Your BCU
Our support services are here for you whenever you need them. From academic to personal and career support, our staff are always happy to help.
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Academic support
Our Centre for Academic Success offers a range of support and advice online and in-person on topics such as academic writing, English language, assignment planning, dissertations, study skills, referencing, computing, maths and statistics. Online 1:1 tutorials are available for you to discuss your work with one of our friendly expert tutors over MS Teams or email, and our popular group workshops are being scheduled both on-campus and online. On our resource page in Moodle you will find videos, study guides and advice to help with assignments, studying and making the most of your time at BCU.
The team is also offering an online Moodle course; the Success course, which provides guidance and advice around academic writing, study skills and numeracy topics.
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Disability support
If you have a disability, Specific Learning Difficulty (such as dyslexia) or a long-term health condition, the Disability Support Team offers confidential advice and support.
The team can provide advice on lots of issues, including applying for Disabled Students’ Allowances. Contact the team at disability@bcu.ac.uk or call on 0121 331 6495.
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Mental health and wellbeing
Students can access the full range of services - wellbeing, mental health, counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy - from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with members of our Mental Health and Wellbeing Team located at both our City South and City Centre campuses.
You can contact the team on 0121 331 5188 during office hours or email wellbeing@bcu.ac.uk if you have any questions about our service or accessing support. The team will endeavour to respond to your email within one working day.
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Child care
Our specialist childcare adviser can provide confidential advice on a range of childcare issues to suit your situation, including child care options, funding, benefits, applying for schools and emergency child care.
If you would like to discuss your child care needs please contact the Money and Childcare Advice Team. Our adviser can give you information on child care options, financial advice and ideas on balancing your studies and family life. If you would like to speak with our adviser over the phone you can call 0121 331 6064.
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BCU Sport
Our BCU Sport team offer a variety of ways for you to stay active while studying, from competitive sports to casual weekly sessions.
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Graduate+
Our Graduate+ scheme is an extra-curricular programme of activities aiming to help you develop the skills you need once you graduate.
You can join in with online tutorials and resources, including access to professional development tool Potential.ly.
You’ll have the chance to consider new ideas, network with others, attend events, work on projects – all of which will help you to grow both professionally and personally for your future, and beyond.
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Careers+
Our Careers+ team is around to offer you advice on your future career, placements, job applications and CVs with appointments throughout the week.
Looking for work or volunteering opportunities? Visit the team’s online jobs board for current vacancies.
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Faith and spirituality
Whatever your beliefs, our team of chaplains is here to support you during your time at BCU. We also have dedicated faith advisers who can signpost to local places of worship, answer questions about their faith or support students in times of difficulty.
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Finance and money matters
Our Money and Childcare Advice Team is on hand to help you with any questions or problems you may have, both before and during your time as a student here.
Depending on your course and level of study, the team can advise on financial support you may be eligible for to pay your tuition fees and living costs while you study with us.
You may need some help with financial planning and budgeting while you're a student, particularly if you're living away from home for the first time. Our Money and Childcare Advice Team can provide advice and support if you get into financial difficulties, and help you to identify possible sources of emergency funding.
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Library and learning resources
Our libraries provide a wealth of information and offer a quiet or focused place to study. Booking is not essential, but students are able to book study spaces in Curzon and Mary Seacole libraries using the online space booking system.
Please visit the following link for our library opening hours.
Our Library team is continuing to expand the range of resources available online, you can search for eBooks, books, online databases and journals relevant to your studies using our library website.
Staff and students can borrow up to 20 items at a time.
Help is available 24/7 through our online Chat with a Librarian service. You can book online or face to face tutorials with a specialist librarian who will provide in depth guidance and support in your area of study. There is also a guide to help you study from home.
Keep an eye on the Library and Learning Resources page for resources, updates and service information.
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MY PRINT
MY PRINT self-service printers are located across our campuses allowing students to not only to print, but also provide photocopying and scanning facilities.
MY PRINT allows you to add print credit, check your balance, view your print jobs, view your environmental impact and submit a job to any printer on campus.
Curzon Print Centre
Our Print Centre can produce your coursework, dissertations and presentations exactly as you intended. We understand that our job is to make you look good on paper. Large or small, black and white or full colour, the team provides quality at an affordable price.
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IT Help
As a BCU student, you'll have access to a wide range of IT facilities, systems and benefits. As part of your enrolment, we'll send you your BCU email address and password to access these services.
Our IT Help Team is available during teaching hours to offer support across a range of channels, including:
- online via the IT Self-Service Portal
- over the phone on 0121 331 6543
- on email at ithelp@bcu.ac.uk
- in person at one of our IT help desks (Parkside Building, Curzon Building, and Seacole Building)
The team can help with issues from password rests to software downloads, hardware faults and replacement devices.
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Accommodation services
Whether you need support before you arrive or when you’re living in your student accommodation, our Accommodation team are on hand to support you. You can drop them an email at accommodation@bcu.ac.uk or call them on 0121 331 5191.
Make sure you also complete your online accommodation induction for important information about where you'll be living, including where you'll need to go to collect your keys, the teams who are here to help you during your stay, safety information, health and wellbeing advice, and lots more. You will be emailed a link to your online induction prior to arrival.
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International Office
Our International Office operates a free ‘Meet and Greet’ service at Birmingham International Airport for new international and EU students. The team will be available to welcome you, will answer any questions that you may have and will help with your transfer by coach or taxi to your accommodation.
The service is only available from Birmingham Airport to accommodation located within a three-mile radius of Birmingham City University City Centre Campus. You must register for the service in advance. Places are limited, book early to avoid disappointment.
Before planning your arrival, remember to check the date on your accommodation contract. You may not be able to access your accommodation until a specific date and will need to make alternative arrangements in advance of your arrival.
You’ll need certain documentation with you when arriving in the UK relating to things such as your studies, fees and accommodation. Use our documents checklist for advice on this.
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Security Services
Our Security Services are on site 24/7 for your safety. If you experience or witness any crime or anti-social behaviour on campus you can call the team on the following numbers:
- 0121 331 5000 for general enquiries
- 0121 331 6969 for emergencies only
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Doctoral Research College
Our Doctoral Research College oversees all processes which support Postgraduate Research Students (PGR) during their studies, including:
- Student enquiries
- Admissions and enrolment
- Advice on scholarships, fees, stipend payments and contracts
- Registration and induction
- PG Certificate Research Practice (and other research training)
- Suspensions and extensions
- Research student support and drop-in sessions
- Thesis submission, examinations and award.
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Report and Support
Any form of bullying, harassment, hate crime or violence is never okay and BCU takes a zero tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviour. Our campuses, accommodation and surrounding areas should be a safe space to work, study and socialise in for every member of our BCU community.
The University’s Report and Support tool gives BCU staff and students a voice to report any unacceptable behaviour online, either anonymously or with contact details, and to access appropriate support.
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Faculty Student Centres
Your Faculty Student Centre (FSC) is your one-stop-shop for all student support and guidance. Your FSC team will have extensive knowledge of student life, ready to help with anything related to your student journey; from starting out, all the way through to assessments and beyond.
Who you can talk to for support
Sometimes knowing who to talk to is half the battle. Our staff are always here for you to point you in the right direction for support.
Read more