BCU reviews

Hi! So I’ve read so many varied reviews on Birmingham City University. Some say that there’s a bad atmosphere, nobody cares about your well-being, teacher’s only do as much as they need to to get paid. Some say that it is a wonderful uni! I want to major in English. Maybe some of you, who study or studied there could give me some advice or a truthful review? That would be so helpful and I would really appreciate it!!
Thanks 🙂🙂

Original post by Taja03

Hi! So I’ve read so many varied reviews on Birmingham City University. Some say that there’s a bad atmosphere, nobody cares about your well-being, teacher’s only do as much as they need to to get paid. Some say that it is a wonderful uni! I want to major in English. Maybe some of you, who study or studied there could give me some advice or a truthful review? That would be so helpful and I would really appreciate it!!
Thanks 🙂🙂

Hi Taja03,

Sorry you've heard mixed reviews! I used to be a student here and from my personal experience I always found tutors to be really helpful. They tend to have an open door policy or are always just an email away if you need help outside of lectures or one-to-ones. Plus, there's loads of additional support services across the uni, from health and wellbeing, student mentoring, financial help, or Careers+. We also have Ask Desks on our campuses which are your go to point for any questions you have, plus you'll have access to a student success adviser who are recent graduates and there for extra guidance.

For English you'd be based in the Curzon Building on our City Centre Campus which has a great atmosphere and buzz. The Curzon building has cafes, the hive - which is a big open study area, the library and a student hub where the Students Union is based. Plus it has the Eagle & Ball which is our Student Union pub, hosting quiz nights, live music, movies nights etc. so there’s plenty going on!

Let me know if you have any questions in particular, but the best thing to do is come to an Open Day and see for yourself. The next one is Saturday 23 March, and you can register your place online. That way you’ll get to meet the English tutors, quiz students about their experience and take a look around the facilities and campus.

Are you you from the local area or would you be moving to Birmingham to study? I moved nearly nearly 3 hours from home to study here and have never left, it's a great city to be a student/live in! :h:

I hope this helps!
Lydia

Reply 2

Becwright

3

Hi Taja03,I’m a current student at BCU; I’m in my third year studying English and Creative Writing. I absolutely love it there! Not just from a teaching point of view, but the opportunities they present to you are amazing. I’m currently doing a writing the novel module, and 21st century poetry, both of which have very supportive, enthusiastic and reliable lecturers! We tend to have three hours of study in the third year per module, which isn’t a lot really, but those three hours are jam-packed full of useful information and guidance! Please don’t hesitate to contact me further if you would like some more information. All the best, I hope you consider BCU for one of your choices, you won’t regret it :-)

Reply 3

AdamApple

4

Original post by Taja03

Hi! So I’ve read so many varied reviews on Birmingham City University. Some say that there’s a bad atmosphere, nobody cares about your well-being, teacher’s only do as much as they need to to get paid. Some say that it is a wonderful uni! I want to major in English. Maybe some of you, who study or studied there could give me some advice or a truthful review? That would be so helpful and I would really appreciate it!!
Thanks 🙂🙂

Hi,
I study Digital Media Technology at Birmingham City University and over the last two years i've had a great time studying here. From what I know, I believe English is taught in the Curzon Building. It has a great atmosphere with plenty of students that use the area to socialise and collaborate on projects.
The lecturers that teach on my course have been very helpful whenever i've had a question. There are also Ask desks on campus where you can ask questions and get support.

Hope this has helped. Let me know if you have any other questions?

Reply 4

Taja03

OP

2

Original post by Birmingham City University

Hi Taja03,

Sorry you've heard mixed reviews! I used to be a student here and from my personal experience I always found tutors to be really helpful. They tend to have an open door policy or are always just an email away if you need help outside of lectures or one-to-ones. Plus, there's loads of additional support services across the uni, from health and wellbeing, student mentoring, financial help, or Careers+. We also have Ask Desks on our campuses which are your go to point for any questions you have, plus you'll have access to a student success adviser who are recent graduates and there for extra guidance.

