[Desertanium]

I have been checking the English and Creative Writing course at Birmingham and it has really caught my interest and I would love to apply to the university. The city is great and diverse, the university is a redbrick, well known and a part of the Russell Group.

However, while checking the league tables, it seems Birmingham is not even in the top 20 for English. The entry requirements are quite high, but still the league tables don't really do it justice.

Other universities that I have looked at are Southampton, Newcastle, Nottingham and Royal Holloway.

Would employers actually look down on me if I graduated from Birmingham, as opposed to Southampton, Newcastle and Nottingham, all three of which are ranked a lot higher than Birmingham?

People have also told me that Birmingham is a very science-orientated university and isn't at all well known among employers for humanities (except for law) and its main flagship is its medical school and science and engineering departments. Is it true?

I really do want to go to Birmingham but all of this is really putting me off

[ScarlettDangerfield]

I can only speak as an arts student at Birmingham, not English specifically, but I don't think I'd agree that its academic priorities lie with the sciences- my education here has, on the whole, been pretty good. If you just have that 'feeling' that Bham's right for you, then go for it. It's in a similar league to Southampton, Newcastle and Nottingham so you wouldn't be at much if any disadvantage by choosing Bham over any of them.

[ah.meh]

What are you on about the city is a ****hole? the Uni is great though, I only know people who do science there, but because if its size I think it will be a good all rounder

[evantej]

(Original post by Desertanium)
I have been checking the English and Creative Writing course at Birmingham and it has really caught my interest and I would love to apply to the university. The city is great and diverse, the university is a redbrick, well known and a part of the Russell Group.

However, while checking the league tables, it seems Birmingham is not even in the top 20 for English. The entry requirements are quite high, but still the league tables don't really do it justice.

Other universities that I have looked at are Southampton, Newcastle, Nottingham and Royal Holloway.

Would employers actually look down on me if I graduated from Birmingham, as opposed to Southampton, Newcastle and Nottingham, all three of which are ranked a lot higher than Birmingham?

People have also told me that Birmingham is a very science-orientated university and isn't at all well known among employers for humanities (except for law) and its main flagship is its medical school and science and engineering departments. Is it true?

I really do want to go to Birmingham but all of this is really putting me off

For the vast majority of graduates, especially those studying at prestigious universities, their undergraduate experience is negligible. With few exceptions, the standard of education you will receive at Birmingham will be the same as the other universities you have mentioned. You will be studying roughly the same stuff in roughly the same order in roughly the same way.

For what it is worth, Birmingham submitted the seventh highest percentage of English work in the last research assessment exercise, and scored in the top 25 in terms of average ranking. They are world class for Shakespeare.

I do not know about Royal Holloway or Southampton, but Newcastle and Nottingham are good departments. They are better, on paper, than more prestigious universities like Durham. In this sense, take rankings with a pinch of salt (at least 'league tables').

If you want to live in Birmingham then go ahead; the university is good, if that is what you want to hear.

[NickyJWatkinson]

I'm looking at Birmingham too, just for the straightforward English course, but some of the other unis I've looked at like Queen Mary's have mainly coursework-orientated courses, and not many exams. Could anyone tell me whether that's the same in Birmingham, or is Birmingham more exam-based? Because I hate presentations and log books and all that stuff. :P

[Miss Scarlett]

Birmingham are good for Shakespeare but there's not much variety.

[Meat is Murder]

If your heart is taking you to Birmingham than go for it. It is a Russell Group uni and ranks high internationally. League tables are nonsense however so do what's best for you.

[Skyblue.Salma]

I have applied to Birmigham Uni and it is ny firm choice. I know it is world class for Shakespeare but weirdly enough I have never studied Shakespeare but its the lack of variety that is putting me off. Bham is a not bad as a City tbh but your main priority should be your preference for the course content.

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