Student experience

This is a new opportunity for second year undergraduate students to have an exciting experience that will develop skills for your future studies and career. During the second semester, you can opt to be in interdisciplinary teams that tackle a global challenge in a competition personally overseen by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir David Eastwood.

If you proceed to the later stages you will gain expertise in debating, presenting and media production. You will then put these skills into action by creating an innovative, thought-provoking video to debate with students and academics. The finalist teams will go forward to an event at which Sir David will debate the ideas developed by each team before choosing the winning team and challenge champions.

 

Anas Abu

BSc Economics student

“This year’s VC Challenge theme was ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’ and I really enjoyed researching the problems that different cities faced and then trying to think of solutions. Despite everything still being hypothetical now, it always feels nice to know that you have the potential to help humanity. I have learnt so much from this process so far but the main challenge must have been working in a team made up of a variety of different backgrounds. In our team of four (including me) we had two international students and one student located in Argentina as she was on a year abroad! This made it hugely challenging to communicate and work effectively as a team, however i feel that these skills will be invaluable for when entering the world of work.”

 

We work closely with business and industry to ensure that your careers support has real-world relevance. If you apply for a place on our Entrepreneurship Project you will be given the opportunity to work with your fellow students on a real project challenge set by a global employer. Working in teams over a concentrated period, you will present your final proposal to the company in a competitive process, with a reward for the winning team. Employer-led initiatives such as these will deepen your understanding of the world of business and enterprise, enhancing your skills in an increasingly competitive global job market.

When you graduate, you will become a part of our international community of more than 300,000 alumni living in more than 150 countries. Our alumni have become Nobel Prize winners, Olympic medalists, stars of stage and screen and award-winning authors. All our alumni receive regular communications and access to a varied events programme. Closer to home we already have hundreds of alumni living in Dubai and a new alumni group has recently started which holds regular events in the region.

All students on the Dubai campus will be offered the chance to interact and engage with our alumni locally and globally. Opportunities will include accessing online lectures, workshops and mentoring, to support your career and employability prospects, and attending events with alumni in the region to broaden your network locally.

 

As part of our international educational experience you will have the opportunity to encounter other cultures with the option to spend some time staying or studying in another country. For example you will have the opportunity to apply for the Birmingham International Summer School (BISS), which offers a short-term study opportunity based at our Birmingham campus where you will meet students from across the globe. As well as hearing from leading experts in a variety of subject areas, you will also gain an insight into British culture through the extensive social programme offering. This includes trips to iconic cities within the UK (such as London, Cambridge and Oxford) as well as experiencing a wide range of cultural activities within the diverse and vibrant city of Birmingham.

If you choose to study with us, you also may have the opportunity to spend the second year of your course on our beautiful campus in Birmingham, UK. 

We understand that having somewhere modern and safe to live that is close to our Dubai Campus will be important for our students. In addition to supporting you with accommodation we will provide a shuttle transport service during key times to help you get to and from campus.

Students often tell us that studying at university is very different from their previous experience of education, and can take time to adjust. To help you with this transition, you will be allocated a personal tutor (who is a member of academic staff) who can assist you with any academic or wellbeing concerns you may have. You will also be able to access a range of services based at our Birmingham campus to help you make the most of your degree and University life.

As part of your induction you will have the opportunity to take part in a range of activities such a tour of the city, where you can explore the rich heritage of Dubai, its exquisite mosques, the Dubai Creek and its famous souks. You can also visit the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, where you can learn about the traditions and customs of the UAE, including a cultural meal and visit to the stunning Jumeirah Mosque. If you would like to get better oriented with new Dubai, there will be opportunities to take a trip around the Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach, where you can explore Dubai’s many shopping, dining and entertainment options including the malls, aquarium and the famous Burj Khalifa.