By joining Birmingham you will be part of a strong international community of over 8,700 students from approximately 150 countries. We know that moving to live and study in another country can be an exciting, yet daunting step, but we are there to help you at every step of your journey.
University Graduate School
The University Graduate School supports the Postgraduate Research (PGR) community across the entire University of Birmingham campus. It organises numerous social and career development events to facilitate your learning, acclimatisation and integration into the Birmingham research family.
Postgraduate Ambassadors
Our Postgraduate Ambassadors are Birmingham Alumni or current Birmingham postgraduate (PG) students. They provide an invaluable informal support network for all prospective University of Birmingham students. Ask our PG ambassadors any question you want and benefit from their experiences and advice.
Global Buddies
The Global Buddies scheme is run by the University of Birmingham’s Guild of Students. It can provide support to international students to help them to settle into student life. Global Buddies host regular social events and activities to ensure that new Birmingham students have the opportunity to interact with other students and integrate into the University of Birmingham student body. They also have volunteer 'buddies', who are students that can provide informal peer-to-peer support.
Living in Birmingham
Birmingham is a major European centre and the second city of the United Kingdom. It has a diverse community that creates a vibrant, multicultural and exciting to place to live and work. Birmingham is an area that has a high standard of all types of private accommodation, with high-quality affordable family housing in several attractive residential suburbs in close proximity to the University, and it also has excellent transport connections to smaller local towns.
There are many letting agents in Birmingham and also numerous landlords who will rent their property privately. The Midland Landlord Accreditation Scheme lists all professional agencies and landlords who have applied with them for accreditation. Whilst accreditation is not a guarantee of quality, it provides some reassurance about the standard of the service they provide.
All children in England between the ages of five and sixteen are entitled to a free place at a state school. All children living in the UK for more than a short stay are required to attend school full time from the age of five by law. Many schools take children from four years old. For further information look at the Government's website on childcare.
International student experiences
See some of our students talking about their experiences of being an international student at the University of Birmingham with their top tips and advice.
Students from China at the University of Birmingham
Students from Turkey at the University of Birmingham
For more information for international students including fees and funding, living in Birmingham and immigration and visas visit the International study section.