The University of Birmingham will next week open its doors to the public at an open day for postgraduate students.

The Postgraduate Study Fair, which takes place on Wednesday 28 November, runs from 11am to 4pm in the Great Hall of the Aston Webb Building on the main Edgbaston campus.

The event, which is sponsored by The Independent and Graduate Prospects, is open to anyone interested in continuing their study at postgraduate level.

With more than 7,500 postgraduate students, the University of Birmingham boasts one of the most extensive portfolios of research and taught postgraduate courses in the UK. From developing the world's first skin cancer detection device to using nanotechnology to invent tiny microengines, Birmingham stands at the forefront of national and international research.

Visitors to the Postgraduate Study Fair in the Great Hall will have the opportunity to talk to representatives from all academic schools and departments, about the programmes they are interested in. Representatives from a wide range of student support services, including the Student Funding Office, the Careers Centre and Accommodation Services, will also be present to answer questions.

A series of general talks will run throughout the day. These talks will focus on issues of interest to all prospective postgraduate students including the benefits of a PhD, postgraduate accommodation, student life, the admissions process, and funding postgraduate study.

We are introducing this year a Careers Centre Advice Lounge offering advice on any careers related subject and a Research Showcase highlighting the strength of research that is undertaken at the University of Birmingham. Current PhD students and leading University researchers will present their latest findings in poster format and/or a short presentation. In addition, tours of the University campus will be available throughout the day, as well as tours of the City of Birmingham for the benefit of visitors who may not be familiar with the region.

Steve Allmark, Head of Postgraduate Recruitment at the University said: "Birmingham is one of the most popular universities for postgraduate study in the UK and we are delighted to be providing this excellent opportunity for prospective students to find out about the wide range of programmes available here.

"Postgraduate study enables students to enhance their employability, while developing a specialist knowledge of their subject area. This event is open to a range of people, and we welcome visits from everyone - from final year undergraduates to anyone with an interest in continuing their studies."

For further information or to book your place visit www.opendays.bham.ac.uk

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Media information: Anna Dingley, Press Officer, University of Birmingham: 0121 415 8134/07769 952763, email a.j.dingley@bham.ac.uk

www.newscentre.bham.ac.uk

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The University of Birmingham has around 27,000 students and 6,000 members of staff and a turnover of £360 million.

Birmingham encompasses not only the lakeside setting and green landscape of its Edgbaston campus, but also has bases across Birmingham as well at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford upon Avon, the Ironbridge Institute at the Ironbridge Gorge and at its outward bound Priestley Centre on the edge of Lake Coniston in the Lake District.

Birmingham ranks 5th in the UK for research excellence; in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, seven areas of the university's research achieved the six star rating – a rating only given to studies of significant international importance.