Overview

Birkbeck, University of London (formerly Birkbeck College, informally BBK) is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom which specialises in evening higher education, and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is in the evening. It also admits full-time (as well as part-time) students for PhDs. Its staff members have excellent research reputations in subjects such as English, Economics, Statistics, History, History of Art, Philosophy, Psychology, Spanish and Science. It also offers many continuing education courses leading to certificates and diplomas, foundation degrees as well as other short courses.

Established year: 1907

Location

The Birkbeck campus is situated at the heart of central London in Bloomsbury, and is surrounded by other colleges such as UCL and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). The University of London Union (ULU) is right next door, with high quality sports and social facilities. The International Students' House, 15 minutes' walk away, also offers a range of social and recreational facilities. The college is five minutes' walk from the British Museum, and within easy walking distance of the well-known West End shopping areas of Oxford Street and Covent Garden. The bars, restaurants and nightclubs of Soho and Chinatown are just down the road, and the West End theatres are almost next door.

In 2012, London became the first city to host the modern Summer Olympic Games three times.

From London Centre: 7 minutes

Address: Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom

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Learning environment

A five-floor library in the main building on Torrington Square WC1, is open at evenings and weekends, and the fully networked campus has high-speed internet connectivity, purpose-built computer classrooms, facilities for students with specialist requirements and an IT helpdesk and student centre with extended opening hours. The restaurant, cafe and snack bar are open during the day and early evening. As well to Birkbeck's own student union, students have access to the University of London's student centre, right next door to Birkbeck, which has great social and sporting facilities (including the largest swimming pool in central London).

Highlights/Advantages

• There are four Nobel prize winners amongst Birkbeck's former staff members.
• Birkbeck is a world-class research and teaching institution, a vibrant centre of academic excellence
• Birkbeck is a London's only specialist provider of evening higher education
• Birkbeck's academic reputation attracts many full-time postgraduate and research students

Rankings

• 13th in The Guardian's 2001 Research Assessment Exercise league table
• 26th in Times Higher Education's equivalent table
• In the 2008 RAE results, Birkbeck ranked in the top 25% of UK multi-faculty Higher Education Institutions. The RAE rated the quality of research in a range of subjects at 159 Higher Education Institution's in the UK. Birkbeck submissions from Earth Sciences, Psychology, History, Classics and Archaeology and History of Art, Film and Visual Media were rated in the top five nationally.
• The 2010 QS World University Rankings placed Birkbeck at 93rd in the world for Arts and Humanities.
• Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed Birkbeck 152nd overall, ahead of five Russell Group universities - Newcastle University, University of Liverpool, University of Leeds, University of Nottingham and University of Exeter.
• In 2011 QS World University Rankings placed Birkbeck at 111th for Arts & Humanities.
• In the 2011-12 Times Higher Education World University Rankings Birkbeck was ranked 149th in the world.
• Birkbeck is ranked 23rd in the UK and is rated above several large Russell Group universities, including the University of Warwick, University of Exeter, and Cardiff University
• In the 2012-13 Times Higher Education World University Rankings Birkbeck is ranked 200th in the world and 31st in the United Kingdom. In the QS ranking Birkbeck climbed up two places to 109th for Arts and Humanities.

Accommodation

There are a wide range of accommodation options available to Birkbeck, University of London students.

University of London Halls of Residence

The University of London has eight halls of residence – known as Intercollegiate Halls – which are shared between the University's Colleges and Institutes. Accommodation within the halls ranges from single student rooms to family flats. They are all situated in Central London, close to the College campuses, and offer a positive setting for student life.

University of London houses and flats

The Property Management Unit (PMU) of the University of London Housing Service offers a selection of self-catering houses and flats, of various sizes ranging from one to seven bedroom properties.

And also other accommodation options are available: hostels, Homestay, summer accommodation, International Students' House