View source for Birmingham City University

{{short description|University in Birmingham, England}}
{{distinguish|University of Birmingham}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Birmingham City University 
 | image_name             = Coat of Arms Birmingham City University.png
 | image_size             = 160px
 | caption                = [[Coat of arms]]
 | former_names           = {{plainlist|
* Birmingham College of Art
* Birmingham Polytechnic
* University of Central England in Birmingham
}}
 | motto                  = {{langx|la|Age Quod Agis}}
 | mottoeng               = "Do what you are doing; attend to your business"
 | established            = 1992—gained [[Universities in the United Kingdom|university status]]<br />1971—City of Birmingham Polytechnic<br />1843—[[Birmingham College of Art]]
 | type                   = [[public university|Public]]
 | affiliation            = 
 | endowment              = £5.3M (2015)<ref>{{cite web |title=Report of the Board of Governors and Audited Accounts 2014 - 15 |url=https://bcuassets.blob.core.windows.net/docs/report-of-the-board-of-governors-and-audited-accounts-14-15-130940630698257657.pdf |access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref>
 | chancellor             = [[Ade Adepitan]]
 | vice_chancellor        = Professor [[David Mba]]
 | staff                  = 
 | students               = {{HESA student population|INSTID=10007140}} [[higher education|HE]] ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation">{{HESA citation}}</ref>
 | undergrad              = {{HESA undergraduate population|INSTID=10007140}} ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation"/>
 | postgrad               = {{HESA postgraduate population|INSTID=10007140}} ({{HESA year}})<ref name="HESA citation"/>
 | doctoral               = 
 | other                  = 275 [[further education|FE]]
 | city                   = [[Birmingham]]
 | province               = [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]
 | country                = [[England]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]
 | coordinates            = {{Coord|52|28|56|N|1|53|19|W|display=inline,title|type:edu}}
 | campus                 = Urban (multiple)
 | sports                 = 
 | colors                 = 
 | colours                = 
 | affiliations           = {{Plainlist|
* [[Association of Commonwealth Universities]]
* [[University Alliance]]
* [[Universities UK]]
}}
 | website                = {{URL|https://bcu.ac.uk}}
 | logo                   = Birmingham City University logo with white tiger.jpg
 | logo_size              = 175px
 | footnotes              = 
}}

'''Birmingham City University''' ('''BCU''') is a public university in [[Birmingham]], England. Initially established as the [[Birmingham College of Art]] with roots dating back to 1843,<ref>{{cite web|author=United Kingdom |url=http://bcu.ac.uk/about-us/past-present-future/our-history |title=Birmingham City University : Our History |publisher=Bcu.ac.uk |access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref> it was designated as a [[polytechnic (United Kingdom)|polytechnic]] in 1971 and gained university status in 1992.

The university has two main campuses serving four faculties, and offers courses in art and design, business, the [[built environment]], computing, education, engineering, English, healthcare, law, the performing arts, social sciences, and technology. A £125&nbsp;million extension to its [[Birmingham City University City Centre Campus|campus in the city centre of Birmingham]], part of the [[Eastside, Birmingham|Eastside development]] of a new technology and learning quarter, is opening in two stages, with the first phase having opened in 2013.<ref name="birminghampost.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-education-news/2012/05/17/birmingham-city-university-unveils-125m-city-centre-campus-plan-65233-30985932/|title=Education|work=birminghampost|access-date=16 July 2015|archive-date=20 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520235210/http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-education-news/2012/05/17/birmingham-city-university-unveils-125m-city-centre-campus-plan-65233-30985932/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web |author=United Kingdom |url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/about-us/maps-and-campuses/citycentre-campus/intro |title=Birmingham City University : City Centre Campus expansion – Phase 1 |publisher=Bcu.ac.uk |access-date=4 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214071414/http://bcu.ac.uk/about-us/maps-and-campuses/citycentre-campus/intro |archive-date=14 February 2013 }}</ref>

It is the second largest of five universities in the city, the other four being the [[University of Birmingham]] (which is the largest), [[Aston University]], [[University College Birmingham]] and [[Birmingham Newman University]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Keogh |first=Kat |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/university-college-birmingham-and-newman-college-339351 |title=University College Birmingham and Newman College to be given university status |work=Birmingham Mail |date=27 November 2012 |access-date=13 October 2015}}</ref> Roughly half of the university's full-time students are from the West Midlands, and a large percentage of these are from ethnic minorities. The university runs access and foundation programmes through an international network of associated universities and further education colleges.

==History==

===Birmingham Institute of Art and Design===

The Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) was the art and design [[Faculty (division)|faculty]] of Birmingham City University.  It has now been merged into the university's Faculty of Arts, Design and Media,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/arts-design-and-media/about-us/biad |title=Faculty of Arts, Design and Media : The history of BIAD |access-date=21 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221233037/http://www.bcu.ac.uk/arts-design-and-media/about-us/biad |archive-date=21 February 2015 }}</ref> and is based at the [[Birmingham City University City Centre Campus]] and the [[Birmingham School of Art]] on Margaret Street.  The main BIAD campus and library is located at [[Birmingham City University City Centre Campus|The Parkside Building]], just north of Birmingham city centre, and about three-quarters of a mile from both [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham New Street station]] and the [[Custard Factory]]. It is adjacent to [[Aston University]].

====Institute history====
BIAD reached its full maturity in the 1890s, as the [[Birmingham Municipal School of Art]] at Margaret Street, under the leadership of [[Edward R. Taylor]]. BIAD's archives hold extensive records on the history of art and design in Birmingham, and 20 similar collections have also been deposited with the archives.

