Advantages: Compact area of study, easily mix with others
Disadvantages: Spread out campuses, not much interaction with these

...The University of Central England, the former Birmingham Polytechnic has now been rebranded yet again as Birmingham City University to give it that metropolitan edge. Its main campus at Perry Barr is a 15 min walk across playing fields to where I live. City University, by sheer student numbers is one of the largest Universities in the country, matching that of many of the 'red-brick' universities. Moreover, its size is not apparent when you arrive at one of its campuses. This is because it is the only university with campuses spread out over a city wide area (I think at least 6 campuses) totalling to about 25,000 students. Financially, it has been one of richer universities and certainly one of highest cashflow universities from the former polytechnics. And yes, it is true their was talk of taking some more of Aston University... Read review

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Advantages: Nightlife, good courses, great sport and a cheap cinema!
Disadvantages: Sheffield is Hilly, but saves on Gym membership!

...and Hunters Bar regions of the city (S10 and S11), to the West, and less than 2 miles from the university. I myself lived in Ranmoor House, possibly the furthest out, and it took me 25-30 minutes to walk to the main campus, 15-20 minutes to walk to the medical school, 35-40 minutes to walk to the St George's Complex, and about an hour to walk to the city centre. However, on the way to the main campus, one would need to walk through Broomhill, which from September - May every year becomes student central, with a Somerfield for all your shopping, hair dressers, independent CD/record outlet, hardware store, 5 or 6 charity shops (one in particular specialising in book and vinyl), and all the takeaway and food outlets you could need, from burgers and chips or pizza, to Indian, Thai, African, American and a couple of lovely cafes. There are also... Read review

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Advantages: Some very good lecturer's, so many courses
Disadvantages: look at the league tables

...I am currently a student at the university of Central England. And I have to say it is sad what I have seen. The university is no good, who's to blame the Lecturer's ar the students. In my opinion BOTH. So many students waste the time of lecturer's and the lecturer's are not tough enough on the students. Onething that I have noticed in this uni, there is no discipline. In the engineering faculty the courses look to nice in the proppectus, they look so interesting. I honestly believe that that nearly all the engineering courses offered at this uni are top. BUT, the standard and level of eduacation is not so top. Alot of students do so little towards their studies and get away with so much. Exams and coursework are of a low standard for university level. The courses have so much to offer for the student but the outcome is shameful... Read review

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Advantages: good location
Disadvantages: poor admin, too many students not enough staff, bad feelings from staff to students

...Having spent 3 years at the University of Central England I feel I must tell others about this place. In a good location 3 miles from Birmingham city centre, this is about the only good thing going for the university. The students are spread all over the city, so there is no "student community" feeling to the place. The student's union is almost non-existent, doing very little for the actual students. What they do do appears to be very much for themselves, not for the good of the student body. There is a limited library on site which I found under-orders its books, resulting in most essential reading being permanently out of stock. Administration is almost a disaster, there is very little communication between staff and students and I ended up with the feeling that the students were only getting in the way. Overall, if you... Read review

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Advantages: BIAD has good facilities and good location
Disadvantages: Most SU things happen at Perry Barr so the other campuses miss out (but we have the city centre!) Transprt between campus isn't too good.

...I started studying Visual Communication at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, University of Central England in September last month. The other UCE reviews all seem to be based on the Perry Barr campus but I am studying at Gosta Green and living at the Westbourne Road campus, so hopefully this should give you an idea of what some of the other campuses are like. Gosta Green: The course I have recently started is based at the Gosta Green campus which is in the middle of the Aston University campus in the city centre. The location is very good for the city centre and is walking distance from the Cambrian Hall accommodation. The facilities available for my particular course (Visual Communication - photography) are extremely good and cameras can be borrowed free of charge for a few days at a time. The only downside of the course... Read review

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Advantages: Good student life, wide range of facilites
Disadvantages: Some areas can be quite rough, doesn't live upto London

...Situated in Britain's 2nd largest city, Birmingham - also known as "Balti City", University of Central England in Birmingham also shares its home with Aston and Birmingham Uni's. It's red and brown exterior has often drawn comments of yuck and err by the more fashion consious, but I don't think its that bad. Formerly a polytechnic, it's main campus is in Perry Barr where mostly computering, business, law and language courses are based, it also has several other sites across the city including Gosta Green, Westborne Campus (Nursing and Education) etc. UCE has a large amount of stay at home students, mostly asians, ans is the home for the Bangra brigade!!! Accomodation is also well spread such as Hamstead Campus (based in the more rougher part of Brum) offering catered, salf-catered and studio flats, The Coppice... Read review

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Advantages: cheap and chearful
Disadvantages: no one will understand you

...Down the Holloway road in London England is a university. I had been driving down this road for 15 years before hand and had not noticed it until I decided to apply to go there during my access to university course. As I was living close by in Central London it seemed ideal so ideal I did not even bother going to an interview at Hertfordshire University as it a waste of the train fair to even turn up I thought. I went and had a look around another London university at Roehampton however just to have a look see it was a catholic university so not really for me. As I received an automatic acceptance for UNL that was good enough for me I was going there! Another student on my access course went there and she is now a teacher. It was looked down on by some students on the access course. I had no idea why at the time. One wanted... Read review

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Advantages: close community, awesome nightlife, good lecturers
Disadvantages: a bit small!

...I went ti Aston for four years, and i wont forget the time I had there. Principally because of the vibe and atmosphere. A few brief details first...... Location: Central Birmingham. Population: About 8000 - 9000 students Accomodation: On campus Range of courses: Varied, business to optometry to pharmacy to IT to psychology to engineering to PhDs.......... My experience: A very enjoyable place to go. Firstly, aston has a good reputation and is considered a good standard of university. And it is! Lecturers are very good, obviously, you will get some crap ones, but they are few and far. The vibe is close knit, a good atmosphere, really because of the size of the campus. When I was there, it was the 3rd smallest in England!!! Yes, it is small, but that has its advantages. you get to know people better... Read review

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Advantages: P/T study, range of courses, low entry requirements
Disadvantages: Scary area, poor reputation

...Last September (2004) I gained a place at UCE studying Radiotherapy through Clearing. Initially I had wanted to do a different course at Derby University but spontaneously changed my mind about a week before the course was to start, much to the dismay of my family, as it meant we had to move. So move to Coventry we did, and I started my course on 20th September. I've decided to give each category 'marks out of ten' to help summarise the whole op at the end. ~~~TRAVELLING~~~ I know this is not particularly relevant to the actual university but as mature students by far exceed 18 year old school leaver students, I figured that a large proportion of these students will live off-campus, that is away from the university itself. Also, probably 90% of the students I spoke to at UCE, told me they lived at least on the other side... Read review

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Advantages: Small campus, Nursing
Disadvantages: Terrible parking, dead, unorganised, unpleasant experience.

.... The student Uni bar...what student Uni bar!!! A few years back it was just about serving alcohol, now its a giant ashtray which is currently making do as an thoroughway to corridors which are blocked elsewhere by ... u guessed it... the building work! A real pity I feel as the University is a fair distance from Broad Street or the "White Swan" pub so alcohol between lectures is off the menu... not good news for you students really is it. Canteen food is ok depending on the day really... sometimes a variety of stuff is on offer, and can be fairly pricey for those on £400 a month nursing bursary! Other days you'll be lucky to find a crumb or a coffee machine that works, If you are going to study here don't expect the typical on campus student life. A tip to help fill the gaps however would be special student nights on Broad Street and many... Read review

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