Courses explained
Foundation courses
A foundation course is a one-year preparation course designed for students who are aiming to progress on to a Bachelor’s degree course. We also offer a variety of pre-Masters courses which lead to Masters degrees at Birmingham City University.
Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC)
International students who perhaps cannot meet our direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, may be able to begin their studies at Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) before progressing on to a Bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor's degrees
A high standard
All of our undergraduate degrees are ‘with Honours’, which means they are instantly recognisable as being of a high standard.
We have over 130 Bachelor's degrees also known as undergraduate degrees in the UK available to international students, covering a wide range of subjects which open up a world of fascinating learning and career opportunities.
Normally taking three years to complete, apart from ‘sandwich’ degrees which include a one-year paid internship, you’ll learn from expert staff and benefit from their latest research and industry experience.
Masters degrees
Excellent opportunities
We offer excellent opportunities for postgraduate study
Masters degrees are for students who have completed their Bachelor’s degree and want to take up further study – known as postgraduate study. They can prove beneficial to your career development. Employers often look for candidates with postgraduate qualifications, and they can lead to higher earnings in the future.
The two main types of degree are the Master of Arts (MA), and Master of Science (MSc). These may be course or research-based, or a mixture of the two.
PhDs
What you'll need
To study for a PhD you will need a Masters degree, or be able to show significant research skills as part of a Bachelor's degree.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest degree qualification you can achieve and is awarded to students who can produce specialised research at the most thorough academic levels.
PhDs are invaluable if you want to pursue an academic career, but can also provide you with important team working, projects management and presentation skills.
The UK PhD style of research is self-directed and independent. You will produce a thesis or dissertation made up of original academic research, and will have to present your work to a panel of expert examiners.
Summer School
Our International Summer School gives you the perfect opportunity to get a taste of UK higher education in a three-week programme.
Summer School >>
English language courses
If you need to improve your language skills to reach the standards required to study in the UK, we offer a full range of English language courses.
English language courses >>