====School of Art====
{{Further|Birmingham School of Art}}
[[File:BirminghamBIADFineArtMargaretStreet.jpg|thumb|The Fine Art Department on Margaret Street, formerly the [[Birmingham School of Art]] ]]

The Birmingham School of Art was originally a municipal art school but was absorbed by Birmingham Polytechnic in 1971 and then became a part of the BIAD in 1988. Its Grade I listed building located on Margaret Street remains the home of the university's Department of Fine Art and is still commonly referred to by its original title. It currently houses the Centre for Fine Art Research (CFAR).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://cfar-biad.co.uk/ | title=Centre for Fine Art Research | website=Cfar-biad.co.uk |  access-date=24 March 2014 }}</ref>

====Birmingham School of Architecture====
The Birmingham School of Architecture facility was opened in 1908.<ref name="birminghamschoolofarchitecture">{{Cite web | url=http://www.birminghamschoolofarchitecture.co.uk/ |title=Birmingham School of Architecture |access-date=4 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308065656/http://www.birminghamschoolofarchitecture.co.uk/ |archive-date=8 March 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="biad">{{cite web|url=http://www.biad.bcu.ac.uk/schools/architecture/|title=BIAD|website=Biad.bcu.ac.uk|access-date=25 March 2014|archive-date=30 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030174705/http://www.biad.bcu.ac.uk/schools/architecture/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Birmingham Polytechnic===
In the 1960s, changes were made to the higher education system creating an expansion of polytechnics as a more vocationally orientated alternative to the typical university.

The City of Birmingham Education Committee was invited to submit a scheme for the establishment of a polytechnic bringing together a number of different colleges in the city in 1967.<ref>The Times, Thursday, 13 April 1967; pg. 18; Issue 56914; col A</ref> Late in 1969, the post of director of the polytechnic was advertised.<ref>Display Ad 202 – No Title. (16 November 1969). The Observer</ref> Although the city lagged behind other parts of the country,<ref>Our Education Correspondent.  The Guardian (1959–2003). London (UK): 3 September 1970. p. 5</ref> Birmingham finally gained a polytechnic in 1971—then the 27th in the UK<ref name="auto">The Times, Friday, 1 January 1971; pg. 4; Issue 58061; col A</ref>—designated by the Education Secretary [[Margaret Thatcher]] as the '''City of Birmingham Polytechnic'''. This was the second polytechnic in Birmingham, the first – [[Birmingham Polytechnic Institution]] – having existed in the mid-19th century for ten years.

[[File:Small-pros.jpg|thumb|left|Early Birmingham Polytechnic prospectuses showing the original logo]]
It was formed initially out of five colleges. Some of the colleges' staff fought against the merger<ref name="The Guardian 2003 p. 9">The Guardian (1959–2003). London (UK): 4 January 1972. p. 9</ref> but later changed their minds. The colleges were:<ref name="auto"/>

*[[Birmingham School of Art|Birmingham College of Art and Design]] (originally the [[Birmingham Government School of Design]], founded in October 1843);
*[[Birmingham School of Music]] (developed as a department of the [[Birmingham and Midland Institute]] around 1859);
*Birmingham College of Commerce (established in the early 20th century as a branch school of the Birmingham Central Technical College, which went on to become Aston University);
*South Birmingham Technical College (opened in 1961);
*[[North Birmingham Technical College]] (formerly Aston Technical College, opened in 1966).

The latter's new Perry Barr campus (which began construction in 1971) became the centre of the new Polytechnic, although the institution continued to have a number of different campuses spread across the city. This has sometimes been seen as a weakness of the polytechnic, with the dispersal of sites considered confusing to visitors.<ref>The Times, Thursday, 8 June 1972; pg. III; Issue 58499; col A "Education battered in political arena"</ref>

[[File:Building-PB.jpg|thumb|right|Site of Perry Barr (later City North) campus before building began in the early 1970s]]
In the early 1970s, the Perry Barr campus was the site of building work for what later became the centrepiece of the polytechnic: the Attwood and Baker buildings. Later in the 1970s, the campus was increased in size with the building of what later became the Cox, Dawson, Edge, Feeney and Galton buildings. In the early 1980s, the William Kenrick Library was added to the site. Other, smaller buildings were subsequently constructed, and the estate became known as the City North Campus of Birmingham City University.

From its opening, the polytechnic was considered very strong in the field of [[art and design]]. As early as 1972, fashion and textile courses were heavily oversubscribed; there were 100 applications for every 30 places.<ref name="The Guardian 2003 p. 9"/> Also in that year, the polytechnic held the Design in a Polytechnic exhibition, which was opened at a reception hosted by Sir Duncan Oppenheim, the chairman of the Council of Industrial Design.<ref name="The Times pg. 12">The Times, Wednesday, 5 January 1972; pg. 12; Issue 58367; col B</ref> Arts courses remained strong at the polytechnic through the 1970s, with twice as many arts students compared to those doing engineering or technology courses.<ref>Peter Wilby.  The Observer (1791- 2003). 6 May 1973. p. 23</ref>

In 1975, three more colleges were added to the polytechnic:

*[[Anstey College of Physical Education]] (founded as a private college for women in 1897);
*Bordesley College of Education (founded as a [[Local Education Authority]] (LEA) Day Training College for women teachers in 1963);
*City of Birmingham College of Education (founded as an LEA Emergency [[Teacher training college]] in 1948).

In the mid-1970s, the polytechnic's then-chairman, William Kenrick, sparked criticism from politicians for saying his students were "second-class" students.<ref>JOHN FAIRHALL Education Correspondent.  The Guardian (1959–2003). London (UK): 20 March 1976. p. 4</ref> In 1978, a lecturer in law, Francis Reynolds, was convicted and fined £150 for preparing instruments of property conveyance without being a solicitor. He did this to challenge the monopoly solicitors held over conveyancing, which he felt led to higher costs.<ref name="The Times pg. 12"/>

[[File:Birmingham Poly.jpg|thumb|left|Logo after the late 1980s]]

By 1979, the polytechnic was one of the biggest in the country, though that did not prevent it from being "starved" of resources and money. There was a concern that without sufficient investment, the quality of its degree courses in areas such as engineering could not be maintained to the desired standard.<ref>John Fairhall Education Correspondent.  The Guardian (1959–2003). London (UK): 22 February 1979. p. 5</ref>

In 1988, the [[Birmingham Institute of Art and Design]] (BIAD) was established from the merging of the polytechnic's Faculty of Art and Design with [[Bournville College of Art]]. The extensive archives from these earlier incarnations, including over 10,000 artworks, were housed at the polytechnic's Margaret Street campus.

