University of London, Birkbeck College

Overview

As a Birkbeck student you get an unrivalled teaching and learning experience. Birkbeck has consistently ranked number one in the UK National Student Surveys. In 2005 Birkbeck was voted number one for quality of teaching; and in 2006 ranked number one in London for overall student satisfaction.
There are around 700 full-time postgraduate students at Birkbeck. Currently, 60 per cent are following one-year taught master’s degrees (MA/MSc) and 40 per cent are taking research degrees (MPhil/PhD). Our student community is as diverse as London’s population and the mix of ages, backgrounds and occupations make for dynamic discussions in class and a truly cosmopolitan London experience for students.
Birkbeck welcomes applications from international students for its full-time and online postgraduate programmes. Students from the European Union or the European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals may also apply for Birkbeck’s part-time programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.　

Prestigious University of London

As a college of the University of London, Birkbeck awards internationally respected University of London qualifications. In its most recent institutional audit, the College received the highest recommendation of broad confidence in its academic standards by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). The QAA is an independent body responsible for auditing UK higher education institutions to ensure that they are maintaining sound academic standards.
By studying with us, you can feel confident that you are studying at a quality institution and getting an unrivalled higher education experience. You will also gain a prestigious University of London qualification that will enhance your future career prospects.
Read the following to find out more about:

• The history of Birkbeck

Academic strengths

Birkbeck provides the serious academic culture of a world-class research university. Our academics are specialists in their fields and engaged in cutting-edge research which directly informs curriculum development and teaching.

• Over 90 percent of Birkbeck academics participated in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) – the highest rate for any multi-faculty institution in London, and the fifth highest in the UK.
• On a scale of 1 to Best 5* (highest) the RAE ranked 80% of the research carried out at Birkbeck as being of international importance. Rated Best 5* were English, History and Spanish; 5-ratings were awarded to Crystallography (Structural Biology), Earth Sciences, Economics, German, History of Art, Law, Philosophy, Politics and Psychology – denoting research of significant international importance. Archaeology, Computer Science, French and Management were deemed to be carrying out nationally excellent research, some with international importance.
• The College also has excellent Teaching Quality ratings, with Economics, English, History of Art, Molecular Biosciences, Organismal Biosciences and Psychology getting high scores.
• In 2006 Birkbeck’s Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development was awarded a prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher Education.
• In addition, Birkbeck beat such universities as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and University College London (UCL) to become the top higher education institution in a league table of research funding success. (April 2006. Research Fortnight analysis comparing Birkbeck with other higher education institutions – excludes research institutes).

Facilities

Located at the heart of academic London, Birkbeck offers access to a wealth of world-class research resources. The Birkbeck Library is spread across four floors of a new extension building. Richly resourced, it provides a quiet and comfortable environment for serious academic study. The Library is open seven days a week in term-time, till late in the evenings. Next door to Birkbeck is Senate House Library – one of the UK’s major academic libraries, and the world-famous British Library is only a 10 minute walk away. Birkbeck students also have access to other University of London libraries and specialist collections.

International research students are eligible to apply for various studentships. Many programmes include evening tuition, leaving the day free to combine directed study with other activity.

Student life

The Birkbeck campus is situated at the heart of the University of London’s central London campus in Bloomsbury – we are surrounded by other colleges such as UCL and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). The University of London Union (ULU) is right next door and you could have access to all of ULU’s amazing sports and social facilities. The International Students’ House, 15 minutes walk away, also offers a range of social and recreational facilities.
We are five minutes walk from the British Museum, and within easy walking distance of the well-known West End shopping areas of Oxford Street and Covent Garden. The bars, restaurants and nightclubs of Soho and Chinatown are just down the road, and Theatreland is practically on our doorstep.
All this makes for a lively student atmosphere on a city-centre university campus.
URL: www.bbk.ac.uk