Being at Birmingham gives you the advantages of both a campus university and a city university. Although the campus is in Edgbaston, I feel so connected to the city because it is only a 10-minute train ride away.
Lillian Breese-Tovey, MSci Computer Science
Why did you choose the University of Birmingham?
I chose Birmingham mainly for the welcoming feel on Open Days. Through chatting with current students, I got a sense that they loved it here and were passionate about what they were studying. I also got to see a glimpse of a more friendly relationship between staff and students that I had not seen at other universities. I was impressed by the wide range of modules available at Birmingham, some of which seemed very rare as not many universities seemed to offer them. Finally, I was excited by the extra-curricular opportunities in the Computer Science department e.g., Hack the Midlands, Guest Lectures with industry professionals and the many different societies.
Have you enjoyed your time at Birmingham so far?
I have loved it. I have made so many friends in Computer Science and have been part of so many activities that I would never have dreamt of in school. I have enjoyed the countless opportunities to develop teamwork skills and have really taken advantage of the vast range of societies at Birmingham to continue doing what I love in my spare time outside of my studies.
What do you think of the University's location?
Being at Birmingham gives you the advantages of both a campus university and a city university. Although the campus is in Edgbaston, I feel so connected to the city because it is only a 10-minute train ride away. From Grand Central, it is incredibly easy to travel anywhere in the rest of the country which is what makes Birmingham feel so connected. I often find that I am getting the experience of being in London without the elevated fees. I also feel very safe within the campus community and when I am on campus forget we are in a big city. This was incredibly comforting when I first started because I came from a small rural village.
What has the student/wellbeing support been like?
I have found that I have been able to access support whenever I needed it. We have weekly tutorial sessions where I feel I can be open about absolutely anything. We also have a welfare department from whom we can get support like deadline extensions or have a friendly face to talk to. There are also student reps who listen to the concerns of students and report back to module leads and lecturers. It really feels like our voices are listened to. In addition to the support provided by the Computer Science department, there are University-wide societies and schemes in place dedicated to mental health and wellbeing support. These provide a space to talk about your feelings and put on events throughout the academic year that everyone can get involved in.
What is your favourite area (module, theme etc.) of computer science?
I actually have two, very different, favourite areas in Computer Science: Machine Learning and Cyber Security. I especially like the areas of Data Science and Cryptography in each of these broader areas and hope to go into one of these fields when I complete my degree. id you use careers network/support?
Find out more about my programme - MSci Computer Science