If you take part in the Inspired@Birmingham programme you will be invited to workshops on campus, where you will undertake a range of activities aimed at providing you with a deeper insight into studying non-vocational courses at university and the related career pathways degrees that these can lead to. These workshops will include:

• Subject insight sessions led by academic tutors and current students into non-vocational subjects (you will be able to attend three across the course of the programme)
• Talks from recent graduates about their career journey so far
• Academic skills sessions to help you hone useful skills to get through Year 12 and to prepare for university study
• Careers sessions which will help you to discover your own preferences, strengths and skills and which career pathways will enable you to realise these
• Personal statement and application workshops to get you thinking about what kind of thing you should include and some common pitfalls

You will also have a chance to interact and engage with current students, both in person at the workshops and through discussion groups on Canvas, our virtual learning environment. Discussions will cover a range of topics related to surviving Year 12 and preparing for university. You will also have the chance to put into practice some of the academic study skills you will have picked up throughout the programme by completing an online Skills4Uni quiz, and doing a short piece of writing reflecting on your time on the programme and what you have learnt from it. 

Students who successfully complete the Inspired@Birmingham programme and apply to the University of Birmingham will receive special consideration from admissions tutors. If their application is successful, they will receive two offers from the University of Birmingham, the standard offer and a Pathways to Birmingham offer. The Pathways to Birmingham offer is typically a reduction of up to two A level grades (e.g. BBB rather than AAB).

As well as the alternative offer, students will also be eligible for financial support.

In order to successfully complete Inspired@Birmingham, and be eligible for a Pathways to Birmingham offer, you are required to:

• Attend a minimum of three workshops on the University of Birmingham campus
• Engage with the Canvas discussions
• Pass Skills4Uni, an online study skills quiz
• Successfully complete a reflective activity on your experience of the programme

You will be provided with more information about each of these aspects of the programme once your place is confirmed.

The Inspired@Birmingham programme is suitable for Year 12 students who have a strong commitment to study at the University of Birmingham and who are studying A Level, IB or a relevant BTEC course. Applications are open to students who meet the Pathways to Birmingham criteria - check if you are eligible.

In addition to this, students applying to Inspired@Birmingham must have achieved the minimum academic requirements for their chosen university course at GCSE - please check the University of Birmingham course pages for more information. There is separate academic criteria for Medicine and Dentistry applicants.

Due to the competitive nature of this programme, your academic attainment and predicted grades may be considered during the selection for this programme. You must have a minimum of 5 GCSEs at 9-4 including English and Maths, and have predicted grades of C or above in all your A level or equivalent qualifications in order to take part in the programme.

Applications for Inspired@Birmingham 2021/22 will open in January 2022.

 If you have questions about the programme, please email inspired@contacts.bham.ac.uk.