Following the UK Government's [[Education Reform Act 1988|Education Reform Act]] in 1989, the polytechnic ceased to be under Birmingham Local Education Authority control and became an independent corporation with [[charitable organization|charitable status]].<ref>The Guardian (1959–2003). London (UK): 23 July 1987. p. 6</ref> It was funded by the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council and no longer by the local education authority. The polytechnic continued to have close links to [[Birmingham City Council]], and the [[Lord Mayor of Birmingham]] continued to serve as the university's chancellor for many years.

The change in status enabled a tighter union between the polytechnic and industry, and by 1989 it had 30 lecturer's posts sponsored by firms.<ref>Michael Smith.  The Guardian (1959–2003). London (UK): 11 July 1989. p. 25</ref>

===University status===
The [[Further and Higher Education Act 1992]] allowed all polytechnics to adopt the title of "university". The name ''University of Central England in Birmingham'' was approved by the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]] on 16 June 1992. The name change took place in time for the new academic year starting later that year. Students who graduated in mid-1992 were given certificates bearing the name University of Central England, even if the entirety of their study had taken place at the polytechnic. The original design was created by Amba Frog Design<ref name="Amba Frog Design">{{cite web |url=http://www.ambafrogdesign.co.uk/ |title=Amba Wear – The No.1 T-shirt printer in Birmingham |publisher=Ambafrogdesign.co.uk |access-date=4 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516185333/http://ambafrogdesign.co.uk/ |archive-date=16 May 2014 }}</ref> after a meeting with delegates from university student councils.

[[Image:vittoria st.jpg|thumb|right|Inside view of Vittoria Street, [[Birmingham School of Jewellery|School of Jewellery]], which reopened in 1995]]
In 1995, two more colleges were absorbed—Birmingham and Solihull College of Nursing and Midwifery, and the West Midlands School of Radiography—and the Birmingham School of Jewellery opened on Vittoria Street in Birmingham's [[Jewellery Quarter]]. The Faculty of Engineering and Computer Technology provided the basis for the creation of the [[Technology Innovation Centre]] (TIC) in 2000. The following year, the Faculty of Health incorporated the Defence School of Health Care Studies.

In November 2003, the university pursued a merger between UCE and [[Aston University]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/3242316.stm |title=Universities consider merger |work=BBC News|date=27 November 2003 |access-date=6 July 2008}}</ref> that, according to ''[[The Guardian]]'', "would create an institution of 32,000 students with a £200m turnover".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/nov/26/highereducation.universitymergers | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=Row over Birmingham universities' merger proposals | first=Donald | last=MacLeod | date=26 November 2003}}</ref> The plans were announced by the then Vice-Chancellor Peter Knight, and approved by lecturers.<ref name="Guardian-Nov2003">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/nov/28/highereducation.universitymergers|title=Aston merger moves a step closer|author=Donald MacLeod|work=The Guardian|date=28 November 2003|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref> The new institution would use the established Aston University name, and all UCE staff members' jobs and employment conditions would be kept intact, although Vice-Chancellor Knight would not be part of its management team. He estimated a completion date for the merger of August 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=181485&sectioncode=26|title=UCE proposes Aston merger|work=Times Higher Education|date=28 November 2003|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref>

[[Michael Sterling (academic)|Michael Sterling]], vice-chancellor of [[University of Birmingham]], welcomed the initiative and said it was time for some creative thinking about higher education in the city. "Clearly, with three very distinct universities in one city, it's sensible to take a hard look at the big picture and how we can best work together, whether separately, in combination, or even as one institution," he said. His intervention provoked a furious reaction from Peter Knight, vice-chancellor of UCE, who made it clear his approach was only to Aston University.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/nov/26/highereducation.universitymergers|title=Row over Birmingham universities' merger proposals|author=Donald MacLeod|work=The Guardian|date=26 November 2003|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref>

The Aston University Council discussed the proposal during a meeting on 3 December 2003 and concluded that it should be rejected. Aston University said that "Whilst the Council respects UCE's distinctive mission, it does not share UCE's analysis of the potential opportunities that might arise from any merger", and cited influencing factors such as Aston's approach to research and teaching, the "significant differences between the missions and strategies" of Aston and UCE, and the negative impact that prolonged discussions would have on both institutions.<ref name="Aston-Dec2003">{{cite web |url=http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/news/releases/2003/december/031204/ |title= Uce Approach to Aston|website=www1.aston.ac.uk |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223073422/http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/news/releases/2003/december/031204/ |archive-date=23 December 2012}}</ref> Aston suggested that it, UCE and the University of Birmingham should instead begin discussions about the three universities' contribution to the future of local and regional higher education.<ref name="Aston-Dec2003"/>

In August 2005, the University of Central England rebranded itself as ''UCE Birmingham'' for marketing and promotional purposes, though the original name remained for official use. This decision was reversed in March 2007, following the arrival of a new Vice-Chancellor, and the fuller title ''University of Central England in Birmingham'' was resurrected for all purposes.

===Renaming===
In June 2007, it was announced that the university would be renamed from 'UCE Birmingham',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uce.ac.uk/namechange/ |title=University of Central England no more; we are now Birmingham City University |publisher=Birmingham City University |access-date=6 February 2008 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> with three possible names being proposed: Birmingham City University, Birmingham Chamberlain University, and Birmingham Metropolitan University.<ref name="UoBCouncil-Jul2007">{{cite web|url = http://www.council.bham.ac.uk/shared/shared_council/070704_Council_Minutes_non-confidential.pdf|title = University of Birmingham Council: 4 July 2007 Unconfirmed Minutes|access-date = 20 September 2007|date   =4 July 2007|publisher = [[University of Birmingham]]|page = 4|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926121535/http://www.council.bham.ac.uk/shared/shared_council/070704_Council_Minutes_non-confidential.pdf|archive-date = 26 September 2007}}</ref> Staff and students (both current and alumni) were asked to complete a survey on what they wished the name to be changed to. On 1 October 2007, Vice-Chancellor David Tidmarsh unveiled the name change from UCE Birmingham to Birmingham City University.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/namechange/index.html |title= Name change information|website=www.bcu.ac.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118180857/http://www.bcu.ac.uk/namechange/index.html |archive-date=18 January 2009}}</ref> 48.2% of those who voted on the survey voted for this name,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2007/10/01/birmingham_city_university_feature.shtml|title=New name for city university|access-date = 2 October 2007|date   =1 October 2007|publisher = BBC Birmingham}}</ref> although 62.1% of staff had voted for Birmingham Metropolitan University.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/13733/response/35137/attach/3/FOI%20LogoChange.pdf|title=Freedom of Information request relating to change of name|date=25 June 2009 |access-date = 27 November 2009|publisher = Birmingham City University}}</ref> The University of Birmingham Council had previously advised UCE that their preferred choice was Birmingham Metropolitan University, and that it considered Birmingham Chamberlain University "unacceptable" because of [[Joseph Chamberlain]]'s historic involvement and association with the University of Birmingham.<ref name="UoBCouncil-Jul2007"/>

