Enquire to study in the UK 
The UK’s second-largest city beating at the heart of the country. A hotbed of rich and diverse culture. Birmingham is both of this and so much more.
Once a smoky industrial powerhouse known as the “City of 1,000 Trades,” Birmingham is today very much in the 21st century. Here, you’ll find extensive street art and graffiti, lively bars, bistros and restaurants, and just as many brands and boutiques at its shopping arcades.
There’s no shortage of things to see and do. The best of Birmingham, however, is its people. During the Lunar New Year, the Chinese Quarter hosts 30,000 visitors. During Ramadan, there are more than 50 local community Iftars. Celebrations are just as vibrant amongst the Indian and African communities here. It can feel as if the whole world is here, showing you that we’re more similar than we’re different from one another.
Here, everybody belongs. “As a Vietnamese, I am thrilled to be in Birmingham, which has the biggest Vietnamese community in the UK, and I love to learn about different cultures through food, especially Indian, as Birmingham is known to have the best Indian food in the UK,” says University of Birmingham student Trong Nguyen.
While this is a big city with big value, prices are student-friendly. Nguyen can easily stick to his budget easily. “My living expenses are way cheaper here than in London. I travel everywhere by bus or train, save a lot on commuting expenses and live right near campus in a neighbourhood with great speciality supermarkets.”
All these make the University of Birmingham the perfect place for international students. Ranked among the top 100 universities in the world and recently named the UK university most targeted by the country’s leading graduate employers, this is an ambitious global university with outstanding teaching and world-leading research. Both are crucial ingredients for its programmes to prepare students to not only get career-ready but also make important things happen.
Birmingham is a great place to live and study. Source: University of Birmingham
One example is the BA in Education. Run by the School of Education, this programme explores the power of education as a human, cultural, economic, and social development that is fundamental to a changing, globalised world. It’s ideal for those with academic interests in education or aspirations to work with children and young people in a variety of fields. By applying for year abroad and the Turing Scheme grant, you get to enrich your learning experience overseas and get a taste of what it’s like to have a global career.
For those who want to advance their career in education or use research, theory and practice to build a fairer education system for a globalised world, the Master of Arts (MA) Education is a better fit. You can choose from four specialisms: MA Education (Comparative and International Perspectives), MA Education (Inclusion and Disability), MA Education (Leadership) or MA Education (Social Justice).
“In the MA Education programme, teachers and students from around the world presented many fresh perspectives in response to the age-old topic of education, sharing observations and reflections in different contexts,” says Tianyi Liu, an MA education student. “During the course, we had the opportunity to critically examine the position and problems of education in the process of globalisation and to learn about the richness of the profound proposition of how school improvement is measured.”
Another postgraduate programme offered is the MSc in TESOL Education. Designed for those with no or minimal experience in teaching English, this master’s degree links English language teaching to wider issues of education. You’ll gain a solid grounding in practical language teaching skills and in language learning and teaching research. As a graduate, you’re set to become a TESOL professional, a competent educational researcher, and an active member of the international academic and professional TESOL community.
“Having knowledgeable and motivating teaching faculty with MSc TESOL skills and experience is beneficial for my academic studies,” says MSc in TESOL Education student Hailin Zhang.
“After studying here, the open and multicultural learning environment really impressed me.”
The University of Birmingham is a haven for international students. It offers a range of services tailored to their needs, including language support, visa advice, access to internships and job placements, and a dedicated team always ready to provide help. Social and cultural get-togethers are actively promoted through various clubs, societies, and events, ensuring that students from all over the world feel at home.
“As a Chinese student, I made an effort to take opportunities to interact with a diverse community of students and teachers in order to improve my entire educational experience and acquire a worldwide perspective on teaching and learning languages,” Zhang adds.
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