The University of Birmingham

Advantages: Great teaching, facilities, opportunites and social life
Disadvantages: i am only here for 3 years, wish it could be more.

...I am a student at the University of Birmingham in my first year of the popular course; Sports and Exercise Sciences. Although it is a difficult university to get in to, there are hundreds of different courses to choose from if you are not accepted on your favoured course. Also, they are quite lenient with grades as I did not achieve the expected marks but still got in... shhh! So what made Birmingham my number one choice? As soon as I arrived at the open day and got a walk around the campus I knew this was the place for me. Not only is it one of the leading universities in the UK for my course it is a beautiful place to study with its landmark clock tower, luscious all weather pitches and modern redbrick buildings. I felt right at home here and could picture myself studying here for the future. The Campus is located in Selly Oak...

Greenyman 19.02.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Birmingham University

Why study at the University of Birmingham?

Advantages: Excellent teaching, sports, social life and environment
Disadvantages: Very few!

...You'll rarely find an unbiased account of a university - especially not from someone who has actually studied there - and this will undoubtedly be no exception as your 'alma mater' always has a place in your heart. However, I am going to attempt to weigh up the good and bad of the University of Birmingham to give prospective students a really well-informed idea of what it's like to be a student there. I'm sure there's already plenty of information on here, but I'm planning on avoiding reading it until after I've written this as I was an untainted picture of my life as a Birmingham student. It's relatively difficult to get into Birmingham to study one of the more classic university subjects as their standards are quite high, but this isn't the case on all courses, and they do have a great range of courses of study. I first saw...

katyparles 05.04.2006 (14.09.2006) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Birmingham University

What is Birmingham University really like?

Advantages: Location, facilities, cheap prices
Disadvantages: You won't want to leave

...Like most students, I had many apprehensions when i chose the university to spend the next few years of my life at. Coming from London,I wondered how Birmingham City Centre would compare and what the people 'up north' would be like. Looking back, it was the best decision i ever made, and loved every minute of my three years there. The University, set in leafy Edgbaston, is perfectly positioned, with the neighbouring area of Selly Oak housing all the second/third and fourth years within close proximity of each other and large green areas where all the halls for first years are located. The student Guild is smaller than some but still attracts the crowds for after lecture drinks and Friday and Saturday night booze ups, with the cheapest prices within a 50 mile radius. If the Guild is not your thing, then Birmingham City Centre has seen...

annabel 25.07.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Birmingham University

Botanical Birmingham

Advantages: Plenty to see, a relaxing escape from the city.
Disadvantages: Expensive for a one-off visit. Disappointing restaurant.

...Every city need its green spaces. The architecture may be spectacular and the shops fantastic, but finding a place to escape the traffic and bustle is a necessity for most city dwellers. Picture Birmingham and what do you see? The Bullring, New Street Station and Spaghetti Junction would be the first things that come to my mind. Although I've never lived in Birmingham itself, I worked there for several years. During that time I went to the Botanical Gardens regularly, but for the purposes of this review I will focus on my most recent visit which was August 2008. A Brief History Celebrity gardeners are not a new phenomenon. In the nineteenth century J.C Loudon was an influential writer on gardening and became part of London's high society. He designed the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in 1830 to provide a place where keen...

JoannaPiano 31.10.2008 (02.11.2008) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

The University of today.

Advantages: Friendly, spacious, well located and alive!
Disadvantages: Remembering you're there to study!

...Having spent 3 years at Birmingham University as an Undergraduate studying a BSc in Sports and Exercise Studies, I feel the true excellence of this University needs to be shared. Here are the main factors that give this University it's true appeal: 1.Location 2.Campus 3.Halls of Residence 4.Sports Facilities 5.Study Facilities 6.Socialising 7.Security 8.Extras Location: Situated just outside the City Centre, this Uni is ideally located. The busy city life is just a short train or bus ride away, and with stations on the campus ground, or in the popular student accommodation areas, getting there (or home again for that matter) is never a problem. It is, however, far enough out of the city for the area to be relatively 'safe' to live and study in, without there being the continuous mayhem of an inner city location...

dan916 06.12.2002 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Birmingham University

Birmingham International Airport - 2008

Advantages: Big enough to get the destinations, small enough to care
Disadvantages: Complex road system to get there

