As an undergraduate student it is likely that studying at university will be your first experience of living independently. At Birmingham we offer a number of accommodation types across multiple locations that all provide a safe, secure and sociable start to your university experience.
University accommodation
It is important that you find the right accommodation that suits your needs and budget. The University offers a number of accommodations with shared or private kitchen and bathroom facilities, and self-catering or meal plan options.
The University guarantees accommodation in University-owned or partner accommodation to the majority of students that are beginning their studies at the University and meet certain criteria during their first year of studies. The accommodation guarantee scheme allows you to specify your accommodation preferences through your accommodation application.
Please note that accommodation is allocated randomly through our automated allocation process for fairness. Naturally, some accommodation is more popular than others, which means that we can’t guarantee you will get your preferred accommodation.
View accommodation types and find further information on what’s included by visiting our undergraduate accommodation page. We support students with disabilities and accessibility information for each residence is available on the AccessAble University of Birmingham accommodation page.
Private accommodation
The University’s accommodation service, Living, works in conjunction with Guild Lettings (the Guild of Students' lettings service) to help you to find private accommodation in the private sector. It can offer you advice on rental costs, contract matters and suitable locations. Guild Lettings do not charge students for using this service and only works with landlords accredited with the Midland Landlord Accreditation Scheme. For more information, please visit the Guild Lettings website.
Birmingham also has lot to offer as a city. As the UK’s second city it really is more than just somewhere to live and study; it is somewhere to enjoy and explore. From museums, festivals, shopping centres, bars and restaurants there is something for everyone in Birmingham – and it’s cheaper than you might think!
What is the city of Birmingham like?
You can visit the world-famous Bullring & Grand Central shopping centre, which is home to over 160 shops, or why not try the open markets, vintage clothes stores and street food outlets in Digbeth? If you fancy a bit of culture, we have a wide variety of theatres, comedy clubs, art galleries and music venues, not to mention the famous curry houses of the Balti Triangle and Cadbury World!
Birmingham is also full of green spaces to relax and unwind in; with over 8,000 acres of parks and open space to escape to, Birmingham is one of the greenest cities in the UK.
Selly Oak
Just a stone's throw away from campus is the thriving student area of Selly Oak. Home to much of the student population, Selly Oak provides plenty of choices of bars, cafes, restaurants and supermarkets ensuring that all of your essentials are right on your doorstep. It is also home to a number of restaurants and take outs offering cuisines from around the globe such as Korean, Turkish, Indian, Chinese, British, American and Japanese.
Also nearby is the trendy suburb of Harborne, which houses a number of chic eateries and bars, a monthly night market and also high street essential stores.
Digbeth
Digbeth is a short taxi ride away, or a 10-minute walk from New Street Station, and is one of the most distinctive parts of the city. It was named 'the Coolest Neighbourhood in Britain' by the Sunday Times in 2018. In the heart of Digbeth is the Custard Factory, home to a number of independent vintage stores, cafes, bars, restaurants, Ghetto Golf and the Mockingbird Cinema. Digbeth Dining Club has proved itself to be one of Birmingham’s most popular events, hosting original street food outlets and live music every Friday and Saturday from 5pm. Find out what’s on in Birmingham and get inspired for days out by visiting the Visit Birmingham website.
Did you know...
- Birmingham is renowned for having more miles of canals than Venice
- Birmingham will host the 2022 Commonwealth Games with 70 nations competing in 18 different sports
- With everything you could need from a major capital city, Birmingham offers this at just a fraction of the cost of London
- You can catch a direct train from University Station straight to Birmingham New Street in just under ten minutes
- A full taxi of friends can cost as little as £2 each from the city to campus, perfect after a night out
- The Custard Factory is so named as the original site of the famous Alfred Bird’s factory where eggless custard was invented and first produced
Find out more about the city