Self-guided campus tours

The University of Birmingham

Founded in 1900, the University of Birmingham is the first civic university where students from all backgrounds were accepted on an equal basis. Today, Birmingham has a vibrant and diverse student community of over 37,000 students, representing more than 150 different countries.

As well as receiving excellent teaching quality at a Russell Group University, the experience at Birmingham equips students for life beyond graduation. The University is consistently targeted by the top graduate employers in the UK.

Our ground-breaking research has covered areas ranging from cancer studies to gravitational waves. The work of our staff and alumni has been recognised with 10 Nobel Prizes, across areas such as the arts, sciences, sport and public life. We are also a founder member of Universitas 21, a network of research-intensive universities conducting research projects around the world.

Aston Webb

The Aston Webb Building was one of the first buildings built at the University.
It is built from Accrington Red Brick which led to the term ‘red brick university’ of which Birmingham was the first.
A bold and exciting new addition to the University's sculpture collection, Red Stack is a four-meter-high, bright red sculpture which resembles a large tower of pillows.
The building is named after the architect who designed it, Sir Aston Webb.

Chancellors Court

Outside the Aston Webb Building is Chancellor’s Court. Most prominent in this area is our much-loved clock tower which is nicknamed ‘Old Joe’ after Joseph Chamberlain, the University’s first Chancellor.

Aerial shot of the University of Birminghams's Edgbaston campus with Old Joe at its heart — Old Joe, the tallest freestanding clock tower in the world, is also home to a pair of nesting peregrine falcons. Students have a superstition that if you walk under the tower when the clock chimes, you will fail your degree!

The Bramall Music Building in the sunshine with students walking past — The Bramall is an extension to the Aston Webb Building to complete Joseph Chamberlain's original vision for this area. It's home to the Elgar Concert Hall which is used for lectures, performances and orchestras.

Learn more about the Bramall

Barber Institute of Fine Arts

The Barber is one of Europe’s finest small art galleries with free admission. It is a Grade I listed building and the purest example of art deco in the city of Birmingham.

The gallery has an diverse collection including around 150 paintings with additional exhibition cycles and loans from across the world.

The gallery was funded and built via a legacy from Dame Martha Barber in memory of her husband Sir William Barber. Alongside the fine art collection, the building houses a concert hall for mainly classical concerts. The Barber hosts free concerts for all on Friday lunchtimes and students get discounts on most paid concerts.

Explore more of the Barber

Winterbourne House and Gardens

Winterbourne is set within 7 acres of beautiful botanic gardens. Visitors can take the woodland walk, relax on benches surrounded by nature, stroll past the pond and soak up the tranquillity of this English Edwardian home.

The house was built in 1903 for John and Margaret Nettlefold.
Margaret was the niece of Joseph Chamberlain and cousin of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.
Today, the house contains interactive exhibitions, a collection of antiques and a tearoom.
Winterbourne contains plants from around the globe, including China, North and South America and the Alpine areas of the world.

Guild of Students

The Guild of Students is the students’ union. It represents all the University’s students, from undergraduate and postgraduate, to home and international. With over 300 diverse student-led clubs and societies for students to get involved with, there is something for everyone.

Guild mermaid statue — Within the Guild, you will find nightclubs and bars which host quizzes and bingo nights. The Guild also organises big social events too like Grad Ball.

Three students outside St Francis Hall University Chaplaincy — The multi-faith chaplaincy is located next to the Guild, offering an inclusive space for prayer, meditation, relaxation, and worship. Everyone is welcome.

Learn more about the Guild

Sport & Fitness

Opening in 2017, it’s a modern, state-of-the-art, and expansive venue that offers a wide range of facilities. Our sport and fitness facilities are catered to all levels. Students can choose from a wide range of fitness memberships and packages to stay active whilst studying.

University Centre and the Green Heart

The Green Heart lies in the centre of the University of Birmingham campus and spans over 12 acres.
The space is widely used for performances, markets, events, and as a social and study spot for students.
The Green Heart opened campus up to allow for views across the whole of campus – this was how the campus was envisioned to be structured when it was designed in the 1920s.
The space features wildflowers, native plants, 160 new trees and nesting sites for birds and animals and has improved the air quality of the area.

Main Library

The Main Library opened in 2016 and is one of six University owned libraries across the campus and region. Some of our other libraries include the Barnes Library in the Medical School and the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Main Library facility is open 24/7 during term time.
With over 1800 seats available, this library offers a range of study spaces to suit every student.
There is also the Academic Skills Centre located in the library, which offers support to students across all courses and subject levels.
Within the library, you will find more than 2.1 million books and there’s an additional half a million electronic books and 50,000 electronic journals online.
It offers Wi-Fi, a power point at every desk and a help desk for guidance and information.

Accommodation

At the University of Birmingham, we have three student villages: Pritchatts Park, The Vale, and Selly Oak. Each village has its own unique character and is in close proximity to campus. Our accommodation villages give students over 7,000 rooms to choose from, so you’ll have no trouble finding the right place to call home.

University station and Medical school

The University station connects the University of Birmingham, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Birmingham Women’s Hospital with Birmingham New Street, the wider West Midlands and much of the country.

Birmingham city centre

From music to nightlife to food, Birmingham has something to offer for everyone. With over 8,000 acres of parks and open space, Birmingham is one of the greenest cities in the UK. We have more parks than Paris and more miles of canal than Venice.

Find out more about Birmingham