Collaborative Teaching Laboratory

The Collaborative Teaching Laboratory, or CTL, is the University of Birmingham's flagship STEM teaching facility.

We deliver unique and transformative practical teaching experiences for thousands of undergraduate students.

We provide the environment and the technology to foster independent experimental thinking, with multi-use industry standard labs, built to help students excel in STEM disciplines.

For me, it was really important to gain that lab experience, because it builds my skillset as a candidate further for when I do apply to industry. Seeing the CTL on the Open Day and the facilities and lab space available was a big part of why I chose the University of Birmingham.

Our unique operational model ensures excellence in all aspects of the student experience, from timetabling through to delivery of practicals.

Our team of skilled lab technicians work alongside our academic colleagues from the ground up.

We've designed engaging lab practicals that provide students with the skill and knowledge to thrive in industry or research.

And our dedicated EdTech and IT teams keep everything running, from innovative online learning materials that prepare students before they even step into the lab, to the technology infrastructure that powers it all. We’re supported in a range of ways in our practicals. So, if it's a new practical or piece of equipment, we get a demonstration.

We have staff support us on why we're doing the practical and the theory behind the results we get. And also, if things go wrong, they're there to help. They are willing to step in and kind of guide me through my experiment. They're able to provide the expertise, as well. And when it comes to furthering my experiments, I’m more than able to go to a technician, ask for specific equipment available, and they're more than happy to provide that for me.

As a technician, my role is to support all aspects of teaching happening inside the labs and to ensure students’ satisfaction remains high. It has been a very rewarding experience. It has given me the opportunity to work with a large variety of industry-grade equipment, and it has helped me greatly expand on both my theoretical and practical knowledge, and overall made me a better technician and a better engineer.

CTL is much more than a building. It is a collaboration between students, academics, and Professional Services staff to shape the engineers, scientists and researchers of tomorrow. the engineers, scientists and researchers of tomorrow.