Based in the heart of the UK’s biggest regional city, University College Birmingham is highly respected by employers and industry for providing career-focused education and training. UCB specialises in vocational courses in both the Higher Education and Further Education sectors with a growing portfolio of Apprenticeships.
Most of our undergraduate degrees are accredited by the University of Birmingham, one of the world’s top ranked academic institutions, and our reputation for excellence means the University is a popular choice for international students, who join us from more than 60 countries. We are committed to providing the best facilities for all our students and are investing £100 million on a comprehensive package of improvements that will secure our reputation for excellence.
University College Birmingham is a specialist further and higher education institution, offering vocational programmes in specialist fields at a wide range of levels, from apprenticeships to postgraduate degrees.
Our mission is to promote and provide the opportunity for participation in the learning process by those with the ambition and commitment to succeed and to maintain a learning community that meets the diverse needs of our students, the economy and society at large. The Enterprise Hive is here to nurture and support our students who wish to setup their own business and to promote the entrepreneurial spirit throughout the university encouraging independence and innovation.
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) employ more than half the UK workforce and some £16 billion is generated annually by cities with the best growth prospects for SMEs. Birmingham has been recognised as one of the top six locations for new business start-ups and UCB is at the forefront of promoting sustainable growth in the UK’s biggest city outside London.
Through the work of Enterprise Hive, the University is committed to supporting students who wish to set up their own businesses. An entrepreneurial spirit is promoted throughout the institution, encouraging independent thought, collaborative practice and innovation. Students benefit from a variety of workshops delivered by experienced professionals in addition to tailored mentoring, networking opportunities and one-to-one support from the team in the Business School.
With more than 7,500 students enrolled on hugely diverse courses, the modern-day University College Birmingham is unrecognisable from the small Victorian classes to which its origins can be traced. Today, hospitality managers, aviation executives, dazzling hairdressers and makeup artists, educators, chefs, bakers, tourism industry experts and creative entrepreneurs learn skills for life at a university hailed for its vocational training, academic achievements and cultural diversity.
The institution has earmarked in excess of £90 million on the now completed Phase 1 development, known as McIntyre House, and the neighbouring Phase 2 building in the Jewellery Quarter. The ambitious projects represent a bold statement of intent beyond the dreams of Birmingham’s early educational pioneers. There is, however, a common theme. Then, as now, cookery was of the moment; and students and employers in the 21st century owe a debt of gratitude to municipal reformers such as Joseph Chamberlain who backed the cause of cookery at UCB’s forebear, Birmingham Municipal Technical School, in the 19th century.
A report in the Birmingham Daily Post of November 7, 1874 recalls a meeting of the Birmingham School Board, presided over by the then chairman, one J Chamberlain. The Board was told that the Education and School Management Committee had considered the “advisability of introducing instruction in practical cookery and household work as part of the ordinary school course.” The committee suggested “experimental buildings” should be built at two schools to replicate the “ordinary size and ordinary character found in the cottages of working people.” There should be “no special appliances for cooking” and the girls would be taught to cook with “ordinary utensils, at the ordinary fires, the ordinary food of the class to which they belonged.” It was a visionary, albeit no frills, educational development.
The fledgling culinary arts were sparking wider interest. By the 1880s, the Midland School of Cookery occupied a “large apartment” with a larder, scullery and a gas stove at the Midland Institute in Birmingham. Up to 100 women and professional cooks attended lessons in “high-class” cookery five mornings a week. By 1891, cookery classes were delivered at the Birmingham and Midland School of Cookery at 117 Colmore Row, focusing on “high-class cookery, cottage cookery and vegetarian cookery.” Archives suggest domestic cookery classes were taught throughout the First World War at the Municipal Technical School, which became the Central Technical College in 1927.
As the institution added new courses and changed its focus, there were numerous further name changes including, in the 1950s, the College of Food and Technology, featuring a department of bakery and domestic science. Just a year later, it was renamed again and became the Birmingham College of Food and Domestic Arts. The College, which had operated from nine city and suburban schools, came under one roof in 1968 when the Duke of Edinburgh opened a new £1.5 million building on Summer Row. The building was designed to house up to 1,000 students and included a hostel for 57 female students boarding on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. By now, there were five major departments – hotel and catering; bakery; domestic arts; residential child care; and nursery nursing. Regulations stipulated that “stiletto heels must NOT be worn in any part of the College.” Radios, record players and tape recorders were also banned.
In the late 1980s, the institution’s name was changed yet again, to the Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies, to better represent the course provision. A watershed moment arrived on April 1, 1993, when the College left local authority control and joined the newly formed further education sector under then Principal Eddie McIntyre. Dr McIntyre and his senior management team took full advantage of the new independence to increase recruitment, develop the curriculum and invest in the facilities and College estate.
Major developments included the construction of the £25 million new halls of residence The Maltings, built at the former Davenports Brewery site in Bath Row. The complex provided more than 800 study bedrooms and was completed in three phases, in 1996, 1998 and 2003. Richmond House in Newhall Street was acquired as part of the institution’s expansion and opened as a dedicated centre for further education in 2001.
In 2002, the institution transferred to the higher education sector, providing both outstanding higher and further education courses with a strong vocational focus. University College Birmingham was officially born in November 2007 when the Privy Council granted taught degree awarding powers. Full university status followed in December 2012 as part of moves to diversify the university sector and improve student choice.
