential qualification in securing my current role.”
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RESEARCH
Watch expert has TIME ON HER SIDE Born in Birmingham, PhD researcher Rebecca Struthers has had a long-term relationship with the University, helping her achieve great success as a watchmaker and horologist.
Crime analyst has ACADEMIC PAPER PUBLISHED
Previously undertaking and completing many different qualifications, Rebecca is currently exploring the origin, manufacturers and merchants behind watch forgeries in 18thcentury Europe. Her research will provide the first published reference for horologists to understand the ‘Dutch forgeries’ of the era.
PhD researcher Mohammed Rahman is contributing vital analysis in the use of violence within organised crime. His first peer-related publication, Faceless: High-Profile Murder and Public Recognition, was developed with his PhD supervisors, Professor David Wilson and Dr Elizabeth Yardley, as well as fellow researcher Sophie Rowe. “I was primarily involved in the fieldwork of the research, that required interviewing over 100 respondents,” said Mohammed. “Knowing that my first academic paper is available worldwide, and has also received media coverage, excites me, and gives me the motivation to be more involved in academic research.” After previously studying an MA in Criminology at the University,
“The history behind watch forgery in 18th-century Europe largely remains a mystery,” Rebecca said. “My research will start to identify the location and makers responsible for the forgeries of London watches in the Dutch style between 1740 and 1810. I’ll explore the demand for inexpensive objects of desire in that century, and the impact it had on the European watch industry.”
Mohammed had no doubts as to where to study his PhD. “The positive experiences I encountered when doing my MA influenced me,” he said. “The support I had from tutors and the readily available resources allowed me to develop a comprehensive understanding of the issues surrounding crime and the criminal justice system.”
Rebecca was attracted to a PhD with the University after developing good working relationships with her supervisors. “Having studied with the University for over 12 years,
Once his PhD is complete, Mohammed has plenty of ideas for the future. “I plan to convert my PhD into a book, as I feel my research will help strengthen the understanding of organised crime,” he said. www.bcu.ac.uk/socialsciences
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we all know each other well,” she said. “It creates a positive environment for my research. ” Outside of her PhD, Rebecca is a founding partner of watchmaking studio Struthers London. “I still haven’t decided where to take my PhD,” she said. “But I will certainly be continuing my business and relationship with the University.” www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/ art-and-design-phd
Student view
WHAT OUR students say You can get the inside track on life as a student on the Blogs@BCU site where a number of postgraduates have recently been posting their thoughts. You can read extracts of the articles here, or go online for the full versions. blogs.bcu.ac.uk/views
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Student view
Birmingham City University has been my academic home for nearly five years now and in this time I’ve had the opportunity to experience a lot of what university life has to offer.
The road to student life isn’t always straight…
My journey started in 2010, after I had taken a gap year due to obtaining my “dream” job at the time and deciding that university could wait a year. After about a month on the course (English with Creative Writing) I realised it wasn’t for me.
see what my options were. The staff were brilliant and I was informed I could suspend my studies and begin Sociology in September 2011. The first two years of my degree passed by fairly smoothly (and very quickly!); it was my third and final year where I faced another challenge.
Postgraduate student Adam Bodin shares his eventful journey as a Birmingham City University student.
It had dawned on me that I should be studying Sociology (a passion flared up in college) and so got in touch with the relevant people to
My partner and I found out we were expecting a baby, due in the February of my final year. With my dissertation deadline looming, I submitted for a deferral through the University channels. I made an appointment to see a Students’ Union adviser, who was brilliant
My first year as an international student
10,000 km were the first obstacles I, a Vietnamese student, had to overcome when coming to the UK for a Master’s course.
15 trips to wonderful cities in the UK and a great number of international friends are my personal achievements so far.
MBA International student Thuy Duong Lai (Vanessa) gives an insight into her first year at the University.
“How could I settle down in the UK?” was the matter obsessing me all the time from my very first day in Birmingham.
January 2014 marked a change in my life. With a one-way flight ticket in hand, I was about to study abroad for the first time. Experiencing a 12-hour flight and travelling over
One year after, I look back through the journey and I can only say that this city has treated me so well. My grade being above 70 per cent after two terms, undertaking
After a number of trips, you can find some friends, who have the same passion of discovering the UK, get familiar with UK transport and equip yourself with experience of setting up a schedule. Then pack your bag and go. In my opinion, Oxford, Liverpool and Edinburgh are all worth visiting.
