Reasons to study with us

 Here are our top reasons to choose the Birmingham School of Art.

1. State-of-art-facilities

Located next to the city centre’s Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the School is just a five-minute walk from the new Library of Birmingham and Ikon Gallery. You’ll find light and airy studios, gallery and installation spaces, a specialist art library and workshops for wood, metal, plaster, fibreglass, ceramics, digital media, print and digital photography. You will also have access to the facilities at the city centre’s Parkside and Curzon buildings.

2. A Grade 1 Listed Building

The School of Art’s Margaret Street building is inspirational and functional, a superb combination of Venetian Gothic architecture and modern workshops, learning and social areas, a specialist arts library and public exhibition space. The building has won numerous awards for the restoration of its spectacular architecture.

3. Key Collaborations

We have links to a range of national and international institutions including Tate Liverpool, Ikon Gallery and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. These connections give you the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the work that goes on with industry. A number of these gallery and exhibition institutions return year-on-year to award prizes at the Graduate Show.

4. Gain Industry Experience

In your second year you will have the opportunity to develop live /collaborative projects or participate in professional placements .The course includes regular talks from visiting professional artists, designers, curators, craftspeople and entrepreneurs to maximise your employability prospects.

5. International Project Space

The Birmingham School of Art community includes School-wide events such as Night School, the protest choir, knitting club, open studios, exhibitions in the gallery space and a public talks programme.

6. Industry Standard Staff

You will have extensive contact time with staff who are practising artists, designers, researchers working nationally and globally within the Creative Industries.

7. Second City Location

We are a part of Birmingham’s economic and cultural renaissance. A city with an international reputation that could help you get to wherever your imagination desires. Its friendly population is what makes Birmingham a dynamic, multicultural city – and also one of the largest cities in Europe offering a heady mix of galleries, music, restaurants and bars.

8. A like-minded community of learners

Being a Student at Birmingham School of Art you will join a community of learners who are all creative thinkers and makers. This community is something at the heart of the Art School and which exists both within and outside of the individual courses through Night School, Film Club, Knitting Club, the Angry Margaret Protest Choir and the public programme of events which are organised by staff and students.

9. An Art School within a University

School of Art Students and Staff have access to the vast range of resources and opportunities that being part of Birmingham City University offers. From Student Union run Society’s and Clubs, to careers fairs and employability workshops.