With many of its degrees accredited by the University of Birmingham, UCB has undergone a remarkable transformation and values it culturally diverse, outward facing global perspective. It is a truly international university that delivers specialist courses to 900 overseas students from 65 countries as diverse as China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. UCB has amassed an impressive array of accolades and awards over the years.
The lion’s share of recruitment is now in higher education, comprising 70% of UCB’s intake compared with 30% on further education courses. Students can study everything from certificates and diplomas to degrees and postgraduate qualifications. However, the defining ethos of the institution has remained a constant – to give students, regardless of their background, the opportunity to succeed and to offer, in the motto of the University’s coat of arms, “service before self.”
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UCB have definitely been that brilliant, amazing and chosen college I was searching for and I'm so glad I took the time to find the right place to study!
UCB have been brilliant your seen as a person not just a student or a number.
They teach you in an interactive way and sessions are always very relaxed and informal.
Special recognition to my lecturer, the course leader and my assessor who have been so supportive of me as a person!
Overall UCB is a fully professional well maintained and supportive learning environment where students of all ages can learn progress and expand thier careers!
I'd defiantly recommend UCB to anyone wanting to work within the public sector!
By Sean Bcfc McKeown (Nov, -0001) |
An excellent place to learn and feel supported whilst learning, with both theory and practical elements, The support is second to none, had such a brilliant year learning new skills and unlearning the bad ones, and thanks to this educational institution, I have fallen in love with the job that I do again.
By David Morris (Nov, -0001) |
I have just finished my first year at UCB and I have enjoyed it so much so far. I have experienced many new things through learning to face new challenges and staff members at UCB is very supportive as they try to meet students needs individually through drop in sessions or meeting. I recommend anyone to pursue a career in a area of study at UCB to apply as this university and college is the best... This university provided many opportunities for me. Such as: through work experience or finding a job. Thank you so much UCB so far. I think I made a right decisions to come to this university.
By Hassan Khan (Nov, -0001) |
As an international student, I loved the way studies are approached over here. I was used to having to do excessive amount of tests and essays. It all added upand we wouldn’t learn much. Practicals and more interactive assignments made the whole experience much more enjoyable and with better results. Totally encourage anyone to consider studying at UCB.
By Sergio Daniel Perez (May, 2018) |
Currently finishing my BA (Hons) with UCB and after 4 years and I have to say that I very much enjoyed my experience with this university. I recommended it to anyone with prospects of pursuing a career in the areas of study provided by UCB to apply. I have learned a lot throughout my degree and had the opportunity of having a internship year as well. Thank you for everything so far!
By Zé Maria Ribeiro (May, 2018) |
I am a International student and had a wonderful experience of studying and completing my Masters Degree from UCB. Exceptional support throughout the programme. All facilities that a student expect from a university were available. My year manager ROB CLINTON who was luckily my dissertation supervisor as well and all the other lecturers and academic support team supported me all the way from the first day at university till the day i was submitting my dissertation. Even after i finished my course and got my results i was told that hired department is always available for ex and current students to get support in terms of finding work and updating CV with linkedin profile as well. I can’t thank everyone enough for the support and help throughout.
I would highly recommend international students to come and join UCB and i promise you it will be worth every penny you spent and you will get the best experience you can ever expect.
Thank you UCB
By Muhammad Furqan (Nov, -0001) |
University has great facilities, good lecturers and has a good location. I'm living in Cambrian hall and my experience with student accommodation has been really bad. During the summer I had to move rooms 3 times, and the hall manager didn't offer any flexibility and was quite arrogant. This year, food has been stolen many times in my flat (I've spent 10's of pounds in food that has been stolen). The flat entrance door, which is accessible to anyone from the outside area, was damaged and the 10 residents of the flat received an email stating that they need to pay for it. Just today the flat kitchen was cleaner than ever, and the 10 residents were charged with 15 pounds each (there were times where the kitchen was actually dirty and we passed the inspection). I have spoken many times with the hall manager and the accomodation manager and even though they are very professional they don't do anything to help you besides just saying "email me that". I've had many expenses and stresses with accommodation here and I don't recommend it to anyone, especially when you're a student-worker and you just want a place to live stress-free.
By Vítor Alexandre (Nov, -0001) |
Been 6 years since I graduated from here! Was amazing support especially at the start when I wanted to drop out and was suffering through depression and anxiety, no friends from college were with me was such a hard start but thanks to my parents constant support support from my year manager and my friends I met at uni I carried on forward from working on a 3rd I ended up with a high 2.1 not far from a first class, was literally in tears the day I graduated, Thank u UCB, now work with Nursery children and am a Forest School leader and love what I do! Recommned to everyone! :) Never give up!
By Yas Hussain (Nov, -0001) |
I highly do not recommend going on a sports course at this college. Firstly, because of the poor lecturers such as head of sports department Nicola Brady. Niki was my tutor who I had for most lessons she farvoutised some students over others allowing them to come late and to swear all the time whilst she would penalise others. Secondly, she made it difficult for me to get to college because she never hardly marked me in so I wouldn't be able to get my travel funds. Niki also did not allow me to go on my second year of the course reason being because she said I looked miserable. Although niki gave me false hope over the summer that she wouldn't have a problem with me re-joining the course, which i achieved merit/pass in my first year. Now with no other option or help given to me from UCB I am forced to sign on at the age of 19 having been in education since I left school.
By terry geary (Aug, 2017) |
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University College Birmingham has been a transformative experience for my son; the dedicated faculty genuinely care about student success, and I've watched him blossom into a confident learner.
By Hana Yamashita (Mar, 2024) |