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Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck College
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Birkbeck Chat and Q&A Thread

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Reply 240
Original post by Lord Jon
A bit unrelated to my point about enrolments but nevertheless a comment to be addressed!

I don't think Birkbeck has a lack of atmosphere and community. Very unfair statement to make. I have a lot of friends who study there and are part of the student union and they very much say the opposite. From my visits there I've not seen a lack of atmosphere...

Given the fact that Birkbeck is in Bloomsbury and right next door to the likes of UCL, SOAS and ULU... it's got three times more the atmosphere than it already has!

As for drop out rates... maybe because it has such a diverse range of students, focuses on evening study for a few courses which is different and not everybody can adjust to that...for a variety of reasons.


Lots of friends who study there full time or part time? Full time is slightly different story, but part time is dire, and you will only survive if you have deep affection for your subject. BBK being based in Bloomsbury is a big plus, but my advice to anyone wanting to study at BBK full time is ensure you work hard to make friends with students from other UoL colleges in Bloomsbury through societies.
(edited 9 years ago)
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck College
London
Original post by Mansun
Lots of friends who study there full time or part time? Full time is slightly different story, but part time is dire, and you will only survive if you have deep affection for your subject. BBK being based in Bloomsbury is a big plus, but my advice to anyone wanting to study at BBK full time is ensure you work hard to make friends with students from other UoL colleges in Bloomsbury through societies.


Quick question- do you study at Birkbeck?

and to answer your's both and they all say the opposite
Reply 242
Original post by Lord Jon
Quick question- do you study at Birkbeck?

and to answer your's both and they all say the opposite


I did an MSc Microbiology part time, and had very mixed opinions about the place. Good academic reputation, good facilities and great location, but a strange dull atmosphere as though the place is full of zombies. Though I did go to Nottingham for my first degree. Had I the time and money, I would have done an MSc at Imperial or UCL instead.
(edited 9 years ago)
Reply 243
Original post by Lord Jon
Quick question- do you study at Birkbeck?

and to answer your's both and they all say the opposite


What BBK really, really needs is a lot of people like you to drive the union forward and make it something other than a half-baked football team, and some naked old people.

What I found is that the majority of BBK students (for perfectly good reason) don't put university, socs, sport, etc. at the centre of their condition, unlike the students at UC, Strand Poly, SOAS etc. Even at Westminster, the student will generally be students first and foremost - go in to see their friends, talk about their course etc.

At Birks, a lot of students are something else primarily. Mother, fathers, street cleaners, lollipop ladies and so on. Being a student is already the "outside interest", and there isn't time for the socs and socialising.

Sometimes on a ULU Friday night, I wouldn't see a single person I recognised from BBK. You get more people from the IoE or School of Tropical Medicine, for God's sake. You probably get more people from flipping Heythrop.

I mean this 100%, Lord Jon. Get people together and shake the union up. It's university - you can make it happen.
Original post by Clip
What BBK really, really needs is a lot of people like you to drive the union forward and make it something other than a half-baked football team, and some naked old people.

What I found is that the majority of BBK students (for perfectly good reason) don't put university, socs, sport, etc. at the centre of their condition, unlike the students at UC, Strand Poly, SOAS etc. Even at Westminster, the student will generally be students first and foremost - go in to see their friends, talk about their course etc.

At Birks, a lot of students are something else primarily. Mother, fathers, street cleaners, lollipop ladies and so on. Being a student is already the "outside interest", and there isn't time for the socs and socialising.

Sometimes on a ULU Friday night, I wouldn't see a single person I recognised from BBK. You get more people from the IoE or School of Tropical Medicine, for God's sake. You probably get more people from flipping Heythrop.

I mean this 100%, Lord Jon. Get people together and shake the union up. It's university - you can make it happen.


I've heard all about the nudist society there!!! Haha

And I find it so funny that you mention that because I'm quite heavily involved in student unions through the SU elsewhere...and I know/have come across/am friends with people on the SU at Birkbeck!!

I'm defo getting involved though, tis been a plan for a while. :smile:

Are you a current birkbecker? Maybe we can have a chat :smile:

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Lots of young ppl btw. So that demographic shall continue to shift hopefully! :smile:. I'm planning on joining UCLU as an associate too as I know lots of people from there

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Reply 246
I am officially admitted! :smile: Anyone else going to study Spanish and Management? or Spanish?
Reply 247
Original post by Lord Jon
Lots of young ppl btw. So that demographic shall continue to shift hopefully! :smile:. I'm planning on joining UCLU as an associate too as I know lots of people from there

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Yup, my admissions tutor said that, despite popular opinion on Birkbeck being all about mature students, there are lots, lots of people aged 18-23 :smile:
Reply 248
Anyone studying BSc Economics and Business or BSc Financial Economics?
Will anyone be starting Japanese and Film and Media this year? Has anyone done it in the past? Any idea as to what's it like? :smile:
Original post by Mansun
but a strange dull atmosphere as though the place is full of zombies.


I agree :yep:

The atmosphere of the place was dead and too stressed out - it was depressing.



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Reply 251
Original post by chocfudge
I agree :yep:

The atmosphere of the place was dead and too stressed out - it was depressing.



