Vaibhav Sharma Review at University Of Birmingham [BIRMINGHAM UNI], Birmingham | Collegedunia

Life at University of Birmingham

7.3
Verified Review (Out of 10)
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Academic
8.0
Accommodation
6.0
Faculty
6.0
Infrastructure
10.0
Social Life
8.0
Placement
6.0

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Vaibhav Sharma
Reviewed on Feb 24, 2025(Enrolled 2023)

Required Exams for Admission

IELTS (7)

Course Curriculum

8

  • The difficulty level of my course curriculum was from moderate to tough. There were individual assignments, group video presentation assignments, pen and paper written exams, and dissertations which can be based on data collection from the company or systematic literature review. 
  • There are a maximum of 3 classes each day and you don't have class on all weekdays. Sometimes you just have to go 2-3 times a week to University. Usual times are between 9 am to 5 pm.
  • Negative aspects of my courses were that- only theoretical basic knowledge was given, like an online MBA programme rather than going deep and explaining concepts and terms.

Admission Experience

  • I applied to the University of Strathclyde (received offer), University of Bristol (rejected due to 0.5 less than the cutoff IELTS score) and then finally got an offer from the University of Birmingham, and here I took the admission to pursue a master's in management. 
  • I wasn't accepted at Bristol University because I got 6.5 in my IELTS but got the IELTS waiver from the University of Birmingham as my medium of instruction in my graduation was English only and also because I scored 98/100 in the English CBSE exam in my 12th standard.
  • I chose Birmingham due to its reputation, brand name, good world QS world ranking, my course program and strong student support for international students. It comes under the 100 universities in the world and my MSc management courses are ranked at 75th position. 
  • I applied through Collegedunia and then submitted all the necessary documents like graduation mark sheets, statement of purpose, references, and other essential details on the online portal, after receiving the conditional offer letter you need to fulfill the conditions and then you receive unconditional letter then get CAS which you need to get a visa. My overall experience was good with Collegedunia as they paid for my visa application process through a scholarship, and the challenge that I faced was taking an education loan.
  • I applied for the September 2023 intake. Factors that influenced my decision were: my dream to study abroad, at the world's top 100 universities, my dream to go abroad and explore, study business management and its principles, and try to get a job here in the UK. 
  • I started applying in March or April of 2023, started making a list of the universities, and got my finances, visa and offer letter sorted by August 2023, so it took about 5-6 months for the whole process.

Faculty

6

  • The number of students in my class in the beginning was 278. 70-80% of them were Indians only from all over India. The rest were Chinese and others. Faculty to student ratio has been 1:100 for lectures and 1:20 for seminars.
  • You can visit their offices and raise your hand during the lectures to ask your doubts or stay back to clear your doubts.
  • They teach through presentation slides. I think this way I won't be ready to secure a job in our field; just by having bookish knowledge and without understanding the practical applications.
  • Faculty don't need to support you in finding part-time or full-time jobs, there is already a separate dedicated networks team, career team, and work link team to provide you with the necessary support and guidelines.

Campus Life

10

  • It has two international campuses - one in Birmingham, UK and the other in Dubai.
  • Facilities available are- sports and fitness including a gym, swimming pool, sauna, stretching rooms, cycling rooms, squash, table tennis, volleyball, badminton, and basketball courts. Hockey, lawn tennis and football stadiums are also there. Modern libraries with laptops, computers, books and silent study rooms, printing machines, lifts etc are there. Ample study space all throughout the campus buildings. 
  • Major events include sports nights, international mixer, grad ball, Joe's bar parties, guild of students events, hall events, Hindu Sikh society cultural events, etc

Part Time Jobs

  • Teaching Assistant (TA), Research Assistant (RA), or Departmental Assistant (DA) positions are available in various departments of the campus, if you apply diligently you will be able to get part-time jobs on the campus where you can work for 15 hrs/week at at the pay rate £12-13 per hour. Out of campus, you can work up to 20 hrs at the pay rate of 11.44 £ per hour for those above 25 years of age
  • Other jobs available on campus are library shaper, museum assistant, cleaner, campus ambassador etc. It is a bit competitive to get good position jobs on campus.
  • Students work up to 20 hrs a week. It can be difficult and challenging to get constant work while studying. The process is simple: just make your CV, apply online or you can also reach out offline as well. Job openings are available on platforms like Indeed, for positions like a waiter, bar staff, barista, customer service assistant, etc then go for interviews if they call you.

Placement

6

  • 10% of students find a job after graduation within 6 months. But you can find internships. You can go to career fares or apply in the graduate scheme 6-7 months before you graduate. The average salary is £28000 to £35000 per annum. You have to reach out to the companies, not the other way. There are no campus placements. Roles like consulting and operation are in demand. Average Package: £28000 to £35000 per annum

Accommodation

Off Campus
6

  • I booked university accommodation from their student living portal while sitting in India only. The monthly rent was about £600 including everything (bills). Challenges were that cheap accommodations got filled quickly.
  • I would recommend taking private flats or apartments close to the university if you have a local guarantor to save about £200 per month as compared to the university's expensive flats having small rooms. My accommodation was a 5-10 minute walk from campus. 
  • Most of the Indian students usually stay in Selly Oak or the city center.

Exams

  • Accepted exams where an IELTS min 7 score was required. You can demonstrate your level of English with IELTS/TOEFL/PTE or alternative qualifications.
  • Postgraduate programs usually require a good Honours degree (normally a 2:1 or above) or an equivalent qualification if you were educated outside the UK. There may also be additional requirements, such as prior or practicing work experience.

Fees

  • The fees for the entire course were £26,640 approximately, £2000 was paid as a part of the initial deposit, and the rest I paid in a time payment. You can also choose to pay in installments which can be divided into 3 parts each about £9000. But it comes with an additional 1.11% charge. But still better than a one-time payment. 
  • Monthly expenses majorly include rent and groceries. Rent for private accommodation is £450 to £500 per month while university accommodation can go up to £640 to £780 or £800 per month. Groceries can be around £100-150 pm depending on the individual.  Transportation is required if you live far from the university.The monthly bus pass for students is approximately £49, but the University of Birmingham has collaborated with NX Bus to reduce the cost for students.

Scholarship

  • There is a global master's scholarship for every student doing a master's except for courses coming under business school.
  • A few of my friends and batchmates received full and partial scholarships ranging from £3000 to £20,000.
  • You will have to start applying for it as soon as possible. Dean's scholarships and fully paid master's are also sometimes given to a handful of students.