Student Accommodation

Birmingham

Thriving Education

Birmingham is one of the largest centres of higher education that can be found anywhere outside of London. 

With 5 leading universities in this city, you can choose the one that suits your needs the best. Plus, you will also be living in a city that has a thriving student heartbeat, giving you the best of both worlds.

The University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham is a Russell Group university and is home to over 20,000 students in total. It is a large institution with a cherished history and is easily recognisable due to its distinctive red brick buildings.

The University of Birmingham has been recognised as a global university since 1900. It was the first civic university to allow students from all backgrounds to study there. It provides high-level research-intensive teaching, including Nobel Prize winners on staff, and has over 300 programmes available.

It is no surprise that there are over 1.8 million print and 500,000 online books available through the library service. We offer student accommodation in Birmingham city centre within walking distance of most of the universities.

The Guild of Students

The Guild of Students has a long and successful history of student representation and runs over 250 student groups and societies. These societies cater to all tastes and interests.

Intervol sends 100 students around the world to take part in volunteering projects each year. This includes aids awareness in Cambodia and conservation work in Africa.

High-Ranked Faculty

Just a 3-minute walk away from Birmingham City University is Aston University. Aston University is regularly ranked as one of the top Birmingham options for teaching (in fact, ranked number 2 in 2017).

It offers plenty of work placement opportunities as part of the study. Around 70% of students experience a year of work as part of their course at Aston University. It was one of the first institutions to offer placement years in the 1950s and has continued this approach to teaching.

Book Lovers Favourite

For book lovers, the large on-campus library is open 24 hours during the exam period and has a wide range of resources available.

Students also have access to over 50 computer laboratories and free high-speed Internet throughout the campus.

There is also a Students’ Union at Aston University, providing even bigger and better social spaces for social meetings, events, and everyday student life.

There are over 400 course reps to represent the interests of students, with over 100 societies and clubs to join.

Opportunities

Birmingham City University can be found located across three campuses. It is very popular among local students and is known for its network of local work placements and educational opportunities.

University College Birmingham is a university that focuses more on direct vocational training alongside coursework and theory. Students can expect to receive vocational training in professions such as tourism, beauty, hairdressing, and business enterprise.

Newman University is based in the suburbs and prides itself as a beacon of inclusivity, as a relatively new university.

A Hearty Meal

Your student accommodation in Birmingham comes with a well-equipped kitchen, so you will always have the option of cooking at home. But part of the fun of living in a new city is getting out and exploring what it has to offer, and Birmingham has plenty to get stuck into.

If you are studying at the University of Birmingham, you will not be short of options even on campus, with over 30 cafés, bars, restaurants, food courts, and takeaway spots spread across the site. Whether you need a quick coffee before a lecture, a proper breakfast, or something a little lighter, there is always something close by.

Fine Cuisine

Beyond the campus, Birmingham is genuinely one of the best cities in the country for food, with incredible variety across every corner of the city and all within easy reach of your student accommodation.

One of the most famous food destinations in the city is the Balti Triangle, located just south of the city centre. This is where you will find the highest concentration of curry houses in Birmingham, and the city is widely regarded as the birthplace of the Balti itself. If you enjoy a good curry, a visit here is essential.

Award Winning Digbeth Dining Club

One of the best things you can do when you first arrive in Birmingham is seek out Digbeth Dining Club, an award-winning street food event that has become a real institution in the city.

Running Thursday through Saturday each week, it brings together a rotating lineup of independent street food traders and world cuisine stalls covering everything from Vietnamese and Indian food to US barbecue, pizza, and pasta.

Prices are reasonable, and the atmosphere is brilliant, making it one of those places you will find yourself coming back to regularly throughout the year.

Syrian Coffee

Another firm favourite among students is Damascena, a Middle Eastern coffeehouse with four branches dotted across the city, including the city centre, Moseley, Harborne, and the Jewellery Quarter.

The food is delicious and genuinely good value, with falafel, kofta, hummus, fresh kibbeh, and sharing meze platters all on offer alongside a wonderful selection of coffees, teas, and cold drinks.

It is the kind of place that is easy to spend a long, relaxed afternoon in, and the food is the sort that tends to convert people on their first visit.

Vietnamese Food

For Vietnamese food, Min Min Noodle Bar at the Wing Yip Centre in Nechells has built a loyal following among Birmingham’s food lovers. The menu is packed with flavour, and the portions are generous, making it excellent value for students.

It is a little further out from the centre, but well worth the trip for anyone after authentic, freshly cooked Asian food at an honest price.

