The story behind our campaign

When someone says Birmingham is dirty, unwelcoming or unsafe, what they’re really saying is that they don’t know it.

We didn’t invent those perceptions - our research shows they’re real, especially among those who haven’t spent time in the city. But instead of ignoring them or brushing them aside, we're giving you the chance to raise your expectations.

A city built on progress

Birmingham is proud of its roots but doesn’t stand still. The city’s motto is ‘Forward’ and that idea has shaped Birmingham from the days of the ‘city of a thousand trades’ to the one it is today - one of innovation, youth, momentum, diversity, vibrancy, colour and opportunity. We are a city that has always made things and that consistently reinvents itself. Built by inventors, engineers, artists, builders and communities from all over the world, Birmingham is shaped by industry but not defined by it.

Many of the misconceptions of our city are from those who haven’t visited. So rather than take someone else’s word for it, we’re inviting you to discover the real Birmingham for yourself and visit the city for one of our open days.

Discovering the real Birmingham

Birmingham is one of the UK’s most visited cities, and you may be surprised to hear that it has more than 8,000 parks and green spaces (more than Paris), and more miles of canal than Venice. It is an international hub for live music, sport and culture, and as a student in Birmingham you have front-row access to it all. Positioned at the centre of the UK, our city is within easy reach of the Malverns, the Peak District, Shropshire, Stratford-upon-Avon, and only a 90-minute train journey from many of the UK’s other major cities (London, Bristol, Manchester and Liverpool to name just a few).

Why this matters

As you’re making big decisions about where to study and live, we want you to have all of the information you need to make that decision a smooth one. This really matters, because choosing where to study isn’t just about a course. It’s about the place you’ll live in and call home for three years or more. It’s about the people you meet, the places you relax, and the spaces that become part of your everyday life. Letting outdated ideas go unchallenged does a disservice to our city - and to the students who might otherwise thrive here.

You don’t choose a city because of a headline. You don’t understand a place until you walk in it and feel it for yourself. That’s why our campaign is an invitation, not an argument. Come to an open day, spend time here, talk to our students and staff, and make up your own mind.

This campaign isn’t about pretending that Birmingham is something it’s not. It’s about showing you what it really is - a major international city with one of Europe’s youngest populations; where people are genuinely welcoming to newcomers finding their feet and where they look out for each other; that uses its diversity as a strength; and that is far more interesting than the clichés suggest.

And if you still don't believe us? Well, it's time to raise your expectations.