Kiran Kaur

My favourite courses are Marketing and Communications; Digital Media and Communications and History of Arts.

What is a typical day in your life like?

Usually I start my day with a coffee from the café in the library which I spend my whole train journey looking forward to. As my timetabled sessions are spread out over the week, I prefer to use the rest of my time on campus to study independently in some of my favourite locations to work. Depending on the day, I will try to meet with some friends or attend a society event before finally making my way home.

How did you know that the University of Birmingham was the right choice for you when applying to university?

As someone already living in Birmingham, the access to transport was a major influencing factor when choosing universities and fortunately Birmingham is well connected through trains, buses and trams going across the city. Furthermore, other than the appeal of the degree I chose and its many pathway options, the social opportunities for students at the University of Birmingham are highly praised which was important to me as l knew I would be able to engage with many different people.

What made University of Birmingham the right place for your course?

Alongside the several pathways offered within Liberal Arts which allowed me to choose subjects across several fields and industries, the study abroad option as part of my third year stood out compared to the other universities offering the same subject. Also, when I was unsure about the course, I think that being able to contact current students via UniBuddy was very helpful too as they were very understanding of my concerns as a commuter.

What is your student experience like?

I am really enjoying my student experience and getting involved in events over campus. The location of the University of Birmingham means that there are many places to explore with your friends such as Winterbourne Garden, the Bullring or the Barber Institute of Fine Arts among others. My favourite time of year to be on campus is definitely during Christmas, when there are lots of events set up toward the end of the first semester and particularly the lighting of the Christmas tree.

How has Birmingham helped you throughout your studies?

There are many ways to get support and opportunities at the University of Birmingham such as the Careers Network which helps to target jobs specific to your interests. From a studying point of view, the Academic Skills Centre offers learning support to build upon and improve yours assignment techniques. Also, if there is any need for any other support, your personal tutors are always ready to talk with you and there is lots of information provided at the start of the year in order to find help.

What advice/top tips would you give to prospective students?

Something I wish I knew before starting university is how important it is to keep up with the work from lectures, workshops, and seminars. It's easy to get caught up in the idea that less time on campus means more free time, but that independent time should really be planned carefully between studying and socialising.

What is your favourite place in Birmingham? Why is it your favourite place?

My favourite place in Birmingham is the area around Centenary Square as there is so much to do nearby. While the most popular building is the Library of Birmingham, I prefer to study in the building opposite called the Exchange which is owned by the University and open to students too. A few minutes away is Brindley Place which is the perfect space to socialise with friends as it is famous for all its restaurants and bars. You can also find the F1 Arcade nearby which gives you a very fun activity to do.

What's your favourite memory of studying at the University of Birmingham so far?

My favourite memory of studying at the University of Birmingham would be the first two weeks of my first year when we all felt that buzz and excitement of being in a new place, surrounded by new people. A core memory I have is meeting people from my degree for the first time and spending days with them exploring the university together and navigating this new space and sharing this experience with other people in the same situation.

What's your favourite place on campus/at the university?

My favourite place on campus at the university is Joe's Bar which holds so many memories I have made over the year. It has been the perfect place to meet and talk with friends either between lectures and seminars or before and after society meetings plus the food is quite good and very affordable!

What plans do you have for the future?

As of right now, I am uncertain about what the future holds however, my time at the University of Birmingham has definitely narrowed down and defined what I would like to do in the future. As the Liberal Arts degree permits you into several industries, I know that my options are not limited which is a comfort as it allows to not be completely certain right now but my sights are set on journalism/media!