The benefits of open events
The main benefits were that my parents could attend and see where I would be studying, they could see the facilities offered by the university, and I met staff and got advice about similar options. I did my HND at Birmingham City University too, which I finished in 2012. Afterwards, I decided to top up to a BSc (Hons) in Information and Communications Technology, which I then finished in 2013.
Dhunsyam Daji, an MSc Business Intelligence student, explains how one of our Open Events convinced him to study here. My attendance at a Birmingham City University Postgraduate Open Event was the main reason why I stayed on at this university after my undergraduate course in Information and Communications Technology.
In the summer of 2013, I started an MSc in Business Intelligence.
This has allowed me to continue my marketing roles within the University, and gain a promotion and more experience. In addition, I have been hired as a Visiting Lecturer and a Course Representative. These look great on your CV and this is what Birmingham City University does best – it’s not just a degree; it gives you the chance to voice your opinions, collaborate on live projects and gain leading industry qualifications.
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and told me everything I needed to gather in evidence. The extra time I received for my dissertation helped me to obtain a 2:1 degree in Sociology. Throughout my final year I was applying for places on the PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education and Training as I wanted to go on to teach Sociology in the further education sector. This means that I’ve been able to continue my academic career with the University that has helped shape me.
BIRMINGHAM
Birmingham at night
Birmingham:
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, an African crested porcupine and many more!
The Bullring Shopping Centre is a top attraction for visitors, boasting over 160 shops, not to mention the superb restaurants and cafes!
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. 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! 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, a variety of festivals, parades and events showcase Birmingham’s diverse culture.
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.
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, Roman and Ancient Egyptian.
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.
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.
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.
Culture and heritage
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is a great place to
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
Brindleyplace canals
Library of Birmingham
City nightlife
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CITY TALKS
CITY TALKS 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.
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.
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. www.bcu.ac.uk/citytalks
With such an exciting variety of guest speakers, you are sure
With such an exciting variety of guest speakers, you are sure to find something of interest to you
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CITY TALKS
Fashion guru Gok BARES ALL
Experts fear for REALITY TV FUTURE Reality TV is a ‘collusion’ between tabloids and TV PR professionals, and is on a conveyor belt where death will feature ever more prominently, a City Talks debate featuring X Factor winner Steve Brookstein, singer Sinitta and TV presenter Matthew Wright heard.
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 in January 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. Discussing his early life with investigative journalist Mark Williams-Thomas, 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.”
Matthew Wright, anchor of Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff and a former I’m a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here! contestant, said collusion between the media and television had saved the tabloid press from oblivion. “By 2002 it was very bleak - buying newspapers was not something young people did any more.
Gok also gave tips on body confidence, arguing that age should never dictate how you look, dress and feel.
“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 newspapers. Everyone was happy.
“Have a relationship with the mirror and understand your reflection. Ultimately it’s all about the confidence. Fix that and you can fix everything.”
“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?’”
To see Gok’s talk in full, visit our YouTube channel.
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.”
www.youtube.com/ birminghamcityuni
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FACILITIES
BUILDING BEGINS on new Conservatoire
Work has commenced 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. The new facility will be built alongside Millennium Point and is part of our £260 million investment in developing our estate and learning facilities. Building work is set to conclude in summer 2017, and its spectacular facilities will ensure no other conservatoire in the UK can rival it. 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 first in Birmingham since Ronnie Scott’s. Other benefits include a bigger live room for recording larger ensembles, a specialist suite of chamber music rooms and recording studios of the highest quality. The acoustics will also be heightened to ensure students hear and make the best sounds.
Artist’s impression of the new build
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“During its long history our worldrenowned Birmingham Conservatoire has earned an international reputation for the excellence of its music teaching, research and performances,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan. “This new building provides us with a glorious opportunity to build on our proud history and continue to develop world-class music facilities for future generations.” www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire
FACILITIES
City South Campus
TO BE EXPANDED The University’s City South Campus is set for major expansion to help contribute to the health and wellbeing of the West Midlands. We are investing £20 million in new facilities at the University’s campus in Edgbaston, which is home to our health and social care courses.
