University of Birmingham – Postgraduate Research

University of Birmingham – Postgraduate Research

Now is the time. This is the place.

Our high-quality teaching and supervision will help you take your skills and career to the next level.

By choosing Birmingham, you’re joining a large, diverse and vibrant postgraduate community that has a strong research culture. Whatever your area of study, you can look forward to a stimulating, engaging experience of the highest quality. We call this Your Postgraduate Guarantee.

This guarantee shows the commitment, resources and support we deliver for all Birmingham postgraduates. It means:

• You’ll engage with challenging debates, theories and concepts.
• We’ll provide a strong choice of programmes to suit your ambitions and interests, backed by academic expertise and influence.
• You’ll enjoy the support and facilities of a global, research-intensive university.
• Your experience will be unique, but with a degree that proves an asset in future and personal development matched to your chosen career.
• Our careers support and training will prepare you for the next step in your journey, and well beyond.
• Your health, wellbeing and personal development is as important to us as your academic achievement, so you’ll get the support to match.

Our campus

We’ve created the ideal place for you to live and study. From historic buildings to new teaching and study facilities, we’ve transformed our beautiful Edgbaston campus close to Birmingham city centre. At the middle of it all, you’ll find the Green Heart that has 12 acres of lush parkland. It’s a unique and rejuvenating space where many of our students enjoy socialising, meeting, studying and performing.

Get ready to go further

You could be looking for an academic role, switching sectors or building your professional experience. Whatever your journey, our employer links and support for postgraduate enterprise will boost your career even more.

Our close ties with employers could open a world of new opportunities, from global organisations, to public sector, not-for-profit and Birmingham’s rich community of small businesses. In fact, we’re the 3^rd most targeted university by the largest number of top employers in 2022-23 (Graduate Market High Fliers Report).

Employability and enterprise are built into all our programmes, meaning your development will fit your subject and apply to your career once you graduate. At Masters and PhD level, you can work with real employers, applying your knowledge to strategic challenges Opportunities include short and long placements, plus employer-led projects within your degree.

Your postgraduate community

Join one of the UK’s largest postgraduate communities. Our 14,000+ postgraduates make up around 40% of our student population.

Our community is safe, diverse and inclusive, with strong student representation and dedicated resources such as our University Graduate School and the Guild of Students’ full-time Postgraduate Officer.

Life at Birmingham is about far more than studying a degree or course. It’s about getting involved in research, groups, publications, talks, conferences and more. Our friendly postgraduate community has so much to offer. We’d love to welcome you in.

Research programmes at Birmingham

Our research programmes involve the completion of original academic research, or a piece of scholarship, which you will conduct under expert supervision from a Birmingham academic. You will also be supported by a thriving academic community of internationally renowned research staff and talented research peers, alongside research skills training.

You have the opportunities to pursue research at either Masters or doctoral level through our suite of programmes and qualifications, depending on your background and career plans.

Working towards doctoral study? Our MRes includes taught modules to increase your subject knowlede. All while you complete an extended research thesis with training and supervision. If you’d like to study a topic in greater depth, a research Masters such as the MSc by Research, might be a better option. It proves that you’re a skilled researcher who can progress to a doctoral degree.

Doctoral degrees, such as PhDs, are the highest level of academic qualification. Here, you’ll grow into a skilled independent researcher, with advanced knowledge of your subject. Conducting original academic research, you may also be asked to teach undergraduate classes and present papers at seminars and conferences.

Make it happen

Any questions? Come and meet our friendly staff and students. We hold events on and off campus, where you can see Birmingham for yourself.

Our regular online Q&A sessions let you chat with current students, academics and members of the postgraduate recruitment team.

Attend one of our Postgraduate Open Days to explore the campus, view our accommodation, and talk to our support team and academic staff about your course.