A Night Out for Everyone

University life is about far more than lectures and libraries, and Birmingham is one of the best cities in the country for a night out. Whatever you are into and whatever night of the week it is, you will find something worth getting out for from your student accommodation in Birmingham.

Alternative Music

For students who prefer their nights loud and guitar-led, Birmingham has a solid alternative scene. Uprawr at The Asylum is a student classic, hosting metal, punk, and rock nights just outside the city centre regularly. Eddie’s Rock Club at The Tunnel Club is another one to keep in the diary, running once a month and playing rock and metal all night long. It is the kind of night where you will feel right at home if the alternative crowd is your crowd.

Great Live Music

Beyond club nights, Birmingham has a fantastic range of live music venues covering everything from first gigs by local bands to major touring artists coming through on headline runs.

The O2 Academy on Bristol Street is the biggest venue in the city centre, with its sister venue, the O2 Institute in Digbeth, offering a more intimate but equally well-regarded space.

Digbeth Arena is an open-air venue that brings a mini-festival atmosphere to the city throughout the year, and The Mill is a great spot for catching alternative and up-and-coming acts, both local and national.

Mainstream Clubs

If you are after something a little more mainstream, you are well catered for. Popworld is a firm student favourite, built entirely around cheesy pop hits from across the decades, and genuinely brilliant for it. Zoo on a Wednesday is a popular student night with cheap drinks, and chart hits all night, and Nightingales is another great option, particularly for students looking for LGBTQ+ friendly nights out in the heart of Birmingham’s gay village.

Indie Music

Birmingham has a lively indie scene, and if you are the type who loses their mind when Mr Brightside comes on, you will feel very much at home here. Snobs is the place to be for a brilliant indie student night, and has been a firm fixture on the Birmingham student circuit for years.

There is something joyful about a room full of students all singing along at the top of their voices at an ungodly hour of the morning, and Snobs does it better than most.

Urban Music

For R&B, hip hop, dancehall, and Afrobeats, Sugar Suite on Broad Street built a loyal following as one of Birmingham’s longest-running urban clubs.

It is worth checking the current listings for what has taken its place in that space, as Broad Street continues to be the heartbeat of the city’s mainstream nightlife with new venues regularly opening their doors.

Dance Music and More

Birmingham has always had a strong dance music culture, and that tradition carries on today. Lab 11 in the Digbeth warehouse district is a brilliant space to lose yourself in, with a raw industrial feel and a great reputation for quality DJs and electronic music nights.

Over in Kings Heath, The Hare and Hounds is one of those venues that has quietly built an outstanding reputation for underground artists and forward-thinking bookings, and is very much worth the short trip out of the city centre.

Commonwealth Games Host

Sport is part of the fabric of Birmingham. The city hosted the 2022 Commonwealth Games, welcoming athletes from across the world and cementing its reputation as one of the great sporting cities in the UK. Living here puts you right in the middle of all of that energy, with world-class venues and events within easy reach of your student accommodation in Birmingham throughout the year.

Aston Villa FC

Football is king in Birmingham, and it is not hard to see why. Aston Villa are former European Champions and one of the most storied clubs in the country. Head over to Villa Park to watch the Villans compete in the Premier League, and you will quickly understand why the club commands such fierce loyalty across the city.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are also not far away if you fancy a change of scenery, and Birmingham City offer a great matchday experience in the Championship.

Cricket

Cricket has a proud home in Birmingham, too. Edgbaston is one of the most atmospheric Test match grounds in England, hosting both Warwickshire County Cricket Club and major England internationals throughout the summer.

Whether it is a Test match, a T20 fixture, or a One Day International, an afternoon at Edgbaston is well worth experiencing during your time in the city.

The Great Birmingham Run

If running is more your thing, the Great Birmingham Run takes place every year and draws in thousands of participants from across the country and beyond. It is one of the city’s most celebrated sporting events and a brilliant occasion to be part of, whether you are lacing up yourself or just cheering from the sidelines.

Sports Clubs

Sport is also one of the best ways to settle into a new city and make friends quickly. Birmingham has a thriving club scene covering everything from football, rugby, and hockey to cricket, tennis, swimming, and badminton. Whatever your level or your interest, there is almost certainly a club where you will feel welcome.

For those who want to push themselves further, university sports teams compete in the BUCS league against other universities across the country, offering a genuine pathway to competitive sport alongside your studies.

High Street Shopping

Living in our student accommodation in Birmingham puts you right in the heart of one of the best shopping cities in the UK. Before anything else, it is worth getting to know the supermarkets and local shops nearest to you for your everyday essentials.