For English you'd be based in the Curzon Building on our City Centre Campus which has a great atmosphere and buzz. The Curzon building has cafes, the hive - which is a big open study area, the library and a student hub where the Students Union is based. Plus it has the Eagle & Ball which is our Student Union pub, hosting quiz nights, live music, movies nights etc. so there’s plenty going on!

Let me know if you have any questions in particular, but the best thing to do is come to an Open Day and see for yourself. The next one is Saturday 23 March, and you can register your place online. That way you’ll get to meet the English tutors, quiz students about their experience and take a look around the facilities and campus.

Are you you from the local area or would you be moving to Birmingham to study? I moved nearly nearly 3 hours from home to study here and have never left, it's a great city to be a student/live in! :h:

I hope this helps!
Lydia

Thank you so so so much Lydia! Actually I’m from Lithuania, which is in the middle of Europe. And I’m only in 9th grade so right now i am not really planning to go to open day but I will definetely do that in the future. Your reply really did help, thank you for all of this information 😀

Reply 5

Anishah19

3

Hi, I’m in my second year of Birmingham City University and I major in English and Creative writing. I don’t know who’s been saying it’s horrible and the teachers do as much as they are paid, because that’s not true. BCU has been the best choice I’ve made. The level of support you get is beyond what I ever expected. Lecturers have office hours for when you need extra guidance. If you are struggling mentally there are anxiety programs and helplines, in every single welcome back lecture of the year we are reminded of the support. Everyone is in the same boat as you and you’re always engaging in discussions in lectures and seminars. The atmosphere is great and you really make connections with your teachers. They really do encourage you to talk to them and email them when you need the help and reply back promptly. They take in to account of everything including personal matters that are affecting your studies and they understand what it’s like because they have been in our position too. I’m really glad that I’ve applied to BCU and as biased as I sound I am really glad I didn’t choose any other university.

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 6

ejc1997

2

Hello Taja03! I'd recommend BCU as a University also. I've found the course to be stimulating and challenging, but the staff are always on hand to help however they can and are incredibly supportive. The atmosphere certainly isn't negative and there's loads of extra curricular activities to get involved in which boost feelings of community even more. I'm in my last year at BCU, and I'm really sad to be leaving! I hope you'll consider it.

Reply 7

Ayesha35AS

1

Hi, due to my personal circumstances I have to change to a BCU, and I noticed that you have done the same course that I want to do. I was curious if you do much creative writing or if it is predominantly English literature?

Reply 8

shamirali786

8

Avoid at all costs the place is an absolute disgrace. They claim to promote diversity, fairness and equality but don't; quite the opposite in fact. I was bullied and picked on throughout and outside the University, lots of stuff happened such as getting stopped by the Police and getting nearly run over by an Ambulance. I was recently attacked by a Paramedic and I feel it was because I was speaking out about the racism and islamophobia I experienced. Check the negative reviews on glassdoor and you really will see what the place is like. The positive reviews are fake and put up by Birmingham City University. Don't be fooled by their misleading and false marketing. It is all a lie. HR are clueless and have no idea what HR should be really doing and they do not follow their own internal procedures.

Reply 9

Mara1680

18

I'm going to be going to BCU too in a couple years and I've noticed most of the replies in this thread are quite old, so it would be nice if some more people could share their experiences.

Reply 10

Ferzana1

2

When I did the first year of community and applied theatre initially, it was amazing. However, alot has changed and instead of the incredibly supportive staff, it is now very corrupt. A sexual harassment case was covered up starting a campaign against me.

Reply 11

Ferzana1

2

Original post by Mara1680

I'm going to be going to BCU too in a couple years and I've noticed most of the replies in this thread are quite old, so it would be nice if some more people could share their experiences.

Alot has changed. It was amazing once but it no longer has those staff and now very corrupt.

Reply 12

Truthfully2023

7

If you have mental health issues or disability then do not study here. They will not support you. They will bully you and discriminate against you

Reply 13

Truthfully2023

7

Original post by Mara1680

I'm going to be going to BCU too in a couple years and I've noticed most of the replies in this thread are quite old, so it would be nice if some more people could share their experiences.