The University of Central England (UCE): a large, diverse, historic provider of higher and further education for the people of Birmingham and beyond. The University is located in Birmingham, a large, vibrant and exciting city. From our nine faculties and seven campuses in Birmingham, at UCE, the University delivers over 300 courses to more than 23,000 students. The student population comprises of students inner Birmingham to the Far East and the United States. Local, regional, national and international partners play a key role in much of University work. In pursuing the aim of providing an inclusive education for employable graduates, UCE work with organisations in the private and public sectors to ensure the highest possible standards of delivery.

Location

Birmingham, the capital of Central England, has all the entertainments and facilities a student needs. With one of the largest city in UK, Birmingham has a vibrant nightlife to rival that of any major city. The City has world class sporting facilities, a superb arts and cultural scene, cosmopolitan cuisine and excellent shopping facilities. In essence, Birmingham has something for everyone.
As a major centre of commerce and industry, and Europe's 'meeting place', Birmingham offers a wealth of opportunities for students and graduates. The University ensures that every aspect of its courses is linked to the commercial world, and through research and consultancy work, all the University staff keep up to date with the latest technical developments to ensure that courses are modified to reflect changing practice.

History

The history of UCE can be traced back to 1843 with the founding of the Polytechnic Institute and the Birmingham School of Design. Over the next hundred years the school of Jewellery, Music, Commerce, Art, Education, Architecture, Physical Education and Technology sprang up and were re-established in and around the city. In 1971 those Schools joined to form the new City of Birmingham Polytechnic, which in 1989 was established as an independent corporation with exempt charitable status. University status was conferred in 1992, and as the new University of Central England. The University further acquired a new Faculty of Health and Community Care, and as recently as 2001 moved into state-of-the-art premises at Millennium Point.

UCE Faculties

• The Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD), the largest centre for design and media education outside London and rated as one of the top ten UK Art and Design institutions.


• The Birmingham Conservatoire, a music college of international stature training musicians to the highest standard in performance and composition. Its concert hall hosts around 375 music events every year.


• The Faculty of the Built Environment, offering professionally accredited programmes in architecture, surveying, landscape, housing and planning, and enjoying excellent links with local practitioners.


• The Business School, a key regional centre which, with 4,000 students, is one of the largest business schools in the UK. Specialisms include organisational development, knowledge management, auditing and Entrepreneurship.


• The Department of Computing, with a unique mix of courses and research specialisms including information technology, information systems and software engineering.


• The Faculty of Education, which trains teachers and related professionals at levels from foundation degrees to PhD. Performance indicators published by the Teacher Training Agency demonstrate its outstanding achievements.


• The Faculty of Health and Community Care, one of the country’s largest centres for non-medical health education, and including the new Defence School of Health Care Studies, which trains military nurses and professionals.


• The Faculty of Law, Humanities, Development and Society, where courses in law, social and political studies equip students for a range of professional careers. Work experience opportunities include placements with US law firms.


• The Technology Innovation Centre (tic), offering a wide range of courses in computer technology, multimedia and engineering. Its Millennium Point facilities are among the best in the country.