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ABOUT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM

University College Birmingham was established in the 1916 and is an accredited college of the University of Birmingham who awards all UCB degree and Masters programmes. The University of Birmingham is rated one of the top 100 best universities in the world.

Students joining the course with no prior experience or craft qualification will have the opportunity to acquire new skills and additional practical qualifications. An intensive 5-week practical bridging program has been specifically designed for those students with no previous experience. The degree will be awarded by University of Birmingham.

 

Milestone Achievements

• University College Birmingham regularly wins accolades from a wide range of awarding bodies.

• They are renowned and respected as a provider of first class teaching and learning programmes in their main curriculum areas: Food, Bakery and Hospitality; Childcare and Education; Hair, Beauty and Complementary Therapies and Sport and Tourism.

• They are an accredited college of the University of Birmingham.

• All of their Full-time Degree, Foundation Degree and Postgraduate courses lead to qualifications awarded by the University of Birmingham with the exception of their specialist BA (Hons) / FdA in Salon Management which is awarded by UCB.

• They are also a first class employer.

• University College Birmingham was accredited with the Investors in People Gold Standard.

 

Here are just a few examples of their recent successes:

 

2014

• University College Birmingham was accredited with the Investors in People Gold Standard.

 

2012

• University College Birmingham was granted full University Title by the Privy Council, sealing the university’s position as a first-class higher education institution, offering greater clarity to employers and students alike.
• Staff and students celebrated when we achieved top results from Ofsted, gaining an overall Grade 1 Outstanding for provision.

An unprecedented further nine Grade 1's Outstanding were awarded for areas including teaching, learning, safeguarding, equality and management and leadership. A further Grade 2 Good was also awarded.

 

2011:

Thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of all their staff, UCB was once again been awarded the Investors in People standard, a status held since 1997. The standard helps organisations to improve performance and one of the key indicators is the development of its people.

 

2009:

Outstanding Inspection of Initial Teacher Training : Only three years after the commencement of teacher training programmes at UCB, OFSTED inspectors awarded the highest grade possible to both key aspects of training: Grade 1, Outstanding. The report noted very high levels of support for trainee teachers and high quality teaching and learning. The close working relationships with schools in providing teaching practice and helping guide teacher training provision were also recognised.

 

2008:

Reaccreditation by the University of Birmingham : An intensive review of the programmes offered at UCB under the accreditation agreement with the University confirmed the high quality of provision. UCB's commitment to the partnership with the University was reaffirmed and the review panel recommended that the agreement be renewed for a further 5 years.

 

Charter Mark Award:

For the fourth time running UCB achieved this important recognition of excellence in customer service by the UK Government's Cabinet Office. The summary of the report confirmed that they continued to provide an exceptionally high quality of service.

 

College campus:

 

University College Birmingham has excellent resources and facilities within the campus and an extensive multi cultural student body. The College has 3 training restaurants, spa health & fitness club and visitor information centre, sports injury clinics, 10 training kitchens, recipe development Kitchen and a state-of-the-art bakery. To further support students, the College boasts numerous I.T. suites, student resource centre, learning & skills development centre and English Language support department. Student accommodation is first class and located in the heart of the city just a 10 minute walk from the College campus.

University College Birmingham also has a number of student sports teams, organised through The Guild of Students these include Football, Netball, Jitsu, basketball and hockey.

The College's Spa Fitness Club in Richmond House includes a fully equipped gym, dance studio, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, spa pool and solarium. A full range of classes are available to students, including aerobics, circuit training, step classes and self defence.

The Sports Hall, situated at The Maltings, is available for students to book free of charge. The Sports hall is suitable for a wide range of activities including table tennis, badminton, tennis, volleyball, basketball, 5-a-side football and indoor cricket. Equipment for these is provided.

The fitness room, within the sports hall, provides a training facility for those wanting to train for general health, fitness and sports performance. In addition, a programme of fitness classes adds to the wide variety of leisure activities on offer at the sports hall.