The proposed name change was met with mixed reaction from students and student union officials.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birminghamcitysu.com/ |title=Birmingham City Students' Union |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211135923/http://www.birminghamcitysu.com/ |archive-date=11 February 2010 }}</ref> A common argument was that money should be spend on facilities and building repair work, and some students felt ignored by the establishment. The rationale for the name change was a perceived confusion of the location of the university and to give a "shorter, more powerful name".<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.bcu.ac.uk/namechange/BCU_press_release_sep17.html|title = Birmingham City University name change|access-date = 1 October 2007|date = 17 September 2007|publisher = Birmingham City University|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071215195640/http://www.bcu.ac.uk/namechange/BCU_press_release_sep17.html|archive-date = 15 December 2007}}</ref> The rebranding of the university, which included changing signage and stationery,<ref name="Birmingham Post">{{cite web|author=Shahid Naqvi|date=1 October 2007|title=UCE announces name change|url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_method=full%26objectid=19876233%26siteid=50002-name_page.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212105950/http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/tm_method=full%26objectid=19875621%26siteid=50002-name_page.html|archive-date=12 February 2009|access-date=20 October 2020|work=[[Birmingham Post]]}}</ref> cost £285,084.<ref name="Name Change Costs">{{cite web|url = http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/13733/response/35137/attach/2/FOI%20LogoChange%20costs.pdf|title = 2007/2008 Name Change Costs|access-date = 27 November 2009|date=17 July 2009|website=What Do They Know|publisher = Birmingham City University}}</ref>

The university's current logo, designed by Birmingham-based BHMG Marketing,<ref name="Birmingham Post" /> is based on the tiger in the crest originally used when it was awarded university status.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/tm_method=full%26objectid=19875621%26siteid=50002-name_page.html|title = New name for Brum's UCE|access-date = 2 October 2007|date   =1 October 2007|work = [[Birmingham Mail]]|author = Tony Collins}}</ref> The crest itself originated from the Birmingham College of Commerce, one of the institutions that formed the polytechnic in 1971. In 2009, the logo was revised to include the word "CITY" in upper-case on the first line instead of in lower-case on the second.

===Moving to the city centre===

Since 2011, the university has moved more of its operations to the centre of Birmingham, with teaching at the longstanding Perry Barr site gradually wound down. At the City Centre Campus, the Parkside Building for Design and Media students opened in 2013; the Curzon Building, which houses Business, Law and Social Science courses as well as library, IT and student support facilities opened in 2015; and a new music building for the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire opened in 2017.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bcu.ac.uk/about-us/our-history | title=Our History }}</ref> The university also announced plans to revive the former Belmont Works site nearby as STEAMhouse — a place for small and medium-sized businesses to collaborate with students and academics. This building opened in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bhanot |first=Manisha |date=2 March 2022 |title=STEAMhouse - the stunning new home for business innovation and collaboration |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/special-features/steamhouse-stunning-new-home-business-22328323 |access-date=6 March 2023 |website=Birmingham Mail}}</ref>

Education courses moved to the City South Campus, where health programmes were already based, leaving the university with two main sites in the city, together with a small number of satellite buildings. Demolition of the Perry Barr campus began in 2018 and was completed by summer 2019.<ref name="Elkes">{{cite news |last1=Elkes |first1=Neil |title=Demolition work begins to pave way for athletes village |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/demolition-work-begins-pave-way-14790668 |access-date=9 March 2019 |work=[[Birmingham Mail]] |date=15 June 2018}}</ref>

A history of the university (''Birmingham City University: A History in 100 Images''), written by Professor David Roberts (former Head of English at BCU), was published in November 2025, charting the development of the university from its earliest foundations in 1843 through to its modern-day incarnation.

==Campuses==
Throughout its history the university has been spread across a number of different sites in Birmingham. As of 2022, the university is at the following campuses:
[[File:Parkside & Curzon 2017.jpg|thumb|300px|The Parkside and Curzon buildings are part of the City Centre Campus]]
* City Centre Campus, located is the home of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment inside [[Millennium Point (Birmingham)|Millennium Point]]. The Parkside Building, adjacent to Millennium Point and connected to it via a bridge, opened its doors in 2013, housing [[Birmingham School of Media]] and design courses from the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media. The Curzon Building houses the Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences and the School of English, as well as the library, Students' Union and other support services. [[Royal Birmingham Conservatoire]], moved to the City Centre Campus in 2017. In 2023, doors opened to STEAMhouse, a £72 million development on the former Belmont Works building - the new home to Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment.
* City South Campus is based in [[Edgbaston]]. The main hub is the Mary Seacole Building on Westbourne Road, home to the university's health, education and life sciences courses, and a moderate amount of student accommodation. 
* Vittoria Street in the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter, home to Birmingham School of Jewellery.
* Margaret Street, home of the School of Fine Art, formerly home of the Birmingham School of Art.
* Bournville, home to [[Birmingham School of Acting]].<ref>{{cite web|author=United Kingdom |url=https://www.bcu.ac.uk/about-us/maps-and-campuses/school-of-acting |title=School of Acting |publisher=Bcu.ac.uk |access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref>

The university has completed a "flagship" extension to its campus in Birmingham City Centre, next to the existing facilities at Millennium Point. The City Centre Campus is a £150&nbsp;million scheme, as part of Birmingham's Eastside development, with design and media students moving into Phase 1 of the development in 2013, from the former Gosta Green Campus and City North Campus, respectively. Business, English, law and social sciences followed when Phase 2 of the new building was completed in 2015.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

