Research Highlights
Research at Birmingham City University is supported by the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Strategy, which is a clear mandate to grow our vibrant research community, create impact at local, national and international levels, and invest in research for the good of student experience, enterprise and innovation.
Birmingham City University’s Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) results demonstrate the significant and wide-reaching impact of our research.
Research Highlights
BCU researchers aim to combine academic rigour with industry knowledge to make a positive contribution to society. Our Research Highlights embody these contributions and provide an example overview of our research activity.
That’s Me! Eliminating barriers to postgraduate research study in the West Midlands.
BCU is proud to partner with the University of Wolverhampton to deliver a highly prestigious project funded by the UKRI and Office of Students as part of a nationwide programme to widen participation in post graduate research.
Find out moreNarrow Margins: the criminalisation of trespass, the politics of property, and life on the margins in England
The aim of this project is to explore the steady criminalisation of trespass and its impact upon marginalised communities in England. The research investigates the everyday impacts of the criminalisation of trespass on silenced groups in England.
Find out moreResearch into Athlete Youth Sport Development
The BCU Research for Athlete and Youth Sport Development (RAYSD) Lab aims to collaborate with industry partners, in order to help create evidence-informed organisational structures and more equitable youth sport settings so every young person can achieve their potential.
Find out moreSmall Performances: Investigating the typographic punches of Baskerville
Small Performances is an interdisciplinary project making substantial contributions to the history of printing technology. At its heart is the exceptional collection of typographic punches designed by England's foremost printer, John Baskerville.
Find out moreAural Histories: Coventry, c.1451-1642
This Royal Birmingham Conservatoire project aims to explore the changing experience of music in late-medieval and early-modern Coventry, through a series of performances and recordings within VR reconstructions of its lost performing spaces – most notably including St Michael’s Cathedral.
Find out moreFashion Police: Challenging Perceptions via Uniform Heritage
This unique research project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund aims to enhance understanding of the role of police in society. Experts and students in fashion and computing focus on the evolution of police uniforms throughout history by creating a digitised collection
Find out moreOpen Access Repository
BCU Open Access Repository is an online archive of research outputs created by current and prior members of our research community. The archive aims to deliver our institutional commitment to Open Access by providing free-to-read and download full text versions of research outputs where possible, subject to embargo periods required by publishers.
Research Centres
Our research centres work to address key local, national and global challenges, in line with the priorities of the University and our students.
REF 2021 Results
Our REF 2021 submission illustrates the breadth and real-world impact of the University’s research, and this is reflected in 3* and 4* ratings for impact across a range of subject areas.