Birmingham is an incredibly diverse city, and that diversity shows up in its food shops, markets, and independent stores, where you will find authentic produce and ingredients from all corners of the world. Once you have got the basics sorted, the city has plenty more to explore.

The Bull Ring

For most of Birmingham’s students, the Bullring is the natural starting point for a proper shopping day. Sitting in the heart of the city centre, it is one of the most recognisable retail destinations in the country and home to over 160 shops, including the iconic Selfridges. Between the Bullring, LinkStreet, and Grand Central, there are more than 200 outlets across brands you will already know and love, alongside plenty of options for homeware, tech, food, and everything in between. It is the kind of place where a quick trip can easily turn into an afternoon.

Arcades and Pop-Up Stores

Away from the main shopping centres, Birmingham has a genuine affection for its Victorian arcades, and it is well worth taking the time to explore them. Great Western Arcade, Burlington Arcade, and Piccadilly Arcade are all worth a wander for their beautiful architecture as much as their independent shops.

The Custard Factory in Digbeth is another highlight, sitting at the heart of Birmingham’s creative and digital quarter and home to a brilliant mix of innovative and quirky pop-up stores and independent businesses, all within the character of its restored Victorian buildings. It is the kind of place that is difficult to fully describe and much better simply experienced in person.

Jewellery Quarter

The Jewellery Quarter is one of the most distinctive areas in the whole of Birmingham, and well worth a visit whether you are looking to shop or simply explore. With over 100 independent retailers, more than 200 listed buildings, and a history stretching back over 200 years, it is genuinely unlike anywhere else in the city.

It is widely reported that over 40 per cent of all jewellery made in Britain comes from here, and alongside the jewellers, you will find a thriving arts scene, brilliant independent cafes and restaurants, and some excellent gift shopping. F

From your base at our Birmingham student accommodation, you are perfectly placed to explore everything the city has on offer, and there is always something new to discover.

Star City

It is no surprise that a city as big as Birmingham has entertainment options to match, and Star City is one of the most impressive of them. Located just ten minutes from the city centre and easily reachable from your student accommodation in Birmingham by public transport, it is home to one of the largest cinemas in the UK, a laser station, and a substantial 22-lane bowling alley. There are also plenty of food and drink options across the complex, making it a great choice for a bigger night out or a fun afternoon with friends.

Variety To Do

Birmingham’s seasonal events calendar is equally impressive. The Christmas markets, which begin in late November, are among the most celebrated in the country and genuinely magical to walk through as the city centre transforms for the festive period. Bonfire Night is another highlight each year, with fireworks displays taking place across the city’s many parks and open spaces.

Film Festival

The Birmingham Film Festival brings international filmmakers and independent cinema to the city each November, with screenings that are largely free to attend, making it a great option for students with a passion for film. The Magical Lantern Festival at the Botanical Gardens is another beautiful winter evening out, with the gardens transformed by vivid illuminated sculptures and lantern displays.

Other festivals worth knowing about throughout the year include the Birmingham International Dance Festival in June and the Birmingham Comedy Festival, which takes place across more than 20 venues in the city each October and is one of the most well-regarded independent comedy festivals in the UK.

Fine Arts

Birmingham has a genuinely impressive cultural offering, with brilliant examples of art and history spread right across the city. The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, founded in 1932 and set within the University of Birmingham’s Edgbaston campus, is one of the finest small art collections in the country, housed in a stunning Grade I listed Art Deco building. It is currently closed for refurbishment ahead of a planned reopening in 2026, so it is well worth keeping an eye on for when you settle into student life.

For contemporary art, the IKON Gallery in Brindley Place is an internationally acclaimed venue that consistently stages thought-provoking exhibitions from artists around the world and is free to visit. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is another essential destination, drawing on a collection of international importance spanning fine art, ceramics, metalwork, jewellery, archaeology and local history. The museum underwent a major programme of essential repairs and renovation and has now reopened to the public, with more of its gallery spaces becoming accessible throughout 2024 and 2025. The Coffin Works in the Jewellery Quarter is a fascinating and distinctive museum exploring the social history and cultural changes that have shaped that remarkable corner of the city over the years.

Beyond Birmingham

For something a little further afield, the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire, is around 40 minutes from Birmingham by car and is home to the world’s largest collection of historic British cars, including the very first Land Rover ever made. It is a brilliant day trip for anyone interested in motoring history.

Cadbury World is another fantastic day out, located at the site of the original Cadbury factory in Bournville, just a short journey from the city centre. It traces the full history of one of the world’s most famous chocolate brands and is a genuinely enjoyable experience.