Birkbeck- Whats it like?

Birkbeck has really high standards of teaching, but you can pretty much forget gaining a social life from studying there. Unless you're going for a daytime-taught programme (rare) the vast majority of teaching takes place between 18:00 and 21:00...by which time most students have already had a full days work and just want to go home. <br />
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Absolutely worth studying at Birkbeck though, can't recommend it enough, just don't go there expecting a party every night.

I'm starting their in January 2013 for a Web Design course. Not sure what it's going to be like though.

Birkbeck has really high standards of teaching, but you can pretty much forget gaining a social life from studying there. Unless you're going for a daytime-taught programme (rare) the vast majority of teaching takes place between 18:00 and 21:00...by which time most students have already had a full days work and just want to go home.

Absolutely worth studying at Birkbeck though, can't recommend it enough, just don't go there expecting a party every night.

Saying that, the Birkbeck SU bar is rammed pretty much every night ;-)

I see Birkbeck are now offering full time degrees as well - I am really interested in going to do the BSC Geography but does anyone know if it is really competitive to get in? I have been working for the last ten years and have got decent A-levels but they are from like 12 years
really regret not going to uni when I was young ( well I'm still only 31 )
I'm going to the open evening at the end of the month but just wondered if anyone knew how difficult it is to get accepted by Birkbeck?

I could ask my brother, he's currently in his final year doing politics. He has said that the lecturers there are amazing and the standard of teaching is extremely high! But yeah, all classes take place in the evening and it's much more catered to the 'mature' students. I'm sure you already know that though. :P

Yeah ask him please

I see Birkbeck are now offering full time degrees as well - I am really interested in going to do the BSC Geography but does anyone know if it is really competitive to get in? I have been working for the last ten years and have got decent A-levels but they are from like 12 years
really regret not going to uni when I was young ( well I'm still only 31 )
I'm going to the open evening at the end of the month but just wondered if anyone knew how difficult it is to get accepted by Birkbeck?

I am unsure if the classes for FT are in the evening, actually, you may want to ask the university about it? I know for sure PT it's in the evening.
Anyway, I did asked my brother and he said that he finds Birkbeck to be a great change to his previous uni (Portsmouth), and for the better too. However, the difference in the social scene is immense. It's not like a "normal" university. This is partly due to the fact that the average age at BBK is higher. He told me when I put it down on my UCAS for psychology that despite it being a good uni for psychology, it shouldn't be a firm/insurance choice if I wanted to get the "full" student experience. So, you may want to take that into account.
Also, there are some students at BBK straight out of school (2 from my school have gone there in the last year, granted, it's not a large proportion, but still!). There are people my brothers age too (he's 25), and he says he prefers it, as you're treated more like an adult than at other universities.
The other thing is because it's a university of London uni, you're able to use all the other libraries, intercollegiate accomidation (my brother lives at home though), etc. So there's a bonus.
Personally, despite the small social life, it's a very good university, and as always, you can get social life from elsewhere if needs be. :P



You may get an interview. That's how it is for a lot of the courses I've heard. May be worth phoning them up and seeing what they say about your situation?

Do people find it a problem to go to lectures in the evening when it's cold and the middle of winter?
I'm thinking of transferring there but I still have this doubt. Since I don't exactly live in central london it would mean commuting every day but it just gets so miserable...
Also how come it's nowhere to be seen in any of the league tables? Is it not a proper university?

It's not in the standard league tables because up until just 1 year ago they only offered part-time degrees, so were never included in things like times league and good university guide etc. they are part of the University of London and so fully recognised.

I know this is quite an old thread but I need help. Just got an email saying I have an interview at birkeck in 2 weeks time for social science degree. It's a group interview and a one on one interview. I'm extremely nervous as I'm quite shy and feel I won't interview well. Has anyone else had this? I didn't realise the interview would take this format and am worried I'm a borderline candidate. Anyone out there who can help? Many thanks.

I'm gonna second that! I know it's an old thread but i'm desperately trying to get advice for my interview with Birkbeck in a few weeks. I'm hoping to study the Arts & Humanities BA full time with them and am just very unsure of what to expect. I don't have a conventional educational history, with no a levels. I'm over 21 however so as a mature student i don't need to meet formal entry requirements but i just want to get an idea of what the interview is like.

Basically I just have no idea what to expect. I have a BTEC that I completed a few years ago now and 3 GCSEs all of which I did very well in after having dropped out of school at 14. I want this more than anything. So yeah, if anyone has studied with BBK or if anyone has any advice on attending interviews as a mature student with an unconventional educational history I would be hugely grateful!