 

ACCOMMODATION:

 

UCB provides a comprehensive service; covering both college-owned and managed halls of residence and private accommodation within the City.

They have a dedicated service to help you find the accommodation you need, and are open throughout the year including during the summer period. Their Accommodation Service is available to all students enrolled at the College. You can use the service on a drop-in basis or telephone us for advice and information about any housing related issue.

Our aim is to provide you with a high quality, safe, affordable and happy environment for both your academic and social life. Hall managers, based in all College-managed accommodation, are responsible for your welfare and security as well as offering advice.

We have different options to suit a range of tastes and budgets. Over 1000 students can be accommodated in halls of residence and accommodation can be offered to all years and programmes of study.

The main contract is 42 weeks running from September to July. We also offer contracts to students studying on Erasmus programmes and students undertaking a period of Placement.

 

Cambrian Hall

Cambrian Hall has an almost perfect location for any UCB student. Just 150 yards from the main UCB Site and a couple of minutes walk from shops, bars, restaurants rail and coach stations. It is also just a few minutes walk from Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter. With an excellent location and keen pricing, Cambrian Hall is a very attractive option for many UCB students.

Cambrian Hall is a purpose-built hall of residence providing 247 student places. Popular with more mature and overseas students, it is a self-catering hall with each flat accommodating ten students in single study bedrooms. Each flat contains a well equipped kitchen and dining room. Bathroom facilities are shared between two students and comprises a toilet, wash hand basin and shower. All rooms are fully furnished and have telephone and television points and each room has free Broadband Internet access.

There is a comprehensive CCTV system, installed for our students safety and security, this along with night time security guards and a new fob operated gate, have ensured students well-being is a top priority.

A coin operated commercial laundry service with both washing and drying machines is available to the Residents.

The site has full-time and part-time Hall Managers supported by night time security. The complex is situated in a prime location near the city centre within easy reach of not only UCB but also has many shops, pubs, restaurants, rail and coach stations.

All rooms are self-catering, you will have to provide your own cooking utensils and bedding. Generally flats are mixed sex, typically housing 10 residents. Each flat has its own fully fitted kitchen and dining areas with a fridge-freezer, electric cooker, iron and kettle all provided.

 

Weekly Rent: £78 including heat, light & Broadband Internet.

 

The Maltings

A purpose built student accommodation site built on the site of a Birmingham brewery, Davenports in Bath Row. The Maltings is popular with students coming to UCB for the first time and is situated approximately 10 minutes walk from the college. There are 827 study bedrooms available including 809 en-suite rooms of which 5 are twin rooms.

All rooms are fully furnished and have telephone and television points as well as free Broadband Internet access and Internet Protocol Television which students can watch using their laptops or PC’s. Each study bedroom is centrally heated and is fully furnished with a fitted wardrobe, desk, chair, shelves, notice boards and bed. En-suite rooms have a toilet, wash hand basin and shower.

The gated, secure site has landscaped gardens and facilities include a sports hall, fitness suite, student bar, BarOne and a convenience store, Joshua's. BarOne provides the entertainment from bands and DJs and is also the centre for fund-raising activities and theme nights. The bar which has capacity for around 450 people, has plasma screens, two pool tables, a large bar area and an open plan dancing/seating area.

There are a number of ground floor rooms designed to accommodate students with special requirements, including accommodation for carers.

The site has full-time and part-time hall managers supported by night time security. The complex is situated in a prime location near the city centre within easy reach of not only UCB but also many shops, pubs, restaurants, rail and coach stations.

As the rooms are all self-catering, you will have to provide your own cooking utensils and bedding. Generally flats are mixed sex, typically housing between 6 and 9 residents. Each flat has its own fully fitted kitchen and dining areas with a fridge/freezer, electric cooker, iron and a kettle all provided.

A commercial laundry service is also available with washing and drying machines.

 

Weekly Rent Standard £90; En-Suite £97; Twin £151 incl. heat, light & internet

 

We will only be accepting email applications.