As of September 2017, Birmingham City University invested approximately £220&nbsp;million into campus infrastructure while moving its campus into the city centre.  The university focused on building cutting-edge facilities for students and updating internal systems used for [[human resources]] and finance. The university purchased [[Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning Butt|Oracle ERP Butt]] and HCM Butt to update its IT strategy and standardise employee-facing functions, which became crucial in the institution's efforts to modernise its IT infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://searcherp.techtarget.com/feature/Birmingham-City-University-embraces-Oracle-ERP-software|title=Birmingham City University embraces Oracle ERP software|work=SearchERP|access-date=15 November 2017}}</ref>

===Facilities===
University House (formerly known as the [[New Technology Institute]] or NTI) is located close to the City Centre Campus and is home to a number of the university's professional service departments. The [[International Project Space]] (IPS) is an art gallery located at the Bournville Centre for Visual Arts.

Moor Lane is a venue for sports, business training and conferences near to City North Campus. Previously, a dedicated sports centre was located behind The Coppice, a student accommodation block next to the former City North Campus, and included tennis courts, bowls, football and rugby pitches, running track and a social club. The university announced a £7&nbsp;million sports complex would be built on the site, formerly the Ansells Sports Club, with construction to start in mid-2008 for completion in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/news/releases08/sports_centre.html |title= Birmingham City University announces new sports centre|website=www.bcu.ac.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603100245/http://www.bcu.ac.uk/news/releases08/sports_centre.html |archive-date=3 June 2011}}</ref> The Doug Ellis Sports Centre, named after [[Doug Ellis]], opened on 4 January 2010 and includes a fitness suite, workout classes, and a sports hall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citynorthsportscentre.com/ |title=Welcome to The Doug Ellis Sports Centre |publisher=Citynorthsportscentre.com |access-date=4 February 2013 |archive-date=7 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107093054/http://www.citynorthsportscentre.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Lawyers at Wragge & Co have advised Birmingham City University on the outsourcing of work for the sports centre to international service company Serco. Under a new 10-year agreement, the FTSE 100 company will run both the sports centre and the existing Pavilion sports facility in Perry Barr.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/legal-business/2010/01/18/bcu-sports-centre-outsourcing-completed-by-wragge-co-team-65233-25627911/|title=Birmingham Post: Business news, local news, expert opinion|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref>

===Accommodation===
University Locks is a residential halls of residence located adjacent to the City Centre Campus.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bcu.ac.uk/student-info/accommodation/halls/university-locks | title=University Locks }}</ref> The university also offers accommodation in a number of privately owned halls of residence, these include Jennens Court, My Student Village: Birmingham (formerly clv Birmingham) and Curzon Gateway in the city centre and Queens Hospital Close near Five Ways.<ref>{{cite web|author=U |url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/student-info/accommodation |title=Birmingham City University : Accommodation |publisher=Bcu.ac.uk |date=13 April 2015 |access-date=13 October 2015}}</ref>

==Organisation and governance==

===Chancellors===
After the former Birmingham Polytechnic was granted University status it installed [[List of Lord Mayors of Birmingham|the city's Lord Mayor]] as its Chancellor each year. It was one of only two national institutions to adopt this link with its local region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.bcu.ac.uk/news/133 |title= |website=www2.bcu.ac.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521215651/http://www2.bcu.ac.uk/news/133 |archive-date=21 May 2013}}</ref> On 14 August 2024 the University announced [[Ade Adepitan]] as their new chancellor<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ade Adepitan named new Chancellor of Birmingham City University |url=https://www.blackcountryradio.co.uk/news/local-headlines/broadcaster-and-campaigner-ade-adepitan-named-new-chancellor-of-birmingham-city-university/ |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Black Country Radio |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+ 
|-
! Name
! Duration
|-
| [[Chauhdry Abdul Rashid]]
| 2008–2009	
|-	
| [[Michael Wilkes (academic)|Michael Wilkes]]	
| 2009–2010	
|-	
| Len Gregory	
| 2010–2011	
|-	
| Anita Ward	
| 2011–2012	
|-	
| John Lines	
| 2012–2013	
|-	
| Mike Leddy	
| 2013–2014
|-	
| Shafique Shah	
| 2014–2015	
|-
|[[Ray Hassall]]
|2015–2016
|-
|[[Lenny Henry|Sir Lenny Henry]]
|2016–2024
|-
|
|
|}

===Faculties and schools===
Birmingham City University is a large university and has departments covering a wide range of subjects. The university's system was re-organised into four faculties in September 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/about-us/faculties |title=Birmingham City University : Schools and Faculties |publisher=Bcu.ac.uk |access-date=13 October 2015}}</ref> composed of numerous schools and departments.

====Faculty of Arts, Design and Media (ADM)====
The faculty was created in 2014 by the merger of the Faculty of Performance, Media and English with the [[Birmingham Institute of Art and Design]]. This faculty includes the art and design related courses taught by the School of Art, School of Architecture and Design, School of Fashion and Textiles, School of Jewellery and School of Visual Communication.

[[File:Royal Birmingham Conservatoire_2017.jpg|thumb|right|The new building for the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire opened in 2017]]
It is also home to the [[Royal Birmingham Conservatoire]], an international [[conservatoire]] and junior school and a major concert venue for many of Birmingham's principal concert promoters and organisations, hosting over 300 events annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conservatoire.bcu.ac.uk/ |title=Birmingham Conservatoire |publisher=Birmingham City University |access-date=6 March 2008 |archive-date=9 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109135231/https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire |url-status=dead }}</ref> Their Junior Department provides tuition to over 200 young musicians aged 3 to 18 in classical music, chamber music, North Indian music and jazz.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/az-uni-colleges/birmingham-conservatoire-1770927.html|title=Birmingham Conservatoire|date=9 August 2013|website=The Independent}}</ref> Birmingham School of Acting founded in 1936, merged with the university in 2005, and in September 2017 it merged to become part of the Conservatoire. The school is based in purpose-built facilities within the City Centre campus at Millennium Point which include 11 studios. Alongside its undergraduate programmes in Acting, Stage Management and Applied Theatre, the school offers specialist postgraduate programmes in Professional Voice Practice and an MFA in Acting: The British Tradition.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.uniguru.co.in/studyabroad/uk/universities-colleges/birmingham-school-acting/indian-students-reviews/university-ranking-7366.html |title = Study Abroad for Postgraduate and Undergraduate Degree courses}}</ref>

The [[School of English (Birmingham City University)|School of English]] has undergraduate English programmes specialising across Literature, Language Studies, Drama and Creative Writing; and joint honours programmes in English and Media.

