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Posted Feb. 19, 2025

Your postgraduate student city guide: Studying in Birmingham

With the University of Birmingham, Aston University, Birmingham City University, University College Birmingham and Newman University all calling it home, Birmingham is a city with a lot to love educationally. The postgraduate opportunities made possible are however just the beginning for those looking to study, live, work and play in this vibrant metropolis. Read on and discover what to expect from postgraduate life in Birmingham.

Budgeting for Birmingham life

Budget is of course a real sticking point, especially for cash-strapped students. Having the right funds available is also integral to making the most of postgraduate life in your city of choice. When compared to London, Birmingham offers an affordable alternative, with students needing the following budget as described by IQ Student Accommodation:

“The Birmingham cost of living for students is approximately £1,000 to £1,200 per month, which includes accommodation, utilities, food, transportation and entertainment… Accommodation is typically the largest living expense for students in the UK. If you opt for private accommodation or live alone, you may pay a lot more than students in shared accommodation.”

Selly Oak, Harborne and Edgbaston are all popular areas amongst Birmingham’s undergraduate and postgraduate communities, thanks to their affordable housing options. While those willing to travel a little further out of town should explore Kings Heath.

Alongside securing the right level of postgraduate funding, many Birmingham postgrads choose to supplement their income with part-time work. Weighing up whether this could impact negatively on your studies however is important.

When managing your postgraduate expenditure, we recommend using a budgeting app to create a realistic financial plan and track your spending accurately.

Getting around Birmingham

As a postgraduate student, you’ll need to travel, whether that’s to and from your housing to campus, or into town for part-time work. Thankfully, Birmingham has excellent transport links around the city centre and beyond.

Catch the bus (monthly passes are available from as little as £60), take the train or hit the city’s many bicycle-friendly paths to get around affordably. The recently extended Metro system can also be called on for affordable transport.

Enjoying your downtime

As one of the UK’s top student cities, Birmingham offers no shortage of things to do on a budget. Enjoy Birmingham’s many student nights for the real university experience, or check out the bill at one of its live music venues. If eating out is more your thing, Birmingham’s Balti Triangle, Chinese Quarter, and Herbert’s Yard and Hockley Social Club provide plenty of food for thought.

The entertainment options don’t end there. Star City (think 25-screen cinema, 28-lane bowling alley and escape room!), Bullring and Grand Central, and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery are other top attractions.

Studying postgraduate in Birmingham

The University of Birmingham is just one of the university options for those looking to pursue postgraduate study in the city of Birmingham. This world leader is well known for its health research and education, with its location, strong partnerships, first class facilities, research impact, and chance to make a real difference just some of the reasons why postgraduates from far and wide choose to study here.

You can check out the postgraduate programs available at all Birmingham-based institutions, including the University of Birmingham, for further details.

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