We will only be able to offer accommodation once you have been issued with an unconditional offer to your course.

International students studying at UCB for the first time will be offered accommodation in halls of residence if:-

1. Your tuition fee is paid.

2. The Accommodation Manager receives Deposit and Pre-Payment by the offer date;

3. You are unaccompanied (ie you do not bring any dependants, such as a partner and/or a child) unless agreed in advance by UCB.

Rooms for Postgraduate Students are allocated on a first come first served basis. To be eligible you must have confirmed Unconditional acceptance of a place on a postgraduate programme at UCB. Postgraduate students are normally allocated in their own blocks and/or flats and are located in the quieter areas of each site.

The vast majority of students receive their first choice of accommodation. As you can appreciate there is a heavy demand for UCB managed accommodation, so ANYONE who is interested in the Halls must apply as soon as they can.

 

Frequently Asked Questions :

 

What do I need to do when you send me an offer of Accommodation?

You will receive several documents relating to our Accommodation, and if you wish to accept our offer, you will need to fill out and send back the Residential Contract, Financial Guarantee and a Payment Options Form. To secure your room we will also need a £200 Security Deposit (refundable) and a £275 Pre-Payment.

 

What if I am travelling/on holiday/away from home when you send the offer?

If you are away when we send you the offer of Accommodation you will receive an email; you must keep a check on your email. You/your parent should email stating that you would like to accept the Residential Contract and then sign & date and return the enclosed Contract. You/your parent or third party should pay the £200 Security Deposit and the £275 Pre Payment on your behalf within 14 days of receiving the offer. You should then sign the Contract and return it on your return.

 

What should I do if I don’t want to accept the offer?

 

Please inform by email stating that you no longer require accommodation. This will allow us to quickly allocate your room to another student.

If you have already signed a contract and wish to break the contract, a new student must be found to replace you. Therefore you will need to inform us in writing as soon as possible to allow us to re-allocate the room out and cancel your contract. Please be aware that if the contract starts you will be responsible for the rent until the new student is found.

 

What should I bring with me?

 

Documents:

Medical card for registration at a doctor which would be issued to you at the airport upon landing in the UK. Bring previous medical records, diagnosis, prescriptions as well.

Cheque book and card, credit card or sufficient cash for the first few weeks

2 passport sized photographs, if not previously sent.

 

Are the Halls of Residence catered of self catered?

 

UCB accommodation is self catered. We provide well equipped kitchens and individual lockable food cupboards. Self catering allows you the flexibility to cook when you want, and not be dictated by meal times of catered halls. It also gives you more responsibility to actually take care of yourself and prepare for 'real life'. Self catered accommodation usually works out cheaper than catered and allows you to eat whatever you chose.

 

Study Bedroom:

Sheets, duvet / blankets, pillow case, pillow (please note that beds are single: 3ft 6in.)

 

Kitchen:

The accommodation is self catering. You will need to provide your own cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery etc. you may wish to share / purchase non-essential items with other residents when you settle in.

 

For more information about University College Birmingham go to www.ucb.ac.uk

 

ABOUT BIRMINGHAM:

 

Birmingham, Britain's second city, known as the city of a thousand trades, has long been recognised as one of the World's most important manufacturing and commercial centres.

The first record of Birmingham, is as a small roman station on Icknield Street. It became an industrial town in early times and is known to have supplied thousands of sword blades to the Parliamentary forces during the Civil War in the 16th-century.

In spite of the grinding poverty associated with 19th-century industrial towns, the city developed and prospered. This new prosperity caused the creation of many fine new buildings. The Town Hall, built in 1834 is modelled on a classical roman temple. The City's Council House of 1879 is of grand Victorian proportions. The Anglican Cathedral of St.Philip, dates from the 18th-century and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St.Chad, designed by Augustus Pugin, was built around 1840.

The City's Bull-Ring Centre has been re-developed twice. The first rebuild was in the 1960's, the second New Bull-Ring was only recently completed and opened in 2003. This massive complex comprises a vast pedestrianized shopping centre and offers many facilities, such as markets, car-parking and restaurants. All this is within easy access to the City's air, road and rail links. Interestingly, the Bull-Ring covers an area which in Medieval times was the Village Green!

