Birkbeck University of London

With a history that dates back 200 years, Birkbeck, University of London is unique in that it delivers its around 240 postgraduate courses in the evenings, enabling students to work or focus on other commitments during the day. Courses can be studied full-time or part-time and some can be studied through distance learning.

Birkbeck is one of the world’s leading research universities and provides its research students with a vibrant and intellectually challenging research environment. Birkbeck is home to around 50 research institutes and centres, based in the following faculties:

• Faculty of Business and Law
• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Science

Based in the geographic and academic heart of London, our Bloomsbury campus offers students a wide range of facilities including a five-storey library, an award-winning cinema, art gallery, social spaces, and a range of cafes.

Birkbeck was applauded in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) for the quality and impact of its research. 83% of Birkbeck’s research was classed as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Its research was found to be highly relevant and impactful on our everyday lives – influencing policy-makers or and responding to some of the world’s topical and pressing issues.

Job prospects

Many of Birkbeck’s postgraduate students are working around their full-time jobs and are studying to improve their careers. As a postgraduate student, you’ll be able to use the Careers Service to obtain one-to-one career advice appointments, workshops and events while you’re studying. You can also use it once you’ve graduated from your course.

Alongside this, Birkbeck also offers its Careers and Enterprise service, which empowers students to take ownership of their future, helping them to make the connection between their experience, education and future ambitions. Bespoke support is offered to students interested in enterprise and entrepreneurship, while there is also an extensive mentoring programme with corporate partners from business, law and beyond.

The university also works with The Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network and a number of PhD Doctoral Training Programmes to offer MPhil and PhD students training and support in their careers post-study.

Courses and lecturers

Birkbeck, UoL provides a flexible approach to studying, so that you can fit your learning around other commitments. Courses are held in the evenings, enabling students with full-time jobs to learn and earn at the same time.

The university offers over 140 MA, MSc and LLM courses, most of which are taught degrees. They also offer research degrees (MRes, MPhil and PhD) in over 40 research areas.

Birkbeck’s aims are simple: to provide an intellectually stimulating environment for students and to enable postgraduate researchers to reach their ambitions by supporting their ongoing professional development.

To achieve this, all postgraduate students develop their research projects under the guidance of a supervisor. Supervisors guide students on the planning of their research, help to set targets for work completion and help prepare their thesis for submission.

In addition to having a supervisor to guide them, all MPhil/PhD students are offered Training Needs Analysis, to help identify their training and development needs so these can be supported throughout their studies in order to help their career prospects

Student union

Birkbeck’s lively and active Students’ Union runs clubs and societies and runs its own student bar at the main Malet Street building. Birkbeck Central, the Owlet Café and social learning areas for students, with plans underway for a new theatre space.

Facilities

Our Bloomsbury campus offers students access to state-of-the-art advanced research laboratories and facilities across its academic departments. To support students’ learning is a five-floor library with a host of study spaces and IT facilities.

Outside of academia, Birkbeck has its own Students’ Union and a range of cafes and a bar, a cinema and an art gallery for students to socialise in.

Students can also take advantage of access to the University of London’s network of shared study spaces and libraries.

City life

Birkbeck’s campus is in the heart of intellectual London, surrounded by other universities and within walking distance of world-famous museums and galleries such as the British Museum and British Library. The West End, Soho, Covent Garden and King’s Cross are right on the doorstep, so you can take full advantage of London’s shops, restaurants, bars, theatres and clubs before and after your evening classes. Commuting to and from lectures couldn’t be easier, as it’s within walking distance of many tube stations, including Russell Square, Tottenham Court Road and Euston.

Student support

If you feel you’d benefit from counselling, Birkbeck’s Wellbeing Centre provides a confidential service. There’s also a Mental Health Advisory Service which gives support and specialist advice, while Birkbeck also offers specialist support for those with disabilities or dyslexia.

There are also study support services available as face-to-face and online support, including hands-on IT training sessions, academic writing courses, and learning development tutors who co-ordinate academic support.

Scholarships/bursaries

If you feel you’d benefit from counselling, Birkbeck’s Wellbeing Centre provides a confidential service. There’s also a Mental Health Advisory Service which gives support and specialist advice, while Birkbeck also offers specialist support for those with disabilities or dyslexia.

There are also study support services available as face-to-face and online support, including hands-on IT training sessions, academic writing courses, and learning development tutors who co-ordinate academic support.

Scholarships/bursaries

Birkbeck is committed to providing advice and support to help you finance your postgraduate studies. The government has introduced loans for postgraduate students and, alongside these, Birkbeck offers flexible payment options and a hardship fund to support students who experience a change of circumstances while studying.

Birkbeck offers generous financial support to students on low incomes, including a Birkbeck Postgraduate Bursary and help with childcare costs.

Academic strengths

Founded in 1823, Birkbeck is a world-class research and teaching institution with a large and dynamic research community. Its location in Bloomsbury, at the heart of academic London, gives its students access to a huge range of cultural, artistic and scientific institutions and research events. Students are taught across eight schools located in three faculties:

• Faculty of Business and Law
• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Science

There are around 50 specialist research centres based at Birkbeck, all of which work across its schools and faculties, encouraging multi-disciplinary collaboration. Birkbeck’s research excellence was confirmed in the most recent Research Excellence Framework, with 83% of its research rated world-leading or internationally excellent. More than half of Birkbeck’s submissions were placed in the top half of all universities in the UK English Language and Literature.

Entry requirements

Birkbeck is a member college of the University of London, which sets a minimum entry requirement for all its member colleges of a second-class honours degree in an appropriate subject from a UK university, or an equivalent international qualification. However, Birkbeck may use its discretion to consider applicants with degrees of lower standard than second-class honours (or international equivalent), if it is satisfied that the applicant is as well prepared for the programme as a candidate with the standard qualification.

Birkbeck will consider work and later training experience and skills that could be of use in an academic context. Certain professional qualifications approved by the University of London are also accepted for postgraduate entry. Students come to Birkbeck with a wide range of qualifications, and Birkbeck believes this variety adds to the student experience.