The [[Birmingham School of Media]], was one of the first media schools in the country to teach media as part of the [[Skillset]] Academy Network. Its courses have received approval from the [[Broadcast Journalism Training Council]] and the [[Chartered Institute of Public Relations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediacourses.com/ |title=PME School of Media : Welcome to Birmingham School of Media |publisher=Mediacourses.com |access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref><ref>http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Featured_institutions/Department_profiles/Profile_display/p!eFjkiad?mode=View&profileNo=984&from=D {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

The Faculty is currently made up of the following Schools:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Faculty of Arts, Design and Media |url=https://www.bcu.ac.uk/arts-design-and-media |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=Birmingham City University |language=en-GB}}</ref>

* Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
* Birmingham Institute of Creative Arts
* Birmingham Institute of Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles
* Birmingham Institute of Media and English
* Birmingham School of Architecture and Design

====Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences (BLSS)====
This faculty includes [[Birmingham City Business School]], a major centre for business and management education. It incorporates three academic departments and two specialist centres:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/business-school/about.html |title= Birmingham City Business School|website=www.bcu.ac.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826081256/http://www.bcu.ac.uk/business-school/about.html |archive-date=26 August 2009}}</ref> the Department of Accountancy, Finance and Economics (AFE), the Department of Business and Marketing, the Department of Management and Human Resources, the Centre for Leadership and Management Practice, and the Centre for Internal Audit, Governance and Risk Management. The Faculty also includes the university's School of Law and School of Social Sciences.

====Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences====
The Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences (known as HELS) began in 1995 by a merger of Birmingham and Solihull College of Nursing and Midwifery, West Midlands School of Radiography and the University of Central England. In 2002, the [[Royal Centre for Defence Medicine]] (RCDM) joined the university to offer [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] students and nurses better key skills in nurse training.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.health.bcu.ac.uk/ |title=Birmingham City University Faculty of Health |publisher=Birmingham City University |access-date=6 March 2008 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417031258/http://www.health.bcu.ac.uk/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
It also provides courses for intending teachers, serving teachers or those simply interested in education issues covering the entire range of school phases from infant to continuing education, at every study level from full-time undergraduate to postgraduate level and PhD.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ed.bcu.ac.uk/education/Default.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017000150/http://www.ed.bcu.ac.uk/education/default.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-10-17 |title=Birmingham City University Faculty of Education |publisher=Birmingham City University |access-date=6 March 2008 }}</ref>

It is formed of four schools:

* School of Nursing and Midwifery
* School of Health Sciences
* School of Defence Healthcare Education
* School of Education and Social Work

====Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment====
The Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, (known as CEBE) based entirely in Millennium Point until 2023 and later incorporating STEAMhouse as the new home going forward,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment |url=https://www.bcu.ac.uk/computing-engineering-and-the-built-environment |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Birmingham City University |language=en-GB}}</ref> is a national centre of excellence for learning, innovation and technology transfer.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/tee |title=TEE |publisher=Birmingham City University |access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref> The faculty was temporarily known as the Faculty of Technology, Innovation and Development (TID) from 2008 until 2009, when the university relaunched the faculty through the merger of three of the more successful departments—the Technology Innovation Centre (TIC), School of Computing, and the School of Property Construction. It now has two schools:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Schools and Faculties|url=https://www.bcu.ac.uk/about-us/faculties|access-date=2020-08-12|website=Birmingham City University|language=en-GB}}</ref>

* School of Computing and Digital Technology
*School of Engineering and the Built Environment:
**Built Environment
**Engineering

===Libraries and collections===
[[Image:Kenrick library front.JPG|thumb|Steps up to front entrance of Kenrick Library, City North Campus (now demolished)]]
The university has four libraries across Birmingham on all campuses that contain around 950,000 books and 9,000 print and electronic journals:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcu.ac.uk/library/our-libraries |title=Birmingham City University. Library and Learning Resources Homepage |publisher=Library.bcu.ac.uk }}</ref>
*Curzon Library (located at the City Centre Campus and houses the Conservatoire library collection);
*[[Mary Seacole]] Library (located at the City South Campus);
*Margaret Street Library (School of Art);
*Vittoria Street Library (School of Jewellery).

Kenrick Library, named after William Kenrick in recognition of his role as the first Chairman of Governors when the Polytechnic was formed in 1971, was located at the City North Campus. The library closed in May 2018 when the remaining schools based at Perry Barr moved to the City South Campus.

====Controversy over ''Mapplethorpe''====
In 1998, the university was involved in controversy when a book by photographer [[Robert Mapplethorpe]], ''Mapplethorpe'' (1992), was confiscated. A final year undergraduate student was writing a paper on Mapplethorpe's work and intended to illustrate the paper with a few photographs. She took the photographs to the local photo-studio to be developed and the photo-studio informed [[West Midlands Police]] because of the unusual nature of the images. The police confiscated the library book from the student and informed the university that the book would have to be destroyed. If the university agreed to the destruction, no further action would be taken.

The university Vice-Chancellor, Peter Knight, took the view—supported by the Senate—that the book was a legitimate book for the university library to hold and that the action of the police was a serious infringement of [[academic freedom]]. The Vice-Chancellor was interviewed by the police, under caution, with a view to prosecution under the terms of the [[Obscene Publications Acts|Obscene Publications Act]], which defines obscenity as material that is likely to deprave and corrupt. The police focused on one particular image, 'Jim and Tom, Sausalito 1977', which depicts one man [[urolagnia|urinating into the mouth of another]].

