UniHomes guide to

Birmingham

Uni Life in Birmingham

Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK and a fantastic place for students to live and study. 80,000 undergraduate students flock to the city each year thanks to its three universities - University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University and Aston University. With so many different bars, restaurants, shops, parks, and other things to do, it's near-impossible to get bored here.
The city centre is stocked with all kinds of student accommodation, but there are lots of student-friendly suburbs as well. Digbeth is perfectly located for students at Birmingham City Uni and Aston, whereas University of Birmingham students often congregate in Edgbaston and Harbourne. These two areas are also right by the city's most popular student hotspot - the bustling Bristol Road.

Key reasons to study in Birmingham

  • 1
    Massive student population

    With three major universities and over 80,000 students in Birmingham at any time, you won't be short of friends in the Second City. There's a comprehensive selection of courses and student accommodation of all shapes and sizes, with studios and two-bedroom flats in the city centre and larger student houses to the south and east of the city centre. Look for places in Selly Oak, Digbeth and Harborne to enhance your Birmingham student life.

  • 2
    Big city life

    Many students think of Birmingham as a London-sized city, but with more affordable living costs. This multicultural city has a vibrant community feel and plenty of things to do. There's an abundance of green spaces, such as Sunset and Moonlit Park, Edgbaston Park and Summerfield Park. There are many different 'quarters' in the city as well for those who fancy something different; you can get a cheap meal in Chinatown, have a wild night out in the Gay Village or stop by the Jewellery Quarter for a fancy cocktail.

  • 3
    Shopper's paradise

    University of Birmingham student life offers an extensive shopping experience. Much of the best shopping is inside the eye-catching Bullring in the city centre of Birmingham, which is a shopping centre replete with every kind of shop imaginable. Birmingham is also famed for having the world's biggest Primark on High Street! 

  • 4
    A range of quality nightlife

    Student life in Birmingham is renowned in the UK for its incredible nightlife. While you can find clubs all over the city, students often cite Rosies and Tunnel Club as their favourite student spots. Snobs is the place to be on a Wednesday and is a favourite among students, with special drinks deals and themed events, which always keep things interesting.

  • 5
    Centre of everything

    You can find people from all four corners of the UK in Birmingham. Not only is it nestled in the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, surrounded by Walsall, Wolverhampton, Coventry, and Solihull, it's also practically in the dead centre of England itself. Birmingham is therefore easily accessible from most areas of the country, including London, which is why you can find people from all over the country making it their home.

  • 6
    Vibrant food scene

    Grand Central Kitchen provides breakfast bliss in Birmingham with options ranging from full English breakfasts to filling baguettes (your hangover will thank us later). Kimchi is a solid option for anyone living in Selly Oak wanting to try authentic Korean flavours, while BA-HA is the perfect spot for vegans wanting to enjoy guilt-free delicacies. Foodies should also try out Thai food at Sabai Sabai and Indian cuisine at Hen & Chickens.

It is an incredible city to study in, with a big student population, great infrastructure and a vibrant cultural scene. There is always a fabulous vibe around town, plenty of great food, art, culture, live music, and a multiculturalism that makes it stand out against other cities in the UK.

Riya S Brand Ambassador

Birmingham city is the perfect city for students with a wide range of things to do such as nightlife, cocktail bars, shopping, restaurants and many more! Nightlife in Birmingham is always lively, especially on student nights, with amazing offers for students throughout a wide range of clubs. For those who perhaps aren't into clubbing as much and would rather go for food or even a few drinks there are many different locations that offer this including the mailbox, grand central and Brindley place. Those who LOVE to shop, Birmingham Bullring is the place to go, rammed with a huge selection of popular stores, also home to Englands BIGGEST primark, selling the most affordable clothing and accessories for students!

Katie G Brand Ambassador

Universities in Birmingham

Birmingham City University

Picture of Birmingham City University

Birmingham City University (BCU) is home to around 26,000 students from over 100 countries. A former art college, it was ranked 501 in World University Rankings by the Times Higher Education rankings and has a fast-growing reputation for excellent higher education.

University of Birmingham

Picture of University of Birmingham

A prestigious red brick, the University of Birmingham is a member of the Russell Group and one of the UK's top 20 universities. You can find it in the south west of the city, near the district of Edgbaston. It is famed for its world-leading research, with the campus surrounding the iconic Old Joe clock tower.

Aston University

Picture of Aston University

As the name implies, Aston University is in the inner city suburb of Aston and is a hugely popular choice of university for students. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 has given 79% of Aston University's research a 'internationally excellent' or 'world leading' rating.

Birmingham Newman University

Picture of Birmingham Newman University

Student Life in Birmingham

Birmingham has a great vibe due to its fun activities it has and diversity which makes it a great city to live and I would highly recommended coming here for uni!

Bethany C Brand Ambassador

Frequently Asked Questions

Birmingham student life can be as exciting as you want it to be, with hundreds of pubs and bars concentrated in the city centre, over 300 different student-led societies, and a huge student population. With so many students, you can expect to come across lots of fantastic student deals and discounts, as well as plenty of affordable student accommodation options.
While the city centre and campus are popular hotspots for students, Selly Oak is an incredibly popular area for students to call their home away from home. However, Edgbaston and Harbourne are also known for their high student populations.

As one of the biggest cities in the UK, Birmingham certainly lives up to expectations when it comes to student nightlife. Check out our Content Ambassador Ash's blog on the best student nights out in Birmingham to see where you could be spending your weekends!

There are some popular study spaces in Birmingham, from the university's main library to coffee shops where you can also get your caffeine fix or a bite to eat.

Our Content Ambassador Ash highlights many things she loves about her student city, from the societies to Birmingham's live music venues and free activities. There are also plenty of sober activities to try, from mini golf to escape rooms.

What students are saying about us