 

Much effort too, has gone into the preservation of the City's great network of Canal's. A network said to have more miles of waterways than Venice. These days, gaily-coloured sailing and narrow boats cruise the waters, providing a stark contrast to the memory of Barges filled with coal that plied these canals in Victorian times.

The City has several Museums, the most noted is the City's Art Gallery which has a fine collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings.

Birmingham Airport sees the arrival of visitors from the world over, they come to this dynamic City for a variety of reasons for Birmingham continues to maintain it's position as a World Class Business City. It offers the visitor a wide cultural scene, diverse and lively mix of shopping attractions, night life, major international events and exhibitions and easy access to some very fine countryside.

Birmingham is constantly changing and evolving, recent changes from a mainly Industrial to Hospitality industry provides opportunities for students both in their leisure time and for part-time work.

Birmingham has countless ways to spend your free time whatever your interests. Many of the graduates choose to stay in Birmingham when their studies have finished, testament to the appeal of the UK's Second City.

Birmingham lies at the heart of the motorway system, with well-developed bus and coach services, a metropolitan rail network which is attracting massive investment and the fastest expanding international airport in the country. With so much to do and so much to see, the City is the ideal place to live and study.

 

Food and Drink

Birmingham offers everything from pavement cafes to stylish restaurants and traditional pubs to Superclubs . So if you are looking for a wide variety of entertainment, Birmingham is hard to beat. Birmingham has three Michelin Starred Restaurants amongst over 500 others offering both British and world wide cuisine and many of them are within walking distance of both the UCB and the Halls of Residence. UCB also hasits own restaurants open to students, staff and the public; The Atrium for fine dining and The Brasserie for more relaxed eating and daily specials.

There are stylish restaurants and café bars at the Mailbox and Brindley Place and a whole range of pubs, bars and restaurants along Broad Street. The Chinese Quarter, with its array of restaurants and specialist supermarkets, is just a short walk away and the legendary Balti restaurants can be found all over the city most famously in the Balti Triangle .

If you are looking for lively bars and clubs then Broad Street and the Water's Edge provide some of the most popular venues in the city. You will find everything from traditional pubs to lively theme bars including sports bars, Irish bars and 1980's bars. Summer Row, right next to the College is a popular area with 2 stylish late night bars. The Shakespeare is loved by students. BarOne UCB’s very own student club is at The Maltings halls of residence, where The Student Guild run events almost every night of the week.

 

Culture

The city is steeped in history with a range of heritage sites to discover. You can visit the Jacobean Aston Hall , Matthew Boulton's 18th century home, Soho House and Sarehole Mill, a working watermill built in the 18th century and much more. Exploring the world famous Jewellery Quarter , you will experience unique surroundings that have been in operation for over 250 years.

If you would like to explore one of the city's literary connections, J R Tolkien lived in Birmingham and the Tolkien Trail will allow you discover the mysterious Moseley Bog, Sarehole Mill and Perrott's Folly and Waterworks tower which were inspirations for his Lord of the Rings trilogy.

If contemporary attractions are more your thing then Birmingham's Thinktank, the city's museum of science and discovery is within walking distance from the College and if you take a short bus ride to Cadbury World you can discover the delights of Bournville and chocolate.

The city has a thriving Chinese Quarter where you will find specialist Chinese restaurants, shops and grocery stores and some of Birmingham's nightlife hotspots.

Experience Birmingham's Asian culture when you visit it's famous Balti Triangle with its multitude of Balti restaurants serving delicious spicy food. Browse amongst the fascinating array of Asian food and sweet shops, outlets for exotic fabrics and textiles and traditional Asian jewellery shops.