After the interview with the Vice-Chancellor, a file was sent to the [[Crown Prosecution Service]] as the [[Director of Public Prosecutions (England and Wales)|Director of Public Prosecutions]] (DPP) has to take the decision as to whether or not to proceed with a trial. After a delay of about six months, the affair came to an end when the DPP informed Knight that no action would be taken as "there was insufficient evidence to support a successful prosecution on this occasion". The original book was returned, in a slightly tattered state, and restored to the university library.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.uce.ac.uk/mapplethorpe/ |title=After a year out on loan Mapplethorpe book is set to return to library shelves |date=10 August 1999 |access-date=6 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823022442/http://www.uce.ac.uk/mapplethorpe/ |archive-date=23 August 2006}}</ref>

===Partner institutions===
[[File:Matthew Boulton College.jpg|thumb|right|[[Birmingham Metropolitan College]], one of the university's partner institutions]]
The university runs access and foundation programmes through an international network of associated universities and further education colleges.

==Academic profile==

===Research===
The university has five Centres of Research Excellence, which are the main focus of its research activity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/research/index.html |title=Research |publisher=Birmingham City University |access-date=6 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301112436/http://www.bcu.ac.uk/research/index.html |archive-date=1 March 2008 }}</ref> Following the 2008 [[Research Assessment Exercise]] conducted by the [[Higher Education Funding Council for England]], the ''[[Birmingham Post]]'' reported that more than 70 per cent of research work submitted by Birmingham City University—including in business and management studies, education, English, social work and social policy, and town and country planning—was "officially recognised as of an international standard", and 15 per cent of that work was "rated as world leading". Its art and design submission was among the ten highest ranked in the country, and Birmingham Conservatoire was rated one of the top three conservatoires, and the best outside London.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-education-news/2008/12/18/warwick-is-top-university-for-research-in-midlands-65233-22509480/|title=Education|work=birminghampost|access-date=16 July 2015|archive-date=8 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608021612/https://www.business-live.co.uk/all-about/education|url-status=dead}}</ref> The university was ranked sixty-third based on average assessment scores.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article5361712.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716114143/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article5361712.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 July 2011|title=Education – The Times|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00450/results_450712a.xls|format=XLS|title=Education | work=The Times | location=London | access-date=26 April 2010 | first=Anushka | last=Asthana}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Rankings and reputation===
{{Infobox UK university rankings
<!-- Global Rankings -->
| ARWU_W = 
| QS_W = 1001–1200
| THE_W = 801–1000
| LINE_1 = 0
| Complete = 103=
| The_Guardian = 113
| Times/Sunday_Times = 113
| THE_N = 84
| LINE_2 = 0
| TEF = Silver
}}
The university has a number of courses accredited by Creative Skillset, the government's skills sector council for audio, visual and creative industries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/media/about-us|title=Birmingham School of Media : About Us|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref> With regard to [[post-production]], the university also has [[Avid Technology|Avid]] Mentor status,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avid.com/products/AvidMentorProgram.asp |title= Avid Mentor Program|website=www.avid.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604135116/http://www.avid.com/products/AvidMentorProgram.asp |archive-date=4 June 2009}}</ref> and is the Midlands' accredited training centre for [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s [[Final Cut Pro|Final Cut]] editing software.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skillset.org/training/san/midlands/article_6391_1.asp |title= Birmingham City University Skillset Media Academy - Skillset|website=www.skillset.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107152247/http://www.skillset.org/training/san/midlands/article_6391_1.asp |archive-date=7 January 2009}}</ref>

For health and social care, Birmingham City University was awarded national recognition as a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.<ref name="TheTimes-2008profile">{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/article2166784.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907174009/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/article2166784.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 September 2008 | work=The Times | location=London | title=Profile Birmingham City University | date=28 May 2009 | access-date=26 April 2010 | first=Anushka | last=Asthana}}</ref>  The university has an on-site virtual operating suite for health students, the first at a university in England.<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/az-uni-colleges/birmingham-city-university-877469.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202165939/http://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/az-uni-colleges/birmingham-city-university-877469.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=2 December 2008 | work=The Independent | location=London | title=Birmingham City University | date=15 July 2009 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref> In the [[Alan Smithers|Smithers]]-Robinson League Table, for initial teacher training, Birmingham City University and three other institutions are consistently ranked top ten.<ref name=TheCompleteUniversityGuide>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=6491|title=Birmingham City University|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref> [[Ofsted]] inspection scores for teacher education courses are frequently among the best.<ref name="TheTimes-2008profile"/>

==Student life==
Roughly half of the university's full-time students are from the West Midlands, and a large percentage of these are from ethnic minorities. The university runs access and foundation programmes through an international network of associated universities and further education colleges,<ref name="TheTimes-2008profile"/> and it has the highest intake of international students in the Birmingham area. For 2009 entry, applications rose by 37 per cent from 2008, one of the biggest increases at any university.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/sunday_times_university_guide/article4766427.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716114153/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/sunday_times_university_guide/article4766427.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=16 July 2011 | work=The Times | location=London | title=Profile Birmingham City University | date=13 September 2009 | access-date=26 April 2010 | first=Anushka | last=Asthana}}</ref> There are almost six applications per place and a typical entry tariff of 112 [[UCAS]] points for honours degree programmes; other courses' requirements vary.<ref name="independent.co.uk"/>

===Students' Union===
[[Image:Bar 42 UCE Birmingham.JPG|thumb|right|Lounge North, the Students' Union bar at City North Campus closed in 2015, and has since been demolished]]
Birmingham City University Students' Union (abbreviated to BCUSU) has its main offices at the city centre campus. There are several reception offices located at other campuses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birminghamcitysu.com/campuses/ |title=Birmingham City University Students' Union |publisher=Birminghamcitysu.com |date=22 July 2015 |access-date=13 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602232812/http://www.birminghamcitysu.com/campuses/ |archive-date=2 June 2010 }}</ref> BCUSU is affiliated with the [[National Union of Students (United Kingdom)|National Union of Students]], and all students are automatically members of the union.

