Airport collection

The Birmingham International Academy (BIA) offer a free airport collection service for students beginning a Presessional English course in advance of their main programme of study. You can use the service if you are beginning the 15, 10, 6 or 4 week Presessional English course. You will receive information from the BIA in advance of your course. View the Presessional FAQs or contact the Birmingham International Academy for more information.

The journey time from Birmingham Airport (BHX) is approximately 1 hour.

The journey time from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is approximately 2.5 hours.

There is limited space available on the airport collection coaches. You will be allowed to bring 1 large and 2 small items of luggage. For example, as well as a suitcase you could bring a cabin-sized case and a small rucksack or handbag.

If you have more luggage than this, you will need to arrange for your extra belongings to be shipped to campus.

Unfortunately, we cannot take friends and family on the airport collection coaches. Only University of Birmingham students who have booked a ticket for the coach will be able to travel with us. If you are under 18 and wish to travel with a parent/guardian, please contact the International Student Team (IST).

Check our advice for students arriving in the UK to understand what will happen when you arrive at the airport and pass through immigration control and customs.

When you book your airport collection, your confirmation will include instructions on where the airport collection will run from. Our meet and greet team will help you find the coach. They will be wearing blue t-shirts, jumpers or coats. You should be ready to give them your name, student ID number, and booking details.

At London Heathrow (LHR) the meeting point will be at Terminal 3. If your flight arrives at a different terminal, you will need to travel to Terminal 3 to meet the collection service.

Unfortunately we are only able to offer the airport collection service during the main arrivals period in September. There are a number of ways to travel from local and national airports to the University campus. See our information for students travelling from overseas for further advice.

Students joining programmes at the Birmingham International Academy (BIA) should speak to the BIA about arrangements for travel from airports.