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Really? I'm worried now :/
Original post by AnnaXO
Really? I'm worried now :/


I think BBK is less suited to younger students straight out of high school. A younger student gets the advantage of being treated like an adult but I just felt like the odd one out amidst older people. The typical age on my course (history) was between 25-40.
Most of the students I met were nice enough. Understandably,the majority seemed frazzled and stressed out as they're balancing their jobs/family commitments with their studies.

The lecturers and seminar leaders were awful and clueless.

Admin was really hectic but they do send out emails to you if lectures/seminars are canceled for whatever reason so that's a positive.

Room changes occur a lot which is an annoyance. :mad:

Majority of the people during class (including myself) were tired and unenthusiastic - it doesn't help that it's a night school. I thought I was a night owl but my body couldn't handle it after a few weeks on the course. It felt especially nasty and depressing going out in night during winter when everyone was heading back home. Truly, BBK messed up my body clock.

There is a big drop out rate. In each of the three modules I took the class size rapidly decreased from roughly 25 students to under 10 near the end of the year.

On my course there was hardly any contact time with tutors. Different topics were taught at break-neck speed each week. Many just found it bewildering. Little time was available for comprehension and discussion in seminars.

Some of the BBK building staff people were helpful in giving directions and answering inquiries so that was good. :smile:

As mentioned before the atmosphere was neither relaxed or inspiring. Heck, even SOAS (which is next door) seems more lively. I missed being surrounded by young people.

I didn't finish my course. I stayed a year.

So from my personal experience, no, I would not recommend BBK to a younger student (21 and under) considering going there or anyone else going there. Just no. Save yourself the trauma. :tongue:









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(edited 9 years ago)
I just wanted to give a different point view from Chocfudge.

I have just completed my first year at Birkbeck and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. My course is Bsc Environmental Management, part of the Geography, Environment and Development department. The people in my class are a great bunch, ranging in age from around 20 to 50, most being in their 20's and 30's.

Topics were covered in sufficient depth in my opinion, with only 4 modules per year to get through, compare this to some Uni courses which cover 8/10 modules in the first year alone.

Birkbeck is not aimed at school leavers, so yes if you come expecting fresh faced 18 year olds everywhere you may be disappointed, anyone expecting otherwise should have possibly done a bit more research.

Saying that, you only need to take a look outside the main entrance of Mallet street to see that there are plenty of young people at Birkbeck and that people of all ages and races seem to mix fantastically well there, which is one of it's charms in my opinion.

It's a shame the above poster had a bad experience, as i'm not doing History I cant comment on the quality of that course.

Lectures in the evening suit me down to the ground as i'm not a morning person, plus leaves the days free for you to work if you want to, this allows a bit more flexibility in the type of jobs you can apply for.

It's not a place for hardcore party animals I agree but this does not mean we don't enjoy ourselves, the student union bar can be heaving with all kinds of interesting characters at times.
Accounting and Economics, we might have some lessons together since our modules are similiar
Original post by Quroh
Anyone studying BSc Economics and Business or BSc Financial Economics?
Hi all,

I stumbled upon this thread as I am going to be studying a BSc in financial economics (3 years ft) this year at Birkbeck College. I am 20 years old, in case you were worried that there will be no young people there.

In my opinion, the university experience is what you make it. It is what you bring to university that counts and not the university itself. I personally am looking forward to my time there.

If you are going to Birkbeck then I would like to get to know you. :smile:
Original post by kevint287
Hi all,

I stumbled upon this thread as I am going to be studying a BSc in financial economics (3 years ft) this year at Birkbeck College. I am 20 years old, in case you were worried that there will be no young people there.

In my opinion, the university experience is what you make it. It is what you bring to university that counts and not the university itself. I personally am looking forward to my time there.

If you are going to Birkbeck then I would like to get to know you. :smile:


Howdy!

Law in October.

Also 20 :smile:

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Reply 257
Original post by bahonsi
Accounting and Economics, we might have some lessons together since our modules are similiar


Hey

I'm stuck between going for Financial Economics or Economics and Business.

The Economics and Business course has much better options in the 2nd and 3rd year (political economy, development etc) but from what I've seen, most people are applying/going for BSc Financial Economics, which is more mathematical/financial?

Is the financial economics course viewed as being better due to it being more mathematical?

Sorry for the essay!
Reply 258
Original post by kevint287
Hi all,

I stumbled upon this thread as I am going to be studying a BSc in financial economics (3 years ft) this year at Birkbeck College. I am 20 years old, in case you were worried that there will be no young people there.

In my opinion, the university experience is what you make it. It is what you bring to university that counts and not the university itself. I personally am looking forward to my time there.

If you are going to Birkbeck then I would like to get to know you. :smile:


Hey man, what made you go for Financial Economics rather than Economics and Business or Economics and Social Policy?
Original post by Quroh
Hey man, what made you go for Financial Economics rather than Economics and Business or Economics and Social Policy?


I am an investor in stocks and other financial products, therefore the portfolio management module especially appealed to me. I want to get a full understanding of the financial markets. Ideally I would like to work in asset management or risk management.
(edited 9 years ago)

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