University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham lies just outside the city centre in the plush suburb of Edgbaston. The closest train station is actually on campus (5 minutes to Birmingham New Street), and is used by most students.

The university is one of the most quintessential looking universities in the country, complete with red brick buildings and a tall, Venetian-style clocktower that oozes learning. Around University Square, on the main campus, is the hub of student activity, and makes a pleasant green thoroughfare as you move from one lecture to the next. Birmingham is very much an all-rounder when it comes to its strengths, with academia, sport, and societies all taken seriously.

Former students include actors Tim Curry, Tamsin Greig, and Victoria Wood, TV presenter Chris Tarrant, and musician Simon Le Bon.

"My three years at Birmingham University were probably the best of my life. I learned a lot and to my amazement actually emerged with letters after my name. On the strength of my experience, I recommend further education highly. I seem to remember that the beer was rather good too!" Chris Tarrant, University of Birmingham