For those who are interested in the visual arts, within a few minutes’ walk from the College you will find the internationally acclaimed Ikon Gallery for the contemporary arts and the magnificent Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery with its excellent collection of painting, including one of the world's finest collections of Pre-Raphaelite art, collections of silver, glass and ceramics amongst other things. There is also the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists gallery on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter. Just a short bus ride away you will find the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) set in the beautiful surroundings of Cannon Hill Park, the Custard Factory which is expanding into one of the largest media and arts centres in Europe, and the Drum , Europe's first arts centre dedicated to developing and promoting African, Asian and Caribbean Arts and Culture. Birmingham University's Barber Institute houses an outstanding collection of old masters and modern painting, drawings and sculptures.

 

Cinema and Theatre

If you enjoy watching movies then there are two modern multi-screen cinemas all within the city centre, showing everything from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to European, Japanese and Bollywood films. Broadway Plaza and Cineworld Broad Street are just five minutes walk from The Maltings, UCB halls of residence. Birmingham also has the UK's oldest working cinema, The Electric which shows independent and international films with old-fashioned glamour. If big is your thing, then you must visit the five storey Imax screen in Millennium point which shows both 2D and even more spectacularly, 3D presentations and if you wish to take a short bus ride you can spend an evening at Starcity , the Warner Village complex, which contains the UK's largest multiplex including 6 Bollywood screens, restaurants, bars, a megabowl, casino and health and fitness club.

Theatre-goers will love the many plays and productions which take place on the stages of Birmingham including the Birmingham Hippodrome , which regularly attracts major touring companies and international stars and houses the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Repertory Theatre with its national reputation for producing innovative and distinctive major productions of both new and classical works. The Alexandra Theatre , a beautiful Edwardian venue, presents a wide range of touring productions and the new Crescent Theatre offers a variety of drama, dance and music productions throughout the year. If you are looking for comedy try the Glee Club, Cheeky Monkey or Jongleurs.

 

Music

If music is your thing then the live music scene stages everything from rock and pop through to classical, world music and jazz. Top class venues like the LG Arena , the National Indoor Arena , and Symphony Hall , which boasts the best acoustics in the world, attract international recording artists, performers and orchestras.

Try Birmingham's O2 Academy for the latest bands, The Jam House or The Drum for jazz and African, Asian and Afro Caribbean music. If you enjoy classical music, the internationally acclaimed City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is on your doorstep.

Birmingham's Town Hall was first opened in 1834 and was regarded as the “finest music hall in the country” after a £350,000,000 renovation it re-opened in 2007 and has again taken its place as a premier music venue hosting an eclectic mix of artists.

Birmingham also plays host to a number of music festivals including the Moseley Folk Festival, Gigbeth and the Birmingham International Jazz Festival.

Over the years, Birmingham has been the home of major recording bands such as Ocean Colour Scene, UB40, Duran Duran and Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath. More recent acts included Bentley Rhythm Ace, The Streets and The Twang. If you are looking for live music you will find it in many venues, bars and clubs throughout the area.

 

Sport

Sport and International-grade sporting venues feature highly on the list of Birmingham attractions. Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa, is one of the foremost stadiums in the Premier League. It has played host to England International matches, FA Cup semi-finals and will be a venue for football during the 2012 Olympics. Add to this fellow Premiership side Birmingham City, and the area is well represented at the highest standard of English Football.

Edgbaston is the home of Warwickshire County Cricket, and also a venue for England International Test matches. Warwickshire currently compete in the top division of cricket in both the One-day and County Championships.

Birmingham has one of the World's leading Golf venues, The Belfry. Many international tournaments have been hosted here including the Ryder Cup.

Within a short walk from the college campus is the UK's leading indoor sporting venue, the National Indoor Arena which has hosted many high class sporting events including the Indoor World Athletics Finals, and finals of The World Squash and Badminton Tournaments. For outdoor competition, The Alexander Stadium is a leading venue for international class athletics.