New building to enhance
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
The expansion will include specialist laboratories for a newly created School of Life Sciences, as well as a new home for the School of Education, supporting the development of the next generation of school teachers. Building work will commence in early 2016, and is due to be completed in September 2017.
Our latest state-of-the-art facility, The Curzon Building, is now receiving the final touches before opening to students.
Professor Ian Blair, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences, said: “This investment clearly demonstrates the University’s commitment to the things that matter to our society and our economy, giving us the facilities we need to develop the next generation of specialists able to improve the region’s health and education.”
Following on from The Parkside Building’s completion last September – and preceding the building of the new Conservatoire – The Curzon Building will become home to Business, English, Law and Social Science studies, and will also become a hub for our students, offering a new library, student support facilities and Students’ Union.
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. “This move cements our place in supporting our crucial public services,” added Professor Blair.
Construction has been overseen by Birmingham-based company Wilmott Dixon, and 140 students have gained practical experience of construction and architecture on site.
www.bcu.ac.uk/about-us/maps-and-campuses/ city-south-campus
Both City North and Millennium Point libraries will move to the new building, with plenty of informal ‘break out’ areas available for a more sociable studying atmosphere. The building will feature two wings of teaching accommodation, linked by a central atrium. Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan said: “This, and the other recent developments, are more than just buildings — they will help us to transform the experience of everyone who will be occupying them. This whole area is coming together and will truly become an Eastside learning quarter, with Birmingham City University at the heart.”
This investment clearly demonstrates the University’s commitment to the things that matter to our society and our economy.
www.bcu.ac.uk/citycentre
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FUNDING AND FINANCE
Avenues of FUNDING Once you have secured a place on a postgraduate course, the next consideration will be how to pay for it. There are several funding opportunities available, but there is no shortage of competition, so you will need to think carefully about what makes your case unique, to give you the best chance of success. It is important to start your application for funding early and your starting point should be to contact the University, who will be able to tell you about potential sources. The biggest source of funding available to universities to support postgraduate students comes from the UK’s seven Research Councils. If you received a first class or 2:1 degree at undergraduate level and satisfy residence criteria, you could be rewarded with a studentship that normally covers tuition fees and contributes to the cost of living. Applications must be submitted to
university departments, not directly to the Research Councils. Another popular option are Career Development Loans (CDLs), which are offered by Barclays and the Co-operative Bank. You can borrow between £300 and £10,000, with repayments beginning one month after you graduate. Postgraduate students with an impairment, health condition or learning difficulty may be able to get financial help from Disabled Students’ Allowances, via Student Finance England. Many universities may also offer scholarships of their own. Ahead of the 2015/16 academic year, Birmingham City University has been offering a range of scholarships to students interested in postgraduate study, with awards of up
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to £10,000 for selected individuals. We also have loyalty schemes which are announced each year. For PhD students, there is the opportunity of a Midlands3Cities Arts and Humanities scholarship. The Doctoral Training Partnership is a collaboration between six Midlands universities, providing research candidates with cross-institutional mentoring, expert supervision and professional support. Other avenues of funding could include securing part-time work to gain extra funds, with Birmingham City University’s OpportUNIty programme offering jobs you can fit around your studies. You may also be able to persuade your employer to pay for your course with an employer sponsorship. www.bcu.ac.uk/funding
FUNDING AND FINANCE
THREE CITIES Birmingham City University has recently become part of a pioneering centre of excellence for arts and humanities research in the Midlands. We are one of six universities in the Midlands3Cities (M3C) Doctoral Training Partnership, a £27 million scheme to support PhD research in the arts and humanities. The partnership is backed by a £14.6 million award from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and new studentships are being offered annually until 2018. The scheme is a collaboration between Birmingham City University, De Montfort University, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Birmingham, the University of Leicester and the University of Nottingham. Students are encouraged to consider the impact of their PhD research and its contribution to the wider world, and to use their studies to develop their own professional careers. The studentships cover the cost of fees and the payment of a generous stipend. Students holding an M3C award benefit from supervision, mentoring and support from our experts and experts from any of the other five partner universities. Craig Hamilton was one of the first to accept a studentship award. His research, ‘The Harkive Project: Rethinking Music Consumption’, looks at music in the digital age. He said: “I’m delighted to have received this award. To be able to spend three years studying something that is my passion is an incredible opportunity, and I aim to make the most of it.” Professor Tim Wall, who leads our contribution to the consortium, said: “All six universities in the consortium are equal partners, all sharing their resources, expertise and, crucially, their links in the creative and cultural industries, to help create a new generation of highly skilled arts and humanities researchers.” www.midlands3cities.ac.uk @Midlands3Cities
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All six universities in the consortium are equal partners, all sharing their resources, expertise and, crucially, their links in the creative and cultural industries, to help create a new generation of highly skilled arts and humanities researchers.
