Five reasons to study Media in Birmingham

Find out more about why Birmingham is an exciting and immersive hub for studying Media.

1. Media companies and agencies are on your doorstep

The city is home to a variety of media and cultural organisations. Our students have previously worked with BBC Birmingham, Maverick Television, Warwickshire County Cricket Club, newspapers, magazines, PR companies and local radio stations.

BBC Birmingham is based in the Mailbox which is only a short walk away from the University’s City Centre Campus. Their TV and radio studios are the home of Midlands Today, BBC WM, and BBC3. A little further afield you'll find the BBC Drama Village in Selly Oak, which is where top BBC dramas, such as Doctors, are filmed.

The Birmingham Institute of Media is also home to HuffPost's Centre for Journalism. Our unique partnership with HuffPost UK means Journalism students are set real-world challenges in modules, receive tutorials focused on news, lifestyle, politics and entertainment, and benefit from guest talks.

2. Birmingham hosts great festivals

Cine-Excess International Film Festival has relocated to BCU having previously operated in London’s West End and Brighton, and offers a great opportunity for Film students who may be able to work with the organisers on a range of external events. This annual event attracts visiting international filmmakers, as well as hosting UK theatrical premieres on a regular basis.

In addition, Europe’s largest Indian film festival, Birmingham Indian Film Festival, has previously hosted the premieres of South Asian independent films in venues, such as in Cineworld Broad Street, mac Birmingham and The Mockingbird Cinema. Students worked at the festival in a variety of roles such as: volunteering, managing screenings and creating digital content.

There may also be volunteering opportunities linked to the numerous music, food, literary and visual arts festivals that take place in the city!

3. Lots of industry events take place

Birmingham and the wider Midlands plays host to various industry events, offering opportunities to network with experts.

BCU hosted the last Midlands PR Conference jointly staged by CIPR and PRCA Midlands. This was a fantastic opportunity for students to hear from exciting speakers, take part in workshops and meet professionals at a networking lunch.

4. The media student scene is vibrant and active

With hundreds of students studying media production, film, journalism, music industries and PR with us in the Birmingham Institute of Media and plenty of societies to join such as: Scratch Radio, Scratch TV, Film Society, Brumwise, Write Club, DJ Society and BCU Live Sound Society, there’ll be plenty to keep you entertained.

5. You’ll be based in the heart of the action

Birmingham is the UK’s second-largest city with a population of around one million people. It is also the youngest major city in the UK, with under-20s accounting for 28% of its population (West Midlands Growth Company). We have excellent transport links giving you easy access to other major cities such as London and Manchester. You’ll also be a stone’s throw away from Digbeth, which was previously voted the ‘Coolest Neighbourhood in Britain’ by The Sunday Times' Homes supplement. Steven Spielberg and Warner Bros. even filmed scenes for Ready Player One there!