 

Shopping

With its modern shopping malls, streets and arcades lined with small specialist shops, department stores and indoor and outdoor markets, there is something for everyone. The city's lively mainly pedestrianised shopping area is within walking distance of the College. With more than 700 shops to choose from and seven days a week trading, the city has a great deal to offer. If you are looking for designer shopping, the place to head for is the Mailbox which includes exclusive stores such as Harvey Nichols, Hugo Boss, Rock Couture and Emporio Armani. Birmingham's department stores include House of Fraser, a Debenhams flagship store and Selfridges, with its famous curving shape and exterior covered in 15,000 aluminium disks.

Birmingham's newest shopping destination, the Bullring is this century's largest retail development in Europe and offers over 150 outlets. Centred around St. Martin's Church, this new centre combines contemporary architecture with one of Birmingham's most historic sites and offers a new public space for pavement cafes, contemporary art, street performers and exciting shopping.

Just across the road from the Bullring you will find two of the city's most vibrant markets, the Indoor Market where you can find household goods and fresh produce, including an excellent selection of fresh fish and The Rag Market , where you can buy everything from fresh fruit to electrical goods to vintage clothing. It is just the place for bargain hunters.

Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter is only a five minute walk from the College for a special gift or something for yourself with some of the numerous shops and workshops selling both classic and contemporary jewellery at much lower than high-street prices.

 

READY TO APPLY NOW ?

Funding Your Studies
 

Studying outside your own country can be expensive and hence you should investigate all possible sources of funding. Many students will fund their studies through family or personal savings. Others will be fortunate to secure sponsorship from the University, government or charitable organisation. However many students are also funding their, or at least part of, studies through a bank loan and additional information is therefore outlined below.

Bank Loans
 

Most public sector banks and private banks provide education loans to students for pursuing higher professional or technical programmes abroad. The sanctioned loan covers university fees, purchase of books, equipment, travel expenses and purchase of computers. Other essentials like study tours, project work and thesis are also often covered by the loan amount.

Obtaining a Bank Loan:
 

Different Banks have different schemes under which they define the amount of the loan they can sanction, the rate of Interest, the time and mode or repayment and all. We must strongly advise you to consult different local banks in your home town for education loans and choose the best option available.

 

Private Company Education Loan:

 

For your benefit and convenience we have tied up with AVANSE EDUCATIONAL LOANS, a private company, to provide you with an educational loan on reasonable terms. They will fund all your fees, travel and other expenses including living expenses. However there is no compulsion for you to take the loan from them; you can exercise your right to take the loan from your own sources also. Just click the ‘Need a Loan’ link on this website for an AVANSE application form. Fill it up, scan and email it to us. It takes about 7 days to get an ‘in principle’ approval.

Documents Needed:

Listed below is a guide to some of the documents that you would need to provide the bank before you can avail of the study loan: Unconditional offer from the university as proof of admission to the course

Bank statements for the last six months, IT returns not more than two years old and a brief statement of assets and liabilities of the borrower Schedule of expenses for the course including accommodation costs, travel costs, food etc
Mark sheets of school exams and graduate studies that you have completed so far. For a more comprehensive list visit a bank near your area and check with them.

Note that official study loans are accepted by the British High Commission or the British Embassy as proof of funding to cover your tuition fees and living costs. However you may still be required to provide evidence of the security you have provided for this study loan

Repaying the Loan:
 

Students are normally given a repayment holiday or moratorium during the study period plus one year, or six months after getting a job, whichever is earlier. The loan has to be repaid in five to seven years after the commencement of repayment, this again varies from Bank to Bank so please check with your banks while procuring the Bank loan. Whilst you are studying your family will usually be required to pay the interest only on the loan

Where to look for employment in the UK?

University Careers Office - most universities and colleges in the UK have well resources careers offices to help students to find employment on completion of their studies.
Printed Media - a very common way to find jobs in the UK.
Employment Agencies.
Career Fairs - These may take place in the city you are located or close by and happen at various times during the year.
What are British employers looking for?
Good academic grades from recognised institutions
Good communication and English language skills
Relevant training/work experience
An ability to contribute to the company to achieve its targets
An ability to work as a team member.

 

 

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