Rizwan Haider Naqvi Review at University Of Birmingham [BIRMINGHAM UNI], Birmingham | Collegedunia

University of Birmingham : Student's Hustle

9.3
Verified Review (Out of 10)
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Academic
10.0
Accommodation
10.0
Faculty
8.0
Infrastructure
10.0
Social Life
10.0
Placement
8.0

Student's Snapshots

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Rizwan Haider Naqvi
Reviewed on Feb 21, 2025(Enrolled 2024)

Course Curriculum

10

  • The difficulty level of my course is on the higher side. The MBA program demands a lot of time and effort. The courses are difficult and require multiple submissions during each term. The curriculum is a mix of both practical and theoretical.
  • Positive aspects of the course include exposure to different sectors, multiple subjects in the business scenario and experienced batchmates. There aren't any negative aspects in my opinion.
  • We have classes 4 times a week. There are 2 lectures of 4 hours each during the day. Timing is from 9 am till 6 pm.
  • The teaching methodology is quite good. The university is relying heavily on technology to teach students. Since the courses are structured to be more practical in nature, I believe that would help us in securing jobs in the future.

Admission Experience

  • I applied to 5 universities: University of Birmingham - I received the unconditional admission offer. Admitted.
    University of Liverpool - I received the unconditional admission offer.
    University of Durham - Waitlisted.
    Queen’s University Belfast - I received the unconditional admission offer.
    University of Newcastle - I received the unconditional admission offer.
    Since I was not rejected by any university, I believe I could not get into Durham due to the delay in the admission process. I started the process quite late.
  • I chose the University of Birmingham over others because of its global ranking. The university has a strong MBA program in the UK. Moreover, Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK and as a result has more employment opportunities.
  • The admission process was quite simple. It involved filling out an application form on the university website. Once the application was submitted, the University got the references provided by me checked out. The references had to provide a confirmation over email. After receiving my conditional offer letter, I had to ensure all the mandatory requirements/conditions were fulfilled. That involved uploading all education and employment documents. In addition, I had to submit the IELTS score as well. Once the deposit was paid out, the unconditional offer letter was received.
  • Following were the eligibility criteria: A good Honors degree (UK 2:1 or international equivalent) from a recognized institution, A minimum of 3 years of Work Experience, IELTS Score of 7 and above. At least 6.5 in all individual sections.
  • The overall admission experience was very good, thanks to the Collegedunia team. The entire process was executed professionally and all the queries and concerns were answered immediately. There was no major challenge faced during the process.
  • I applied for the September 2024 intake. I wanted to study in 2024 only and September was the best option available to me. Majority of the Universities in the UK invite international students in the month of September only. The admission process took me about 1 month. I applied in the last week of June and got the conditional offer in mid July. I took another 15 days to complete the formalities post which I received my unconditional offer letter.

Faculty

8

  • The faculty members do not assist students with regard to jobs. But, the university has a careers team that provides help to students in finding part-time or full-time jobs.
  • I admire the faculty members who plan their course in a way that makes it more practical and not just theoretical.
  • Average number of students in class is 25. There are around 15 Indians enrolled in the course. The faculty to student ratio is 1:25 i.e. one teacher for 25 students. This ensures quality in teaching since the teacher is able to dedicate time to all students equally.

Campus Life

10

  • Our university has only one campus in the UK. It is a big campus with all the facilities in one place. They have another campus in Dubai, UAE and another in partnership in Singapore.
  • All facilities are provided on campus. We have a sports center with a swimming pool, gym and all indoor sports courts. We have multiple cafes, library and emergency medical services all within the main campus.
  • We have a Guild Society that organizes events on a daily basis. There are more than 200 clubs for us to be a part of.
  • There are many social and sports events conducted on a monthly basis. Since I am still new to the university, I don't have complete clarity on the same.

Part Time Jobs

  • We don't have that many opportunities but around 10% of the students typically secure the position of TA, RA and DA. The pay range is close to 12 GBP per hour. It can go up to 20 GBP per hour depending upon the experience level.
  • Other on campus jobs include student ambassadors and student representatives. They are paid about 12 GBP per hour.
  • The maximum hours allowed per week is 20 hours. It is a bit difficult to secure a part time job here.
  • Students typically earn about 12 GBP to 20 GBP per hour in the UK in part-time jobs. It is not easy to secure a job since the opportunities are limited and there are many students.
  • The students can apply for jobs through a portal managed by the university. Once their application is submitted online, interviews are scheduled and then offers are made.

Placement

8

  • About 90% of the graduating batch secures employment within 6 months of completing the MBA course. The average salary depends on the prior work experience and the sector in which the job is applied. It ranges anywhere between 50,000 GBP to 75,000 GBP.
  • Students find jobs post graduation through Linkedin, career fairs and opportunities provided by the careers team. Some also find jobs through online portals and through networking.
  • Companies like Deloitte, BCG and other local consulting firms hire from the university. 
  • Average Package: £50,000 to £75,000 per annum

Accommodation

Off Campus
10

  • I found out about my accommodation through the University Living website. They had all the relevant options which helped me in choosing the accommodation.
  • The monthly rent is 700 GBP for an ensuite room. It includes an attached washroom and a shared kitchen.
  • I had trouble making the payment for the first installment due to some issue in the payment gateway. I would recommend students to look for accommodations closer to their university. That will save both time and money.
  • My accommodation is 30 mins away from the university by bus. Majority of the Indian students stay near the university.

Exams

  • Yes. IELTS or TOEFL was a mandatory requirement for admission. For IELTS, a minimum band score of 7 was required. GMAT was not a mandatory requirement.
  • The documents included a Statement of Purpose, Letter of recommendation and our CV. They also required our employment records for all the companies I worked for.
  • I did not give any interview for my admission process.

Fees

  • The tuition fee for the entire course is 35,850 GBP. The fee is charged either yearly or semester-wise, depending on the student's choice.
  • The estimated monthly expense for rent, transportation and other expenses would be in the range of 900-1100 GBP. But it can vary depending upon the choice of accommodation and the proximity of it from the university.

Scholarship

  • Yes. I received a scholarship of 4000 GBP from the university. The name of the scholarship was UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM INDIA CHANCELLORS SCHOLARSHIP AWARD. The eligibility criteria is mentioned below:
    1) Be domiciled in India
    2) Have received an offer for a full-time postgraduate program starting in September 2024
    3) Meet the academic conditions of their program offer and pay a £2,000 deposit by the deadline.
    4) Be able to cover living expenses and additional costs not covered by the scholarship.

  • My batchmates also received scholarships depending upon their profile. Around 40% would have received some form of scholarship in my batch. The amount varied from 4000-10000 GBP.