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Your research environment

At Birmingham, we offer you a world-class research environment, featuring cutting-edge laboratories, specialised research centres, and collaborative workspaces. You'll be researching in the heart of the UK's second city, on a campus like no other.

  • Westmere House - your dedicated researcher hub

    The beautiful Westmere House is your dedicated postgraduate researcher hub, offering study and social spaces, workshops, and support.

    Westmere House provides a supportive and friendly environment for workshops, conferences, training, networking and social events that are specifically tailored to postgraduate researchers.

    You can also book a space within Westmere and organise your own events and engagement activities.

"There is a really nice atmosphere from the variety of activities happening every day - people working, seminars, lunch breaks and social events. It is a beautiful building and a lovely environment to work in"

  • A world-class research environment

    Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. Our globally-recognised research centres and institutes work across disciplines to drive innovation and discovery. They play a pivotal role in securing funding, forming industry partnerships, and promoting groundbreaking research.

    Whether it’s at our Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon or the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education, our postgraduate researchers work alongside research-active staff who are leaders in their fields. It’s no wonder that more than 50% of our research was recognised as 4* (REF 2021).

  • Research from anywhere with an online degree

    Whether you're joining our research community online or on-campus, you will have access to the same resources and facilities.

    We’ve delivered online degrees for over 20 years and now offer over four million digital resources and collections you can access from anywhere.

    What's more, our Virtual Learning Environment, Canvas, provides you with electronic learning materials, careers support, and the opportunity to connect with other students and tutors through online chats and discussion forums.

    As an online student, you will have extensive supervisor support through email and regular online meetings. You will also have access to our Academic Writing Advisory Service to hone your academic writing skills.

    So wherever you are, you can take your research to the next level whenever inspiration strikes.

Research resources

From our campus to the city, and across the wider region, we have an evolving wealth of resources for researchers across all disciplines, contributing to the delivery of innovative work.

  • Cadbury Research Library

    The Cadbury Research Library holds rare books, manuscripts, archives & artefacts, including the Mingana Collection with 3,000+ Middle Eastern manuscripts & the Birmingham Qur’an, dated 568–645AD.

  • The Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR)

    BIFoR studies forest responses to rising CO2 levels, featuring a unique FACE experiment in temperate woodland—the only one in the Northern Hemisphere & second of its kind worldwide.

  • Birmingham Health Innovation Campus

    Birmingham Health Innovation Campus in Selly Oak is a top healthcare tech hub, advancing drug development, real-world studies & treatments for cancer, dementia, rare diseases & antibiotic resistance.

  • The Lapworth Museum of Geology

    The Lapworth Museum of Geology holds 250,000+ fossils, minerals & rocks dating back 4.5 billion years, plus geological maps, equipment, zoological specimens & ancient stone axes.

  • Barber Institute of Fine Arts

    The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, an Art Deco gem, features a concert hall, exhibitions & a top-tier British art collection, including Monet & Van Gogh, plus rare Roman, Byzantine & Medieval coins.

  • Winterbourne House and Garden

    Winterbourne House & Garden, built in 1903, showcases Arts & Crafts design, 6,000+ plant species, buzzing wildlife & interactive exhibits, making it a rich learning space for all ages.

  • Institute of Translational Medicine

    The Institute of Translational Medicine speeds up clinical trials, connecting scientists, clinicians & experts to turn medical research into innovative drugs, devices & healthcare applications.

  • Tyseley Energy Park - Birmingham Energy Institute

    Tyseley Energy Park drives innovation in energy, waste & low-carbon transport, fostering industry collaboration & training to build a sustainable future for Birmingham.

  • Life on campus

    With historic buildings, modern facilities and green surroundings, our Edgbaston campus is a place to be inspired. Home to a diverse, global community of postgraduates, it has everything you need, including shops, cafés, study spaces and friendly people.

    Our historic green campus is just a few minutes away from the vibrant energy of an exciting modern city, with a rich culture and diverse community.

    Our cosmopolitan city has a unique history and so much to see and do. It’s no wonder our students fall in love with the city and almost half decide to stay in the region after they graduate. Birmingham is more than somewhere to study. It’s a place to get future ready.

    Living in Birmingham

  • Study spaces

    Our study spaces are designed to support your research needs. Whether you prefer independent or group study, the Main Library offers informal seating, group study areas, and private desks. This modern facility is open 24/7 during term time and includes a dedicated Researcher's Suite for postgraduate researchers.

    Our Library offers a vast collection of digital and physical resources to support research, learning, and teaching.

    Adjacent to the library, the Teaching and Learning Building provides collaborative study areas. Across the campus, there are an additional 2,500 study spaces available.