Birmingham City University (BCU) is renowned for its quality, student-focused education and employability. Established in 1843, it has since grown to become one of the top 30 UK universities for spending on facilities by the Complete University Guide. BCU is located in Birmingham, the second largest city in the UK, and offers students the opportunity to live and work in the city's world-class restaurants, entertainment, and shops. The university's four faculties, including the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media, Business, Law and Social Sciences, Health, Education and Life Sciences, and Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, provide students with a practical, research-based curriculum. BCU has also contributed to the region's transformation by accelerating local economy growth and driving innovation, enterprise, and skills. The university's core values include excellence, people-focused, partnership working, and fairness and integrity.
Birmingham City University
Why study at Birmingham City University?
- Internationally recognized accreditations, such as the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) and RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects).Â
- 97% of graduates in employment or starting further studies within six months of graduating (Destination of Leavers from HE surveys 2017/18).Â
- OpportUNIty, Birmingham City University’s student employment agency assists students in securing paid Student Jobs on Campus.Â
- Graduate+ scheme provides career related support to all degree students, thereby enhancing their career prospects.Â
- Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) and Knowledge Innovation Technology Transfer Scheme (KITTS) offers employability opportunities students.Â
- £340 million investment in the university’s estate and facilities.Â
- A truly multicultural cosmopolitan, Birmingham is voted the second most cost-effective city for students in the UK by Unidays in 2017.Â
- Over 90% of the university’s international students stated they were satisfied with its quality of lectures and course content as per the I-graduate International Student Barometer 2018.Â
- Opportunity to gain work experience opportunities for international students through work Study Abroad exchange programs overseas, Erasmus+ years and sandwich courses.Â
- The Careers and Job Prospects Service offers career management, mentoring and employability skills development support.Â
- Over 90 per cent of research being judged to have delivered ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ external impact (Research Excellence Framework 2014).Â
- A whopping £270 million was invested in the region to support the creation of employment opportunities.Â
- The student support system including student groups and student welfare teams ensures that students truly feel at home at the University.
Entry Requirements
Undergraduate:
- A level or Equivalent -Â BBC or 112 UCAS tariff points from a maximum of 3 subjects.
- IELTS - 6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands
Postgraduate:
- Honours degree at minimum of 2:2 or equivalent in relevant subject area.
- IELTS - 6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands
Accepted English Language Test:
- BCU English Proficiency Test -Â https://store.bcu.ac.uk/short-courses/non-accredited-courses/preaccess-english-courses-tests/bcu-english-proficiency-test-onlinetake-ielts/book
- IELTS Academic
- IELTS Indicator
- Pearson Test of English (PTE)
- TOEFL iBT
- LanguageCert International ESOL SELT
- Euro exam Academic English C1
- OIETC ELLT
- IGCSE: Cambridge Board – Grade
C in English
Scholarship
Every year we
provide merit-based scholarships recognising the talents of our
international students, which will be discounted against the cost of your
tuition fees.
All international
students enrolling on an Undergraduate and postgraduate course will be eligible for a partial scholarship of up to £2,000 discounted from
your tuition fees. This is awarded based on your academic background, and your
grade will need to be the equivalent to a UK degree:
£2,000 if a 1st class degree holder
£1,500 if a Second Class (Upper Division) or 2:1 degree holder
£1,000 if a Second Class (Lower Division) or 2:2 degree holder
£500 if a 3rd class degree holder
The following courses
are exempted from this scholarship:
PhD
ACCA
MSc Accounting & Finance (Top-Up)
Conservatoire and BSA courses (Music and Theatre)
PGCE and PCET
Masters in Teaching and Learning/Educational Leadership (MTL/MEL)
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses in Health
Short courses that are less than one academic year
Part-time or distance learning
Study Abroad programmes
Exchange programmes
Pre-sessional English
PGDL in Law
Please note that
scholarships are only available to self-funding students and those studying
full-time for at least one academic year.
Prompt Payment Discount:
If you pay your
tuition fees in full {for each year of your studies} before or during your
enrolment {within 30 days of the invoice date}, you will be entitled to a £300
prompt payment discount. You can deduct £300 from your fees when paying
your full fees if you plan to pay within 30 days. However, any payments received
after 30 days will not attract this discount.
Life at Birmingham City University
Entry requirements for interantional students
Undergraduate courses
We are happy to consider Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)/Intermediate Certificate PLUS two-year Ordinary Undergraduate degree (BA, BCom, BSc) with minimum Grade of 60%.
Postgraduate courses
Four-year Bachelor Honours Degree with minimum of 55% / B- / GPA 2.75. Students with a lower course can be offered the 18 month MSc and MBA option. Students with a 2/3 year Bachelor degree would also need a 1/2 year Masters degree
Special requirements
Art and Design
All undergraduate courses in the art and design schools require a good portfolio of artwork. Some postgraduate courses also require a portfolio, others require a proposal of studies while some courses require both a portfolio and a proposal of studies. Please check faculty website for specific requirements.
Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE)
All undergraduate courses in the CEBE faculty require Mathematics at O Level. However for the Engineering suite and BEng Telecommunication and Networks, Mathematics is required at AS Level minimum Grade C or the equivalent.
Business School
All Business School undergraduate Year 1 courses require Mathematics minimum of Grade C at O Level or the equivalent.
Undergraduate courses
The majority of our programmes require the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (Standard XII) - minimum average of 55% depending on exam board, however some courses may require a higher grade.
Faculty of Art, Design and Media:
- Most undergraduate courses in the Art and Design schools require a good portfolio of artwork.
- Requires the 12th Standard average of 60% overall. Some courses require Maths with a minimum of 65% from Standard 10 on the Central Board or the CICSE Board, otherwise student require 60% from Standard 12
Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences (BLSS):
- Requires the 12th Standard average of 60% with a minimum of 60% in Maths. We also accept Maths at Standard 10 with 65% from Central Board and CICSE Board.
Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE):
- Mathematics is required at the 10th Standard minimum of 65% from Central Board and CICSE Board.
- BEng Telecommunication and Networks, Mathematics is required at 12th Standard minimum 65%
- All engineering courses require the 12th Standard minimum of 65% with 65% in Maths, Physics and Chemistry
Postgraduate courses
Holders of a 3 or 4 year Bachelor degree with 55% overall (50% from top universities) will be considered for direct admission to Postgraduate Diploma, MBAs or Master’s Degree courses, however some programmes will require a higher grade
Faculty of Art, Design and Media:
Some postgraduate courses require a portfolio, others require a proposal of studies while some courses require both a portfolio and a proposal of studies.
Engineering courses:
Holders of a 3 or 4 year Bachelor degree with 60% overall (55% from top universities) will be considered for direct admission to Master’s Degree courses
Special requirements
Art and Design
All undergraduate courses in the Art and Design schools require a good portfolio of artwork. Some postgraduate courses also require a portfolio, others require a proposal of studies while some courses require both a portfolio and a proposal of studies. Please check faculty website for specific requirements.
Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE)
All undergraduate courses in the CEBE faculty require Mathematics at O Level. However for the Engineering suite and BEng Telecommunication and Networks, Mathematics is required at AS Level minimum Grade C or the equivalent.
Business School
All Business School undergraduate Year 1 courses require Mathematics minimum of Grade C at O Level or the equivalent.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in each band score). Please note that some courses require a higher IELTS score.
Accepted boards:Â
- Andhra Pradesh, Central Board Secondary Education (CBSE), CISCE, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
- 65% - For courses requiring IELTS 6.0 overall
- 70% - For courses requiring IELTS 6.5 overall
- 80% - For courses requiring IELTS 7.0 overall
Undergraduate courses
We are happy to consider West African Senior School Certificate level with Grades A1 - C6 PLUS National Diploma (ND)/ Ordinary National Diploma (OND) with Merit profile/ GPA 2.50.
Faculty of Art, Design and Media:
Most undergraduate courses in Art and Design schools require a good portfolio of artwork.
Business School:
All Business School undergraduate Year 1 courses require Mathematics with a minimum of Grade C at O Level or the equivalent (WAEC C6 in Mathematics).
Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE):
All undergraduate courses in the CEBE faculty require Mathematics at O Level. However, for the Engineering suite and BEng Telecommunication and Networks, Mathematics is required at AS/A Level minimum Grade C or the equivalent.
Postgraduate courses
We are happy to consider a four-year Bachelor Degree with a minimum of Second Class (Lower Division) or 2.2 classification.
Faculty of Art, Design and Media:
Some postgraduate courses require a portfolio; others require a proposal of studies, while some courses require both a portfolio and a proposal of studies.
English language requirements
Our courses require applicants to have a proven academic English proficiency, often quoted in an IELTS certificate score. Here are our WAEC scores' equivalencies to the WAEC English Language results:   Â
| Academic IELTS (Overall score) | WAEC |
| 6.0 | C6 |
| 6.5 | C5 |
| 7.0 | B3 |
WAEC grade: A to C or 1 to 6. We only accept qualifications obtained from 2000 onwards.
We do not accept the NECO qualification as an English language proficiency.Undergraduate course
We are happy to consider WAEC Grade A1 - C6 PLUS Diploma with 50 -59%/Grade C
Postgraduate course
Bachelor degree with minimum of 2:2 classification
Special requirements
Art and Design
All undergraduate courses in the art and design Schools require a good portfolio of artwork. Some postgraduate courses also require a portfolio, others require a proposal of studies while some courses require both a portfolio and a proposal of studies. Please check faculty website for specific requirements.
Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE)Â
All undergraduate courses in the CEBE faculty require Mathematics at O Level. However for the Engineering suite and BEng Telecommunication and Networks, Mathematics is required at AS Level minimum Grade C or the equivalent.
Business School
All Business School undergraduate Year 1 courses require Mathematics minimum of Grade C at O Level or the equivalent.
Are you ready to start building your future?
Contact our admission counseller and get a free consultation.