Student media at the Union comprises a student magazine; Polygon, which originally went into publication in the 1980s and, after a short period under other names, was brought back to life in 2019, and the award-winning student radio station; [[Scratch Radio]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birminghamcitysu.com/yourunion/getinvolved/ |title=Birmingham City University Students' Union |publisher=Birminghamcitysu.com |date=22 July 2015 |access-date=13 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417071424/http://www.birminghamcitysu.com/yourunion/getinvolved/ |archive-date=17 April 2009 }}</ref> which is housed in the Curzon Building at the City Centre Campus and broadcasts on DAB in the city and online.

The student union of Birmingham Polytechnic was condemned in November 1974 when its council passed a resolution supporting [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|IRA]] terrorism.<ref>GARETH PARRY.  The Guardian (1959–2003). London (UK): 28 November 1974. p. 30</ref> The polytechnic's student radio station, then known as Radio G, was the runner-up in the 1989 ''Guardian''/NUS Student Media Awards.<ref>David Gow Education Editor.  The Guardian (1959–2003). London (UK): 30 October 1989. p. 5</ref>

Now Birmingham City Students' Union, it holds elections every year to elect the five full-time [[Sabbatical Officers]] who run the union and act as its Company Directors.

==Notable staff and alumni==
{{Main|List of Birmingham City University people}}
{{Further|:Category:Academics of Birmingham City University|:Category:Alumni of Birmingham City University}}
Current and former staff of the university and its former entities include novelists [[Jim Crace]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/news/releases07/4454.html |title=Novelist Crace to unveil 'fabulous' £3m library revamp |publisher=Birmingham City University |date=26 September 2007 |access-date=2 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025012114/http://www.bcu.ac.uk/news/releases07/4454.html |archive-date=25 October 2007 }}</ref> and [[Stephen Booth (writer)|Stephen Booth]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stephen-booth.com/new%20stephenbooth.htm|title=Stephen Booth – biography|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref> nurse-author [[Bethann Siviter]], journalist [[Paul Bradshaw (journalist)|Paul Bradshaw]], scientist [[Kevin Warwick]],<ref>[[Kevin Warwick|Warwick, K]], Q & A at Seminar in Birmingham City University, 20 February 2008</ref> environmentalist [[Chris Baines]], politicians [[Khalid Mahmood (politician, born 1961)|Khalid Mahmood]] (MP for Perry Barr) and [[Lynne Jones]] (former MP for Selly Oak), former Member of the European Parliament [[David Hallam]], [[HSBC]] CEO [[Noel Quinn]] and former Chief Inspector of Probation for England and Wales [[Paul McDowell (Chief Inspector)|Paul McDowell]].

Notable graduates of the university and its predecessor institutions working in broadcasting include children's television presenter [[Kirsten O'Brien]],  sports TV presenter [[Mary Rhodes]], radio and TV presenters [[Fiona Phillips]] and [[Margherita Taylor]], [[Investigative journalism|investigative journalist]] [[Mark Williams-Thomas]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/alumni|title=Alumni}}</ref> and [[Yemisi Akinbobola]], founder of [[IQ4News]] and African Women in the Media. Several work in broadcast journalism, such as [[Sky News]] news presenter [[Marverine Cole]],<ref name="bcu.ac.uk-2">{{cite web |url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/news/releases08/5116.html |title= News & Events|website=www.bcu.ac.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923233949/http://www.bcu.ac.uk/news/releases08/5116.html |archive-date=23 September 2008}}</ref> and BBC news presenter [[Charlie Stayt]].

Art and design alumni include cartoonist [[Alex Hughes (cartoonist)|Alex Hughes]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alexhughescartoons.co.uk/Published/Background/Background.htm |title= Alex Hughes Cartoons and Caricatures|website=www.alexhughescartoons.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416015435/http://www.alexhughescartoons.co.uk/Published/Background/Background.htm |archive-date=16 April 2009}}</ref> artist [[Barbara Walker (artist)|Barbara Walker]], fashion designer [[Betty Jackson]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/news/releases07/4235.html |title= Uce Birmingham Institute of Art and Design Opens ITS Doors|website=www.bcu.ac.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212210045/http://www.bcu.ac.uk/news/releases07/4235.html |archive-date=12 February 2009}}</ref> photographer [[Ravi Deepres]],  architect [[Laurie Baker]] (1917–2007), former [[Renault]] chief designer [[Patrick le Quément]], and [[Saiman Miah]], designer of the £5 Olympic coins for the [[2012 Olympic Games]].

Graduates in the performing arts include musicians [[Roy Priest]] (formerly of [[Sweet Jesus]]) and [[Nick Duffy]], singer-songwriter [[Stephen Duffy]], actors [[Jimi Mistry]], [[Catherine Tyldesley]] and [[Tom Lister (actor)|Tom Lister]], comedian [[Frank Skinner]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/2009/08/03/skinners-pride-at-joining-walk-of-stars/ |title= Express & Star|website=www.expressandstar.com |date= 3 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525095501/http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/08/03/skinners-pride-at-joining-walk-of-stars/ |archive-date=25 May 2013}}</ref> singer and ''[[The X Factor (UK)|The X Factor]]'' contestant [[Rhydian Roberts]],<ref name="rhydian">{{cite web |url=http://www.bcu.ac.uk/news/releases07/4466.html |title=Don't get rid of X Factor Rhydian, says Birmingham lecturer |publisher=Birmingham City University |date=15 October 2007 |access-date=6 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305223857/http://www.bcu.ac.uk/news/releases07/4466.html |archive-date=5 March 2008 }}</ref> and bass guitarist [[John Taylor (bass guitarist)|John Taylor]], founder of [[Duran Duran]].

==See also==
* [[Armorial of UK universities]]
* [[List of universities in the UK]]
* [[Post-1992 universities]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Birmingham City University}}
* {{Official website|http://www.bcu.ac.uk}}
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/birminghamcityuniversity/ Photos from Birmingham City University]
*[http://www.bcusu.com/ Birmingham City University Students' Union]
*[http://www.bcu.ac.uk/future-media Birmingham City University : Future Media]
*[http://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/ BCU Open Access Research Repository]

{{Birmingham City University|state = expanded}}
{{Universities and colleges in the West Midlands}}
{{Art schools in the United Kingdom}}
{{Universities in the United Kingdom}}
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[[Category:Birmingham City University| ]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1971]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Culture in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:History of Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Education in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Universities UK]]
[[Category:University Alliance]]