ADVICE
Five steps to finding new opportunities What can you do to stand out in the job market? Sonia Hendy-Isaac, Senior Lecturer in Curriculum Design for Employer Engagement, offers an expert perspective.
In a challenging economic climate, it’s difficult to find new ways to stand out from the crowd when applying for opportunities So what can you do about it?
Step one – who are you? First things first, check who you are
according to the web! An online search is often the first impression you’ll make, so make it a professional one! Check and change your privacy settings on social media outlets and take down anything that presents you in a negative light from the perspective of an employer. There are also people who advocate, and use, NSFW
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(not safe for work) profiles which might be worth considering if you’re happy to manage several versions of ‘you’.
Step two – who do you want to work for? People often focus simply on the job pages or maybe sign up with recruitment agencies
ADVICE
to seek out vacancies. While this is a logical place to start, try to think a little deeper than that – make a list of your ideal employers and then hit the social media outputs for all of them. Create a ‘hotlist’ of their online vacancy pages and check them daily; some employers reserve the right to withdraw vacancies as soon as they have sufficient applicants who meet the criteria. The other trick here is to think laterally – what is it about the company that makes you want to work for them? Identify these values or attributes and then seek these out in other companies from different sectors.
Step three – making applications personal Many companies favour online applications and often the only space you have to be ‘you’ is the dreaded personal statement; think of this as the best way to get across your personality, alignment to the role and overall career ambitions. Analyse the job specification and ensure that you have, and demonstrate, the relevant experience; if this isn’t the case, be honest and gently broach the subject, placing this in the context of your willingness to learn new skills. It’s also important to emphasise the type of person you are and what you value; for example, if you claim to be a generous character, how would this characteristic benefit your potential employer? More often than not, employers love to see their own values reflected in yours so make sure you think about how you might do that.
Make the time to attend these if you can, have a business card and CV at the ready, and be prepared to introduce yourself to strangers – it’s a brave move but at the very least, you’ll have gathered some contacts to follow up and add to your network.
Step five – think outside the box Right on the tail of ‘making it personal’ for an advertised role comes the next level – creating contact where there is no current vacancy. Contacting HR departments and/or the area within a company you would like to work with via a simple phone call seems a little old fashioned, especially in the modern age of email! But making a concise, well-planned phone call highlights your initiative and opens a line of communication that didn’t exist before. Don’t pester but do be persistent and consistent. As a postgraduate, there is an expectation that you will somehow know exactly what it is you want to do and how to get yourself there – but carving out a career can be a tough task! Analyse your values and ambitions carefully and check you are looking for the right type of role for you. To read more advice from Sonia, search for her at blogs.bcu.ac.uk/views.
Social media bcupostgrad MyBCU @bcu_instagrad blogs.bcu.ac.uk/views Prospectus www.bcu.ac.uk/prospectus +44 (0)121 331 5595 Ask us +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? www.bcu.ac.uk/opendays. BCYou Register for our tailored news service, providing crucial updates straight to your inbox. www.bcu.ac.uk/bcyou. Events Many of our shows, exhibitions, talks and lecture series are open to the public. Find out more at www.bcu. ac.uk/events. Find us All our campus maps and virtual tours are at www.bcu.ac.uk/maps.
Step four – making contact Networking is crucial when times are tough, and the easiest way to start is to explore who you know – family, friends, peers and colleagues. Having the confidence to ask your existing network for a career move can be challenging, but this may give you an early heads-up in terms of upcoming roles and a personal contact can give you a quick win in terms of shortlisting. The other areas that often get neglected are open business breakfasts and networking events such as conferences and showcases.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Sonia Hendy-Isaac, Senior Lecturer
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www.bcu.ac.uk
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