...There's a theory that says every opinion on a site like Ciao is valuable and so we should post as much as we like on whatever topic takes our fancies. However, Ciao don't actually reward an opinion once there are already a bunch on a given topic. So this won't earn me a penny - even with the special bonus. Double nothing is ...... er.... nothing. But since there hasn't been a review of Birmingham International Airport for several years, much of the information on Ciao is outdated and well overdue for an update. So pennies or no pennies, here are my thoughts on BHX. When I was a kid, I loved going to airports - any airport, it didn't matter - it was all just so exciting. Strange exotic people, big shiny shops and lots of static electric shocks from the nylon carpets - there was nothing quite like it. But as I grew up the whole...

koshkha 11.02.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Birmingham (BHX)

Birmingham best

Advantages: Highly respected University; excellent student support
Disadvantages: Shops on campus are quite expensive

...I studied Classics at the University of Birmingham from 1990 to 1998 as both an undergraduate and post-graduate, and I have to say that they were the best years I've lived so far. The campus offers everything a student would need - library, Guild of Students, banks, restaurants and cafes, book shops. However, as students at Birmingham are a captive audience, shops (Spar) tend to more expensive than Sainsburys and Tesco. For piece of mind, all 1st year Undergraduates are given University accommodation for the entire year at incredibly low prices. But you are not forgotten after that first year. The University offer the complete student support for housing - only approved landlords and accommodation are registered with them. Clubbing is a major event in the Guild, on a Saturday night. Enjoy an Eighties or Seventies night...

endicojr 04.12.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Birmingham University

Music to your ears Birmingham is Second to None

Advantages: University campus well laid out. Barber Institute is an excellent departmental HQ
Disadvantages: City centre is a 15-20 minute bus or train ride away

...Birmingham is Britain's Second City, but the University of Birmingham is second to none. I first attended the University of Birmingham as an undergraduate from 1975 to 1979, where I gained a BA(Hons) in Music and German. I am now nearing the end of two years of part-time study for the degree of M.Phil. in music by research. After some 20 years away, there was no other place where I wanted to study for a postgraduate degree when the opportunity arose. The teaching staff in the music department are excellent. There are many practical activities for students to get involved in - chamber orchestra, wind band, early music, music theatre, electro-acoustic music just to name a few! At undergraduate level there is plenty of instrumental tuition. At postgraduate level there are opportunities for composers, musicologists, editors, etc...

sharkli 25.02.2001 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Birmingham University

An outstanding University in many respects

Advantages: Fantastic social scene, range of things to do, excellent IT/library facilities and lots of cheap beer
Disadvantages: Some of the halls of residence aren`t that good

...I`ve just graduated from Brum Uni this year having studied electronic engineering for the last four years there. I don`t want to dwell on the course details (I`ve written another Ciao opinion on that), but want to give an idea of how great the university and city is. The student union (known as the guild) is one of about ten that I`ve visited and I`m convinced that it`s the best. The beer`s cheap, the cheesy music on Friday nights at the legendary Frenzy is fantastic and the atmosphere is always outstanding. On the more academic side, the library has extremely good facilities, and the careers centre is second to none. On campus, all the major banks have branches, and there are mini-supermarkets, a CD shop, barbers, a bookshop, stationary shops, cards+gifts, STA travel, and so you really can get everything you need. The city...

janicholls 13.08.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Birmingham University

Etap Birmingham Centre, Birmingham

Advantages: cheap, clean, friendly staff
Disadvantages: quite a walk from town centre

...Etap Hotels are another budget hotel chain created by Accor, the creators of hotel giants Ibis. This 250 room complex is situtaed in the centre of Birmingham and all rooms cost £35, whether its a weekday or the weekend. But for this price, don't expect luxury acommodation, as luxury is probably the worst word to describe this hotel. The rooms are clean and modern and sleep up to 3 people. In most cases, this is either a double or twin beds with a single bunk on top - not very glamourous but good for the money. You do get a television (complete with an array of English and European channels), but I can't guarantee that you'll get coffee and tea making facilities, as some rooms seem to be missing these. There is also no hairdryer or anything like that, but you can get one if pay a £10 deposit at reception - you will get this returned to...

jdeacon_162 11.11.2006 (12.11.2006) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Etap Birmingham Centre, Birmingham